Electronic cigarettes are safer and cleaner than tobacco cigarettes, making e-cigarettes an attractive smoking alternative. There are dozens of brands of e-cigarettes on the market, requiring many smokers considering the transition to turn to independent electronic cigarette review sites for information – sites like ElectronicCigaretteReviews123.com. Electronic cigarette reviews usually rate different brands based on price, design, battery life and response, flavor, vapor production, and customer service. Comparing e-cigarette reviews on different brands can help smokers choose the best electronic cigarette for their individual needs, and ensure customer satisfaction with their new smoking experience. Below, we discuss the many factors we consider when reviewing electronic cigarettes and their performance.
Product Design, Style and Packaging
Reviews on e-cigarette design usually include pictures of the product and information about the size, weight, style, mobility, and convenience of the electronic cigarette. There are two basic product designs used by e-cig companies. The two piece design combines the disposable flavor cartridge and atomizer, creating a component called a “cartomizer”. Along with the cartomizer, the e-cigarette has a battery. The three piece design has a flavor cartridge, a separate reusable atomizer, and a battery. Most electronic cigarettes now employ the two-piece design, allowing for the cartridge and atomizer to be regularly replaced to maintain cleanliness and prevent clogging, offering better long term performance and vapor production. Some e-cigarettes have unique features like safety switches or sensors, and our reviews will note these design differences between e-cigs and comment on their advantages and disadvantages.
Battery Life and Response
E-cigarettes use rechargeable lithium ion batteries to power the atomizer that creates vapor production and delivers nicotine. Battery life is the amount of time the battery will last between charges. In most brands, it is between 3 and 5 hours. The response of the battery refers to how quickly it heats up and powers the atomizer to make the vapor. In top quality brands, the battery does not have to be primed and produces vapor from the first puff. Some brands use sensors or other devices to improve battery response time even more. Many electronic cigarette starter kits also come with 2 batteries, one long and one short, as well as a USB charger, wall charger, and car charger. This provides the smoker the ability to charge their e-cigarette anytime and anywhere, improving convenience and mobility, so smokers are never without their nicotine.
Flavor and Vapor Production
Flavor and vapor production are probably the most important elements for tobacco smokers making the switch to electronic cigarettes. The throat hit smokers experience depends on the amount of vapor produced by the e-cigarette. Vapor production can also affect the flavor of the cigarette since less vapor usually means weaker flavor, less output per cartridge, and less nicotine intake. E-cigarettes with high vapor production, like Green Smoke, often provide the longest lasting cartridges, best smoking experience and highest quality e-cigs. Most electronic cigarette makers offer several flavors in addition to the standard tobacco and menthol flavors, and reviewers as well as customers usually note their opinions on the most satisfying flavors offered by each brand.
E-Juice Ingredients
The ingredients in the e-juice used to make the vapor usually include vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol, water, nicotine, and flavorings. Electronic cigarette tests note that vegetable glycerin tends to produce more vapor, but propylene glycol gives the vapor a sweeter taste. Electronic cigarette brands disclose the ingredients used in the e-juice, so smokers can make an informed decision when choosing a brand. Both PG and VG are considered safe for use, are found in a variety of other products, and electronic cigarettes do not contain any carcinogens, or cancer-causing chemicals.
Customer Service
Smokers that buy an electronic cigarette starter kit will continue to order products, like flavor cartridges, from the company. Good customer service ensures that e-smokers will receive their orders promptly. Several companies have 30-Day money back guarantees on starter kits, and some offer limited lifetime warranties on their electronic cigarettes and components. Reviewers often mention whether a particular company honors their warranty quickly and courteously, which can save e-smokers money and aggravation if they are not satisfied with their e-cigarette.
Starter Kits
Most electronic cigarettes can be purchased through a variety of starter kits at different price points. Not all starter kits contain the same components. ECR123.com’s electronic cigarette reviews usually advise new e-cig users to buy starter kits that contain at least two batteries, 5 flavor cartridges, and either a USB charger or a wall charger, though we highly recommend you buying both for added convenience. The best starter kits provide enough components for new smokers to make the switch from tobacco cigarettes immediately and many provide extras, like carrying cases to protect e-cigarettes in pockets and purses.
Best Electronic Cigarettes
Different review websites generally name the same brands as the best e-cigarettes. These brands include Green Smoke, Blu Cigs, White Cloud, Safe Cigs, V2 Cigs, Premium E-Cigarettes, and South Beach Smoke Cigs. Consumer reviews for these brands are overwhelmingly positive, although as with tobacco cigarettes, some smokers prefer one brand over another based on taste, vapor production, design, and price. These brands represent different but comparable price points and offer the features most smokers want in electronic cigarettes. We provide in depth electronic cigarette reviews for each of these brands to give new and experienced e-cigarette smokers the confidence to buy starter kits that will serve as the best e-cig for them. The following electronic cigarettes are well-known to be the best e-cigarettes available; it really just depends on the specific smoker and their needs.
Green Smoke and White Cloud
Consumers were pleased with Green Smoke and White Cloud’s performance and the customer service offered by the companies. The primary complaint about the White Cloud Cirrus 3, their top rated model, was the price, which is higher than comparable products offered by their competitors.
Green Smoke is priced slightly higher than competitors, but most users were so pleased with the product performance, higher than average vapor production, long-lasting batteries and cartridges, and tasty flavors, smokers felt it was worth spending the extra money. Learn more about Green Smoke in our review, and why we think it is arguably the best e-cigarette.
Blu Cigs and Premium E-Cigarettes
Blu Cigs has some of the most innovative technology in the industry and delivers a high quality product for an affordable price. Our electronic cigarette reviews found the flavor and vapor production excellent. Blu Cig offers a limited lifetime warranty on components, and their customer service is rated as excellent. If price and value is a concern, we highly recommend Blu Cigs, and would be our choice for best electronic cigarette.
Premium E-Cigarettes has lots of ways for smokers to customize their e-cigs and also offers an e-cigar and e-pipe. Premium’s wide variety of flavors appeals to some e-cigarette users that like variety when smoking.
Safe Cigs, V2 Cigs, and South Beach Smoke
Safe Cigs and V2 Cigs are recommended as an entry level product by our e-cigarette reviews because they offer quality products at affordable prices. In design and size, Safe Cigs, V2 Cigs and South Beach Smoke look very much like tobacco cigarettes and deliver excellent vapor production and flavor. Well-equipped starter kits for both V2 Cigs and Safe Cigs are priced at around $60, which is about the cost of a carton of tobacco cigarettes, making the initial investment minimal and long-term e-cigarette savings huge. South Beach Smoke also gets high marks for flavor and quality, and offers a trial kit for only $29.99.
Electronic Cigarette Reviews
Product reviews can help consumers find the best products at the best prices. E-cigarettes that are perfect for one smoker may not be right for another. On rare occasions, smokers may try several brands of electronic cigarettes before finding one that meets all their needs and expectations, but using our comprehensive electronic cigarette reviews and selecting from the best rated e-cig brands ensures a higher degree of satisfaction. The majority of electronic cigarette smokers reported they were glad they switched from smoking tobacco and were pleased with the e-cigarettes they chose to buy. Check out all of our electronic cigarette reviews to find the best e-cigarette for you.