The science and vision behind IQOS.

IQOS is the combination between science, technology and vision.

A moss green IQOS ILUMA device.

Science behind heated tobacco.

Hundreds of scientists and engineers at PMI’s global Research and Development centres in Switzerland and Singapore have developed and evaluated IQOS, an innovative electronic device that heats and not burns tobacco. It produces a tobacco vapour that delivers tobacco taste and nicotine.

Tested to the highest standards.

IQOS has gone through robust scientific assessments, including, to-date, 18 non-clinical and 10 clinical studies involving thousands of participants.

The totality of evidence available shows that, while IQOS use is not risk-free, switching completely to IQOS presents less risk to your health than continuing to smoke cigarettes.

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Why heating is better.

IQOS heats tobacco instead of burning it for a simple reason: the burning of tobacco emits high amounts of harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide.

IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology prevent tobacco from burning, which means they significantly reduce the number and level of harmful chemicals emitted compared to cigarette smoke.

Illustration of IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION™ technology working inside an IQOS holder
Illustration of IQOS HeatControl™ technology

Heating technology.

Cigarettes burn tobacco, reaching high temperatures, and producing ash, tar, and smoke with high number and levels of harmful chemicals. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of over 6000 chemical substances, around 100 of which have been linked to smoking-related diseases by public health authorities.

IQOS ILUMA SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM™ technology and IQOS HeatControl™ technology heat tobacco to a lower temperature, ensuring that combustion does not occur. Because there is no combustion, IQOS does not produce smoke. It generates a tobacco vapour that brings you a high-quality tobacco taste experience with 95% less* harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.

Important information: It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free.

*"95% less" represents the average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to the smoke of a reference cigarette (3R4F). See Important information on IQOS.com.

Illustration of IQOS heat-not-burn device temperature functioning at 350°C.
Cigarette filter with brown combustion stains compared to IQOS TEREA stick in IQOS ILUMA holder with no equivalent stain.

Cigarettes produce tar, IQOS doesn’t.

“Tar” is the residue from smoke after a cigarette has burned. IQOS does not produce tar because it heats tobacco instead of burning it. It generates an aerosol residue that is fundamentally different from “Tar” and consists of significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals.* 

Important information: Although IQOS does not produce tar, IQOS is not risk-free, and delivers nicotine which is addictive.

*Average reductions in the levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to cigarette smoke

**Source: Based on the totality of evidence available for IQOS in comparison with continuing to smoke.

Lit cigarette end compared to IQOS TEREA stick in IQOS ILUMA holder.

IQOS emits less harmful chemicals than cigarettes.

Cigarettes burn tobacco, which produces high amounts of carbon monoxide. IQOS doesn’t burn tobacco, producing on average 98% less carbon monoxide (CO) and significantly lower levels of other harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.*

Important information: This does not mean a 98% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free, and delivers nicotine which is addictive.

*Source: We measured the levels of certain harmful chemicals prioritised for reporting by renowned public health organisations, and these are reduced on average by 95% compared to the smoke of a cigarette (nicotine excluded).

Available programmes.

  • Special price with registration
  • Referral programme for Friends
A man with an IQOS box.

Special price with registration

With registration get the opportunity to purchase a device with a special price.

With registration get the opportunity to purchase a device with a special price.

Learn more

A woman holding an IQOS box.

Referral programme for Friends

Special price for Friends with your referral code and some incentives for you.

Special price for Friends with your referral code and some incentives for you.

Learn more