“Smart vapes”: connected vaping products to attract young consumers

In a study by Tobacco Control, three public health experts explain that despite regulatory efforts to combat the vaping epidemic, the tobacco industry and nicotine continues to launch new products with innovative features[1]. It is particularly notable for its ability to attract younger generations, notably by marketing toy-like devices or integrating video games into vaping devices. In recent years, e-cigarette manufacturers have launched a new generation of products called "smart vapes," e-cigarettes equipped with smart technologies and mobile applications.

The characteristics of “smart vapes”

These new vaping devices are available in a variety of youth-friendly flavors, including fruit, dessert, and fresh flavors (e.g., Frozen Mango or Taffy Banana). They offer between 5,000 and 30,000 puffs, come in colorful packaging, contain nicotine salts in concentrations ranging from 20mg/ml to 50mg/ml, and are equipped with rechargeable batteries.

Smart vapes also feature a touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing them to be connected to a smartphone and located via a "Find My Phone" feature. Additionally, these devices include utility apps such as a calendar, flashlight, camera, stopwatch, weather updates, contacts, photo sharing, and customizable wallpaper.

Some more advanced models, like the Posh Pro Max, have built-in speakers for streaming music or audio from a smartphone. Others, like the Craftbox V-Touch, have a microphone for making or receiving calls, while models like the Swype and VookBar Cyber Pro have integrated smartwatch and fitness tracking features (step count, calories, heart rate). These devices also include pre-installed video games, aimed at young people and themselves addictive (games with scores to beat, with virtual pets to watch over...[2]), or rankings based on the number of puffs inhaled: the more the user vapes, the higher they climb in the ranking, establishing a logic of competition between consumers.

Photo credit: Artur Galimov, Liam Obaid, Jennifer B. Unger

Their popularity is growing, especially online

Smart vaping devices are gaining popularity on social media, with some videos generating over 10 million views on popular youth platforms like TikTok. Integrating smartphone-like features into these devices could obscure the use of these products from parents and adults.

The combination of smart technology and vaping, along with a viral social media marketing strategy, could encourage young people to start vaping, especially those who may have never tried nicotine-containing products.

Health and environmental problems

On October 30, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered nine online retailers and one manufacturer to stop selling and marketing these smart e-cigarettes. However, these devices remain available for sale online at a price comparable to traditional e-cigarettes, between $15 and $25. In addition, their sale is gradually expanding to physical stores. In Europe, The Netherlands and Belgium have already warned of illegal sales of smart vapes. on their territory. In France, this type of device is easily available on many websites and delivered to your home in less than 24 hours without any verification of the buyer's age.

Experts in the Tobacco Control study are calling for stronger regulatory policies, even bans, and educational campaigns to limit their impact on public health, by imposing stricter penalties on retailers selling these products to minors and increasing monitoring of online sales. They are also considering awareness campaigns to inform parents, educators, and young people about the risks associated with these smart vaping devices, including their ability to disguise the use of addictive products and promote nicotine addiction.

Finally, smart vapes pose environmental problems due to the difficulty of recycling their electronic components, such as screens and batteries.[3]Public health and environmental organizations are calling for these issues to be included in international discussions aimed at reducing plastic pollution.

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1]Canty Ruth, Galimov Artur, Obaid Liam, B. Unger Jennifer, Smart Disposable E-cigarettes: characteristics and capabilities of new generation devices, Tobacco Control, published March 25, 2025, accessed March 26, 2025

[2]B. Unger Jennifer, Vassey Julia, Wood Soto Daniel, Galimov Artur, “Vaping Devices with Video Games”, Substance Use & Misuse, September 19, 2024, volume 59, n°14, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10826084.2024.2392547

[3]Tobacco-free generation, Netherlands: The arrival of “smart vapes” worries health professionals, published October 24, 2024, accessed March 26, 2025

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