In the early days of vaping, there was a simple choice – a basic cigalike device or a massive mod device designed to block out the sun with its huge clouds.
Nowadays there are a huge variety of vape mods, and they all cater to different needs. There are mods that are super easy to use, mods for Mouth-to-Lung vapers, mods for cloud chasers and so on.
So when choosing a mod, there’s no single ‘best’ option, although we will share our favourites at the end of this post.
Instead, you need to match your needs to the mod that best suits them.
In this post we do exactly that, highlighting the best vape mods for different purposes.
Looking for a tank to go with your mod? Check out our Best Vape Tanks blog. Or, If you’d prefer your mod as part of a kit, take a look at our list of Best Vape Kits.
Contents
- What is a vape mod?
- Best overall
- Best vape mods overview
- Best vape mods in-depth
- How we selected the devices
- Team favourites
- Related guides
The term ‘vape mod’ has evolved over time.
Originally, the term referred to a modified device. In the early days of vaping, when choice was limited, modders built or adapted their own vape devices.
Manufacturers caught on to the popularity of these and started producing mass-manufactured mods. Originally, many of these were box mods, which referred to the square, boxy design of these devices.
Mods were also increasingly distinguished by their increased power range and functionality.
They did have a drawback though, and that was their difficulty of use. So manufacturers like Innokin lead innovation in creating mods that were also easy to use and suitable for less experienced vapers.
Nowadays, mods come with all sorts of power ranges and experience requirements. Some are powered by replaceable batteries, while others use fixed internal batteries.
However, a mod is generally larger than a pod or pen-style vape. The tank screws into the device, instead of clipping on like a pod system. There is also usually more functionality than with a pen style or pod device.
You’ll also come across pod mods, which are essentially a stepping stone between a pod system and a mod device.
Long battery life: Eleaf iStick Power 2
If you’re on the move and don’t always have access to a charger, battery is important. If you don’t want a mod that uses external batteries, then one of the best options is the Eleaf iStick Power 2.
This device comes with a very impressive 5000mAh battery. That’s more than five times the amount some mods come with. When using this as a Mouth-to-Lung device, this mod should last most vapers a couple of days before needing recharging, and even using it at its 80-watt limit it should easily last more than a day.
The iStick Power 2 also comes with one of my favourite features – Smart Mode. When in use, this limits the wattage range to suit the coil. This both helps prevent the coil from burning out and increases the life of the coil.
The iStick Power 2 is not the best option for Direct-Lung or cloud vapers, but as an MTL device it’s superb, with the included Eleaf GTL pod tank delivering excellent flavour. The Smart Mode definitely lowers the experience level needed for this device, and most vapers with a modicum of experience should be able to use it without a problem.
Also see the iStick Power 2 kit.
What we like:
- Massive 5000mAh battery capacity
- Excellent flavour
- Smart Mode for easy use and longer-lasting coils
| Product name | What’s special? | Who’s it for? |
|---|---|---|
| iStick Power 2 | Long-lasting battery, best overall mod | Intermediate |
| Geekvape Z200 | Tough, powerful & intelligent | Intermediate to advanced users |
| Innokin Coolfire Z60 | Great battery life, choice of vaping styles | All experience levels |
| Smok Morph 3 | Powerful yet easy to use | Intermediate to advanced users |
| Innokin GOZEE | Lightweight design & all-day battery life | All experience levels |
| Innokin Adept Zlide | Easy to use, best mod for beginners | All experience levels |
| Smok Mag Solo | Straightforward sub-ohm | All experience levels |
| Aspire Zelos 3 | Choice of 5 modes | Intermediate/Advanced |
| Vaporesso Target 100 & Itank 2 | Best mod kit fr flavour | Intermediate |
Reviewed by: Maya, ECD Team
With up to 200W of power and dual external batteries, the Geekvape Z200 (a newly updated version of the popular T200) seems the perfect mod for a cloud-chasing mod vaper like myself to test out.
Design-wise, the Z200 mod is incredibly stylish and I was shocked at how lightweight it was - even with the batteries and a large tank installed. However, it is very large and, with my hands being on the smaller side, it felt quite uncomfortable for me to hold. So, size-wise I would probably prefer something more compact.
With a choice of 5 modes (Power, TC, Bypass, Smart and VPC), I’d say this mod was suited to more advanced users like myself who like to customise their vaping. The Smart Mode option is handy, though, as it auto-selects the best wattage range for the coil being used. Personally, I stuck to Power Mode as I like to manually adjust my wattage for maximum clouds.
The battery life on this mod was superb - with the dual batteries lasting me 3-4 days on one charge. The charging was a downside for me, however. The mod has a Mini USB connection with an oddly-placed charging port that can be difficult to access depending on the tank you have installed. I feel the device could benefit from a USB-C connection as these are usually stronger and more reliable.
The Z200 has a large touchscreen with a simple design that displays only the most important information like wattage, battery and coil resistance. This made it easy to read and control the device.
One thing I particularly like about this mod is its locking feature. Having previously used the T200 and finding its ‘everything including the kitchen sink’ locking feature inconvenient as it didn’t let you vape when the device was locked, the Z200’s is a great adjustment as it allows you to lock your wattage, while still being able to use the fire button.
What we like:
- Powerful mod
- Lots of mode options
- Great battery life
Reviewed by: Emily, ECD Team
Having previously used Innokin’s Coolfire Z50, I felt I was well-placed to test out the newer Coolfire Z60 Zlide Top kit for a few weeks to see how it compares.
The Coolfire Z60 mod boasts an extra 10W of power (50W vs 60W) and enhanced battery capacity (2100mAh vs 2500mAh) compared to the original. Despite this extra power and battery capacity, the device is still lightweight and actually feels more sturdy than the Z50.
The biggest positive of this mod is its battery life - which seemed to last forever! In fact, I found myself only having to recharge the device once over several days of use. The battery did initially drop by 15% quite quickly (which concerned me). But after this, it took a very long time to run down.
The mod’s 60W output is sufficient for my (and most other vapers’) needs, but may not be suited for those mod users who prefer huge amounts of power.
Not as important as the functionality, but I personally loved the purple colour of the mod I was given.
As this mod is currently only available as part of a kit, it’s worth mentioning the performance of the included vape tank and coils - which I found very positive!
I like that the Zlide Top Tank has multiple compatible coil options, so you can use the kit for both Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) and Direct-Lung (DL) vaping as well as pairing it with different kinds of vape juice.
As an MTL vaper, I choose the 1.0ohm coil (sold separately from the kit) and nic salt vape juice. This produced strong flavour, a nice airflow and a good amount of vapour for this kind of inhale.
I also found the coil life to be excellent. While I usually need to swap coils every couple of days, the 1.0ohm Z coil lasted me a full week of use before I needed to replace it. Although, I’d expect a lower-resistance coil to last less time than this.
While the tank does have improved filling compared to the original Zlide vape tank, I did find filling the tank quite awkward as it needs to be tilted when adding e-liquid.
What we like:
- Long-lasting battery
- Choice of inhale styles
- Good flavour & vapour production
What’s not to like:
- Improved filling but still quite awkward
- May not be powerful enough for some vapers
Reviewed by: Maya, ECD Team
As a long-time cloud-chaser, I’m used to using powerful, replaceable battery mods. While this kind of device suits my vape style, they do tend to be very bulky, advanced and complicated to use.
The Smok Morph 3 boasts a very large 230W of power and uses dual 18650 batteries. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be lightweight and easy to use with a choice of just 2 modes (Variable Wattage and Temperature Control). It also came with an extensive user manual to help you get to grips with using it.
The mod also has an impressive battery life - I found I only had to charge the batteries twice over 3 days of use. However, I did have issues with charging the device when needed. Firstly, it took a very long time to fully charge the batteries - which is expected with a dual battery mod but is still inconvenient. I also found the provided charging lead to be very short and difficult to insert into the charging port.
While this is a mod review, as I tested this mod as part of a kit it’s worth mentioning the included Smok T-Air Subtank. This tank produced great flavour and the airflow design allows for a very open, airy inhale and plenty of vapour - which is great for a cloud chaser like me!
The tank’s filling port is conveniently positioned at the top and is very large - making it perfect for using shortfill vape juices. It also has a very strong, sturdy design - which I confirmed when I accidentally dropped it and discovered no damage!
The only issue I did find with the vape tank was that it didn’t fit as securely onto the device as I’d have liked. However, it’s hard to determine whether this is specific to the mod or the tank itself.
What we like:
- Powerful yet lightweight
- Long-lasting battery
- Easy to use
- Great flavour & clouds
What’s not to like:
- Charging takes a long time
- Tank doesn’t fit securely to the device
These days, vape mods don’t need to be big and bulky to provide long-lasting power. The Innokin GOZEE proves this with a super lightweight mod (just 76g) that, despite its size, provides up to 60W of power and a battery that can last a full day between charges.
The GOZEE also stands out due to its aesthetics. The eye-catching device is available in a choice of pastel colours and features a soft yet durable double-moulded body.
With a simple variable wattage operation, the GOZEE is suited to users of most experience levels, can support a range of inhale styles and can be paired with a wide range of tanks and coils.
Also see the GOZEE vape kit, which pairs the mod with the GO-Z vape tank.
What we like:
- Eye-catching look
- Lightweight design
- All-day battery life
Vape shops and websites often recommend a pod or pen-style device like the Aspire PockeX to new vapers. But not everyone wants a compact device.
If you’re looking for something a big chunkier, with great battery life but still easy to use, Innokin’s Adept mod is hard to beat.
First, there’s the intelligent wattage selection. The device gives you a range of power options to choose from depending on the coil you are using. This is a great option for new vapers, as it takes the guesswork out of selecting which wattage to use. By avoiding user error, you can also expect better flavour and longer-lasting coils.
If you’re clumsy (like me!) you’ll also appreciate the toughness of this device. The Adept mod is IP67 dustproof, shock-proof and water resistant, meaning it can take the occasional drop (even into water!) and carry on working.
The device comes with a 3000mAh battery, giving it an excellent battery life. Overall this is a great mod both for beginners and vapers who prefer an MTL vape.
Also see the Adept Zlide kit.
What we like:
- Great for beginners
- Intelligent wattage selection
- Dustproof, shock-proof and water resistant
Reviewed by: Corey, ECD Team
Having used mod vapes for years, I know some tend to be very advanced with complex modes - which can be intimidating for newer mod vapers.
However, whenI tested out the Smok Mag Solo as part of a kit with included T-Air vape tank, I thought it made a great option as a first sub-ohm mod kit - giving the full sub-ohm vaping experience without being overly complicated.
The 100W output is more than enough to power the included 0.2ohm TA coil for a Direct-Lung inhale, while the mod’s operation is fairly simple with just 2 modes (Variable Wattage or Temperature Control) to choose from. Variable wattage makes the device pretty straightforward to use, whilst temperature control means the device retains a more advanced option for experienced vapers as well as those who want to experiment.
The mod can be powered using either a single 18650 or 21700 battery - which is always a big plus to me - giving you the choice of maximum power or a slightly lighter weight. I chose the 21700 battery and found it lasted me most of a day of use at 65W - which is quite impressive considering I’m a heavier vaper.
The only downside I could really identify with this mod was its display screen - which wasn’t as clear or visually appealing as some others I’ve used from brands such as Vaporesso.
Design-wise, the mod feels high-quality, with a leather and metal finish in a wide range of colour options. Small details like the tactile buttons and solid battery door all add to its high-quality build.
What we like:
- Good quality design
- Simple choice of modes
- Choice of battery options
They say variety is the spice of life – and with this in mind, the Aspire Zelos 3 is a great vape mod for those who want a lot of choice in how they control their device.
The 80W mod provides 5 different modes to choose from – Variable Voltage/Wattage, TC, TCR, CPS and Bypass. This range of modes means the Zelos 3 can cater to most user needs – from less experienced to expert.
With a nicely rounded shape and compact size that makes it easy to hold, the mod has an attractive aesthetic with a sleek, metallic finish.
As well as an impressive aesthetic and range of modes, the Zelos 3 has impressive battery life. Despite its quite compact build, it boasts a 3200mAh battery that should last up to a day on one charge.
Also see the Zelos 3 kit.
What we like
- Choice of 5 modes
- Long-lasting battery
- Easy grip, rounded design
Reviewed by: Corey, ECD Team
At E-Cigarette Direct, we’ve always been fans of the Vaporesso Target 100. In fact, we’ve written a whole blog post on its amazing flavour. So, I tested out the Target 100 as part of the newly updated Target 100 iTank 2 kit to see what all the fuss is about!
The mod itself was a pleasure to use - sitting comfortably in hand and with a clear, easy-to-read screen and nice, tactile buttons.
The option of being able to use both 18650 and 21700 batteries is a great bonus. As a heavier user, the 18650 battery isn’t enough to get me through a day’s vaping, so the 21700 option would be ideal for me.
The mod’s 100W output was enough to provide me with a satisfying Direct-Lung (DL) vape but may not be enough for those who prefer huge amounts of power. (These users may want to opt for the twice as powerful, dual-battery Target 200.)
While the Target 100 has a choice of vaping modes available (including Variable Wattage (VW), Bypass, Pulse and DIY), I found myself sticking to F(t) flavour-enhancing mode. This really did give something extra when it came to flavour production when using my favourite vape juice (Aisu Blue Raspberry shortfill).
Overall, this is a great mod device in all key areas (operation, battery life and flavour production), with no major downfalls. While it may not be powerful enough for some, the option of the Target 200 is always there so Vaporesso have really covered all areas here.
What we like:
- Choice of battery options
- Good choice of modes
- Comfortable in hand with easy-to-read screen
To select the mods here we’ve used a combination of our own ratings, the popularity of these devices, both in terms of sales and ‘on the scene’, as well as taking into account customer feedback. Very occasionally we’ll add a just-launched mod to the list – but only if it totally blows us away in testing.
All the kits here are made to UK standards and are compliant with EU and UK regulations.
When we write posts like this, the approach we always take is to match different devices to different needs. After all, we might love the Geekvape Z200 with its multiple modes and huge cloud potential, but that’s certainly not the best vape mod for someone who needs a basic Mouth-to-Lung device.
But I thought it might also be useful to share a personal perspective, so here are a few of our team’s favourite mods (all of which meet our own different needs!)
As a flavour chaser, Corey from our product team is a big fan of the Target 100 and the flavour boost its innovative F(t) mode provides.
When Kayleigh, our content writer, joined us she still mostly smoked and went through a process of experimenting with nicotine strengths and trying different devices. Eventually, it was the easy-to-use Innokin Adept Zlide that helped her to make the switch in just 6 weeks.
For a cloud chaser like Maya, the Smok Morph 3 is a firm favourite due to its huge power output and dense vapour production - with the added bonus of not being overly complicated to use.
