We know how vaping has taken the world by storm and revolutionized the recreational tobacco industry. In a few decades, tobacco consumption has been replaced by e-liquid heating.
Moreover, since vaporizers are considered safer than conventional cigarettes, their popularity has seen a huge uptick.
For smokers looking to quit smoking, pod mods and cig-a-likes vapes are available.
But when you’re new to vaping, you might find yourself baffled about what will be the right choice for your unique requirements.
Box mods or vape pens, we will help you navigate through the sea of options available in the market.
In this post, we’ve tried to list some of the major aspects of both devices to understand their differences.
If you are among those who are still clueless about these devices, you must read this Vape Pen vs Mods comparison.
I don’t think one is better than another because both products have their own advantages.
It completely depends on a user’s need and what type of device he is looking for.
Give all the points a read so you can have more information on how these two devices differ from each other and which one is the best for you.
What is a Vape Pen?
As the name suggests, a vape pen is a battery-operated portable device used as an alternative to traditional cigarettes.
It has a long cylindrical body containing a tank or cartridge filled with e-liquid. The atomizer heats the e-liquid, releasing an aerosol inhaled by the user.
This vapor can contain nicotine, glycol, and glycerine while being flavored according to your taste.
Vape pens do not produce the typical tobacco smell generated by traditional cigarettes. They also produce significantly less amount of vapor.
However, if you’re looking for something that can fit inside your pocket without looking conspicuous, this device is your best bet.
What is a Vape Mod?
If you’re looking for a larger gadget that packs more power and generates massive clouds of flavor, vape mods are the right fit for you.
They aren’t easy to carry but can give you an incredible vaping experience. Nowadays, you need not worry about the hassle of buying individual parts for your vaping device.
You should pick a high-wattage vape device and get your hands on a box mod kit of your choice. These kits include tanks with pre-installed vape coils of several varieties.
Mesh coils are highly sought-after right now. Sometimes, even the batteries are built into the model. Invest in some e-liquid and embark on your vaping journey today.
Vape Pen Vs Mods
Although specifications vary according to company designs, some features hold true to any style of mod or pen you wish to buy.
Let us look at a detailed comparison between vape pens and vape mods.
Portability and Size
The most obvious difference lies in the dimensions of the products. Vape pens can be popped into your pocket and taken anywhere, anytime.
This is not the case with vape mods. Although some versions of vape mods are designed to be discreet and concise, they are still much bulkier than a vape pen.
For example, a large box mod with dual 18650 batteries can easily weigh over 200g.
Some starter mod kits released by reputable brands weigh under 100 grams, but they do not offer the premium features experienced vapers are looking for.
Depending on how frequently you carry your vaping device with you, you can opt for either a vape pen or mod.
Style of Vaping
Since vape pens were invented to replace conventional cigarettes, they offer the mouth-to-lung (MTL) style of vaping.
This essentially means that your vaping experience will be quite similar to smoking.
You will draw the flavored vapor in, hold it briefly in the mouth, and then finally inhale it so that it reaches your lungs.
This is perfect for those just dipping their toes into the adventurous world of vaping.
In contrast to this, vape mods offer the direct-to-lung (DTL) style of vaping.
The mouth-to-lung (MTL) technique substantially decreases vapor production, which is not the case with the direct-lung technique.
A smooth drag here can last 3 to 5 seconds or even more. It takes some time to get accustomed to, but it enables you to truly experience the flavor profile of the vape juice upon exhalation.
High-wattage mods and sub-ohm tanks are exclusively for DTL vaping. You can go for sub-ohm box mods if you want a powerful vaping device.
Ease Of Use
Vape pens are best suited for beginners. These devices are usually self-sufficient and do not require you to tinker with the settings or the tank.
They are fairly easy to use but can still get a good drag. The customization options here are indeed quite limited, but the primary selling point of this device is its portability.
The vaping process with box mods is comparatively way more tedious. Although most box mod kits now come with pre-installed coils, this is not the case with all products.
You will need to fill the tank with e-liquid, get hold of some compatible batteries, and fiddle with an elaborate menu system until you find the setting of your choice.
However, the key point is that this offers a unique experience that perfectly suits your needs.
It allows you to alter the temperature, wattage, and voltage, depending on the type of vaping experience you want.
Moreover, now that starter mod kits are available commercially, box mods also require minimal technical know-how.
Pricing
It will be no surprise that vape pens are quite literally a more pocket-friendly option.
This is quite obvious: vape pens are smaller and come with fewer features.
Vape pens can even be purchased for under 10 USD. On the other hand, vape mods under 30 USD are practically impossible to find.
There is a direct linear correlation between the features offered and the product’s price.
The better the features, the higher the price. Another expense that needs to be accounted for is the price of the vaping coils.
Depending on the model you opt for, they usually fall in the 1-5 USD range.
Wattage
Most people make the mistake of thinking that higher wattage always accounts for a better vape.
Vape mods are high-powered devices with a wattage higher than 200W!
Most vape pens come preset at around 7-15 watts, which we agree is on the lower side.
However, according to several vapers, a 40 to 50 watts wattage is also enough to ensure a great vaping experience.
At this power, you can easily distinguish between the various flavors in your e-liquid, enhancing the overall taste.
Most experienced vapers tend to stick to the 75 to 200watt power level, which is seen in most vape mods.
Battery Life
E-cigarette battery life is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). Variable voltage batteries are being used these days as they give users the freedom to modify the wattage provided by the battery.
Battery life is also related to the size of your device. Since vape mods are bigger, their batteries are also bigger and can last longer.
On the bright side, the battery life of a disposable vape pen is enough to last you a day. However, other factors also need to be considered when making a decision.
If you take short puffs, your battery is bound to last longer. In contrast to this, if you use a lower-resistance coil or sub-ohm tanks, your battery will drain out faster.
However, by a rule of thumb, vape mods are designed to give you a better vaping experience with significantly higher battery life.
Some mods even offer the option of fast charging, which charges your entire gadget in under 2-3 hours.
Vaping Experience
A vape pen is probably not the way to go for vaping enthusiasts. The flavor of the e-liquid is quite subtle in pens compared to mods.
Vape mods pack punches of flavor and help you produce enormous vapor clouds to enhance your experience.
However, vape pens are still the best option for those who wish to vape discreetly and simply.
Overall, it will not be wrong to say that vape mods provide a more tailored experience for the user.
Some devices even come with a memory mode to restore all your preset settings.
On the downside, they have a learning curve as they come equipped with many unique features and components and are not well-suited for beginners.
Tank and Juice
Tanks come in many different shapes and sizes. When you plug in your vaping device, the coil heats up, releasing an aerosol with the help of a wick.
The function of the tank is to keep replenishing the wick so you can continue vaping unhindered.
Vape pens consist of e-liquid containing 50% vegetable glycerine. E-liquid containing more than 60% vegetable glycerine is rendered as sub-ohm vape juice.
Moreover, vape pens only have a refillable tank capacity of 2ml in areas like the UK.
Vape mods come fitted with a newer category of sub-ohm tanks with a resistance of less than 1 ohm.
This allows for the direct lung technique of vaping, aiding in producing giant clouds of flavor.
Here, the options are endless. You can keep your standard tank or change to an RDA or RTA one with vape mods.
With adjustable airflow, top-filling tanks, and multiple vents, using a box mod tank offers several performance benefits.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Your vaping options are not limited to vape pens and vape mods. These are the most popular go-to choices for most vapers, but there are other options you can explore.
The first generation of vaping devices comprised cig-a-likes. These could be disposable or refillable and were supposed to help you transition from smoking to vaping.
For devout smokers wanting to venture into the vaping world, pod mods are available on the market.
These are filled with nicotine salt e-juices and are relatively more user-friendly than any complicated vaping device.
Although the cloud production is drastically reduced when compared to a box mod, the increased nicotine strength makes up for the loss.
Vape pens were considered the second generation of vaping devices, while vape mods were the third.
These could be regulated, like box mods, or unregulated, like mechanical mods. Newer vape pens also offer some third-generation features that were previously exclusive to box mods.
However, for experienced vapers who wish to tinker with their device’s settings, vape mods are the ideal fit.
Final Verdict
While there are many options to choose from, the right vaporizer for you should help you have a pleasant vaping experience.
We suggest that you start your vaping journey with a tried and tested vape pen of your choice.
Dip your toes in the water to understand what your preferences include. In this manner, you can slowly make your way to using customizable vaping mods that offer a more personalized experience.
You can also continue vaping with a vape pen if you are not interested in cloud production or fancy flavors.
With MTL or sub-ohm tanks and highly advanced chipsets, vape mods can initially seem intimidating.
Once you get an idea of what you like and don’t with a vape pen, you can invest in a high-powered vape mod.
