Early vape products were a mess. Many had no user-replaceable parts, leaked constantly, and used materials that weren't food-grade. Some even had batteries that could fail dangerously. The market was full of products that looked great in a photo but fell apart in a week.

The biggest mistake was focusing on hype over reality. A flashy design meant nothing if the device burned out after 50 puffs. And because there wasn't much regulation, manufacturers could get away with inflated claims and low-quality parts.

That's why today's competitor analysis starts with the hard facts: who made it, what's inside, and does it actually work as described?