Top Defining Developments in the Vape Industry up to 2024

The vaping industry is among one of the fastest moving markets in history. By 2030, it’s projected that the global e-cigarette market will reach an astonishing value of $182.84 billion.

Only two decades ago in 2003, the first e-cigarette model was developed by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik. This incredible introduction brought with it one crucial selling point for millions of people: a potentially less harmful alternative to smoking.

Now, there is well founded evidence from both scientists and medical professionals that this speculation is in fact true. In a recent study from 2018, PHE evidenced that “e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than cigarettes.” In more recent news, the NHS will be conducting a medical trial with e-cigarettes to help a select number of smokers in A&E quit.

This support has acted as a pivotal turning point for the industry, but what are the top technological developments that have been made? The arrival of beginner-friendly pod-style devices, potent sub-ohm e-cigarettes as well as innovative new features now allow vapers to enjoy a more customisable experience that’s tailored to their needs. Let's look into these defining e-cigarette advancements in more detail.

Trends in Shortfill E-liquids

Shortfill e-liquids were introduced as a practical solution to comply with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) law, which states that eliquid bottles with nicotine cannot exceed more than 10ml.

Sold alongside 10ml nicotine shots, shortfills contain larger amounts (usually 50ml+) of nicotine-free e-liquids, with free space left in the bottle. This space allows users to add nicotine shots, which are flavourless e-liquids that contain nicotine, into the shortfill. This gives vapers a large amount of nicotine e-liquid, while retailers continue to comply with TPD regulations.

As well as being a cost-effective choice, shortfill e-liquids are most popular among intermediate and advanced vapers due to their high VG (Vegetable Glycerin) ratio, which is able to produce dense vapour clouds in powerful sub-ohm kits.

Trends in Sub-ohm Vaping

Sub-ohm vape devices employ a Direct-to-Lung inhalation style, making it the next step up from smaller, beginner-friendly Mouth-to-Lung devices. Popular among more practiced vapers, sub-ohm devices utilise coils with a resistance less than 1.0 Ohm (Ω) to more aggressively vapourise e-liquids.

As sub-ohm vape kits are vaped with high VG (Vegetable Glycerin) e-liquids, vapers can experience smoother, bigger flavours with satisfying deep-lung hits.
These devices are also characterised by their adjustable wattage, voltage, temperature, and customisable airflow functions. In turn, all of these features offer users a more involved experience and the opportunity to experiment with different power outputs for a bespoke vape.

Advancements in Vape Kits: AIO

There are currently four main types of vape kits on the market; these being starter kits, pod style kits, pen style kits, and sub-ohm kits. Starter kits and pen style kits are also available in the form of an AIO (All in One) vape kit, which includes a battery and tank combined.

Requiring no technical knowledge to use, AIO vape kits are uncomplicated to operate and do not need to be assembled by the user. Most, if not all of these vape kits also include a charger to help the user start vaping without delay, making them a practical, user-friendly solution for complete beginners.

Advancements in Vape Kits: Variable Voltage and Variable Wattage

Now found in many e-cigarettes, variable voltage and variable wattage vape kits are two of the most sought-after vaping features.

Variable voltage is used to adjust the level of volts to achieve the user’s preferred temperature. With variable wattage, vapers can set their e-cigarettes’ watts, and the device will automatically adjust the voltage to a suitable amount. Both of these adjustable functions can help to tailor the user’s vaping experience, offering more flexibility and the chance to try different power outputs.

More specifically, vapers can achieve their desired flavour, throat hit, as well as the volume of vapour with these convenient features. Variable wattage and variable voltage can be used together, or as a singular function - this will depend on the degree of control that the user wants.

Trends in Top-filling Vape Tanks

Compatible with larger e-cigarettes known as vape mods, vape tanks have the purpose of housing e-liquids and the device' coil. While bottom-fill and side-fill tanks are also widely used, top-filling vape tanks are now by far the most convenient choice for vapers.

Distinguished by their removable mouthpiece, these types of tanks allow users to easily re-fill with their favourite e-liquids from the top of the tank rather than having to remove it first.

Top-filling tanks simply require the user to partly or fully unscrew the top of the tank, ensuring a smooth, mess-free experience in comparison to bottom-fill and side-fill tanks.

Trends in Vape Mods: Bypass Mode

Bypass is considered to be one of the simpler advanced modes now available for vapers. This intelligent mode is used to remove both wattage and voltage output in vape mods in order for it to perform like a mechanical mod.

Essentially, this feature is able to automatically deliver a power output that is level with the device’s current battery charge. While this mode “bypasses” the features of vape mods, it still retains the device’s included safety protections, and imposes the same wattage limits that a mod itself would.