Why IQOS is not an electronic cigarette?

In recent years, electronic cigarettes have gradually become an option to bear in mind for smokers looking for alternatives to the traditional cigarette.

Even though the goal of this webpage isn’t to provide information on electronic cigarettes, in order to understand what IQOS is and why it is not part of this category of products, it is important that you know what they are. Pay close attention; below, we will provide you with a clear, concise explanation of everything you need to know about them and the different types available on the market.

Electronic cigarettes or “vaporisers” are electronic inhalation systems. They work with a small battery and a heating unit (atomiser), which heats a liquid solution that is then converted into vapour. They were originally designed to simulate and/or replace consumption of traditional cigarettes.

IQOS is a different alternative, an electronic device that heats tobacco instead of burning it. Designed with rounded lines and featuring advanced HeatControl™ technology, it is an elegant, intuitive, very much user-friendly device. Here at Philip Morris International, we have launched this revolutionary device for adult smokers looking for an alternative to both the traditional cigarette and electronic cigarettes. The main difference as compared with electronic cigarettes is that IQOS does not heat a liquid solution; rather it was conceived to be used with heated tobacco stick, especially designed for this device.

Electronic cigarettes are filled with liquids, which are responsible for generating the vapour inhaled by its consumers. The operating procedure is simple: by heating the liquid, the vapour is transformed into smoke, hence the term “vape” or “vaping”.

Many people ask if electronic cigarettes contain tobacco and the answer is no: instead of tobacco, they use liquids that, although not containing tobacco may contain nicotine, depending on the liquid chosen.

The main components of these liquids are:

The liquids are available in a wide range of different flavours: tobacco (menthol and fresh), fruit, drinks, sweet and/or savoury flavours and in some, the percentage of nicotine desired can also be chosen.

No, IQOS is not an electronic cigarette. The major difference between IQOS and an electronic cigarette is that IQOS does not use liquids, instead it is used with heated tobacco sticks, which contain nicotine and have been specially designed for IQOS.

IQOS has many advantages, including the fact that it does not produce smoke nor a large cloud of vapour, but rather a tobacco aerosol that disperses quickly.

Another major difference between electronic cigarettes and IQOS is the HeatControl™ technology. Following 10 years of research and development, at Philip Morris International we have finally managed to replace tobacco combustion with its heating. IQOS HeatControl™ technology has been designed to control the temperature of the device heating plate so that tobacco is heated to an optimum temperature, with no need to burn the tobacco, which is what instead happens in traditional cigarettes.

One of the major differences between traditional cigarettes and IQOS is that with IQOS there is no combustion, meaning that there is no risk of burning people, pets, clothes or furniture around you. It also generates no smoke or ash and has a less persistent odour than traditional cigarettes. In short, it’s a better alternative to continuing to smoke cigarettes.

Here at Philip Morris International, we know that the best way to discover the advantages of IQOS is to experience them first-hand: this is why we let IQOS free of charge to smokes who want to try it out. To do so, simple visit the website (es.iqos.com) and request an IQOS trial; an IQOS representative will be on hand to advise you throughout the trial period. Alternatively, if you prefer, contact an authorised IQOS store, where detailed information is available about IQOS, how it works and the relevant advantages.

Both electronic cigarettes and IQOS are a better alternative to smoking. Heating, whether of liquids, as for electronic cigarettes, or produced with IQOS, is a better alternative to combustion, which instead entails all the inconveniences of smoke, ash and the classic cigarette odour.

Anyhow, it is important to remind that neither IQOS nor electronic cigarettes are risk-free.

The best way to buy an IQOS device is via the website store, where you can see all the options made available by IQOS to different types of adult smokers.

Another alternative is to visit an authorised IQOS store. You can use our locator feature of the website to find your nearest store.