Welcome to vaping! We know its an exciting time, but we also know the sheer amount of options can be overwhelming. We're here to help you through it.
The first thing you need to know: the difference between pod systems and disposable vapes.
1. What is the main difference between pod systems and disposable vapes?
The key difference between pod systems and disposable vapes are that with pod systems you keep the device (also known as the battery) and just replace the pods and with disposable vapes, you replace the entire vape when its time for a new one.
Disposable vapes are much easier to use and tend to be cheaper in the short-term, but pod systems are more reliable and are much more affordable in the long-term.
2. What is the difference in cost between pod systems and disposable vapes?
The entry-cost of disposable vapes ranges from R100 to R350, and every time you need a new one you pay that full amount again.
Whereas with pod systems the total starting price ranges anywhere from R500 to R800 which includes the device, a refillable pod, and a bottle of e-liquid. However, in the future for the pod systems you only need to replace the e-liquid and the refillable pods. We'll refer to these pod systems as "Refillable E-Liquid Pod Systems".
There are pod systems that don't use refillable pods but rather use replacement prefilled disposable pods. We'll refer to these as "Prefilled Disposable Pod Systems".
3. How long does a disposable vape last versus a pod system?
Most disposable vapes come with advertised "puff counts" (i.e. the number of puffs you can expect to get from the vape); however, these can be grossly exaggerated.
Your best bet to understand the value you're getting for your money is to look at the milliliters of e-liquid you're getting in the disposable vape and compare that to a comparable refillable e-liquid bottle or prefilled disposable pod.
You can usually find these under the "Specifications" tab on a given product page on our online store.
In general we've found that a milliliter (1ml) of e-liquid can be anywhere between 100 and 250 actual puffs.
4. Lets break-down a real-life example by comparing a popular disposable versus a popular refillable and prefilled disposable pod system in terms of cost
The Example Disposable Vape
One of our best selling disposable vapes is the AirsPops ONE USE XV 15ml Disposable Vape, so we'll use that for our example.
The Example Refillable E-Liquid Pod System
For our refillable pod system, we'll use a beginner-friendly system called the Airscream Pro LITE Device and our most popular e-liquid: the 313 AirsPops E-Liquid 30ml E-Liquid.
The Example Prefilled Disposable Pod System
For our prefilled pod system, we'll use the popular AirsPops XL device and their Prefilled Disposable Pods.
At the time of writing, the price for each of these is:
- AirsPops ONE USE XV 15ml Disposable Vape: R349
- Airscream Pro LITE Starter Device: R299
- 313 AirsPops E-Liquid 30ml: R309
- AirsPops XL Device: R199
- AirsPops XL Prefilled 10ml Disposable Pod: R189
90 Day Cost Example:
For this example analysis, we'll look at the cost of pod systems vs disposables over a 90 day period.
- The Disposable Vape starting cost will be R349;
- The Refillable E-Liquid Pod System starting cost will be the Pro LITE Device, a pack of two refillable pods, and the 313 AirsPops E-Liquid: R757. The cost of replacement refillable pods in this case will be R149 for two pods and we will assume that one refillable pod works optimally for ±15ml of e-liquid.
- The Prefilled Disposable Pod System starting cost will be the AirsPops XL and the associated Prefilled Disposable Pods: R388.
Lets say that you on average use 2ml of e-liquid per day while vaping. This can vary by user. With these assumptions, for the disposable vape you will need a new vape every 7 days, for the Refillable E-Liquid Pod System you will need a new bottle every 2 weeks and new pods every 2 weeks, and for the Prefilled Disposable Pod System you will need a new pod every 5-7 days (lets assume 5 pods per month).
| Week | Pod System (Refillable Pods) | Pod System (Prefilled Pods) | Disposable Vape |
| 1 | R299 + R309 + R149 = R757 | R199 + R189 = R388 | R349 |
| 2 | R0 | R189 | R349 |
| 3 | R309 + R149 = R458 | R189 + R189 = R378 | R349 |
| 4 | R0 | R189 | R349 |
| Month 1 Totals | R1215 | R1144 | R1396 |
| 5 | R309 + R149 = R458 | R189 + R189 = R378 | R349 |
| 6 | R0 | R189 | R349 |
| 7 | R309 + R149 = R458 | R189 | R349 |
| 8 | R0 | R189 | R349 |
| Month 2 Totals | R916 | R945 | R1396 |
| 9 | R309 + R149 = R458 | R189 + R189 = R378 | R349 |
| 10 | R0 | R189 | R349 |
| 11 | R309 + R149 = R458 | R189 | R349 |
| 12 | R0 | R189 | R349 |
| Month 3 Totals | R916 | R945 | R1396 |
| Overall 3 Month Cost | R3047 | R3034 | R4188 |
So in summary, the Refillable E-Liquid Pod System and the Prefilled Disposable Pod System come in at roughly the same amount whereas the Disposable Vape comes in at 28% more than the pod systems over time.
If Pod Systems are so much more affordable than Disposable Vapes, why do Disposable Vapes exist?
Great question! There are instances and circumstances in which you might want to choose a disposable vape.
- Disposable vapes are a lot more convenient for the average casual vaper. They are hassle-free, there are a million different brands and flavours to try, and if you lose it in your busy-life - no biggy. You were going to need to get another one next week anyway.
- They're a great introduction to vaping and allow you to try out different flavours and brands without committing long term through the investment of a refillable pod system.
- Some people just prefer not having to refill their pods!
Now that you understand the difference, what's next?
Once you understand whether you'd like a refillable pod system or a disposable vape, your next step is to choose one to get started.
For the best disposable vapes in South Africa, check out our Disposable Vape collection. You won't find a better selection of premium disposables at such great prices anywhere else in South Africa.
If you're wanting to dive into the world of refillable pod systems, check out our collection of entry-level refillable pod systems.
