A vape pod is the small cartridge that holds e-liquid and clips onto a battery to make a pod vape. The pod is where the e-liquid sits and where the coil heats it into vapour; the battery underneath powers the coil. Together the two parts are called a pod kit or pod system. Some pods are refillable from a 10ml bottle, others come prefilled and sealed, and some have a coil you can change while others have the coil built in.
The parts of a pod vape
Every pod vape has the same three working parts, whatever the brand. Once you know what each one does, the jargon on product pages makes a lot more sense.
| Part | What it does | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pod (cartridge) | Holds the e-liquid and clips onto the battery | UK rules cap refillable pods and tanks at 2ml |
| Coil | A small heating element wrapped in cotton that turns liquid into vapour | Built into the pod or replaceable on its own |
| Battery (the device) | Powers the coil when you draw or press a button | Rechargeable, usually by USB-C |
When you are ready to choose one, compare refillable pod kits by pod size, coil options and battery.
The 2ml limit comes from the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, which cap the tank or pod on any refillable e-cigarette at 2ml. So the small size of a pod next to the old tank devices comes from the law rather than from any brand's design choice.
The three types of vape pod
Refillable pods
A refillable pod has a small port, usually under a rubber bung, that you fill from a 10ml bottle of e-liquid. You choose the flavour and strength each time. Most refillable pods are used with nic salts, which suit the low power of a pod kit. Filling one takes a minute once you have done it a few times, and our guide to refilling a vape pod covers the steps and how to avoid leaks.
Prefilled pods
A prefilled pod arrives sealed with e-liquid already inside. When it runs out, or the flavour fades, you throw the pod away and click in a new one. They are the closest thing to the old disposables and need no bottles at all, but you can only use the flavours the brand makes for that device, and the pods cost more per ml than bottled nic salt.
Pods with a replaceable coil
Some refillable pods let you pull the coil out and fit a fresh one, so the plastic pod lasts much longer. Others have the coil sealed inside, and you replace the whole pod when the coil wears out. Our guide to vape coils explains resistance, mesh coils and how to change one.
| Refillable pod | Prefilled pod | |
|---|---|---|
| How you fill it | From a 10ml bottle | Comes filled and sealed |
| Flavour choice | Any e-liquid that suits the device | Only that brand's pod flavours |
| Ongoing cost | Lower: a bottle fills several pods | Higher per ml |
| Effort | A minute to refill | Click in a new pod |
| Coil | Built in or replaceable | Built in |
Open pod systems vs closed pod systems
You will often see pod devices described as open or closed. An open pod system uses an empty pod that you fill yourself, so any compatible e-liquid can go in it. A closed pod system only takes the brand's own sealed pods. In practice, open pod means refillable and closed pod means prefilled, and the choice comes down to whether you want freedom over your vape juice or no bottles at all.
A prefilled pod kit usually sells the battery with a starter pod, then replacement pods in packs. Many hold 2ml, the most a prefilled pod can contain under UK rules, so 2ml prefilled pods are the norm. A refillable pod kit comes with one or two empty pods, and you buy replacement pods, or just the coils, as they wear out.
How a pod vape works
When you draw on the mouthpiece, a sensor in the battery (or a button on some devices) sends power to the coil. The coil heats the e-liquid soaked into its cotton wick, and the vapour travels up the pod's chimney to the mouthpiece. Fresh liquid then soaks back into the cotton, ready for the next puff.
Pod kits are built for mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping: a slower, tighter draw where you hold the vapour in your mouth before inhaling, much like a cigarette. That style, and the lower power, is why most people use nic salts in a pod. If you are not sure what nic salts are, start with what are nic salts.
Are pod vapes easy to use?
For most vapers, yes. That is the main reason pod vapes took over from tanks for people switching from cigarettes or disposables. Many pod devices fire automatically when you inhale, so there are no buttons or settings to learn; others have a single button and perhaps two or three power levels. Each puff feels close to a cigarette: a gentle draw, a short pause, then inhale.
The vaping style matters here. Pod kits are designed for MTL vaping, so if you try to pull a big lungful straight in, the draw will feel tight. The tight draw is intentional: it suits nic salts and keeps each puff controlled, which is a big part of why the vaping experience on a pod feels familiar to ex-smokers.
Pod vape vs other vapes
The word vape covers several kinds of device. A pod vape sits between the two extremes: smaller and simpler than a tank, but refillable and rechargeable, unlike the single-use disposables that were banned from sale in the UK from 1 June 2025.
| Device | Typical e-liquid | Draw | Refillable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pod kit | Nic salts, 5mg to 20mg | Mouth-to-lung | Yes, or prefilled pods |
| Sub-ohm tank kit | Freebase, low strength | Direct-to-lung | Yes |
| Single-use disposable | Nic salt, sealed | Mouth-to-lung | No (banned from sale in the UK) |
If you are moving from disposables and want to know what to buy, our disposable vape alternatives guide compares pod kits and prefilled pod systems for that switch.
Pod kit, pod mod or vape tank?
Three names cause most of the confusion. A pod kit is the small device this guide is about. A pod mod is a larger pod device with a bigger battery, a screen and adjustable power, and it often takes pods with a range of coils, so it can do both MTL and lighter direct-to-lung vaping. A vape mod with a vape tank is the traditional setup: a box-shaped battery and a glass tank that holds more liquid and runs lower-resistance coils for big clouds.
| Pod kit | Pod mod | Mod with vape tank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Pocket-sized | Larger, often with a screen | Largest |
| Power | Fixed or a few levels | Adjustable | Adjustable, high |
| Usual liquid | Nic salts | Nic salts or freebase | Freebase, high VG |
| Best for | New vapers, ex-smokers | Vapers who want more control | Cloud and flavour chasers |
What to look for in a refillable pod vape kit
- Coil options: refillable pod kits with replaceable coils cost less to run than ones where the whole pod is the coil.
- Fill port: a side or top fill with a firm bung is easier and less messy than a pod you have to take apart.
- Airflow: an adjustable airflow lets you tighten the draw for MTL vaping or loosen it slightly.
- Battery and charging: USB-C charging is standard now; a bigger battery means fewer top-ups.
- Pods and coils in stock: check that replacement pods are easy to buy before you choose a device.
What goes in a pod
Refillable pods take 10ml bottles of e-liquid. Nic salts are the usual choice because they deliver nicotine smoothly at the low power a pod runs on. The three ranges we cover are all made for pods: Elfliq, Elux Legend and Bar Juice 5000. You can browse every nic salt by strength or flavour and pick the strength that matches your old habit with our strength guide.
Most nic salts are mixed 50/50 PG to VG, which wicks well in the small coils inside a pod. Thick, high-VG liquids can struggle. See PG/VG ratio explained for why.
Looking after a pod
- Let a new or refilled pod stand for a few minutes before vaping so the cotton soaks through. Our coil priming guide explains why.
- Keep the pod at least a quarter full. Running it dry is the quickest way to burn the cotton.
- Wipe the contacts on the pod and the battery now and then with a dry tissue; a drop of liquid there can stop the device firing.
- Replace the pod, or its coil, when the flavour turns flat or harsh. A burnt taste usually means it is time.
Questions readers ask
What is the difference between a vape and a pod vape?
Vape is the general word for any e-cigarette. A pod vape is one type: a small battery with a clip-on pod that holds the e-liquid and coil, usually used with nic salts for a mouth-to-lung draw.
Are vape pods refillable?
Some are. Refillable pods are filled from a 10ml bottle; prefilled pods come sealed and are replaced when empty. The product listing always says which type a device uses.
How big is a vape pod?
Refillable pods in the UK hold up to 2ml, the legal limit for any refillable tank or pod under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
What e-liquid goes in a vape pod?
Most people use nic salts in a pod, at 5mg, 10mg or 20mg. Browse all nic salts or start with the strength guide.
What is the difference between a pod kit and a pod mod?
A pod mod is a larger pod device with a bigger battery and adjustable power, often with a screen. A pod kit is smaller and simpler, made for mouth-to-lung vaping with nic salts.
How long does a vape pod last?
It depends on the pod and how much you vape. A pod with a built-in coil is replaced when the coil wears out; a pod with a replaceable coil can last much longer. Change it when the flavour fades or tastes burnt.