Starting vaping has never been the same since the release of the Juul. The device really kick-started the world of pod system vaping, and salt nic devices like the Juul became the go-to method to quit smoking for the newest converts.
Since then, vapers looking for refillable Juul pods drove the industry to create a wealth of Juul alternative devices, which generally take the core formula and improve on it in various ways.
In particular, many of the pod system vapes on the market today allow you to refill the pods and replace the coil, as well as sometimes having features more like a traditional vape mod incorporated too.
But what’s the best pod system to start vaping? We’ve put together a top 10 of pod mods to help you find the right one for you.
Best Pod Vapes (Juul Alternatives) in 2020
10 – Suorin Drop
The Suorin Drop is more of a basic pod system than some of the others on this list, but its simplicity is a big part of its charm. The device has an “automatic” draw, which means you just take a puff from the end to vape in the same way you would from a cigarette, but it has a unique teardrop shape that will definitely turn heads. It has 2 ml pods, which are completely refillable with your favorite salt nicotine e-juice (or any juice with less than 70% VG), and it works at 13 W on a full charge, decreasing as you work through the charge. The battery is a little small, at 310 mAh, but for the low power output this can still last you most of a day, and it makes the device impressively portable.
9 – Aspire Nautilus AIO
The Nautilus AIO earns our pick as the 9th best pod system on the market because it offers the simplicity you’re looking for in a pod system with an impressive amount of flexibility in terms of the coils you can use and great battery life. It comes with two Nautilus BVC coils, both 1.8 ohms in resistance but one intended for nicotine salt e-juice and one for ordinary e-juice. The device has a rectangular shape, but it’s still very portable, and there’s a single button on the front to operate the device. It has a 1,000 mAh battery, and since it puts out 12 W of power, this will last you for over a day of use. The pod itself has a 4.5 ml capacity, and you can easily refill it and the coils are completely changeable. It even has an adjustable airflow system so you can adjust the draw from the device to suit your preferences – which isn’t a common feature on pod-style devices.
8 – Smok Nord 2
The original Smok Nord was an excellent device, but the Nord 2 improves on the battery capacity as well as adding new features that put it well beyond the original unit. One of the main reasons this Smok pod system earns a spot on the list is the variable wattage functionality, which is common with traditional mods but is only just finding its way onto pod systems. You can set the wattage at anywhere up to 40 W on the Nord 2, and this output is supported by the sizable 1,500 mAh capacity battery. It also has a display screen so you can see your setting easily, but it uses just one button for operation, maintaining user-friendliness despite the increase in features. It comes with both an RPM and a Nord pod, both refillable and with 4.5 ml juice capacities, with an RPM mesh coil and a Nord coil included too.
7 – Uwell Caliburn
The Caliburn from Uwell has been one of the most prominent Juul competitors for some time now, with a similar pen-like form but better battery life and refillable pods as standard. You can use the Caliburn as an auto-draw or a button-fire device, and it works at a modest 11 W which makes it perfect for use with nicotine salt e-liquids. The pods are refillable, and you get two 2 ml options when you pick up the device. The battery has a 540 mAh capacity, which isn’t as big as many of the options on this list, but the benefit for the Caliburn comes in the form of portability and discreetness, and it recharges in just 45 minutes. It performs excellently with salt juices, but it’s definitely more of a traditional pod system than many of the other options on this list.
6 – Smok RPM 80
Smok’s “RPM” series are “real pod mods,” which basically means they have the basic operation and style of a pod system, but features more like a traditional vape mod. The RPM 80 makes this best salt nic device list because it offers a huge maximum of 80 W of power, with a 3,000 mAh battery that can get you through a day of vaping even towards the upper end of the power range. It has a pen shape, but features a full-color display screen, with one button to fire and two adjustment buttons to dial in your setting. The device comes with two 5 ml pods (one RPM and one RGC), with 0.4 ohm mesh and 0.17 ohm conical mesh coils included in the starter kit, both of which perform excellently with both salt and ordinary e-juices. It also features adjustable airflow, a convenient side refilling system and a “plug and play” system for installing your coils to make it easy to set up.
5 – Smok Novo 2
The Smok Novo 2 is firmly in the running for the title of best pod system for 2020 because it does a great job of balancing the simplicity vapers are looking for in a pod system with exceptional performance. The Novo has a simple pen-style appearance, and the newer version basically shares a design with the original, but it boosts the battery life to 800 mAh, which is good for 600 puffs on a full charge. The device still works “automatically,” so you just puff to vape, but it comes with a 1.4 ohm mouth-to-lung pod and a 1 ohm mesh coil that boosts the performance even further, with both holding 2 ml of juice and being refillable. If you’re looking for a traditional style pod system (a true refillable Jull alternative), the Novo 2 is the best option on the market.
4 – Vaporesso Target PM80
The Target PM80 from Vaporesso is one of those devices that’s more like a mini vape than a traditional pod system, offering a mod-like experience with the convenience of a pod system. It has a rectangular shape, with a color TFT display screen on the front face, a large fire button above it and two adjustment buttons below. The Target PM80 offers variable wattage vaping at up to 80 W, and comes with two mesh coils (a 0.2 ohm and a 0.3 ohm option), so the performance is in line with many mods on the market. The pod has a 4 ml capacity, and is completely transparent so you can easily see how much juice you have left. The device is powered by a 2,000 mAh battery, which is plenty for a day of vaping, but it also recharges in just 45 minutes.
3 – Voopoo Vinci X
The Vinci X from Voopoo is another pod system that goes far beyond just offering a basic device for those looking for refillable Juul pods. The Vinci X has a lot of the same benefits as the Target PM80, and despite a slightly lower maximum power output of 70 W, it makes up for the reduction in power by boosting the pod capacity to 5.5 ml (although there is also a 2 ml EU version available) and with the new version of the kit coming with five coils. The device also runs on a single 18650 battery which you purchase separately, which might seem like a downside but this gives you more flexibility and allows you to take a spare battery with you if you’re going to be out of the house for a while. The coils included are three mesh options (0.6, 0.45 and 0.3 ohms), a standard coil with a 0.8 ohm resistance and one with a 1 ohm resistance, with the latter two being better-suited to lower power settings and nicotine salt e-juice.
2 – Lost Vape Orion DNA Go
The Lost Vape Orion DNA Go is the king of mid-range salt nic devices, offering a middle-ground between the more mod-like offerings and the simpler options. It looks like a mini box mod, with a simple two-button interface, with a circular fire button and a small button to change the power setting. It offers three power settings, with a maximum output of 40 W, which gives you enough options to get the sort of performance you want without overcomplicating things. The pods don’t have changeable coils, so they’re much more like refillable Juul pods than ordinary vape tanks, and you have the option of a 0.25 ohm or 0.5 ohm pod. The best thing about the Orion DNA Go is that it performs like a champ without any unnecessary complications, making the most of the DNA chipset and offering a substantial 950 mAh internal battery to keep you vaping through the day.
1 – GeekVape Aegis Boost
The Aegis Boost from GeekVape earns our pick for the best pod system or Juul alternative for effectively condensing the benefits of the Aegis series of mods into a pod vaping format. The Aegis Boost offers variable wattage up to 40 W, with a 1,500 mAh internal battery and a waterproof, shockproof and dustproof design. It has more of a mod-like appearance than many of the options on this list, but it’s still very portable and has a fairly simple interface, with a firing switch, small display screen and a rocker button to change your setting. The Aegis boost comes with 3.7 ml pods, with a 0.6 ohm mesh coil included with the kit as standard. It has a simple refilling valve on the top, and of course the coils are changeable, with mouth-to-lung friendly coils also available for the device.
Conclusion
The range of Juul alternative devices on the market has increased dramatically over the past couple of years. With simplicity and excellent performance finally together in so many devices, there really has never been a better time to start vaping. The only challenge is finding the right pod system for your needs, but really there are so many great options that as long as you read a few reviews and consider the options carefully, you’re bound to get something great.