Rechargeable puff: sealed cartridge or refillable pod

What is a rechargeable puff

A rechargeable puff is a pocket-sized electronic vaping device. A built-in lithium-ion battery, charged through a USB-C port, powers a mesh coil that vaporises the e-liquid held in a cartridge or pod. The device fires when you inhale, with no button. Unlike the old disposable models, the battery can be recharged and the cartridge replaced or refilled, which extends the working life of the device and cuts the volume of electronic waste per puff.

Sealed cartridge or refillable pod

Sealed-cartridge puffs

A sealed cartridge is pre-filled at the factory and has the coil built in. Once empty, it is pulled off the battery and swapped for a new cartridge of the same brand and model. Its capacity is capped at 2 ml when it contains nicotine, in line with TPD rules. Example: the Al Fakher Hyper Max Advanced 30K Crown Bar puff, with 2 ml sealed cartridges, a 950 mAh battery and a 0.6 ohm mesh coil.

Refillable-pod puffs

A refillable pod is a tank the user fills from a bottle of e-liquid, with a built-in or replaceable coil. Some kits come with 10 ml bottles. Examples: the Adalya Myvo 30K puff (1,000 to 1,300 mAh battery depending on version, 8 mg/ml nicotine salts) and the Al Fakher Refill Pro 32K puff (1,000 mAh battery, supplied with two 10 ml bottles at 6 mg/ml). A pod intended for nicotine e-liquid is limited to 2 ml in France; larger capacities are reserved for nicotine-free liquids.

Puff count, battery and runtime

Stated puff counts range from 600 for the most compact formats to 50,000 and more for the highest-capacity models, such as the Al Fakher Hypermax Prime 50K Crown Bar puff (1,000 mAh battery, two interchangeable 10 ml pods at 6 mg/ml, adjustable MTL-to-DL airflow), and that upper limit keeps rising as new models reach the market. It is a manufacturer figure based on the total amount of e-liquid supplied and a standard puff length; actual runtime depends on how long you inhale and on the draw style. The battery, from 950 to 1,300 mAh across the models in this category, is recharged many times over the life of the device; a full USB-C charge generally takes under an hour. Recent models include an LED screen showing liquid level, battery status and puff counter.

Coil and draw style

The mesh coil, generally between 0.6 and 1.2 ohm, heats the e-liquid evenly. An adjustable airflow, found on some models, lets you switch from a tight mouth-to-lung (MTL) draw to a more open direct-lung (DL) draw, closer to that of a shisha. The coil is changed together with the cartridge on sealed models, or separately on some refillable pods.

Nicotine and e-liquids

The puffs in this category come with nicotine-salt e-liquids ranging from 0 mg/ml (nicotine-free) to 20 mg/ml, the maximum strength allowed in France; the usual strengths are 0, 6, 8 and 20 mg/ml, sometimes given as a percentage (2% being 20 mg/ml). Flavour profiles follow the classic shisha families: fruit, mint, fruit-and-mint pairings, cool notes. For refillable pods, compatible bottles are grouped in the e-liquids and cartridges category. Shisha pens are a neighbouring category, in a longer format.

Use, care and end of life

Before first use of a new cartridge or pod, let the liquid soak into the coil for a few minutes. Charge the battery with a USB-C cable that meets the manufacturer's specifications. Replace the cartridge when the taste turns or the vapour drops off; on a refillable pod, never let the tank run dry or you will burn the cotton. Keep the device away from heat and out of reach of children. At end of life, the battery and any cartridge containing a coil fall under waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and go to a collection point, never in household waste. Replacement batteries and pods are listed in the e-shisha accessories category.

Regulations applicable in France

A puff is a vaping product within the meaning of Article L.3513-1 of the French Public Health Code. Its sale to minors is prohibited, its advertising is prohibited (Article L.3513-4) and its e-liquid is governed by TPD rules: 20 mg/ml of nicotine at most, a cartridge or tank of 2 ml at most for nicotine liquid, refill bottles of 10 ml at most. Since Law No. 2025-153 of 25 February 2025, single-use electronic vaping devices, pre-filled and non-rechargeable, are banned from sale.

Category specifications

FAQ

Are disposable puffs still allowed in France?

No. Single-use vaping devices have been banned from sale since Law No. 2025-153 of 25 February 2025. The puffs on offer are rechargeable, with a replaceable cartridge or a refillable pod.

How long does a 30,000 or 50,000 puff device last?

The figure is a manufacturer value based on the amount of e-liquid supplied and a standard puff. Actual duration depends on how long you inhale and on the draw style; with regular use it is measured in weeks.

What is the difference between a sealed cartridge and a refillable pod?

A sealed cartridge is pre-filled and is replaced whole, coil included. A refillable pod is filled from a bottle of e-liquid, so you can choose the flavour and the nicotine strength.

Which nicotine strength should I choose for a puff?

Available strengths run from 0 to 20 mg/ml in nicotine salts. The strength is shown on the product page and on the packaging; 20 mg/ml is the legal maximum in France.

How do I recycle a puff?

A puff contains a lithium-ion battery: take it to a WEEE collection point (in-store bin, recycling centre). Empty cartridges follow the same route when they contain a coil.