Since 17 June 2025, under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act as amended, the New Zealand Government banned all forms of single-use disposable vape. This leaves two major categories of vape device: pod systems and mods. In this article, we'll look at both and how they differ.
What Are Pod Systems?
Pod systems are small, simple devices made up of two main parts: a rechargeable battery base, and a pod, a single unit containing the mouthpiece, coil, and e-liquid tank, that's either prefilled or refillable. Pod systems are usually:
- Compact and easy to use, often draw-activated, so there's no button to press.
- Low maintenance, with little to no adjusting of settings.
- Best suited to nicotine salt e-liquids, which tend to pair with the higher-resistance coils built into most pods.
- A tighter, cigarette-like draw, often called mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping.
- A good option for beginners, especially those switching from cigarettes.
What Are Mods?
Mods, short for modified devices, are larger, more sophisticated and more powerful vape devices designed for far more experienced users. They feature a separate refillable tank and adjustable settings such as wattage, airflow, and often temperature control.
- More customisable, letting you fine-tune wattage, and often airflow, to your preference.
- Paired with sub-ohm coils, which run at lower resistance and produce more vapour.
- Best suited to high-VG freebase e-liquids, which handle sub-ohm heat without harshness.
- A looser, direct-to-lung (DTL) draw, favoured by more experienced vapers chasing bigger clouds and flavour.
MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) vs DTL (Direct-to-Lung)
MTL and DTL are two different draw or puffing styles for vapes. It's worth knowing which style your device uses, since it directly affects the experience.
MTL, or mouth-to-lung, is a two-step puffing process. First, you draw vapour from the device's mouthpiece into your mouth, then inhale it down into your lungs before exhaling, similar to how a cigarette is smoked. Pod systems are built around this drawing style, and it produces less vapour but a thicker throat hit.
DTL, or direct-to-lung, is a one-step puffing process. You inhale vapour from the device straight into your lungs in one continuous motion. Mods are designed to be puffed this way, producing a smoother throat feel and larger clouds.
MTL involves a pause in the mouth before inhaling; DTL goes straight to the lungs in one motion.
Pod Systems and Mods: An Overview
| Pod System | Mod | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners, simplicity | Experienced users, customisation |
| Draw style | Mouth-to-lung (MTL) | Direct-to-lung (DTL) |
| E-liquid type | Nicotine salts | Freebase, high-VG |
| Vapour output | Lower | Higher |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Moderate to high |
As a general rule, pod systems are advisable for beginners, especially those switching from smoking, since they mimic a familiar draw and need minimal setup, usually just puff and go. Mods are advisable for experienced users who want more control over vapour and flavour, since mods let the user fine-tune their experience.
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This article is for general educational purposes only and does not promote vaping or any specific product. Vaping products are restricted to adults 18+ under New Zealand's Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act.