Here’s Everything You Need to Know About IQOS

IQOS is a brand with a big vision: To replace every cigarette for all legal age adult smokers (18+) who would otherwise continue to smoke or use nicotine containing products. So, if you’re a legal age adult smoker (18+) looking for a smoke-free alternative than continued smoking, this article is just for you.

Right now, there are 20.3 million¹ adult IQOS users around the world who have stopped burning tobacco and started heating it with IQOS. As you read through this article, we break down key information that will help you understand the vision behind IQOS and the science on how it works. 

Is IQOS a vape product?

Let’s get the question out of the way: Is IQOS a vape product? The answer is no. Most people who find alternatives to cigarette smoking are likely familiar with vape or vapor products, which uses e-liquid, e-juice, or vape juice. These e-liquids often contain chemicals, flavorings, and may sometimes have synthetic nicotine that does not come from real tobacco.

IQOS, which is a type of heated tobacco product, offers an alternative to smoking that still uses real tobacco to deliver nicotine. The electronic device is used with tobacco sticks, which gives its users a real tobacco taste and satisfaction. To help you visualize the key differences and similarities between a vape or e-cigarette from heated tobacco products like IQOS, we’ve put together this image that summarizes those key points.  

Both heated tobacco and vaping are alternatives to smoking but the best thing to do is to quit smoking cigarettes and nicotine altogether. There are different types of smoke-free alternatives available to our legal age adult smokers (18+), among which are heated tobacco products and vape. Find out which smoke-free alternative is right for you.

What does it mean if tobacco is heated instead of burned?

Cigarette smoking burns tobacco at extremely high temperatures that results to combustion which produces cigarette smoke, ash, and tar.

On the other hand, heated tobacco products like IQOS heats the tobacco to a significantly lower temperature without burning it, using “heat-not-burn” technology. Our IQOS devices control the heating to give you the taste of smokeless and ashless tobacco, making it a viable choice over continuing to smoke.

IQOS also provides you with a series of benefits that you will realize as soon as you fully switch to using IQOS. One example is that it produces less smell than cigarettes and does not create cigarette smoke smell. These products also do not produce ash, which is also a cause for the lingering cigarette smell.

It’s no wonder that IQOS heated tobacco is becoming a popular smoke-free alternative among adult smokers, as it incorporates tobacco without smoke, without ash, and produces less smell compared to cigarettes. Learning more about the differences between burning and heating tobacco can also help you identify which smoke-free alternative is for you. IQOS is also the #1 heated tobacco product¹ and thousands of adult smokers around the world convert to IQOS every day².

Does not burning tobacco in IQOS deliver the same experience as smoking cigarettes?

To understand the full IQOS experience, let us take a deeper look at how heated tobacco works:

1. Insert the tobacco stick into your device.

Each device has a uniquely designed tobacco stick to deliver real tobacco taste. Currently, we are offering different tobacco stick variants depending on your device. HEETS^TM is made to be used with an IQOS device, while BLENDS is designed only for use with BONDS by IQOS device.  

2. The tobacco is heated to a lower temperature.

Each device heats tobacco instead of burning it. This process produces a non-smoke aerosol that is essentially different from tar and consists of significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals².

3. Enjoy authentic tobacco taste.

As tobacco is heated rather than burned, this delivers to its users the true taste of tobacco. This differs from the taste of burning often associated with smoking cigarettes.

If you are looking for an alternative to cigarettes, then IQOS might be the most appropriate option for you. IQOS contains real tobacco, a cigarette filter, a familiar ritual, a satisfying taste, and a cigarette-like satisfaction. Everything so you can keep the tobacco and taste satisfaction that will help you switch more easily than with other products.  Learn more on what makes IQOS heated tobacco different from smoking cigarettes.

Interested in owning your first IQOS device?

IQOS offers a variety of devices that you can choose from. The list ranges from our latest flagship device – the IQOS Originals series, to our all-in-one and pocket-friendly device – BONDS by IQOS. You can also checkout the nearest popup or boutique stores near you or shop directly on IQOS.com and get free delivery on your purchase.

Still not sure which IQOS device is for you?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you! Check out which device fits you better with this handy tool that summarizes all you need to know about each device. You can also try our IQOS device for up to 14 days or try our BONDS by IQOS device for up to 7 days.

Back to Updates

_{1    PMI global estimate of total In-Market Sales of Heated Tobacco Units as of December 2022 (excluding Russia and Ukraine).} 

_{2    Status as of December 2022. Exclusive Heat-Not-Burn users that are using PMI HeatSticks for at least 70% of their past-7 days heated tobacco consumption. PMI Financials or estimates, IQOS user panels and PMI Market Research.}    

_{3    Average reductions in levels of a range of harmful chemicals (excluding nicotine) compared to cigarette smoke.}

Important Information: This product is not risk free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use other nicotine products.

_{IQOS are only for adult smokers who otherwise wish to continue to use tobacco or nicotine containing products. IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive.}

_{This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.}