Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) come in various designs. For beginners, identifying key features in pictures helps recognize common types.
Most Common Beginner-Friendly Device: Vape Pen
This slim, cylindrical device often resembles a pen or small flashlight.
- Tube Shape: Long, narrow, and typically straight.
- One Button: Usually a single fire button near the top/middle.
- Tank Visibility: A transparent section (plastic/glass) wraps around the top half to hold the e-liquid, often visible.
- Mouthpiece: A narrow tip at the very top for inhalation.
- 510 Threading: The tank screws onto the battery section.
Increasingly Popular: Pod System
Often more compact and rectangular or oval-shaped than pens.
- Compact Shape: Usually a small box, rectangle, or pebble-like shape.
- Pod Cartridge: A removable plastic pod clicks or snaps into the main battery body. This pod contains the e-liquid and mouthpiece.
- Small Size: Often shorter and chunkier than pens, designed for pocketability.
- Magnet/Clip Visible: Connection points for the pod may be visible on the device body.
- LED Indicators: Small lights often indicate battery status or activation.
Key Features Seen in Pictures
- E-liquid Chamber: Look for a transparent section (tank in pens, the pod itself in pod systems). Liquid color inside may be visible.
- Mouthpiece: The distinct tip you inhale from. Often black or colored plastic/rubber, sometimes integrated into the pod.
- Airflow Slot/Control: A small hole or ring near the base of the tank/pod or the device body. May have adjustable settings.
- Buttons: Fire button is essential. May have separate buttons for adjustment ().
- Charging Port: Typically Micro-USB or USB-C, located on the bottom or side of the battery section.
- Battery Section: The larger lower part, usually metal or colored plastic.
Tips for Identifying Devices in Pictures
- Look for Transparency: The clearest visual cue is usually the see-through tank or pod holding liquid.
- Identify the Mouthpiece: Find where the user would place their lips.
- Check Shape & Size: Is it long and thin (pen) or small and boxy/pod-like?
- Note the Pod: If you see a distinct removable cartridge sitting on top/bottom, it’s likely a pod system.
- Controls: Presence of multiple adjustment buttons (+/-) suggests higher power devices.
