With So Many Domestic Vape Brands, Which E-Cigarette Brand Should You Choose?

In China, there are reportedly over a thousand companies related to the e-cigarette industry, with more than 100 e-cigarette brands.

For many consumers who are just starting with e-cigarette products, choosing the right brand among so many options can be overwhelming. Which brand is good, which is not, which products are well-recognized in the market, and which are more reliable? After all, e-cigarettes are a smoking cessation alternative, and the different components of e-liquids may pose varying health risks.

First, let's understand the classification of e-cigarettes, which mainly falls into three categories:

First: Heat-not-burn e-cigarettes. Strictly defined, the blogger does not consider this a true e-cigarette. The main representative brand is Japan's IQOS, which many people in China also use. It primarily involves placing traditional cigarettes, which can be bought anywhere, into a small electronic device, then heating the cigarette through electronic means. Essentially, it is the same as smoking, so the blogger does not consider this product to be an e-cigarette.

Second: Large vapor e-cigarettes. These products were the mainstream in the e-cigarette market before 2015, often seen in movies with people exhaling large clouds of vapor. They are relatively large in size, produce a lot of vapor, and the e-liquids are added, with frequent leakage issues. Those still using them are generally enthusiasts and cloud chasers.

Third: The currently most popular small e-cigarettes, which mark the true beginning of the comprehensive development of e-cigarettes. The invention of nicotine salts in 2015 led to products primarily used as smoking alternatives, quickly gaining popularity worldwide. The e-liquid mainly consists of nicotine, glycerin, propylene glycol, and food flavoring. Globally, the JUUL brand represents this category, while in China, the RELX brand is a representative product.

Current Status of Domestic E-Cigarette Brands

There are many domestic e-cigarette brands, and since the domestic e-cigarette market is still in its early stages, many brands have not been established for long. Most small e-cigarette brands were founded after 2017. The current situation is that RELX occupies over 70% of the market, while all other brands account for less than 30%. Thus, it can be said that apart from RELX, there are only other brands left.

How to Choose

In fact, e-cigarette technology has matured and is relatively simple; any professional OEM factory can produce them. For major e-cigarette brands, the components of e-liquids are not significantly different, and the product technologies are also quite similar. In terms of pricing, there is not much difference, as e-cigarettes are consumables, and the main expense lies in the daily consumption of e-liquids. Currently, major domestic brands price their e-liquids around 30 RMB per pod, and one pod is roughly equivalent to the amount in three packs of cigarettes.

So, what are the differences among the major brands?

Brand Influence: In China, RELX has the greatest brand influence, sitting at the top of the pyramid, far exceeding other brands. From the current situation, no other brand can surpass it. Of course, the top five e-cigarette brands are all good choices in my opinion. Due to their reputation, the product quality and safety of the pods are generally reliable.

Service: This is self-evident; RELX is in a leading position. RELX has established a giant presence in the domestic e-cigarette market, with a complete team, adequate staffing, and strong financial backing, so its service is naturally the best, whether in after-sales, pre-sales, consulting, or the scale of specialty stores. However, this does not mean that other brands are not good; many other brands also perform very well in this regard, but due to their low market share, they are hard for the public to recognize.

Product Quality: This relates to personal health risks and cannot be taken lightly. First, there is the issue of leakage, which can greatly affect user experience. If e-cigarette products cannot handle this issue well, they cannot establish themselves in the e-cigarette industry. Then there is the e-liquid, which is the most important factor, as the amount of harmful substances in the e-liquid directly relates to user health. The most known harmful substance in e-cigarettes is formaldehyde, which can easily be produced when heated above 400 degrees. Of course, the components of e-liquids may vary among brands, and there may be additional ingredients. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to select products from brands with higher recognition. This might also explain why RELX continues to grow larger.

Finally, I want to say that the top-ranked e-cigarette brands are still very reliable choices. You can choose based on your preferences.