What Are the Different Types of Vape Coils?

When it comes to wick and coil devices, the internal coil - part of the atomizer – is usually an important element that should not be overlooked. There are various types of vape coils according to the manufacturer and brand, and each type often has a different impact on a vaping experience.

What is a Vape Coil?

Otherwise known as the atomizer’s head, the coil is a small yet effective piece of wire which takes on a lot of responsibility in various vapes. For many adult smokers or vapers, the variety of vape coil types might seem confusing, so it is important to understand that they all generally serve the same purpose.

What Do Vape Coils Do?

Vapes, or e-cigarettes, produce a vapour instead of smoke. They typically achieve this by heating and consequently vapourising an e-liquid solution. Usually, a vape’s coil is partially responsible for this process, making it an important part of many vape devices. When activated, the battery in these vapes should power the atomizer containing the coil. When this happens, the coil will typically heat to a controlled temperature which, through the device’s wick, warms and thereby vapourises the e-liquid. While they all tend to work in the same way, the different types of vape coils each have a unique impact on a vaping experience.

Types of Vape Coils

When it comes to coils, there are plenty of ways to categorise them. For instance, some vapes will make use of dual coils. Dual coils generally vapourise e-liquid quicker than a single, or core coil variant. A greater number of coils may result in quicker vapourisation. Triple and even quadruple coils are also available, and they are likely to speed up the vapourisation process accordingly. This will of course depend on the product type and the brand. While swift vapourisation might seem appealing at first, multiple coils typically go through batteries and e-liquid quicker. This means personal preference could be important in determining whether or not an adult vaper should use a single or multiple coil. Mesh coils are another example of a different type of vape coil because they commonly don't use the shape and style of a traditional round wire. These modern coils typically have more surface area to vapourise e-liquid, generally speeding up the vapourisation process without putting additional strain on the battery and e-liquid.

How Different Types of Vape Coils Impact Your Vaping Experience

Every vape coil type has its own unique impact on a vaping experience, depending on factors such as the shape, size, number of coils, and material. When it comes to materials, vape coils are often crafted from one of several metals.
 
- Kanthal Coils - A combination of iron, chromium, and aluminum, they usually heat up quickly. The result is often quicker vapourisation but at the potential cost of greater reliance on the battery and faster e-liquid depletion.
 
- Stainless Steel Coils - These coils come in different grades of steel. They may feature an increased durability. No matter the grade, a stainless-steel coil is likely to last longer than its counterparts, but this depends on the exact coil and brand.
 
- Nichrome Coils - Generally a blend of around 20% nickel and 80% chromium, these coils typically heat up rapidly, which often provides quicker vapourisation. Nichrome coils might help to prevent oxidation - an unfortunate issue in some vapes where e-liquid becomes discoloured and foul-tasting.
 
- Titanium Coils - Soft and malleable, they usually possess the ability to provide a potentially better performing vape.
 
- Ceramic Coils - These are porous coils which arguably provide a more flavorful experience – of course this depends on personal preference. They may be able to tolerate high wattages and the ceramic design tends to boost longevity while possibly helping to prevent oxidation.

Which Vaping Coil Type Is Right?

Fundamentally, there is no single answer to this question. There are plenty of options, and the right vape coil for one adult vaper is not guaranteed to be right for another. If you are an adult smoker switching from cigarettes, you may want to identify key preferences. Whether it is flavour, convenience, or less maintenance, it is worth identifying the number one priority in a vape device. This information could be crucial in finding the right vaping coil.

Resistance is also important when it comes to vaping, and you can learn more with our guide and vape wattage calculator [Internal link to Vape Wattage - All You Need to Know / Vape Wattage Chart (iqos.com)]. To give a brief overview - certain coils are usually required for higher or lower resistance vaping, depending on the preference. Lower resistance coils may use less e-liquid which might be useful for those looking to make theirs last. On the other hand, coils with a higher resistance often use more e-liquid. Coils with a higher resistance usually provide for a particular style of vaping known as Sub-Ohm vaping.
 
Keep in mind that coils will generally, and no matter the type, need to be replaced over time. Generally, the length of time varies depending partially on how much the device is used, and the type of coil. It is recommended to change a device’s coil with a like for like replacement. Device modification may have unintended consequences on a vape. Always follow manufacturer guidance according to your device. For more information on replacing a vape coil, read our article How to Change Vape Coils [Internal link to How to Change Vape Coils | A Comprehensive Guide | IQOS ZA]. This inconvenience might be something you would prefer to avoid. For instance, some adult smokers may want an alternative that is not a vape. If this is the case, then it may be worth considering heated tobacco.

Innovative IQOS Heated Tobacco

Heated tobacco is a smoke-free option for adult smokers switching from cigarettes, especially those who would prefer a device without a coil. IQOS devices utilise heat not burn technology to heat authentic tobacco, instead of burning it. IQOS emits 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.* IQOS features heated tobacco innovation - explore the technology on the dedicated page [Internal link to IQOS ILUMA - new heating tobacco technology | IQOS South Africa].

*”95% less” represents the average reduction in levels of the 9 chemicals recommended for reduction in cigarette smoke by the World Health Organization, which do not include nicotine. It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. See Important Information on https://za.iqos.com/product/iqos/information.html.

Furthermore, IQOS is the #1 tobacco heating system.** Find a variety in flavour, intensity and aroma in the TEREA tobacco stick range that works with IQOS ILUMA devices. [internal link to Find an IQOS Kiosk or Stockist Near You | IQOS South Africa]

** PMI global estimate of total In-Market Sales of Heated Tobacco Units as of June 2023.
 
Those looking for a device that makes use of the latest in smoke-free technology, might want to consider IQOS ILUMA, the latest device in our heated tobacco range. IQOS ILUMA has been crafted with a SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM. In addition, it might be useful to know that IQOS ILUMA does not need cleaning. Explore the IQOS ILUMA range here [Internal link to All IQOS heated tobacco devices | IQOS South Africa page].
 
IQOS products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. IQOS products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity, or completeness of such information.

See important information (Important information on IQOS and IQOS ILUMA | IQOS South Africa)