Are Refillable Vapes Worth It? | Vaporesso’s Pod Vapes Explained

What Makes a Refillable Pod System Different?

For those who've been living in disposable-only land, refillable pod systems are essentially a middle ground between those simple disposables and more complex mod setups. They typically consist of two main parts:

A battery section (sometimes called the "device" or "battery")

A pod that contains the coil, and you fill with e-liquid

The idea is simple - when your pod runs out of juice, you refill it rather than binning the whole thing. And when the coil eventually dies (usually after 1-2 weeks), you either replace just the coil or get a new pod, depending on the design.

It's a much more environmentally friendly approach than chucking multiple disposables every week, and it tends to work out cheaper in the long run too.

Prefilled vs Truly Refillable: Understanding Your Options

Before diving into Vaporesso's offerings, it's worth understanding the difference between the two main post-ban options you'll be seeing everywhere soon: prefilled kits and truly refillable systems.

Prefilled Vape Kits: Disposables in Disguise?

Let's be honest - prefilled vape kits are essentially just the new fancy way of saying "disposable" after the ban. Manufacturers have found a loophole that keeps them legal by making the battery rechargeable and allowing you to replace the prefilled pods rather than the entire device.

While they're a step up from traditional disposables in terms of saving money and being a bit better for the environment, they still have most of the same limitations:

Limited flavour selection compared to bottled e-liquids
Usually only available in 20mg strength
You're still locked into that manufacturer's ecosystem
Battery life and quality are typically similar to disposables
The prefilled pods are still coming from China with all the same e-liquid

These are fine as a transitional option if you're not ready to make the full leap to refillables, but they're really just disposables that found a way to stay legal.

Truly Refillable Systems: Freedom to Choose

A proper refillable system like Vaporesso's lineup is where you'll find genuine benefits over disposables:

Adjustable airflow so you can fine-tune your draw
Choice of different resistance coils for different vaping styles
Higher quality devices designed to last months or even years
Access to thousands of different e-liquid flavours
Multiple nicotine strength options from 0mg to 20mg
Supporting UK-based e-liquid manufacturers

This last point is worth emphasising - when you use a refillable system with UK-made e-liquid, you're supporting local businesses rather than sending all your money to Chinese manufacturers. And let's be honest, we should all be supporting UK companies wherever we can, especially in the current economic climate.

Vaporesso's Take on Pod Systems

Vaporesso's been one of the more innovative companies in this space, and their current lineup shows they're taking the upcoming ban seriously. Let's look at a few of their standout options:

The Xros Series: Simplicity Done Right

The XROS line has been Vaporesso's flagship pod system for a while now, and with good reason. I've been testing the XROS 4 recently, and it's properly impressive how they've managed to capture the simplicity of disposables in a refillable format.

The draw activation works just like your favourite disposable - no buttons to press if you don't want to. Just inhale and it fires up. But unlike disposables, you can refill the pod when it runs dry and keep using it until the coil eventually gives up the ghost.

What's particularly clever is how they've managed to make refilling dead simple. The top-fill design means you just pop off the mouthpiece, fill it up, and you're good to go - no need to remove the whole pod or faff about with bottom-filling ports that leave your hands covered in e-liquid.

I've found the flavour from the mesh coils to be genuinely impressive too - in many cases better than what you'd get from a disposable. The 0.4Ω pod in particular delivers a proper punch of flavour that's surprised quite a few disposable users who've come into the shop.

And for those keeping an eye on what's next, word has it that the XROS 5 and XROS 5 Mini are just around the corner. I've not managed to get my hands on them yet, but if they're anything like previous upgrades in the XROS series, they'll be taking everything that works about the current models and making it even better. Definitely something to watch out for if you're thinking about making the switch in the coming months.

The Luxe Series: For Those Wanting a Bit More

If you're after something with a bit more oomph, the Luxe series takes things up a notch. The Luxe XR Max and Luxe XR Pro in particular offer a more substantial feel in the hand and a slightly looser draw that's great for those who find typical disposables a bit too restrictive.

What impresses me about the Luxe series is the battery life. The Luxe XR Max packs a serious punch with its battery that'll easily last a full day of vaping, even for heavy users. That's a massive upgrade from disposables that often die halfway through the day if you're using them regularly.

One of the standout features of these devices is their compatibility with the amazing GTX coils. This coil range gives you proper versatility - from tight MTL draws for ex-smokers to looser, cloudier options for those who want more vapour. I've been using the 0.8Ω GTX mesh coil in my Luxe XR Pro for the past week, and the flavour is absolutely spot on - leagues ahead of any disposable I've tried.

The SSS leak-resistant technology is another winner. I've had it in my pocket for days on end without a single drop of leakage - something that can't always be said for cheaper pod systems (or disposables, for that matter).

The Armour Series: Compact Power Houses

For those looking to take a bigger step up, the Armour series offers an interesting middle ground. The Armour G and Armour GS deliver the performance of a mod but in a much smaller form factor, making them perfect for vapers who want more control without the bulk.

I've been particularly impressed with the Armour G during my testing. It's got a proper responsive fire button, adjustable wattage, and a bright display all packed into a pocket-friendly size. The flavour production from the COREX coil technology is seriously impressive - rich, full-bodied, and consistent.

What I love about the Armour series is how they've managed to shrink down the power and features of their full-sized mods without compromising on performance. The Armour GS, in particular, feels like a right little powerhouse in the hand.

If you're coming from disposables but want something with a bit more grunt and customisation, the Armour series bridges that gap nicely without overwhelming you with complexity. It's like getting mod-level performance with pod-system convenience.

The Real Question: Are They Worth It?

After spending years selling both disposables and refillables, and using them myself on the regular, here's my honest take on whether refillable pod systems are worth the switch:

The Cost Factor

This one's a no-brainer. Let's do some quick maths:

Typical disposable vape: £5-£7 each, lasting 2-3 days for an average user.

Monthly cost = £50-£105.

Refillable pod system (like the XROS 4) initial device cost: £24.99.

Replacement pods (4-pack): £9.99, each pod lasting 1-2 weeks.

10ml bottle of e-liquid: £1.99, lasting about a week.

Monthly cost after initial purchase = £15-£25.

Even factoring in the initial outlay for the device, you're looking at significant savings by the second month. Over a year, the difference can easily be somewhere between £300-£500.

I've had customers come back and tell me they've saved enough for a holiday by making the switch - and I believe it. The cost savings alone make refillables worth considering.

The Environmental Angle

This is becoming a bigger concern for many vapers, and rightly so. The sheer volume of disposables ending up in landfill is part of what's driving the upcoming ban.

With a refillable system, you're drastically reducing waste. Instead of binning a battery, circuit board, and plastic casing every few days, you're simply replacing a small coil or pod every couple of weeks.

While walking my dog last weekend, I counted seven discarded disposables on a single path. It's gotten ridiculous, and switching to refillables is a small but meaningful way to reduce your environmental footprint.

The Flavour Experience

This is where it gets subjective, but in my experience, a good refillable pod system with a fresh coil will outperform most disposables when it comes to flavour.

The mesh coils in devices like the XROS 4 deliver a richer, more nuanced flavour profile than the typical disposable. And with refillables, you can choose from thousands of e-liquid flavours rather than being limited to whatever range your disposable brand offers.

I'm a dessert flavour fan myself, and you can't even get a proper dessert flavour like my favourite vanilla custard in a disposable or prefilled vape kit. Those complex, rich flavours are exclusively available in bottled e-liquids for refillable systems. With a refillable, you can explore the entire world of dessert vapes, bakery flavours, creamy concoctions, and other complex profiles that disposable manufacturers don't even attempt to create.

Plus, with a refillable system, you can explore the incredible range of UK-made e-liquids - from complex desserts to authentic fruit blends, bakery flavours to unique beverage options. There are literally thousands to choose from, compared to the few dozen options you might get with prefilled systems.

The Convenience Factor

This is where disposables still have an edge, but the gap is narrowing. There's no denying that the ultimate convenience is just opening a package and vaping, then binning it when you're done.

Refillable systems do require some minimal maintenance - refilling and occasionally replacing coils. But companies like Vaporesso have made this increasingly simple.

With the XROS series, for example, refilling takes about 10 seconds, and replacing a pod takes 5 seconds. It's hardly a massive inconvenience, especially when weighed against the cost savings and better performance.

The Verdict: A Worthwhile Switch for Most

After testing countless pod systems and helping hundreds of customers make the transition from disposables, I'm convinced that for most vapers, refillable pod systems are absolutely worth it - especially with the ban looming.

The combination of cost savings, environmental benefits, and improved performance makes a compelling case. And with companies like Vaporesso continuously refining their offerings to make them more user-friendly, the convenience gap between disposables and refillables is smaller than ever.

If you're currently using disposables and wondering what comes next, I'd recommend giving something like the Vaporesso XROS 4 a try. It's about as close as you'll get to the disposable experience in a refillable format, and it might just surprise you with how good it is. Or if you're willing to wait a bit, keep an eye out for the upcoming XROS 5 and XROS 5 Mini - they're bound to raise the bar even higher.

The upcoming ban is going to force a lot of vapers to make changes, whether they want to or not. But based on my experience, that forced change might end up being a blessing in disguise for your wallet, your vaping experience, and the environment.