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Disposable Vapes - The Good and the Bad
Disposable vapes have become the most popular form of vaping over the years, with big brands like Elf Bar dominating the market with products such as the Elf Bar 600. While disposable vapes have many strengths, there are a few caveats to look out for when deciding what to purchase—namely, the ban on the sale and supply of disposable vapes in the UK, set to come into effect on June 1st, 2025, a topic which we can
But what are disposable vapes' strengths and weaknesses? Well, stick around because we're about to find out!
The Pros of Disposable Vapes
Beginner Friendly
One of the biggest draws of disposable vapes is their beginner-friendly nature. With no complicated settings to fiddle with and no messy refills or coil changes, you can remove them from their packaging and get to vaping immediately.
Big brands such as Elf Bar and Lost Mary provide some of the most popular devices designed for immediate use. These devices have delicious flavours and simple auto-draw inhalation activation.
This straightforward, puff-and-go approach takes a lot of the uncertainty out of vaping, especially for newcomers, making the transition from smoking very smooth.
Tasty Flavours
Disposable vapes are known for their intense and delicious flavours, which are made even smoother by the nic salt solution they come in. Nic salts help deliver nicotine more effectively and provide a softer hit than their predecessor, freebase e-liquids.
In the early days, tobacco and menthol flavours were the only options, but not anymore! Flavours have come a long way since then, and nowadays, you can indulge in sweet and tangy Blue Razz Lemonade and refreshingly cool Watermelon Ice.
The quality of these flavours has also improved, with manufacturers putting their all into creating smooth, fuller tastes and nuanced flavours.
Low Initial Cost
Suppose you pop into any corner shop or supermarket. In that case, you can usually find a wide range of disposable vapes, costing around £5 each - significantly cheaper than a pack of cigarettes these days. This low price point is particularly tempting for new vapers since you don't have to break the bank every time you purchase one.
Moreover, they can be cheaper in the long run since you don't have to purchase any extra accessories as the device works straight out of the box! New vapers will find this very attractive, especially if they're trying to find out if vaping is them or not.
Portability
Small in form factor and easy to use, disposable vapes can be taken anywhere. They enable vapers with busy lives to have the convenience of a quick vape without the hassle of changing settings or refilling.
Zero Maintenance
Because disposable vapes are self-contained, they require absolutely no maintenance. Simply vape until the device has run out of e-liquid or the battery has run dry, then throw it away and get a new one.
Can be Carried Discreetly
Because of their small size, disposable vapes can easily be transported discreetly in a pocket or a bag, whipped out for a speedy vape, and then stored away just as quickly and easily.
Transition Friendly for Smokers
Smokers looking to quit will find disposable vapes handy tools to aid their move away from smoking. Readily available in practically every corner shop and supermarket and super easy to use, they closely mimic the feel and nicotine hit of cigarettes to give smokers that familiar feeling without all the toxic chemicals.
The Cons of Disposables
Cost Effectiveness
While the initial low cost of disposable vapes is very attractive, they can be pretty expensive in the long run. One disposable vape equals around 600 puffs, which is about the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes, so if you're a regular smoker who goes through a pack in a day or two, then you'll most likely go through a disposable vape in the same amount of time.
Over time, this can add up considerably, and what initially seemed like a cheaper option can soon add up to a pretty penny.
Environmental Impact
Their convenience can't be denied, but neither can their impact on the environment. Since they contain lithium batteries, they shouldn't be thrown away in the general rubbish, but that's what many people do instead of recycling them.
When mistreated, the batteries used in disposable vapes can cause devastating fires. When they decompose in landfill sites, they release toxic chemicals that can cause irreparable environmental damage.
If you'd like to learn more about recycling your disposable vape safely then check out our blog to get clued up.
Small Flavour Pool
The flavours that disposable vapes come in are delicious, that's for sure, but sadly, you only see the same old flavours over and over again, which, let's be real, can get a bit boring after a while.
On the other hand, e-liquid bottles open up a world of flavours you never even knew existed! From sweet and delicious desserts to unique flavours such as Mineral Water (way tastier than it sounds, believe me!)
This opens up a door to thousands of new flavours, and they're much cheaper, too. With Ecigone, you can enjoy a diverse selection of e-liquids at low prices thanks to our price-beat guarantee!
Limitations in Vaping
Disposable vapes aim to mimic the feel and draw of a cigarette with an MTL (Mouth-to-lung) feel, and while that's great, especially for those just coming off of tobacco products, there are a whole host of vaping experiences you're missing out on!
Different refillable devices, such as pod vape kits and sub-ohm vape kits, can provide different experiences, such as RDL (Restricted Direct Lung) vaping and DTL (Direct to Lung), which helps you produce large, voluminous vapour clouds—something that many vapours enjoy immensely!
These kits also allow for many different layers of customisation, from different resistance pods for pod kits to tweaking temperatures, power output, and much, much more! Switching to refillable vape cartridges will broaden your vaping horizons, and you'll be able to enjoy experiences you would never get with a disposable.
Lasting Ability
Disposable vapes are only good for around 600 puffs, and then they're finished. This limited usage causes vapers to shell out more cash over an extended period to replace them, a cost that can be significantly reduced by switching to a pod kit.
Performance is Impacted
Disposable vapes have one power mode, and that's it. Plus, if anything goes wrong inside one, then that's it; there's nothing you can do to fix it. This can lead to performance issues, leaking e-liquid, and premature device death, which, in the end, will cost you more money.
Too Intense
Nearly all disposable vapes have a fixed nicotine strength of 20 mg. This level may be too intense for some vapers, and going over your nicotine limits can cause various symptoms, including nausea, dizziness and headaches.
Alternatives to Disposable Vaping
As mentioned, there are plenty of alternatives to disposable vapes—something that dedicated disposable vapers may wish to consider with the forthcoming ban on the sale and supply of disposable vapes in the UK from June 1st, 2025.
Pod kits
These are probably going to be the best option since they produce a similar vaping experience to disposable vapes but with far more features. Different pods with varying resistances, different form factors, screens for displaying key vaping information, and even power adjustment are just some of the things you can expect if you decide to pick up a pod kit.
Big Puff Vapes
If you'd rather stick as close to disposable vapes as possible, give big puff vapes a go. These kits have much larger batteries and far higher puff counts than their smaller disposable cousins. Most are even rechargeable and have pre-filled pods to keep you going—but make sure to dispose of the ones that do not have these features correctly!
Pre-Filled Pod Vape Kits
Pre-filled pod vape kits are looking like the latest trend in 2025. These pod vape kits are similar to disposable vapes in size, function, and, in some cases, the device's name. It looks like the manufacturers have found a way to bypass the disposable ban and create very similar products to your favourite disposable vapes, but these devices can be recharged, and they have swappable prefilled pods, which will also make them better on the environment and also more cost-effective then there disposable vape counterparts 2025 is shaping up to be an interested year even after the disposable vape ban in June.
Making the Most of Your Disposable Vapes
If you're a disposable vape user, then it's a dead cert that you'll want them to last as long as possible. So here are a few handy tips to help extend their longevity.
Pick the Best Disposable Vape
One key to making your disposable vape last longer is picking the best one you can. To find the best disposable vape, take into account the brand, the flavour of e-liquid, and customer reviews about the item. These should give you a good indication of what to go for. Because disposable vapes are so cheap, you can try out a couple to see what works best.
Keep Puff Length to a Minimum
It goes without saying that the longer your puffs are, the quicker your e-liquid reserves will run out. Try taking shorter puffs and spacing them out. That way, your device will last longer, and you won't have to replace it as often.
Store Your Disposable Vape Correctly
Keeping your vape in a room-temperature environment and away from heat sources like direct sunlight can also help it last longer. Your disposable will only last for a limited time anyway, so the better you look after it, the longer you can extend its life span.
Don't Chain Vape
Chain vaping or taking puffs one after another for an extended period can quickly drain your e-liquid. Consider spacing out your puffs throughout the day. This, combined with short puffs, will significantly increase the longevity of your disposable vape.
Pros and Cons - Summary
To round things off, here's a quick summary of the pros and cons of disposable vapes that we've discussed throughout the blog.
Super convenient
Easy to use
Cheap in the short term
Strong flavours
Zero maintenance
Highly portable
Fixed nicotine strengths
One-and-done devices - must be thrown away when finished
Expensive in the long term
Will be banned in the UK from June 2025
Bad for the environment
Short lifespan
Small flavour pool
Limited flexibility