Juul is among the most widely used vape pod systems, and it is the device shoppers write to us about more than almost any other. Below are the nine things people want to know most often, grouped so you can go from what the device is, to setting it up, to pods and warranty.
What a Juul is
A Juul is a small battery-powered electronic cigarette from Pax Labs, launched in 2017. It is a pod system: rather than filling a tank, you click in a sealed, disposable cartridge called a Juul Pod, which comes pre-filled with nicotine salt e-juice. The draw was designed to feel close to a cigarette, and pods are sold in a range of flavors.
What comes in the Starter Kit
Most people buy the device as a Juul Starter Kit, which is also the usual answer to what a Juul costs: you pay for the kit once and for pods after that. Open the box and make sure these parts are there before you do anything else:
- 1x Juul Device
- 2x Juul Pods
- 1x Magnetic Juul Charging Base
- 1x Micro USB Power Cable
Using it for the first time
Simplicity is the main appeal of the Juul, so there is very little to set up. Charge the device fully, take one of the two pods out of its packaging and push it into the top of the device until it snaps in. That is all; it is ready to use.
Charging and charge time
Stand the bottom of the Juul upright on the magnetic charging dock from the kit. A fully drained battery normally needs 45 to 60 minutes to fill. Watch the indicator light on the device: green tells you the charge level is high.
Nicotine in a Juul Pod
A standard pod holds 0.7ml of e-liquid at roughly 5% nicotine by volume. That works out to about as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes.
How long one pod lasts
Juul’s own figure is an average of 200 puffs per pod. That number assumes a typical user. If you puff often in a short stretch of time, expect to get fewer out of each pod.
Pod flavors and pack sizes
Which flavors you can buy depends on the tobacco laws where you live. In the United States the lineup at the time of writing was:
- Mango
- Cool Mint
- Virginia Tobacco
- Cool Cucumber
- Classic Menthol
- Fruit Medley
- Creme Brûlée
- Classic Tobacco
Branded pods come in packs of two or four. Substitute Juul Vape Pods, a compatible alternative sold as a 4-pack, were offered in 6 flavors: Classic Menthol, Classic Tobacco, Virginia Tobacco, Creme Brûlée, Cool Mint and Fruit.
Refilling pods
You will hear both yes and no on this one, and there are videos online showing how it is done. Officially, Juul Pods are not refillable. In practice it is possible, just rarely worth the trouble.
The process means prying out the tiny rubber cap that keeps the liquid in, filling the pod with a syringe and then seating that cap again so it seals, assuming it has not gone missing in the meantime. Even when all of that goes well, a slightly imperfect seal can leak. A leaking pod is messy and irritating, and the liquid can damage the device. Picking up a fresh pack of vape pods is usually the easier route.
Warranty and disposal
Note: what follows is general information and may be out of date or inaccurate. For the current terms, read the warranty linked in the footer of Juul.com.
JUUL backs the device with a 2-year limited warranty that starts on the purchase date and covers problems with materials and design. Moisture damage is excluded, whether from water, rain or very high humidity, and so is damage from environmental conditions like sand or dirt.
The device is built to outlast that warranty period. When it does reach the end of its life, do not throw it in the household bin. It counts as consumer electronics and has to be disposed of under your local regulations, which generally means taking it to a waste collection point.