Detailed, relevant, and objective testing is central to everything we do here at Versed Vaper. Read all about our process and learn how we test, rate, and review disposable vapes.
Disposable vapes are the hottest thing in the vaping world today. Due to their ever-increasing popularity, there are constantly new brands and models of disposable vapes that are hitting the market daily. This makes it difficult to choose because as a consumer, it’s hard to know which ones deliver good performance and value, and which ones are best left on the shelf.
Choosing a disposable gets even more difficult when you factor in the variety amongst them. There are large, high puff count disposables and small, low puff count disposables. There are ones with displays and ones that are rechargeable. Some offer adjustable airflow and some even offer adjustable wattage.
At Versed Vaper, we believe in evaluating products based on their value and use-case. If you’re a vaper who is constantly on-the-go, you might prefer a disposable vape that has a large battery and a high puff count to alleviate worries of being left without a vape while out of the house. However, other vapers may prefer to sacrifice a high puff count for a more portable device that is easier to carry around. Different disposable vapers have different needs and we understand this better than anyone.
With the needs of different vapers in mind, we evaluate disposable vapes based on a number of different attributes and criteria and offer our insight into who they are best suited for. Our review process is backed by thorough testing to determine the performance, battery life, features, usability, build quality, and design practicality of each disposable.
Design & build quality
We begin our reviews by examining the design and build quality of a disposable. Beauty is subjective but the practicality of a design is not. We examine the size and weight of a disposable to evaluate its portability and compare this to other options on the market.
When evaluating the size and weight of a disposable we also consider the amount of ejuice that the disposable comes filled with. Is it smaller or larger than we expect for the amount of ejuice and the puff count that the device offers?
The form-factor and shape of a disposable are equally important and are evaluated as such. How a disposable feels in your hand matters because it’s a device that you’ll be using all throughout the day. We assess how comfortable a device is to hold and if there are sharp edges that detract from the overall comfort.
The overall design and colors of a disposable are considered to determine how attention-grabbing a device is. Some vapers may want a device that is under the radar and subtle, rather than one that garners stares from anyone within eyesight.
The overall build quality is important. We assess how the materials feel as well as the strength and durability of each device. During testing, we constantly examine our review units for signs of wear or cracks. We also consider the quality and placement of any buttons, screens, or sliders (like airflow control).
The quality of the screen, if present, is assessed by checking the brightness, the type of display (black and white or full color), the resolution, and crispness.
Features
We understand that not every vaper wants or needs battery or ejuice indicators, a screen, adjustable wattage, or adjustable airflow for their ideal disposable vape.
Although it is not necessary for a disposable vape to have the previously listed features in order to be considered ‘good’, in some cases these features can be a welcome addition.
With this in mind, we evaluate the features of a disposable vape based on its value and use-case. We also evaluate these devices by the standard features and specifications that are expected of a modern disposable vape.
In 2023, the minimum acceptable number of puffs for a good disposable is 5000 puffs. With the way vaping technology has advanced, there is no reason why even small disposable vapes should not offer at least 5000 puffs. A rechargeable battery is also a must-have on any modern disposable vape.
We examine the type of coil used in the disposable and the output wattage/voltage to determine if it’s ample for a good vaping experience. We also assess if the output is constant or if it tapers off as the battery dies.
During our testing, we take into consideration the nicotine strengths available for a device. Lower nicotine strengths, like 2% and 3.5%, are great for those who don’t vape as often or who are trying to cut down their nicotine intake. High nicotine strengths, like 5%, are necessary for heavy smokers trying to make the switch.
In the case of a display, what does it offer? We check and evaluate the user interface to see if it’s easy to use, user-friendly, and helpful for the user. If there are battery and ejuice level indicators on the screen or otherwise, are they accurate? How much information the screen or indicators provide is also crucial; a screen displaying your exact percentages is much more useful than a three color indicator that leaves ambiguity.
If adjustable airflow is offered, we test the range of airflow that it provides. A larger range is always better, as is being able to make fine adjustments to really dial in the airflow.
Battery life & charging
We examine the battery capacity of a disposable vape to determine if it’s above or below average when compared to disposables of a similar size and puff count rating. We test how many days the device can last with normal or heavy vaping habits in order to provide real-world data on device longevity.
If the device has an ejuice indicator or display, we test to see how much ejuice is used up per charge cycle, giving you a good idea of how many days you can expect a disposable vape to last.
We do these tests using ‘normal’ draws that are typical of the average vaper. We do not take extra-long draws or test the battery life in any way that would not be typical of the average vaper. This means one to two second draws with multiple draws from time-to-time. We do not chain vape the devices or use them in any way that could be considered atypical.
We time how long a device takes to charge by using a wall charger and the charging cable that comes with the device, if supplied. We use a wall charger with the charging rating that is appropriate for the charging speed of the disposable vape. For example, we use a 1A charger for disposables rated at a 1A charging speed.
We charge disposable devices from the state where they will no longer allow you to take a puff due to low battery. We time the charging from the minute that they are plugged in, up until the battery is fully charged.
Flavors
The best build quality, features and performance mean nothing if the flavors aren’t good. We carefully consider the number of available flavors, as well as the flavor variety that is offered. Fruit flavors are the standard but truly excellent devices will offer multiple flavor categories including ice, dessert, mint, drink, and tobacco flavors.
Flavor is subjective but we do our best to evaluate based on objective criteria. We evaluate the quality of the flavors and their accuracy. If a flavor is supposed to be strawberry kiwi, it should taste like strawberry kiwi. We also assess whether the flavors taste natural or artificial. If the flavors are too subtle or too sweet, we take this into account as well.
Finally, we make a determination as to if these flavors are worth trying or if you’re better off going with the flavor options from another brand.
Performance
When compared against other disposables, how does the device perform? The amount of puffs, vapor quality, warmth of the draw and nicotine satisfaction are all factors that contribute to our performance rating.
In order to measure the puff count of a disposable, we use tally counters to track the overall puffs. This one one of the many ways that we provide real world data as to if a device performs to the manufacturers specifications.
We test how a device performs throughout its battery life. A strong and consistent draw, even as the battery dies, is great for a disposable. We also test the warmth of the draw; is it a warmer vape or one that is on the cooler side? Is the vapor smooth or is it harsh and off putting?
Airflow is also an important factor in our testing. Adjustable airflow offers more possibilities, however fixed airflow can be just fine if the device delivers the type of draw that you want. We determine the type of draw and whether it’s a restricted direct lung, direct lung, or mouth to lung draw so that you know if the device will suit your personal preference. If the airflow is adjustable, we test to determine the range that it provides.
Nicotine satisfaction is a determining factor for a good disposable. We test how satisfying a disposable vape is in a given nicotine strength. Do we have to take more puffs than normal to feel satisfied? Does it feel too powerful for the given nicotine strength? These are determinations that allow our readers to know whether or not the tested disposable will be right for them.
We also look out for any flaws or malfunctions during our testing. If a disposable is leaking, that’s bad news. Auto-firing is even more of a concern. If we experience any issues with our units, we take this into consideration when determining the final product score.
Value
We assess the value of a disposable vape based on the entire device as a whole. For all that it offers, is it a good purchase for the price? Assessing the value of a disposable is also determined by comparing the tested product to what is available on the market. Can you get other quality disposables with more puffs and flavor options? If so, and if there aren’t any other unique qualities, the product in question is undoubtedly not a good value.
How we rank our buyer’s guides
The way in which we rank the products on our buyer’s guides is heavily dependent on the review score that each product receives. However, there are other key factors that determine the products that we place and the way that they are ranked:
- We take into account the use-case of products and include a mix of devices to better suit the needs of different users. For example, the highest puff count disposable is not necessarily the best for all users. Some may prefer smaller, more portable devices so we take this into account when selecting for our buyer’s guides.
- No product that receives fewer than 3.5 stars in a review will be included in our buyer’s guides.
- Products with a tied score are ranked based on editorial and team discussions by taking into account the value of the product.
