If you're here reading this article, it most probably means that you're trying to make the transition from cigarettes to a product that's more healthy. We know it's not easy, so it might help to know you're not alone in your crusade. Even if that's not the case and you're just browsing for your new pod vape, you've come to the right place.
Since the market is overflowing with standard pod systems, vape pod mods, and disposable pod vapes, we're here to make your search a bit easier. We've compiled a top 8 list of the most demanded, also best pod devices and alternatives to JUUL that we could find.
Rest assured, if you have trouble finding the right one, this list will give you a clear perspective of what to look for and how to find it in the endless sea of products.
Stay tuned, and we'll help you learn more about the best pod vapes in our buyer's guide after the individual reviews.
Let's start!
Before we start with the reviews, here's a table of some of the main characteristics that separate these products on a fundamental level.
Product | Battery Source | Output Wattage | E-Liquid Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
Integrated 520 mAh Battery | 11 W | 2 mL | |
Integrated 800 mAh Battery | 6-25 W | 2 mL | |
3000 mAh Rechargeable Battery | 1-80 W | 5 mL | |
Single High-Amp 18650 Battery | 5-80 W | 4 mL | |
Dual High-Amp 18650 Batteries | 5-200 W | 8 mL | |
800 mAh Rechargeable Battery | 18 W | 3.5 mL | |
Integrated 950 mAh Battery | 22 W | 2 mL | |
280 mAh Disposable Battery | N/A | 1.8 mL |
Best Pod System Vapes & JUUL Alternatives 2020 - My 8 Choices
We're about to start our list with a product that is dominating the vaping industry at the moment due to its remarkable features and demand. Let's go right into the Uwell CALIBURN 11W Pod System review.
Holding a vape pod for the first time is a special moment - it gives you a feeling that you're having a real cigarette due to its pod structure and weight, but at the same time, you're holding an intelligent device that offers so much more.
For example, the first thing you'll notice about this open pod vape system is its design, touch, and lightweight properties. The aluminum alloy chassis and overall construction give the design a finesse that only the best pod vapes have.
Moreover, when it comes to specifications, you'll be glad to know that this device features an integrated 520 mAh battery that will last you a couple of days if you're an average vaper.
The maximum wattage output range is set to 11 W, which is standard when it comes to the best pod-based vapes. However, the combination of battery life and this device's technology enables you to feel the full extent of your e-liquid.
The Pro-FOCS technology recycles the airflow from the atomizer's core to make it thicker and denser. This results in the unbelievable intensity of flavors, which is something every vaper can appreciate.
What also stuck with us is the dual firing mechanism that seems never to fail. It has two modes of approach - draw-activated firing and manual button on the chassis. If the draw-activated firing malfunctions, the button serves as a back-up plan as not to interfere with the device's performance.
Once you've activated it, the 2 mL refillable pod will vaporize, and you're getting your preferred hits.
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- Easy to use
- Adjustable airflow
- Dual firing mechanism
- Strong battery life
- Design and build
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The next pod vape comes from a manufacturer that you've undoubtedly heard of because he's a pillar of stability in the vaping industry. Let's talk about the SMOK NOVO 2 Vape Pod's performance and see what's the big deal.
Firstly, let's talk about the battery.
It's an integrated rechargeable battery that has an 800 mAh capacity. By all means, this battery should last you about two to three days if you're an average vaper. When you factor in that the wattage output range is between 6 and 25 W, you get a high-power pod system.
Furthermore, this portable pod device has standard 2 mL pods, which is not that impressive. However, the SMOK Novo 2 excels beyond ordinary limitations by having different options for various coils. There are standard pod systems 1.5 and 1.2 ohms coils, but you can also use 0.8 mesh coil and 1.4 ceramic coils.
This means that you can reach that mouth-to-lung effect with the mesh coil and the mouthpiece to deliver some pod-mod like clouds.
The intuitive technology behind SMOK is also something to marvel at, like, for example, the LED indicators. Three lights are always switching - the red one is triggered when the battery level is lower than 30 %, orange when it's between 30 and 70 %, and green when it's fully charged.
Since this is an easy to use refillable pod vape, the process of inserting e-liquid is incredibly straightforward. First, you pull out the pod, then the rubber plug, and add the e-liquid. Then you put everything back, and you're good to go.
All in all, we couldn't find anything wrong with it, and it's undoubtedly one of the best pods out there.
- Best mouth to long pod vape
- Replaceable coils
- Excellent performance
- Battery life
- Pod capacity
If you've used the RPM 40 device whose fame brought a lot of customers to SMOK, just wait until you see the Smok RPM 80 Vape Pod Starter Kit. It's a direct successor with a lot of innovation and upgrade, but more on that in the following lines.
Firstly, the main attraction is the intuitive IQ-80 chip that these devices feature. Since this is technically a pod mod, a lot of power is needed to atomize the e-liquid and deliver those thick clouds of vapor, and that is where the chipset comes into play.
The IQ-80 not only helps divert and regulate power through wattage and voltage, but it also has intuitive safety features such as overheating, monitoring the temperature, duration of your puffs, and most importantly, it automatically recognizes a new coil and reconfigures the settings.
The wattage output range is between 1 and 80 W, and since you have a regulating chipset, you'll be able to puff at a maximum of 80 watts when the battery is fully charged.
Also, if you love building your coils and replacing them, the resistance range is set between 0.15 and 3.0 ohms, so you can sub-ohm all you want with this powerful device.
It has a 5 mL refillable pod with a side-refill system that makes it easy for everyone to use. It also features adjustable airflow control and low battery protection. The only thing we see as a flaw with this pod vape is that you can get a decent vape mod instead of satisfying for a pod mod for this amount of money.
Still, this is a pod vape targeted for beginners to learn more about the intricacies of vaping, making it the best pod vape mod that we've seen so far.
- Replaceable coils
- Battery life
- 5 mL refillable pod/ pod capacity
- Easy to use
- Price-to-quality ratio
Next up is another powerful like of pod mods that will astound you with its intelligence and power that is borderline mod-like. Without further ado, let's dig into the Vaporesso Target PM80 SE Pod Mod Kit.
Unlike the previous pod vapes, this pod mod utilizes a high-amp single 18650 battery rather than an integrated one. Since this pod device's performance rests on high energy output, a strong battery is necessary to achieve high wattage properties.
When the device is fully charged, you'll get around 70-80 watts of power on each hit, and then it'll decrease as the AXON chipset will regulate the power and make sure it's balanced. This chipset is a trademark of Vaporesso products due to its high capacity and safeguards options.
One more thing that sets this chipset apart from the rest is the Pulse mode, which instructs the battery to send intermittent waves of energy to the coil and prevents overheating in the process. You can also store a maximum of 4 mL of e-liquids in the pod system, which is more than enough for a two-day vape session.
Moreover, Target PM80 SE goes hand in hand with the GTX mesh coils that deliver sub-ohm vapes in the 32-60 watts range. When you vape, all the data is relayed to the 0.91-inch display to give you all the information necessary about the current battery status and power output.
The only annoying thing is that this pod mod doesn't have a battery included in the pack, which comes off as disappointing since the battery capacity is one of the best features of this device.
Still, it's worth the trouble if you're looking for something between a standard e-pen and an expert vape mod.
- Battery capacity
- GTX mesh coils
- Wattage output
- An abundance of added features
- AXON chipset
- The battery’s not included
We have one more pod mod to present to you before moving on to some pod starter kits. For those of you who love testing out new features, here's the Artery Nugget GT 200W Pod System.
If you compare this device's stats with other vape mods, you might be confused as to why it classifies as a vape pod until you see the build and the design of it. It's a line of draw-activated pod vapes systems with a pod that can store up to 8 mL of various e-liquids - a number that resembles a fine vape mod.
Also, the resistance range is set between 0.1 and 2.0 ohms, which not only resembles mods but a very powerful mod. It has dual 18650 batteries that divert power to the coils, and it's all regulated by an Aero chipset.
So what makes this device a pod mod?
First off, its size is the obvious answer as this is a portable pod that fits nicely in hand and has a draw-activated mouth-to-lung draw. There are replaceable coils, but you can't build your own as this is not a mech mod.
However, the battery life is through the roof with the double trouble of high-amp batteries. They enable you to set the wattage output to a maximum of 200 watts per hit when the batteries are fully charged.
It does not have any atomizer protection, which comes off as the main flaw of this device, but since you'll use it as a pod mod, you shouldn't have any problems with it. All in all, if it weren't for the price, this would be our second or third pick, but there are so many vape pod mods with similar characteristics for lower prices.
- Battery life
- Mouth-to-lung pod system
- Replaceable coils
- 200 watts maximum output
- No atomizer protection
- Price
Even if you're a tobacco smoker, there's no way you haven't heard about the GeekVape Aegis line of devices due to their massive popularity. This is enough for the intro and let's go over the specifics of the GeekVape Aegis Vape Pod Starter Kit.
What makes the GeekVape Aegis line separate from other devices in the vaping industry is not only the intelligence of the AS chipset or the powerful atomizers they have in store. In reality, it's all about the durability of their devices.
They are all shock, dust, and waterproof, which is something we all need in a well-crafted vape pod device. Furthermore, this pod system's outer layer is designed to make it slip into your pocket without any need to push it downwards.
When it comes to stats, it does not disappoint.
It has an integrated 800 mAh battery, which does sound worse when it's compared with the previous vape pod mods, but when you take into consideration that this is a vape pod system starter kit that does not require a lot of power, you'll see what we're talking about.
The e-liquid capacity is set to 3.5 mL, and the wattage output rests at 1-18 W, which is perfectly reasonable considering this is a starter pack designed for smokers that are making the transition from e-pens to pod systems. It'll give you strong hits at max power and decrease over time due to the overheating protection that this pod device possesses.
There isn't really much left to say as the popularity of GeekVape pod vapes and vapes, in general, speak for themselves. The only reason this device holds a lower position is the lack of added features that some of the previous pod vapes have.
- Durability and strength
- Battery life
- Easy to use
- Reliable line of pod vapes
- Lack of added features
The Lost Vape and Lost Vape Orion series has undoubtedly made some changes on the market due to their efficiency, intelligence, and beautiful designs that attract customers worldwide. Let's dig in and find what it's about.
The first thing that deserves mention is the DNA GO chipset that has so many functions; it'll make your head spin. It has five different power outputs that are divided by colors for recognition, Temperature Limiting Technology (TLT), and an automatic override for the regulation of power and temperature.
You should also know that it features a dual airflow ring that makes the adjustment for your particular style of vaping - mouth-to-lung or direct-to-lung. The entire coil mechanism can be replaced, and Lost Vape Orion recommends their new 0.25 and 0.5 ohm OCC coils.
In terms of battery life, you'll get the fantastic 950 mAh battery that will last you for a couple of days at best. What we find troubling with Lost Vape Orion is that the pod capacity is only 2 mL, which is a number that even some pre-filled pod systems have.
However, this device is easy to use and pleasing to the eyes as it has different color schemes and beautiful patterns for every vaper out there. All in all, it's a quality device that deserves to be called one of the best pod vapes out there.
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- Mouth-to-lung and direct-to-lung styles
- Powerful replaceable coils
- Pod mod-like features
- Easy to use
- Pod capacity
The pod vape that we've saved for last is not exactly a game-changer, but it still deserves mention as it's excellent for beginners and people that are just testing out pod systems and pod vapes. Here's the Posh Vape Sampler Pack.
First off, this is a disposable closed pod vape that is exactly what it says. It's designed to be used once, not charged, and then disposed of. It's great for the people on the go or ones that are going on vacations and want to bring a little extra something.
It has a 1.8 mL capacity, which is fantastic for a disposable pod vape, and the battery life is quite outstanding as well. If used regularly, you can probably get around somewhere between 150-250 draws in two days of everyday use.
Since they are pre-filled, you'll get the opportunity to test some of the exotic flavors that Posh has in store for you. After tasting some of them, we recommend lush ice and pineapple slush since they are refreshing and offer a new perspective compared to some of the standard e-liquid flavors.
As this is a sample pack, you'll get all six flavors for a fantastic price, which is another bonus to consider for the type of cash you'll be investing in. After all, it's excellent for beginners to give pod vapes like these a try before moving on to more advanced pod systems.
Truth be told, this is a pre-filled disposable device that won't last, which is why it gets an honorable last place, but it's still worth the try.
- The balance between e-pens and pod mods
- On-the-go use
- E-liquid capacity
- Battery life
- Disposable
What Constitutes the Best Pod System? - Buyer's Guide
To judge a pod system by its features and specs, we first have to look at how they differ and what criteria we should use to value them as such.
For example, a pod mod is more advanced than a regular vape pod, so it's a question whether it should be valued under the same standards or if it should be considered and viewed upon as a mod.
This will be our main focus point down below.
1. Battery
In most cases, pod systems will pack an integrated battery that lasts an average vaper around two days if you use it properly. In essence, you should look for a pod vape that has a battery capacity in the range of 600-1000 mAh.
However, this is closely connected to a standard pod system. If you plan on buying a pod mod, they will usually have a single rechargeable 18650 battery that is a standard in the business.
Sometimes, if a pod mod has a wattage output of 200 watts, it will utilize a dual high-amp set of 18650 batteries, but not more than that because regular mods usually pack more batteries.
In essence, try to look for the combination of your preferred wattage output with the right battery life. If you don't plan on sub-ohming or producing powerful hits, you'll do just fine with a standard pod system that has a capacity below 1000 mAh with a maximum wattage output of 200 watts.
2. E-Juice Capacity
Even though this might seem obvious to some, people often overlook it as they assume that a quality product will have more than enough capacity to sustain them throughout the day.
Since manufacturers usually pack their products with a lot of added features, there is often not enough room for an extensive pod, and you're left with the standard 2 mL pod vape capacity.
Overall, you should try to focus your search on pod vapes that have a capacity above 2 mL, as that will be enough for your average vaping sessions.
On the other hand, pod mods have larger pods, but they are more significant in size as well, which some customers may not like as the primary purpose of a pod system is to be compact and ready on the go.
3. Strength and Durability
Since vapes and pod vapes, in particular, have a sleek and non-edged design, they are prone to slipping and falling out of your hands. It suffices to say that you can damage them heavily if you're not careful, so the idea is to get the most durable one.
What this means is that there are pod vapes that are certified as waterproof, dustproof, and are more resilient to a massive impact. When it comes to waterproof devices, you'll see an IP67 certification, like in the GeekVape Aegis Line.
It's also vital to know that pod mods are more extensive, and therefore more exposed to damage if they fall, which is why you might want to go for a standard pod system if you're clumsy by nature.
Best Feature | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
Quality Build | Uwell CALIBURN 11W Pod System | |
Reliability | SMOK NOVO 2 Vape Pod System | |
Performance and Portability | Smok RPM 80 Vape Pod Starter Kit | |
Power | Vaporesso Target PM80 SE Pod Mod Kit | |
Dual High-Amp Batteries | Artery Nugget GT 200W Pod System | |
Stability | GeekVape Aegis Vape Pod Starter Kit | |
DNA GO Chipset | Lost Vape Orion DNA Pod System | |
Pre-Filled and Disposable Pod System | Posh Vape Sampler Pack |
FAQs
Are pod vapes the superior vaping devices?
Like we previously said at the start of the buyer's guide - it's relative in the eyes of the user.
The best pod system is suitable for beginners and people that are making the transition from either traditional cigarettes or from e-pens to mods. They don't have a lot of strength to put you to sleep from their most potent hits, but you'll undoubtedly feel the sensation.
On the other hand, pod mods are much more potent than your average pod system or an e-pen and will give you a mod-like sensation if it incorporates dual batteries, but you'll find them with a single 18650 battery more often.
To conclude, it's all about the stadium you're in as a vaper.
If you've been vaping for a couple of weeks and want to move on to something more substantial, the best pod system will be the superior vape for you.
What is the best pod system in 2020?
It's a hard question to answer as there are a lot of pod vapes with similar characteristics that fit the profile of the best. In the end, it boils down to taste and individual preferences.
Personally, it's the Uwell CALIBURN 11W Pod System as the combination of features and specs is perfect in terms of a standard pod system targeted for beginners. It's bland, yet it has the power to kick up your vaping sessions into fifth gear.
How to refill Blu pods?
The marketing process behind Blu rests on purchasing their pods that come pre-filled for your pod vape. However, if you have your e-juice that you love using, you can bypass this process in a few simple steps.
When your current pod is nearly dried out, take it out and remove the cap by pulling on it. You will then see two indentations on the top of the pad, and you'll choose one to break a small hole with a regular needle or a safety pin, which you'll use to refill your Blu pod vape.
However, you have to seal the hole once you've filled it with e-juice to preserve it inside and avoid creating air bubbles.
We recommend you use wood glue or beeswax.
How to refill NJOY pods?
The process of refilling NJOY pods differs significantly from Blu pods. In all honesty, we don't recommend it because you can easily damage your vape pod and hurt yourself in the process, but it's up to you.
Several Reddit users have noted that you can try to pry open the metal on the pod and pull the coil out to refill the e-juice.
Final Thoughts - Summary and Conclusion
There's an abundance of reasons why a person would opt-out for the best pod vapes in 2020 - they are easy to use, offer a healthier alternative to standard cigarettes, and help ease you into the transition from one vaping product to another.
As we scoured the internet searching for the best, our quest has finished with eight products in front of you, but the one we feel is the best is the Uwell CALIBURN 11W Pod System. Even though it's not made by a popular manufacturer such as GeekVape or SMOK, it holds true to all the standards that constitute the best vapes on the market, and it has its place among the best.
Of course, the SMOK NOVO 2 Vape Pod System and Smok RPM 80 Vape Pod Starter Kit are right up there with our winner, and they will serve you for as long as you have them. The only thing that should be the number one concern to you is that pod vapes, in general, are more healthy and a far better option than tobacco cigarettes.
In conclusion, whichever one you pick will do you good, and as the vaping industry progresses, we will have many more products to update our list with.