1. Nicotine Strength & Type
Most vape pens use nicotine salt e-liquid, which delivers a smooth hit even at high nicotine concentrations. 5% (50mg) is standard for closed pod systems, while refillable pens let you choose your own strength. If you're a heavy smoker, start at 5%; if you're a light smoker, 2–3% may be enough.
2. Battery Life & Charging
Battery capacity ranges from 350mAh (Vuse Pro) to 1000mAh (OXVA Xlim Pro). Lighter users can get away with smaller batteries, but heavy vapers should look for 500mAh or more. USB-C charging is now standard on most new devices.
For more on battery safety and care, see our vape battery safety guide.
3. Flavor Availability
If you stick with FDA-authorized devices, your flavor options are mostly limited to tobacco and menthol (with the exception of Glas G2's fruit flavors). Unregulated refillable pens give you access to hundreds of e-liquid flavors — from fruit to dessert to menthol and everything in between.
Explore flavor options in our best vape juice buying guide.
4. Draw Style: MTL vs RDL
MTL (mouth-to-lung) draw is tight and cigarette-like — best for former smokers. RDL (restricted direct lung) is airier and produces more vapor — better for flavor chasers. Most pod pens are MTL, but some (like the OXVA Xlim Pro with 0.6Ω pods) offer an RDL option.
5. Ongoing Cost
The device itself is cheap — the real cost is in the pods or e-liquid. Closed pod systems cost $15–$25 per month in pods. Refillable systems cost $5–$15 per month in e-liquid. Disposables cost $30–$60 per month.
To calculate your exact cost based on your usage, try our vape cost calculator.
