3-Sep-2025
Vape Breakdown: Components, Ingredients, and Parts
A vape, or electronic cigarette, is a battery-powered vaping device that heats an e-liquid to produce vapour, offering an alternative to traditional tobacco smoking. These vaping products are often chosen by adult users looking to explore smoke-free alternatives that differ from combustible cigarettes.
But what is in a vape exactly? What are the main vape components and e-liquid ingredients? And how do these elements differ between rechargeable and disposable vaping devices? This guide explores the key vape parts and how they work together.
What Is Inside a Vape Device?
Vapes and electronic cigarettes are made up of several essential vape components that work together to produce vapour. Find out more about the types and prices of vapes in Egypt, or continue reading to learn all the vape components:
Vape Battery
The vape battery is the power source of the device and plays a vital role in heating the coil to vapourise the e-liquid. Most vape devices use a lithium battery, which can be built-in and rechargeable (common in reusable devices) or non-rechargeable in disposable vapes. Batteries vary in capacity and wattage, which directly affects vapour production and coil heating speed.
Safety and battery performance are essential considerations. High-capacity batteries are typically used in larger mods for powerful vaping, while compact pod systems use smaller batteries for convenience.
Understanding your battery type can also help maintain proper usage and avoid risks, such as overheating or short circuits, especially when using advanced electronic cigarettes or vape accessories.
Vape Heating Elements
The vape atomiser is one of the core vape components. It contains a heating coil and a wick that soaks up the vape e-liquid. Once activated, the coil heats up and vapourises the liquid absorbed by the wick. This is the fundamental mechanism behind all electronic cigarettes and defines how vapour is produced.
Modern atomisers in vapes can vary in design. Some use induction heating coils, offering precise temperature control and consistent heating, while others rely on standard wire-based coils. Whether you're using a pod system or a tank setup, the vape atomiser heavily influences flavour quality, vapour density, and how smooth your vaping experience feels.
Vape Coil
The vape coil is the metal heating element within the atomiser that heats the e-liquid and turns it into vapour. The resistance of the coil vape determines the temperature and volume of vapour produced. Lower-resistance heating coils, such as sub-ohm coils, are typically used for Direct-to-Lung (DTL) vaping, offering thicker clouds.
Different coil materials and types affect flavour and lifespan. For example, ceramic coils offer longer durability and better heat distribution, while mesh coils provide larger surface areas for intense flavour. Understanding vape coil types is key for selecting a device that matches your preferences and maximises the vape liquid components.
Vape E-liquid
Vape e-liquid, sometimes referred to as e-juice, is the fluid that is vapourised inside the vape. It typically contains a mixture of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), along with nicotine and various vape liquid flavours. The PG/VG ratio impacts throat hit and cloud production.
There are different types of electronic cigarette liquids, including bottled e-liquids and nicotine salt formulations. Some e-liquids are better suited for tank systems, while others are formulated for pod devices. The choice of vape e-liquid flavours can significantly alter your experience, depending on the e-liquid ingredients.
Vape Cartridge/Tank
A vape cartridge or e-cigarette tank serves as the e-liquid reservoir, holding the liquid until it's drawn into the coil for vaporisation. Refillable tanks are common in reusable vape devices, allowing users to manually fill them with their preferred e-juice. Tank systems usually offer larger capacity and more flexibility, while cartridges may come pre-filled and be disposable.
Some vape cartridges are designed with transparent windows, allowing users to monitor liquid levels. In advanced systems, tanks may include airflow control and leak-resistant features. Whether you're using a compact pod vape or a larger mod, the cartridge or tank plays an essential role in delivering a consistent, enjoyable vaping experience.
Some advanced devices may offer tank extensions to increase e-liquid capacity, allowing for longer use without frequent refilling—especially useful for high-powered devices.
Read our article to learn all about vape pods.
LED Light
Many modern vapes feature an LED indicator light that serves multiple functions. It can show battery levels, indicate charging status, or alert users to malfunctions. In some vape devices, the light also pulses during inhalation to mimic the glow of traditional smoking.
LED lights help ensure a more user-friendly experience, especially for new users transitioning from cigarettes. Some devices also include colour-coded lights for wattage or temperature settings, adding another layer of control to your vaping routine.
These features are typically managed by an integrated circuit, which enables seamless communication between different vape components like the LED, microprocessor, and sensors.
Microprocessor
The microprocessor in a vape, often built on an integrated circuit, acts as the brain of the device. It regulates the power delivered from the battery to the heating coil, manages temperature settings, and controls safety features like overcharge protection or automatic shut-off.
Advanced vaping devices use sophisticated microchips to enable features such as variable wattage, preheat modes, and puff counters. These chips help customise the vaping experience based on personal preferences, making vaping more consistent and responsive to user input.
Discovering what is inside a vape device, what vapes are made of, and how these components work together could help you ensure that you’re using your device properly and making the most out of your vaping experience.
What Is in a Disposable Vape?
Generally, disposable vapes are a single-use product and can’t be recharged.
However, the most common components you find inside a disposable vape, you can also find inside a reusable vape. Both types of vaping products typically include an atomiser, a battery, and e-liquid to deliver vapour through similar mechanisms.
In a disposable vape, you generally don’t need to replace certain parts, such as the battery. Once the device battery runs out - or you use up the e-liquid inside - the product should typically be responsibly discarded.
Discover the safety concerns associated with disposable vapes.
What Is in Vapour?
As well as exploring what is in a vape, it can also be useful to consider what is in vapour. Common vape e-liquid ingredients in vapour include nicotine, nic salts, flavourings, Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerine (VG). Discover more about e-liquid with our article on vape liquid ingredients.
Remember that e-liquids are available in numerous different flavourings, and their PG versus VG ratio can also differ. E-liquids with a high content of PG typically offer a stronger flavour. On the other hand, e-liquids with a greater amount of VG usually have a more subtle flavour but may produce more vapour.
Besides understanding what’s in a vape and e-liquid ingredients it’s also important to know how to properly care for your device. As the vaping industry continues to evolve, staying informed ensures safer and more satisfying experiences with modern vaping products.
If you’d like to read further, the article ‘Is Vaping Safe?’ offers a detailed explanation on vaping as an adult user. This can help you to make an informed choice about switching to vaping from continued tobacco smoking.
Discover tips that help reduce or remove cigarette smell from clothes if you smoke cigarettes and find that the cigarette smell is lingering.
Smoke-Free Alternatives
If you’re exploring alternatives to continued smoking, it’s important to understand the options available. Whether you’re considering switching to a smoke-free product or simply looking for a different approach, informed choices matter.
Here are some IQOS ILUMA products to look at:
· IQOS ILUMA I PRIME KIT BUNDLE
IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.
