Types of Vapes Explained: Pods, Pod Mods & Vape Mods

Vaping hardware used to be relatively easy to categorise. There were cigarette-shaped e-cigarettes at one end, enormous box mods at the other and vape pens somewhere in between.

Today, the lines are considerably blurrier.

A tiny pod vape can have adjustable wattage. A pod mod can produce enough vapour for direct-to-lung vaping. A large reusable prefilled vape can look like an old disposable but have replaceable refills and a rechargeable battery. Even coil resistance no longer tells you as much about a device as it once did.

That can make the different types of vapes seem more complicated than they really are.

The simplest way to understand the market is to think about how much maintenance, flexibility and power you want. At one end are prefilled reusable systems designed to be almost effortless. At the other are full vape mods with adjustable power, large batteries and replaceable tanks. Refillable pod kits and pod mods occupy the increasingly large territory in between.

Types of Vapes: Quick Comparison

Before We Start: Vape Categories Aren’t Perfect

One reason vaping terminology can be confusing is that different labels describe different aspects of a device.

Pod and tank describe how the e-liquid and coil are housed.

Pen and box mod mainly describe the shape and size.

MTL, RDL and DTL describe how you inhale.

Sub-ohm traditionally describes a coil with resistance below 1.0 ohm, although today the term is normally associated more broadly with higher-output RDL and DTL vaping.

A single device could therefore be a refillable pod system, use a sub-ohm coil and support RDL inhaling at the same time.

Modern hardware has become much more versatile, so it’s usually better to ask what does this vape actually do? rather than becoming too attached to the category printed on the box.

1. Prefilled Reusable Vapes and Disposable Vape Alternatives

Traditional single-use disposable vapes are no longer legally available for sale in the UK. The ban took effect on 1 June 2025 and applies to single-use devices regardless of whether or not they contain nicotine.

The products that have largely replaced them are reusable prefilled systems.

These often look and feel very similar to the disposables people were accustomed to using, but there’s one crucial difference: the device itself is rechargeable and the e-liquid supply can be replaced.

You might see these products described as:

• Prefilled pod kits
• Big puff vapes
• Reusable disposable alternatives
• Prefilled vape kits

The exact design varies. Some use a simple replaceable pod. Others combine a smaller legal pod with a separate refill container that automatically keeps it supplied with e-liquid.

What they have in common is that you don’t normally refill them from a bottle yourself.

Advantages of Prefilled Reusable Vapes

• Very easy to use.
• No need to fill pods manually.
• Little or no coil maintenance.
• Consistent flavour from one refill to the next.
• Familiar experience for former disposable users.

Disadvantages of Prefilled Reusable Vapes

• You’re limited to the compatible refills made for that device.
• Less choice of nicotine strengths.
• Usually fewer airflow and power options.
• Running costs may be higher than filling your own pod with bottled e-liquid.

If convenience is more important to you than customisation, browse our Disposable Vape Alternatives.

2. Refillable Pod Kits

For many people, the sweet spot between convenience, flexibility and cost is the refillable pod kit.

A pod vape stores its e-liquid in a small removable plastic reservoir called a pod. Instead of throwing the pod away as soon as it’s empty, you open the filling port and add bottled vape juice.

Depending on the design, the coil may either:

• Be permanently built into the pod, in which case you replace the whole pod when the coil wears out.
• Be removable, allowing you to keep the pod and replace only the coil.

Refillable pods are usually compact, light and easy to carry. Many modern devices automatically choose an appropriate power level for the installed pod, and some are activated simply by inhaling.

That makes them much less complicated than the adjustable vape mods that dominated enthusiast vaping in the past.

What E-Liquid Do Refillable Pod Kits Use?

Most small MTL pod systems work particularly well with 50/50 e-liquid and nicotine salts.

More powerful pods may also support lower-resistance cartridges for RDL vaping, giving you more airflow and vapour while keeping the same compact device.

This flexibility is one reason pod kits have become such a broad category. A single model may offer a tight cigarette-like draw with one pod and a much airier inhale with another.

Advantages of Refillable Pod Kits

• Compact and pocket-friendly.
• Large choice of bottled e-liquids.
• Generally economical to run.
• Simple enough for beginners.
• Many models support both MTL and RDL vaping.
• Replacement pods are usually quick and easy to fit.

Disadvantages of Refillable Pod Kits

• You need to refill the pod yourself.
• Pods or coils require periodic replacement.
• Battery capacity is usually smaller than on a large mod.
• The most basic devices offer limited adjustment.

Browse our Refillable Pod Kits if you want a small reusable vape that works with bottled e-liquid.

3. Pod Mods: The Halfway Point

Pod mods sit somewhere between a basic pod kit and a full vape mod.

There isn’t a strict technical line where an ordinary pod suddenly becomes a pod mod. The term is generally used for pod-based devices that add some of the features traditionally associated with larger mods.

A pod mod may offer:

• Adjustable wattage
• A larger battery
• A display screen
• Adjustable airflow
• Several replaceable coil options
• Lower-resistance coils for RDL or DTL vaping
• Higher maximum power than a basic pod kit

Instead of screwing a glass tank onto a traditional 510 connector, a pod mod still normally uses a removable plastic pod or pod-style tank. That keeps the system relatively compact and makes changing coils or flavours straightforward.

Why Choose a Pod Mod Instead of a Normal Pod?

A basic refillable pod prioritises simplicity. A pod mod gives you more control.

If you’ve started with MTL vaping but gradually find yourself opening the airflow, trying lower-resistance coils and wanting a warmer or more powerful puff, a pod mod is a logical next step.

You can increase vapour production without immediately carrying a large dual-battery box mod and glass tank.

Why Choose a Pod Mod Instead of a Vape Mod?

Portability is the obvious reason.

Modern pod mods can provide surprisingly strong RDL and DTL performance while remaining much smaller and lighter than traditional mod-and-tank combinations.

They also tend to simplify compatibility. Instead of choosing a separate mod, tank and coil family, you buy replacement pods or coils specifically designed for the device.

The trade-off is that a conventional mod gives you more freedom to mix and match hardware.

Advantages of Pod Mods

• More powerful than most basic pod kits.
• Smaller than many traditional vape mods.
• Good balance of battery life and portability.
• Often supports several coil resistances.
• Excellent for RDL vaping.
• Some models can provide full DTL performance.

Disadvantages of Pod Mods

• More complicated than a basic pod.
• Usually larger and heavier.
• Higher power means greater e-liquid consumption.
• You’re generally tied to the manufacturer’s compatible pod and coil system.

4. Vape Pens

The vape pen is one of the oldest hardware categories still in use, although the name tells you more about shape than technology.

A vape pen is simply a relatively slim, cylindrical device.

Older vape pens usually had a battery section with a small screw-on glass tank. Newer versions may use a pod instead, which means a modern product can technically be both a vape pen and a pod vape.

This is a good example of why hardware categories overlap.

What Are Vape Pens Like to Use?

They’re generally intended to keep things straightforward.

A simple vape pen may have:

• One fire button
• A small built-in battery
• Little or no wattage adjustment
• A refillable tank or pod
• MTL or mild RDL airflow

The narrow shape is comfortable to hold and easy to carry, although the format leaves less physical space for a very large battery.

Who Are Vape Pens Best For?

A vape pen can be a good option if you want something simple but prefer the traditional cylindrical shape to the flatter rectangular design used by most pod systems.

There’s no particular performance advantage inherent in being pen-shaped, though. When comparing a pen with a pod kit, look at the coil choices, battery capacity and airflow rather than the silhouette.

5. Vape Mods

At the high-powered end of the spectrum are vape mods.

A traditional modern vape mod is an electronic power unit that connects to a separate vape tank. Many are box-shaped, which is why you’ll also hear the term box mod.

Mods are designed around flexibility.

A typical regulated mod may offer:

• Adjustable wattage
• A large colour display
• Adjustable power modes
• One or more large batteries
• Very high maximum output
• A standard 510 connection for compatible vape tanks

The tank contains the e-liquid and replaceable coil, while the mod supplies and controls the electrical power.

Why Are They Called Mods?

The name is a historical leftover.

Early vaping enthusiasts often modified existing devices or built their own hardware to obtain greater battery capacity and power than early commercial e-cigarettes provided. Those modified devices became known as “mods.”

Today, you don’t need to modify anything. A modern regulated vape mod is a purpose-built consumer product.

What Is a Sub-Ohm Vape Mod?

Most current mods are used with lower-resistance tanks designed for RDL or DTL vaping.

Technically, any coil below 1.0 ohm is sub-ohm, but that definition has become less useful because even small pod kits now commonly use coils below one ohm.

When vapers talk about a sub-ohm vape today, they usually mean a higher-powered device with generous airflow, relatively large vapour production and low-strength e-liquid.

If you want the full technical explanation, our sub-ohm vaping guide covers the subject in detail.

Advantages of Vape Mods

• Highest potential vapour production.
• Excellent battery life.
• Wide power range.
• Plenty of control over warmth and airflow.
• Can often use different compatible tanks.
• Ideal for people who enjoy adjusting their setup.

Disadvantages of Vape Mods

• Larger and heavier than pod systems.
• More settings to understand.
• Higher-powered coils consume more e-liquid.
• Usually require lower nicotine strengths.
• Can be excessive if all you want is a small cigarette-like vape.

If maximum control and vapour production are priorities, explore our Vape Mods.

What About Mechanical Mods?

You may occasionally see the term mechanical mod, particularly in older vaping discussions.

A mechanical mod is very different from the regulated electronic devices described above. It has no chipset controlling power delivery and therefore lacks the electronic protections and automatic power regulation found in a modern regulated mod.

Mechanical mods are specialist enthusiast hardware rather than a sensible starting point for a new vaper. If you’re simply looking for a powerful device, a modern regulated mod or pod mod provides a much more straightforward route.

What Is an All-in-One Vape?

All-in-one or AIO is another term that can cause confusion because it overlaps with several other categories.

An AIO vape combines the main parts of the vaping system into one integrated design instead of using a completely separate mod and tank.

In practical terms, many pod kits and pod mods could be described as all-in-one devices.

You’ll also find larger AIO devices that look more like mods but use an integrated tank or proprietary pod.

Think of “AIO” as describing the construction rather than the size or vaping style.

What Happened to Cigalikes?

Early electronic cigarettes often tried to look exactly like tobacco cigarettes. These small devices became known as cigalikes.

They usually had very small batteries and screw-on prefilled cartridges.

Although products in this general format still exist in some markets, modern pod systems have largely taken over the role because they can offer better battery life and coil performance without becoming particularly large.

If you’re switching from cigarettes today, a compact MTL pod generally provides the cigarette-like draw that people once bought cigalikes to achieve.

Are Disposable Vapes Still a Type of Vape?

Historically, yes. Legally in the current UK retail market, they’re no longer an option.

Since 1 June 2025, businesses across the UK have been prohibited from selling or supplying single-use vapes. A legal reusable vape must meet the relevant requirements allowing the device to be recharged and refilled or reused with replacement components.

You can read the current UK government guidance on the single-use vape ban for the regulatory details.

That’s why you now see products marketed as disposable alternatives. They’re designed to preserve the simple prefilled experience without throwing the battery away when the e-liquid is finished.

MTL, RDL and DTL Are Vaping Styles, Not Separate Device Types

You’ll often see vapes divided into MTL, RDL and DTL, but these describe the airflow and inhaling technique rather than the basic hardware category.

MTL: Mouth to Lung

You draw the vapour into your mouth first and then inhale it. The airflow is relatively restricted and vapour production is modest.

MTL is common with:

• Prefilled reusable vapes
• Small refillable pod kits
• Vape pens

RDL: Restricted Direct to Lung

You inhale directly into your lungs through moderately restricted airflow.

RDL is especially common with:

• More powerful refillable pod kits
• Pod mods
• Lower-powered sub-ohm setups

DTL: Direct to Lung

You inhale directly through a much more open airflow, creating considerably more vapour.

DTL is common with:

• Powerful pod mods
• Vape mods with sub-ohm tanks

Our guide to how to inhale a vape explains all three techniques in more detail.

Pod vs Tank: What’s the Difference?

One of the easiest ways to understand different types of vapes is to look at the component holding the e-liquid.

Pods

A pod is usually made primarily from plastic and connects directly to a particular family of devices.

Pods may contain:

• A permanently installed coil.
• A removable replaceable coil.
• Prefilled e-liquid.

They’re compact, light and convenient but normally proprietary. An OXVA pod, for example, isn’t something you can simply attach to an unrelated device.

Tanks

A traditional vape tank is normally made from metal and glass and screws onto the top of a mod.

Many use the standard 510 connection, allowing one mod to work with a variety of compatible tanks.

That makes the traditional mod-and-tank approach more modular, while pod systems prioritise simplicity and compact size.

Which Type of Vape Is Best for Beginners?

For most beginners, the two easiest choices are:

• A prefilled reusable vape if you want the least possible maintenance.
• A refillable pod kit if you want better flavour and e-liquid choice with lower long-term running costs.

A simple refillable pod is generally the best all-round option if you don’t already know what you want. It gives you access to bottled e-liquid without requiring you to understand wattage settings, external batteries or sub-ohm tanks.

You can browse the full Vape Kits collection to compare simple pod systems, more powerful kits and mod-style devices.

Which Type of Vape Is Best for Former Disposable Users?

If you want your new vape to behave as much like a disposable as possible, choose a prefilled reusable system.

You’ll continue replacing prefilled e-liquid components rather than filling a pod yourself.

If you’re willing to tolerate a little extra maintenance, though, a refillable pod gives you much more choice. You can use different brands of bottled e-liquid and change nicotine strength without buying an entirely different refill system.

Which Type of Vape Produces the Biggest Clouds?

A full vape mod with a high-output DTL tank still offers the greatest potential vapour production.

Powerful pod mods can come surprisingly close, though, and this is one of the biggest changes in modern vape hardware.

You no longer necessarily need a large box mod simply because you want an airy RDL or DTL vape.

Which Type of Vape Has the Best Flavour?

There isn’t one answer.

A powerful DTL device vaporises more e-liquid at once, which can make flavours feel warmer and more intense. That doesn’t automatically mean the flavour is better.

A good MTL pod can reproduce tobacco, menthol and delicate fruit flavours extremely well while using much less liquid.

Coil quality, airflow, wattage and e-liquid formulation matter more than the category name on the device.

Which Type of Vape Uses the Least E-Liquid?

Low-powered MTL devices generally use the least e-liquid.

A small refillable pod operating at modest wattage produces much less vapour per puff than a high-output DTL mod, so it naturally consumes less liquid.

This also affects nicotine choice. Small MTL systems can use higher-strength liquids because each puff contains relatively little aerosol, while powerful DTL vapes are normally paired with much lower nicotine strengths.

Which Vape Type Has the Best Battery Life?

A large mod can physically hold much more battery capacity than a tiny pod, but battery life isn’t determined by capacity alone.

Power consumption matters too.

A small MTL pod may have a modest battery but only operate at around the low end of the wattage scale. A powerful mod can have several times the battery capacity while consuming energy far more quickly.

For everyday use, modern refillable pods and pod mods often strike the best balance between battery size and power consumption.

How to Choose Between the Different Types of Vapes

Instead of starting with a product name, ask yourself a few questions.

Do You Want to Fill the Vape Yourself?

If not, start with a prefilled reusable system.

If you’re happy to open a bottle and refill a pod occasionally, a refillable pod gives you far more e-liquid choice.

Do You Want a Cigarette-Like Draw?

Choose a small MTL pod or prefilled system.

Do You Want More Vapour Without a Huge Device?

A pod mod or more powerful RDL pod kit is probably the sweet spot.

Do You Want Maximum Control?

A regulated vape mod with a separate tank gives you the greatest freedom to adjust wattage, airflow and hardware.

How Important Is Portability?

Small pods disappear into a pocket. Large dual-battery mods rather announce that they’ve arrived.

If you carry your vape everywhere, size and weight deserve just as much consideration as maximum wattage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of vapes?

The main modern categories are prefilled reusable vapes, refillable pod kits, pod mods, vape pens and vape mods. These categories overlap because some terms describe the shape of the device while others describe how the e-liquid is stored or how much power the device provides.

What type of vape is best?

There’s no single best type. A refillable pod kit offers the best balance for many users, while prefilled systems prioritise convenience, pod mods provide more power and traditional vape mods provide the greatest level of control.

What type of vape is best for beginners?

A small refillable MTL pod kit is usually the best all-round starting point because it’s easy to use, compact and compatible with a wide range of bottled e-liquid. A prefilled reusable device is even simpler if you don’t want to refill anything yourself.

What is the difference between a pod vape and a vape mod?

A pod vape uses a compact proprietary plastic pod to hold the e-liquid and coil. A traditional vape mod usually uses a separate glass-and-metal tank and offers considerably more power and adjustment.

What is a pod mod?

A pod mod combines pod-system convenience with some of the power and control of a traditional vape mod. Pod mods commonly offer adjustable wattage, larger batteries, airflow control and lower-resistance coils while remaining more compact than most mod-and-tank setups.

Is a pod mod better than a vape mod?

It depends on what you value. Pod mods are generally smaller and simpler, while full vape mods offer greater hardware flexibility, battery options and maximum power. A pod mod is often the better middle ground for someone who has outgrown a basic pod but doesn’t want a large mod.

What is the difference between a vape pen and a pod vape?

“Vape pen” mainly describes a slim cylindrical shape, while “pod vape” describes a device that holds its liquid in a removable pod. A modern device can therefore be both a vape pen and a pod system.

Are disposable vapes still legal in the UK?

Single-use disposable vapes can no longer legally be sold or supplied in the UK. The ban took effect on 1 June 2025. Reusable rechargeable systems with replaceable e-liquid components remain available.

What is the difference between MTL, RDL and DTL vapes?

MTL devices have tight airflow and are inhaled mouth-to-lung. RDL devices provide an airier restricted direct inhale, while DTL devices have open airflow and produce considerably more vapour. These are inhaling styles rather than completely separate hardware categories.

What type of vape uses nic salts?

Nic salts are most commonly used in small MTL and RDL pod systems because those devices produce moderate amounts of vapour. High-strength nic salts are generally unsuitable for powerful DTL vape mods.

What type of vape should I use for big clouds?

A powerful DTL pod mod or a traditional regulated vape mod with a sub-ohm tank will provide the greatest vapour production. Full vape mods generally offer the highest power and widest airflow.

Do pod vapes use less e-liquid than mods?

Usually, yes. Small MTL pods operate at lower power and vaporise less e-liquid per puff. Powerful RDL and DTL mods create much larger volumes of vapour and therefore consume e-liquid more quickly.

Which Type of Vape Should You Buy?

If you want the simplest possible experience, choose a prefilled reusable vape.

If you want a compact device with access to bottled e-liquid, choose a refillable pod kit.

If you like the portability of pods but want adjustable power, stronger airflow and greater vapour production, a pod mod is probably the most interesting category.

If you prefer a slim cylindrical device, a vape pen can still be an excellent simple option.

And if you want maximum power, large batteries and the freedom to choose different tanks, a full vape mod remains the most flexible choice.

The important thing is that you don’t need to choose the most advanced device to get a good vape. Modern pod systems have closed an enormous amount of the performance gap, which means the best hardware is usually the smallest and simplest device that still does everything you actually want it to do.