Feb 6, 2025

IQOS heated tobacco devices and e-cigarettes are both smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.
Both are electronic devices, and do not generate smoke like cigarettes. But there is one feature that distinguishes the IQOS tobacco heating system from e-cigarettes: rather than vaporising an e-liquid, IQOS heats real tobacco, producing tobacco vapor. 
IQOS heated tobacco devices use tobacco sticks with real tobacco which is carefully selected, finely ground and compressed to ensure consistency in the taste delivery.

What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are electronic hand-held devices that are a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes. In general, they are powered by a battery and heat e-liquids in order to generate an aerosol or what some users call vapor. The e-liquids may have various flavors and may contain nicotine.

How do e-cigarettes work?
There are many types of e-cigarettes. They differ in size, power, customisation options, and even their ability to be reusable or disposable. However, most of them work on the same principle and with similar components.

The principle:
E-cigarettes heat and vaporise e-liquids in a wide range of temperatures from 100⁰C to 250⁰C. They achieve this by drawing the liquid from a tank and putting it in contact with a battery powered heating element. When the liquid is evaporated it is drawn from the device thorough a mouthpiece.
 
The components:
The battery – The energy source for the whole device. In most cases it is rechargeable and provides power to the heating element and electronic components.
The tank – The container that is used to store the liquid until it is taken to the heating element or chamber. Some e-cigarettes use capsules or pods that are disposable.
The e-liquid – The mixture that is vaporized inside the e-cigarette. While there are many variants of the liquids, they usually contain propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, flavourings and various additives.
The heater – The set of components that draw the liquid toward the heating element and heat to vaporise. Most e-cigarettes use a “wick and coil” system. The wick naturally soaks the liquid and puts it in contact with the metal coil, which is the part that heats.
The sensors and electric components – Control the heating and operation of the device. They range from simple push-to-activate buttons, LEDs, and battery Indicators to advanced flow sensors.
The mouthpiece – The chamber or channel where the vaporised liquid is drawn from the device.
 
 

What is IQOS?
IQOS is a heated tobacco device developed by Philip Morris International that uses an innovative tobacco heating system called SMARTCORE™ technology. This type of tobacco heating technology is often called “heat-not-burn”, because it heats tobacco instead of burning it – which is what happens with cigarettes.
Tobacco sticks are inserted in an IQOS ILUMA device, which then heats the tobacco evenly using induction. The tobacco does not burn as it does when a cigarette is smoked. Rather, the tobacco heats to a maximum of 350⁰C – much lower than cigarettes, which burn at temperatures around 600⁰C. While both e-cigarettes and IQOS are smoke-free alternatives, with IQOS, a legal-aged user gets a tobacco flavour and experience, with no fire, no ash and no smoke. IQOS emits 95% less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.* Moreover, it allows adult IQOS users to experience tobacco with less chance of bothering people around them. After an adult IQOS user is done with their tobacco stick, they simply remove it from the holder and discard it.
Important information: It does not necessarily equal a 95% reduction in risk. IQOS is not risk-free.

Currently, the IQOS ILUMA range offers 3 different devices:

IQOS ILUMA i PRIME
A sophisticated premium design in a refined finish

IQOS ILUMA
Our reference device in an elegant design

IQOS ILUMA ONE
All-in-one device in a compact format

These different options allow adult users to select IQOS heated tobacco device that best suits their lifestyle.