"My vape is dead, I need a new one." I hear that a lot from folks who step outside in November and take a drag that feels like a dying flashlight.

Here's what's actually happening: cold makes the e-liquid thicker. Thicker liquid doesn't wick into the coil as fast. So the coil fires, but there's not enough juice on it to produce a satisfying cloud. It's not the battery; it's the liquid physics.

A better test: warm the device in your palm for a few minutes. If the hit comes back strong, the battery was fine all along. If it still feels weak after warming, then maybe it's actually low—but give it a fair chance first.