Comparison of tobacco heating systems: IQOS, Ploom Tech, GLO

The popularity of tobacco heating systems is gaining momentum and some of them are already officially presented on the Ukrainian market. Let’s figure out what the differences are between them and what opportunities the new IQOS 2.4 Plus, Ploom Tech and GLO provide

The concept of tobacco heating systems was once called heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB). The first devices appeared in 1988, but they did not achieve much success. Mainly due to the fact that I didn’t like the taste and there was no so-called throat-hit (literal translation “a blow to the throat” – a feeling of fullness from the first puff), which accompanied the inhalation of cigarette smoke.

However, later large tobacco companies took up this category of devices, introducing their devices for heating tobacco. For the most part, they are based on the fact that tobacco or a tobacco substance is heated to a certain temperature, but not set on fire. Accordingly, without combustion, tar and other harmful combustion products are not released.

This product category has given a new impetus to the evolution of products for smokers. And investments in technology from large tobacco companies immediately set a high level and worthy competition.

Competition is generally one of the most positive factors for the development of the industry. It is therefore not surprising that with the growing popularity of alternatives to smoking, a wide variety of devices have appeared. In our material we will look at three of them – IQOS from Philip Morris International , Ploom Tech from Japan Tobacco Inc and GLO from British American Tobacco.

How they work

Essentially, all three systems use a similar principle of heating the tobacco substance to a “safe” temperature.

In IQOS, when heated to no more than 300°C, an aerosol saturated with the aroma and taste of tobacco evaporates. The sticks are inserted into the holder, as if strung on the blade. The warm-up button is then pressed, and LEDs and vibration notify you that the blade is warm. The stick is used for 6 minutes or 14 puffs, whichever ends first. The stick holder is then placed into the charging box with a hinged lid.

IQOS requires breaks between sticks, so the holder needs to be charged for 3 minutes between approaches. The charger’s battery lasts for a little more than 20 holder charges (that is, per pack, which corresponds to the average consumption of a smoker). This is a plus for those who struggle with chain smoking.

Ploom Tech is a kind of nesting doll consisting of a capsule, cartridge and battery. The capsule is enough for 50 puffs. A cartridge for a package of 5 capsules, that is, 250 puffs. The battery charge is enough to use 5 capsules. Everything in this process is simple, except for the design that is obtained when charging the device.

GLO is a monolithic device with no removable parts. It allows you to vaporize 30 branded sticks in a row. This option is just for those who need to stay longer in the smoking room.

To start working with GLO, slide the shutter from above, insert the stick and press the button on the side. The tobacco is heated in a circle for 40 seconds to 240-250°C. Readiness can be indicated by four LEDs around the same button. After use, by the number of glowing diodes you can find out approximately how much charge is left. 4 LEDs – 100% or 30 sessions, 3 – 75%, 2 – 50%, 1 LED – 25% or approximately 5 sessions. On the other side of the case, a lid opens to clean the system.

Appearance, charging

All three devices, of course, tried to make them as ergonomic and easy to carry as possible. The differences in the design are due to the specifics that they wanted to incorporate into the operation and the mechanics of the process itself.

IQOS is designed as a stylish gadget. Despite the presence of removable and moving parts, nothing creaks or wobbles. The packaging and the device itself leave a feeling of “expensiveness” and premiumness. The coating of the charging block and stick holder is made of soft-touch eraser. In the second generation, the LEDs became brighter and vibration for notifications appeared.

IQOS 2.4 Plus also has Bluetooth for connecting to a smartphone via the IQOS Connect app. In the program you can see the charge percentage, receive notifications when the holder is ready and display a map with points of sale of consumables.

Ploom Tech is one of the most ergonomic models among the participants. It’s just a stick with an LED at the bottom. Pull – the diode glows blue. The capsule has run out – the diode blinks blue. The battery is low – the tip glows red. There are no buttons or other control methods on the case. We untwisted the battery, hooked it up to charge, waited 1.5 hours, and put it back together.

GLO is also compact and ergonomic with no removable parts. There are only two moving parts – a lid on top and a hatch on the bottom. The LEDs are quite bright, and their animation is intuitive. Its integrity may appeal to fans of non-modular devices. The kit also includes a lanyard and charger. GLO comes in four colors: black, grey, gold and pink.

What you need to carry with you, equipment

The purchase of a new device is usually accompanied by an increase in the number of related accessories. Tobacco heating devices were no exception, and we decided to see what else the bags and pockets would use.

In the case of IQOS 2.4 Plus, this is a charger with a holder, a pack of Heets sticks and, at a minimum, a Micro USB cable for charging. The kit also includes an AC adapter, which you will probably need for long trips.

With Ploom Tech you will need to carry a pack of capsules and the included proprietary charger. If a long trip is expected, cartridge tubes are also added to the capsules.

Ploom Tech implemented charging in a slightly unusual way. The battery is unscrewed from the cartridge and screwed into a USB dongle. The antenna-like structure is then connected to an external battery or power supply with USB Type-A. On the positive side, all this scattering can be packed into a complete case.

For GLO you will need branded Neostiks sticks and a standard Micro USB cable – this is the most compact set of all. A cleaning brush is only useful on long trips. In the second generation, which is already on sale in Ukraine, an adapter for the socket is included in the kit and can also be taken with you. The capacity of the GLO battery is not disclosed anywhere on the Internet, but according to our measurements, charging takes about 3 hours when using a current of 2A.

How to serve

In terms of service, the test participants were grouped in their own way and here, in addition to the technical need to clean the devices, there will be plenty to choose from in terms of convenience and attachment to the situation.

IQOS comes with a container with brushes for cleaning the blades and the inside of the stick holder. It is well put together and I really liked it as an accessory. But disassembling such a kinder surprise excludes quick cleaning in the air, and even more so on the go. In addition, it has a small stick for cleaning the stick holder. In general, IQOS maintenance requires a more thoughtful and measured approach.

Ploom Tech is a favorite of minimalists. You don’t need to do anything with it, just change the capsules and cartridges. The first ones are easily removed, the second ones are simply screwed together. All that remains are the consumables, which fit into the same complete case.

The GLO comes with a brush that simply slides in on one side and comes out the other. Through the same hinged hatch near the charging port. What I liked most was that he was alone and there were no other small tools. On the other hand, you need to make sure that the brush does not stain your bag or pocket and does not damage itself, so it is advisable to have a case or cover.

Tastes and consumables

There are four types of sticks to choose from for IQOS: classic Yellow, menthol Turquoise, Purple with wild berries and rich Amber. Each one is quite different, so you need to choose according to your preferences. For example, we didn’t really like the classic ones, but the rich ones really resemble the taste of tobacco.

Ploom Tech’s flavors are not as vibrant as IQOS or GLO. The purple capsules that came to us have a menthol-berry flavor, which most likely will not become boring so quickly. In the line of capsules they are designated as cooling. There are only five flavors to choose from, produced under the Mevius brand – cooling Red, cooling Purple, aromatic Brown, green Menthol and Regular. The first two, apparently, differ in the degree of cooling.

GLO sticks are slightly similar in their presentation of taste sensations to IQOS, but we found them to be overly rich. They are available in five variants – Rich Tobacco, Bright Tobacco, Citric Mix, Dark Fresh and Fresh Mix.

How much does it cost

Comparing the cost of owning devices is perhaps one of the most interesting aspects. But, unfortunately, we will not be able to fully answer it. The fact is that not all test participants reached the Ukrainian market. Therefore, for comparison, we will give generalized prices in US dollars.

Prices for IQOS devices start at $50 for white and black. On the official website you can also choose pink and blue body colors, which are more expensive. The price of a pack of Heets with 20 sticks is $1.4.

Ploom Tech is not officially sold in Ukraine and the price is known only for other countries. In home Japan for a gadget, it’s $25, while a pack of five capsules costs $32. You also need to purchase cartridges separately.

GLO is also already officially represented in Ukraine. A pack of Neostiks for this system costs the same $1.4 as IQOS. The starter kit includes the device and a block of ten sticks, which will ultimately cost $67.

We can summarize that if IQOS and GLO are ahead of Ploom Tech in terms of the price of the device itself, then consumables will leave a noticeable mark on the cost of ownership with Ploom Tech.

Summary table of characteristics IQOS, Ploom Tech, GLO:< /strong>

In conclusion

Devices for heating tobacco are a relatively new fashion, although they have gone through more than one round of history. Time will tell how this industry will develop further. So far we are seeing diversity in ideology and approaches. It is gratifying that different user preferences and use cases, sometimes diametrically opposed, are being implemented.

Thus, IQOS will appeal to those who are looking for the closest possible replacement for cigarettes and who like an elegant mouthpiece holder rather than a charging unit in the palm of their hand. Ploom Tech will be preferred by ardent fans of minimalist designs with little or no buttons. And GLO is suitable for those who prefer compact devices without excessive functionality and hassles. Also, two out of three participants in our test, those with sticks, will allow you to choose the frequency of use. You can take the device and consciously make a choice towards a solution with breaks between nicotine doses or be ready to smoke constantly. Well, taste is everyone’s business, and in this regard the decision is yours.

Michel Chernovoj
Editor

     

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