Electronic cigarettes IQOS

6 Oct 2023

How do electronic cigarettes work? Why is IQOS different?

If you are interested in alternatives to the traditional cigarettes, you may have heard about e-cigarettes. These have gained popularity over the last few years, but do you really know what e-cigarettes are and how they work? In this article, we will explain in detail what they are, their components, and how they work. In addition, we will establish a comparison between these electronic devices and IQOS devices to understand their similarities and differences.

What are electronic cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes are devices designed in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Some of them imitate cigarettes, cigars or traditional pipes. But they are also available in forms as diverse as pencils, cartridges and tanks.
These devices do not contain and are not used with tobacco, nor do they produce combustion, but rather heat a liquid solution through a heat source, creating an aerosol or smoke vapor that is inhaled by the user.

What are the components of e-cigarettes?

To understand how electronic cigarettes work, it is necessary to know what their components are. Even though there are a multitude of e-cigarette designs, most have the following essential components in common:
  • Liquid or e-liquid:
    It is the essential component of electronic cigarettes. E-liquids are available in a wide variety of flavors.
  • Atomizer:
    The atomizer or clearomizer stores the liquid to be vaporized. Some atomizers are transparent, allowing the user to check the amount of liquid remaining.  These vary in capacity and design, affecting the amount of liquid that can be stored and the frequency of refilling.
  • Resistance or heater:
    The resistance is a coiled wire in the form of a spiral that, through an electric current, heats up, generating the e-cigarette liquid to vaporize.
  • Battery:
    The battery is responsible for providing the energy necessary to activate the heater. There are different types of batteries, from small and compact to larger capacity batteries that offer greater autonomy of use.
  • Activation buttons or sensors:
    Some electronic cigarettes have buttons to activate the device and start the vaporization process. Others have activation sensors that detect inhalation and activate the resistance.
  • Mouthpiece:
    The mouthpiece is the part of the electronic cigarette where the vapor generated is inhaled. It can be made of different colors and materials, such as plastic or metal. Mouthpieces can also vary in shape: flat or round.

How do electronic cigarettes work?

The operation of electronic cigarettes involves a controlled vaporization process. When the user inhales from the device through the mouthpiece, the battery activates the heating element, which heats the liquid and transforms it into a vapor that is inhaled. This vapor transports nicotine and flavors to the user without burning tobacco or generating smoke.

Differences between IQOS devices and electronic cigarettes

IQOS
Like e-cigarettes, IQOS devices share the goal of providing a non-combustion and smokeless experience, but IQOS presents a number of differences from e-cigarettes.
First and foremost: no, IQOS is not an electronic cigarette. It is an electronic device that heats tobacco instead of burning it. In other words, unlike electronic cigarettes, which are used with a liquid solution, IQOS devices work with tobacco units which have been specially made for this purpose.
These devices are subjected to extensive scientific evaluation before they get into the hands of adult smokers.
IQOS tobacco heaters are developed by scientists and engineers at international research centers, and have advanced technologies such as the innovative SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™, which prevent tobacco combustion and reduce the amount of harmful substances emitted compared to cigarettes.
In fact, IQOS is the only tobacco heating system qualified by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as a  Modified Risk Tobacco Product.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive.