If you’re an existing adult smoker or nicotine user that’s interested in buying heated tobacco for the first time, you may be wondering “What should I consider?”, or “Which heated tobacco should I buy?”. The answer largely varies depending on your preferences, but there are some things you can look out for. Here’s a comprehensive guide about what to consider before making a purchase.

Device features

Every brand is different and will have various features available. Here are some you can consider:

• Puff count and session duration. Find out how long one session lasts, and how many puffs you can take within this time. For example, with Ploom X Advanced, a session takes around 5 minutes, but you get unlimited puffs.
• Charge time and frequency. Heated tobacco devices need to be charged. Take a look at how many sessions you get in one charge, and how long charging takes. With Ploom, you can have up to 22 sessions per charge, and charging time is under 90 minutes.
• Maintenance. Although Heated tobacco produces no ash and no smoke, it needs to be cleaned occasionally. Ploom X Advanced takes just 5 seconds to clean, and there’s no need to take it apart, for ultimate convenience.
• Heating technology. Different brands heat the tobacco stick in different ways.  Some use induction, and others use a blade to heat from the inside.  The Ploom device uses HeatFlow^tm technology to optimise heating and taste, by allowing smooth, easy airflow around the tobacco stick.

Tobacco sticks

Another key consideration is what kind of tobacco sticks the device uses, and the quality of tobacco inside. Ploom X Advanced works exclusively with EVO tobacco sticks, which are made using the finest quality tobacco mixed using ActivBlend ^tm, exclusively for Ploom. They are cut with OptiCut, to maximise the tobacco surface area for better heating and more flavour.

Flavour portfolio

As well as the quality of tobacco, you’ll need to take a look at the flavours on offer. Do you prefer a traditional tobacco taste? Cooling menthol flavours? Or perhaps a fruity twist? Our portfolio of EVO tobacco sticks has been curated to offer a range of intensities to suit every taste. Take a look at our portfolio here or take our Flavour Finder Quiz to discover your perfect fit.

Aesthetic

Every brand is slightly different, so it is worth considering which most aligns to your style. Ploom X Advanced has an ergonomic pebble shape that fits perfectly in your palm and is slick, stylish and compact enough to take everywhere. It also comes with a range of accessories, such as our coloured front panels for you to customise however you want.

Cost

Good news - with Ploom, you could be saving up to £4,234 a year** But there is still some variety in the cost of devices and tobacco sticks available today.  Do a bit of research and you can decide which best suits your budget.

Trustpilot reviews

The best way to determine if a brand is a good choice is to check out their rating on Trustpilot. At the time of writing, Ploom has a score of 4.2, which is considered “Great”.

Hopefully, this has provided you with some guidance about what to look out for when purchasing heated tobacco. Do your research, compare key features, and decide what works best for you.

Legitimacy

It’s important to make sure you’re purchasing a legitimate brand. Counterfeit tobacco is a rising issue in the UK, as these products are unregulated.
 Make sure you’re purchasing from a legitimate brand website, like Ploom.co.uk, or a known retailer, like Tesco or Sainsbury’s.

USE LATEST COST CALCULATION **Calculation compares the average cost of smoking 20 cigarettes and consuming 20 EVO tobacco sticks per day. With 20 sticks in a pack and a recommended retail price of £5.00, EVO costs a third of the price of a pack of cigarettes. The current average selling price of a pack of 20 king size cigarettes is £16.60 (ONS data January 2025).