What is the difference between open and closed pods?
Pod systems are a common type of e-cigarette that use replaceable pods instead of traditional tanks. When comparing different pod systems, you will often come across the terms open and closed pods. The difference mainly concerns how the pod is filled with e-liquid and what choices the user has.
Understanding the difference between open and closed pods can make it easier to compare different models and find a pod system that suits your own preferences. Both systems are used today in many types of vapes and e-cigarettes, but they are designed in different ways.
What is an open pod?
An open pod is a pod that can be refilled with e-liquid by the user. When the liquid starts to run out, the pod is opened and refilled according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Open pods are often used together with refillable pod systems and are available in many different designs. Some models have an integrated coil, while others use replaceable coils.
Since the user chooses the e-liquid themselves, there are usually more options when it comes to flavor profiles, nicotine strengths, and VG/PG ratios.
What is a closed pod?
A closed pod is a pre-filled pod that is supplied ready-made by the manufacturer. When the pod is empty, the entire pod is replaced with a new compatible pod.
This type of system is often used in pod systems where the manufacturer has developed pods adapted to a specific device. Since the pod is pre-filled, the user normally does not need to handle refilling e-liquid.
However, the range of flavors and nicotine strengths is determined by which pods the manufacturer offers for the particular system.
How do open and closed pods differ?
The biggest difference is how the e-liquid is handled.
- Open pods are manually filled with e-liquid.
- Closed pods are supplied pre-filled and replaced when the contents run out.
Open pods generally offer greater flexibility because the user can choose compatible e-liquid themselves. Closed pods instead rely on ready-made solutions where the pod and device are designed to work together.
Which solution is preferred varies between different users and different pod systems.
Compatibility between different pod systems
Pods are normally not universal. Most pod systems use pods developed specifically for the particular model or product series.
This means that a pod from one manufacturer usually cannot be used in a device from another manufacturer. Before buying new pods, it is therefore important to check compatibility with the particular device.
If you want to learn more about how different pod systems work, you can read our guide on what vaping is and how it works.
Which type of pod system is most common today?
Both open and closed pods are available on the market, but refillable pod systems with open pods have become increasingly common in recent years. At the same time, there are still many popular systems that use pre-filled pods.
Developments vary between different manufacturers and product categories. Some models are designed to give users more choices regarding e-liquid and coils, while others focus on ready-made pods that can be replaced quickly.
Open pods and e-liquid
For open pods, the choice of e-liquid plays an important role. Different pod systems are designed for different types of e-liquid and different VG/PG ratios.
If you want to order e-liquid for open pods, you can check out our category for vape juice.
Things to remember
Open and closed pods are based on the same basic principle but differ in how e-liquid is handled. Open pods are manually refilled, while closed pods are supplied pre-filled and replaced when they are empty.
Both systems are used in modern pod systems, and the choice between them mainly depends on which functions and features are important to the user. By understanding the differences, it becomes easier to compare different types of pod systems and e-cigarettes.
