Updated for 2024: Buying an electronic cigarette is one of the best ways of quitting smoking and improving your life.
As of today, e-cigarettes are among the most popular smoking cessation aids in the UK. And there’s a reason for that – they do work.
Although until quite recently medical experts were against the idea of vaping, in the last couple of years they have started to recognise the importance of e cigs as an effective way of giving up the habit and medical professionals are now even starting to recommend their use.
However, just buying an e cig without doing your research can result in a waste of money. Or even worse, product defects can lead to explosions and serious health risk.
Although there is an enormous range of e cig products available online, if you make the mistake of buying a poor quality product you risk putting yourself off vaping for life, and since it has many proven health benefits over smoking, this would be a terrible shame.
We’ve taken the time to gather together customer reports and internal testing research to determine what are the most reliable, quality, and effective e cig brands out on the UK market today in 2024.
We have done all the hard work in identifying which e-cigarettes are the safest, promise the best vaping experience and also represent the best value for money to save you the time and effort of doing all the research yourself.
Here, we have listed some of the best e cigarette starter kits and disposables so you can be confident that you are choosing the right e cig for you to get started with vaping.
What is the Best E Cig Kit For You?
V2 Vsavi Classic Kit (Best E-Cigarette)
The cigarette-shaped e-cigarette – also known as the “cigalike” – was the first type of vaping device that really gained traction and popularity around the world, and there’s a good reason why cigalikes are still on the market today: They work.
Out of all the different types of vapes, only a cigalike gives you the true feel of an authentic cigarette. It’s the only type of vape that you can hold between two fingers or let hang from your lips if you feel like doing your best Humphrey Bogart impression. If you want authenticity, this is the type of vape you want.
The V2 Vsavi e-cigarette is a real classic of the vaping industry. It’s a tried-and-true product that’s been loved by users for more than a decade and has proven to be rock-solid reliable.
Using the V2 Vsavi e-cigarette is unbelievably simple. Just charge the battery through the included USB charger, screw on a cartridge and either puff or hold the button to vape. The V2 Vsavi Classic Kit includes one puff-activated battery and one push-button battery, so you can decide for yourself which vaping style you prefer.
The V2 Vsavi e-cigarette has more flavour options than most pre-filled vaping devices. There are 14 different flavours in all, including an impressive four tobacco flavours and four menthol flavours along with several sweeter options.
V2 Cigs also offers pre-filled cartridges in four different nicotine strengths, whereas most pre-filled vaping products are available in just two strengths at the most. V2 Cigs cartridges are available without nicotine and in strengths of 6, 12 and 18 mg/ml.
If you’re looking for a lower-cost alternative to the £34.99 V2 Vsavi Classic Kit, try the £19.99 V2 Vsavi Beginner’s Kit instead. It includes one battery instead of two and four cartridges rather than five.
Would you rather use an e-cigarette that you can refill yourself? Look at the £23.65 V2 Cigs E-Liquid Kit, which includes a refillable cartridge and a bottle of e-liquid. The refillable cartridges generally last through dozens of refills and cost just £14.99 per three-pack.
The V2 Cigs e-cigarette battery works with all of the company’s cartridges, so you’re free to switch between pre-filled and refillable cartridges whenever you like.
Read our full V2 Cigs review to learn more.
V2 Vsavi Pro Series 3 (Best Vape Pen with Removable Tank)
A vape pen is a bit larger than a traditional e-cigarette; think of a small cigar for a size comparison. Although you can’t hold a vape pen between two fingers, the slightly larger size can be beneficial because it allows for better battery life and increased vapour production.
If you’re a heavy smoker and have higher nicotine needs than average, you might want to skip the cigalikes entirely and head straight for a vape pen.
The V2 Vsavi Pro Series 3 is a completely modernised take on what a vape pen should be, and much of this device’s success has to do with the innovative magnetic connection for the cartridge. There’s no way to install the cartridge incorrectly; just drop it in, and it clicks into place automatically.
The V2 Vsavi Pro Series 3 has tight airflow characteristics to deliver a cigarette-like draw, but it offers significantly increased vapour production compared to what you’d get with a cigalike. To use the device, just hold the button and draw the vapour through the mouthpiece. The huge plumes of vapour and assertive throat hit will impress you immediately.
Vape pens are available with removable and built-in tanks. Vape pens with removable tanks like the V2 Vsavi Pro Series 3 are easier to clean. They also make it easier for you to switch between flavours, and flavour swapping is particularly easy with this device thanks to the magnetic cartridges. Just pull a cartridge out and drop in a new one when you’re ready for a new flavour.
V2 Vsavi Pro Series 3 cartridges cost £9.99 each and typically last for about 20 refills. You can use the same tank as long as you like until you’re no longer happy with the flavour.
Read our full V2 Pro Series 3 review to learn more.
XEO Void (Best Vape Pen with Built-in Tank)
Designed in Germany, the XEO Void is a truly impressive piece of engineering that’s slim and pocketable. It also has a bit of heft in the hand, though, which contributes to a great feeling of durability.
The XEO Void has a built-in tank, which means that it works best for people who don’t switch flavours frequently. Having a built-in tank, though, helps to give this device an extremely sleek design. The XEO Void is also very affordable for long-term use. Replacement coils cost just £12.99 per box of five.
The replaceable coil system is easy to use, and parents will also appreciate the fact that the XEO Void has a child-resistant top cap. To remove the cap, push it down and turn it counter clockwise. The chimney assembly and coil are connected to the bottom of the mouthpiece. Twist off the old coil and twist on a new one. Refill the tank and wait a few minutes before you resume vaping – that’s it.
Another great feature of the XEO Void is that the coils are available in two different resistances. Both are included with the starter kit, so you can try them both and find out which one you prefer. Use the 0.6-ohm coil for bigger, warmer clouds. The 1.0-ohm coil, on the other hand, will give you a cooler and smoother experience.
The XEO Void also has a completely unique design element in its mouthpiece. The mouthpiece has a built-in vortex that channels the vapour and focuses it on your palate to ensure maximum depth of flavour. The vortex also blocks hot e-liquid droplets and prevents them from entering your mouth. Once you experience this feature, you’ll wonder why every e-cigarette doesn’t have it.
For those who prefer the direct-to-lung inhaling style, the XEO Void will give you a decent direct-to-lung hit with the 0.6-ohm coil, although the airflow is slightly restricted.
Read our full XEO Void review to learn more.
Elf Bar Elfa Pro (Best Pre-Filled Pod System)
A pre-filled pod system is similar to a traditional e-cigarette in that the e-liquid comes in pre-filled cartridges that you use and then discard when they’re empty.
Pod systems offer the same convenience as e-cigarettes, but they’re a bit larger. They lack the authentic look and feel of cigalikes, but the larger size means that they hold more e-liquid, produce slightly bigger vapour clouds and last a little longer between battery charges.
If you need an e-cigarette that offers better vapour production and don’t mind the fact that your device won’t look like a real cigarette, a pre-filled pod system may be an excellent choice.
The Elf Bar Elfa Pro is our favourite pre-filled pod system. It’s small and stylish and has an excellent flavour selection that includes delicious options like Blue Razz Lemonade, Mango and Cherry Cola.
The Elf Bar Elfa Pro is also compatible with the original non-Pro Elfa pods, giving you more than 30 flavour options in all. The difference is that the Elfa Pro pods have an improved design featuring a mesh coil, which increases the flavour intensity and vapour production.
Otherwise, operation of the Elf Bar Elfa Pro is much the same as with a traditional e-cigarette – just charge the battery, drop in a pod and enjoy.
Elf Bar Elfa pods contain 2 ml of vape juice each and generally last through at least one full day of vaping.
This device does have one drawback compared to the V2 Vsavi Classic Kit in that the pods are only available in one nicotine strength: 20 mg/ml. If you want to reduce your nicotine strength, you’ll need to switch to a different device.
Innokin Arcfire (Best Refillable Pod System)
Pre-filled e-cigarettes are the most convenient vaping devices on the market, but they do have one drawback in that pre-filled pods and cartridges cost more over time than bottled e-liquid. If you want to switch from smoking to vaping and save the most possible money whilst doing it, you’ll definitely want to use a refillable e-cigarette.
The Innokin Arcfire is our favourite refillable pod vape because it has the right combination of simplicity and high-quality design. Sleek and stylish, the Arcfire has great eye appeal thanks to the svelte shape, the metallic outer shell and the tasteful side-mounted battery indicators.
The Arcfire is also an excellent pod system for beginners. Just charge the battery and add e-liquid to the pod through the side filling port, and the device is ready to use.
If you’re new to vaping, you’ll like the fact that the Arcfire doesn’t require messy coil replacements. Just refill the pod until you’re no longer happy with the flavour. At that point, you’ll throw the pod away and switch to a new one. Arcfire pods cost just £5.45 for a pack of two.
The Arcfire is also a good choice if you’re not yet sure of what you want from your vaping experience because the pods are available in two resistances of 0.8 and 1.2 ohm. As with other devices that have multiple resistance options, you can choose the lower-resistance pod for more vapour or the higher-resistance pod for more smoothness.
This device has a few extra features that contribute to convenience and quality of life. When the battery dies, it only takes 30 minutes to bring it back to a 75-percent charge. The Innokin Arcfire also has a power button that allows you to turn the device off, preventing accidental activation when you carry it in your pocket.
Elf Bar 600 V2 (Best Disposable Vape)
Disposable vapes are the most convenient e-cigarettes on the market. Absolutely nothing is simpler than a disposable e-cigarette, which is fully charged and filled with e-liquid at the factory. Just open the device and puff on it, and you’re vaping. A disposable vape lasts about two days before it runs out of vape juice.
Elf Bar is the most popular brand of disposable vape in the world, and we think that the new Elf Bar 600 V2 is the best disposable e-cigarette in the UK. Available in 12 delicious flavours, you’ll have no trouble finding something that suits your palate with options like Apple Peach, Mojito and Cherry Cola.
The Elf Bar 600 V2 is the latest device in Elf Bar’s popular series of disposable vapes. It features an updated metallic design that’s sleek and stylish, but the biggest improvement is under the hood. This device features Elf Bar’s new QUAQ mesh coil, which offers some of the best flavour and vapour production we’ve ever seen from a disposable vape.
Although no type of e-cigarette is more convenient than a disposable vape, this type of vape does have a drawback in that you need to replace the entire device when it runs out of e-liquid. That makes disposable vapes much more expensive than rechargeable vapes in the long run.
Despite that drawback, disposable vapes do have their place. A disposable vape is the quickest and least expensive way to introduce yourself to vaping and find out what it’s like. Disposables might also be appropriate for you if you value convenience above all else and absolutely don’t want to spend any time maintaining a vaping device.
SMOK Novo 5 (Best Vape for Heavy Smokers)
If you’re a heavy smoker, you’re going to want a device that offers a bit more vapour production than a standard small e-cigarette. At the same time, though, you don’t want to get something too complicated if you’re new to vaping and don’t know what you’re doing yet.
We think that the SMOK Novo 5 strikes a perfect balance. It’s a pod system with impressive power, but it’s also easy to use and eliminates some of the more unpleasant hassles of owning a more powerful vaping device.
The SMOK Novo 5 offers full power control and operates within a power range of 5-30 watts. Paired with the 0.7-ohm pod, it produces some seriously impressive clouds. It’s also suitable for either mouth-to-lung or direct-to-lung inhaling thanks to the built-in airflow control dial.
Unlike most pod mods, though, the SMOK Novo 5 doesn’t require messy coil replacements because the pod has a built-in coil. You can continue refilling the pod until you’re no longer happy with the flavour. At that point, you’ll throw the entire pod away and replace it. SMOK Novo 5 pods cost just £7.99 per pack of three.
What E Cig Should I Buy?
When trying to determine what E-cigarette you should buy, there are a few things that you should take into consideration before making that final purchasing decision.
The first thing to consider is what type of products you wish to vape. Before purchasing your e cig you need to know whether you want to vape standard e liquids, CBD oils, waxes, or herbs.
You will need to know this before buying an e cig as each vape device is usually only suited to one or two different vape products.
You should also purchase an e-cig that is fairly easy to clean and maintain, ensuring that it works effectively for a long duration.
Most Popular Vaping Device Types in 2024
The most popular e-cigarette types are:
Traditional E-Cigarettes
A standard Mini E-cig is exactly what it sounds like, a standard vaping option that simulates the smoking sensation and experience. This is the perfect place for beginners to start, especially those who are transitioning from traditional smoking.
However, there are several downsides if you are planning to use them quite often. For example, the battery won’t hold as long as it will with box mods.
Pros:
- Exceptionally simple to use, making it extremely accessible to just about anyone
- Transitioning from traditional smoking is made easy as the sensation and appearance is replicated here
- Very portable and discreet
Cons:
- Usually have a very limited battery life
- Practically no customisation available
Vape Mods
Vape mods (also called box mods) offer a great deal of customisation and personalisation. Vape mods tend to come in two variations: those with an integrated battery and those with replaceable batteries.
Pros:
- Allows for plenty of customisation with plenty of different modes and features to play around with
- Battery life is usually much longer than other vape devices
Cons:
- These devices tend to be marketed towards seasoned vape users
- Vape mods are usually the most expensive vaping option
Pod Vapes
Pod vapes are essentially the halfway point between traditional e-cigarettes and more powerful vape mods. They’re roughly comparable to vape pens in power and vapour production. The difference, though, is that a pod vape stores its e-liquid in a plastic pod rather than a glass tank.
Pod vapes are available in both pre-filled and refillable varieties. Pre-filled pod systems are as easy to use as traditional e-cigarettes. Refillable pod systems, on the other hand, are less expensive in the long run and also provide greater flexibility in your choice of flavour and nicotine strength.
Pros:
- Pre-filled pod systems are just as easy to use as traditional e-cigarettes
- Very portable and lightweight
- Typically offer impressive vapour production and battery life for their small size
Cons:
- Generally don’t provide much flexibility in flavours or nicotine strengths
- Always proprietary and aren’t compatible with third-party pods or tanks
Vape Pens
Vape pens are long and tall vape devices that range in power, battery life and features depending on which model you purchase. There are two primary types of vape pen; those that offer direct-lung vaping, and those that offer mouth-to-lung vaping.
Pros:
- Easy to use and very accessible to newcomers
- Fill it with your choice of E-liquid
- Usually fairly affordable
- Generally decent battery life across devices
Cons:
- Can’t usually make any adjustments like wattage or temperature
- Vape pens don’t often utilise a screen or have additional vaping features like a power mode
Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes are the simplest and most convenient vapes on the market. A disposable vape doesn’t require charging or filling, and it’s ready to use as soon as you unpack it. Just puff and enjoy.
Because disposable vapes are the easiest vaping devices to use – even easier than tobacco cigarettes, in fact, since no lighter is required – they’re extremely popular, especially among new vapers.
The drawback of disposable vapes is that legally, no device can contain more than 2 ml of vape juice and will only last a couple of days. When a disposable vape runs out of e-liquid, you need to replace it. In the long run, that makes disposable vapes the most expensive vaping devices on the market.
Pros:
- Filled, charged and ready for immediate use
- No maintenance required
- Many devices have very large flavour selections
Cons:
- Usually only available in one nicotine strength
- Can be very expensive in the long run since devices only last a couple of days
We hope that this best E cigarette reviews in the UK article helped you to find the best e cig kit for you.