At some point in the last year, vapes became gadgets. Not in the vague sense that they’ve always been electronic — I mean in the “check out my lock screen animation” sense. Screens, touch interfaces, animated displays, adjustable wattage, Bluetooth connectivity. We covered the early wave in our Smart Vapes Guide, and now the category has exploded.
Geek Bar’s Pulse line has a full screen that plays cosmic animations while you vape. RAZ’s LTX 25K shows wattage, battery status, and e-liquid level on an HD display. SMOK’s Novo 6 Ultra has a 1.65-inch TFT touchscreen — on a pod system. Upends ships the STARX with what the company calls a “full HD touchscreen.”
This is the “smart vape” category, and it’s exploding. But the question isn’t whether a screen on a vape looks cool. It’s whether any of these features make the vaping experience meaningfully better — or if they’re just shiny distractions that add cost and complexity to something that used to be simple.
Here’s what the smart vape trend actually delivers, which features are worth paying for, and which ones you can safely ignore.
Even celeb-endorsed devices like the Floyd Mayweather TMT 15000 pack displays and adjustable settings into a disposable form factor. The screen trend extends from pod systems to disposables.
What Makes a Vape “Smart”?
There’s no official definition, but in 2026, a “smart vape” typically has at least one of these:
Digital displays. Battery level, e-liquid level, puff count, wattage, mode indicators — anything beyond a simple LED light. These range from basic segment displays (like a digital clock) to full-color screens with animations.
Adjustable wattage or power modes. The ability to change how much power the coil gets, which affects vapor temperature, throat hit, and cloud density. Usually offered as preset modes (Normal/Smooth/Boost) rather than precise wattage control.
Adjustable airflow. Not new, but increasingly paired with smart features. A slider or ring that lets you tighten or open the draw.
Touch controls. Replacing buttons with capacitive touch, sometimes with swipe gestures or mini-app-style interfaces.
Puff tracking and limits. Counting your daily puffs, setting reminders, or locking the device after a certain number of draws.
Animated displays. Screensavers, vape-themed animations, or reactive visuals that play while you draw or charge.
An important distinction: some of these features are functional (knowing your battery level is genuinely useful), and some are decorative (animations look cool yet don’t change how the vape performs). Best smart vapes lean functional. Worst ones use screen flash to distract from mediocre vaping performance. CDC data shows youth usage remains a regulatory concern for devices with appealing visual features.
The Devices Leading the Category
| Geek Bar Pulse X 25K | RAZ LTX 25K | SMOK Novo 6 Ultra | VOOPOO Argus G4 | Upends STARX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Disposable | Disposable | Refillable Pod | Refillable Pod | Disposable |
| E-liquid | 18mL / 5% nic salt | 16mL / 5% nic salt | 3mL refillable | 5mL refillable | 16mL / 5% nic salt |
| Battery | 900mAh | 800mAh | 1700mAh | 1650mAh | Varies |
| Max Puffs | 25K (Reg) / 15K (Pulse) | 25K | N/A (refillable) | N/A (refillable) | 25K |
| Power Modes | Regular / Pulse | Adjustable wattage | Normal / Smooth / Boost (up to 40W) | Adjustable (up to 35W) | Dual modes |
| Screen | 3D curved LED + animations | HD display (wattage, battery, e-liquid) | 1.65″ TFT touchscreen | Functional display | Full HD touchscreen |
| Airflow | Adjustable | Adjustable | Fixed | Adjustable | N/A |
| Coil | Dual mesh | Temp-controlled | Vertical dual mesh | Multi-ohm options | Standard |
| Price | ~$17-22 | ~$16-20 | ~$30-35 | ~$28-32 | Varies |
| E-liquid Level Display | Yes | Yes | N/A (refillable) | N/A (refillable) | Yes |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C 2.0A (45min) | USB-C | USB-C |
Geek Bar Pulse X 25K
Geek Bar’s Pulse X 25K put “smart” on the disposable map. Its 3D curved LED screen displays battery level, e-liquid level, and vaping mode. Pulse mode uses both mesh coils simultaneously instead of alternating, producing noticeably warmer, denser vapor — whether that’s worth halving your puff count depends on your priorities. Animations look good in review videos. Don’t affect performance.
RAZ LTX 25K
RAZ’s flagship smart disposable with a leather finish and the best screen in the category — crisp, readable, showing wattage, battery, e-liquid, and mode. The adjustable wattage is the real differentiator: most disposables lock you into whatever power the manufacturer chose. The LTX 25K lets you dial it up or down. Temperature-controlled coils prevent dry hits at higher wattages — a genuine quality-of-life improvement.
SMOK Novo 6 Ultra
A refillable pod system with a 1.65-inch TFT touchscreen and three power modes up to 40W. We reviewed the SMOK Novo 6 (non-Ultra) earlier this year. The Ultra adds the touchscreen and higher wattage.
40W from a pod system this compact is impressive. The three modes cover a real range. The 1700mAh battery is genuinely all-day. The touchscreen works, except there’s no tactile button to find in your pocket, and the screen picks up fingerprints. The “smart puff reminding” is either a health feature or an annoyance depending on your perspective.
VOOPOO Argus G4
Another refillable pod system going smart, except this one treats the screen as a tool rather than a toy. The display is functional, not flashy — no animations, just the information you need. The multi-ohm pod system (different resistance options) is the real feature; the screen is there to help you use it properly.
We’ve covered the VOOPOO Argus G4 and the Argus G4 Mini in full reviews.
Upends STARX
A newer entry that goes all-in on the “smart” label with a full HD touchscreen. Same core info as the others — battery, e-liquid, mode. The “full HD” is sharper than segment-style displays. On a screen this small, though, the resolution difference is barely perceptible. Not much here that the Pulse X or RAZ doesn’t do as well or better. To me, the STARX feels like a device designed around its screen rather than a vape that happens to have one.
Which Smart Features Actually Matter
After testing these devices for weeks, here’s my honest ranking:
| Feature | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| E-liquid level display | ✅ Worth It | The single most useful smart feature. Eliminates the biggest anxiety with sealed devices — no more guessing |
| Battery percentage display | ✅ Worth It | Knowing you have 30% left at 6pm tells you whether to charge before going out. A blinking LED doesn’t |
| Adjustable wattage / power modes | ✅ Worth It (if you use them) | Tighter draw in the morning, bigger clouds at night. If you find a setting and never change it, wasted complexity |
| Adjustable airflow | 🟡 Nice to Have | Not really “smart” (it’s mechanical), but pairs well with power modes |
| Puff tracking | 🟡 Nice to Have | Interesting for the first week. Could be useful for reducing consumption, but most people stop checking |
| Animated displays | ❌ Skip It | Fun for the first hour. Then just battery drain. Zero functional value |
| Touchscreens on pod systems | ❌ Skip It | Solving a problem that doesn’t exist. Physical buttons are faster, more tactile, work without looking |
| Puff limits / reminders | ❌ Skip It | A device that nags you after 20 puffs feels paternalistic — more annoying than helpful |
The Real Question: Does Smart Mean Better?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about smart vapes — and I say this as someone who genuinely likes gadgets: the features that matter most (e-liquid level, battery status) could be delivered by a $0.50 segment display. You don’t need a full-color animated screen to show four bars of battery life.
What you’re really paying for with a “smart vape” is the experience of feeling like you’re using a piece of technology rather than a nicotine delivery device. That’s not nothing — the ritual and tactile satisfaction of using a well-designed gadget is a real part of the experience for many vapers. Let’s be honest about what you’re getting, though.
Best device in this category isn’t the one with the biggest screen or the most animations. It’s the one where smart features genuinely improve the vaping experience — where the display gives you information you actually use, the power modes create meaningfully different experiences, and the device doesn’t sacrifice battery life or flavor quality to power a light show.
My pick? The RAZ LTX 25K for a disposable, or the VOOPOO Argus G4 for a refillable pod system. Both treat the screen as a tool, not a toy.
Smart vapes aren’t going away. Screens will get bigger, animations will get fancier, and someone will eventually put a full operating system on a vape. Yet the devices that last — the ones people actually recommend to friends — will be the ones that use technology to solve real problems, not create new ones.
Related Reading
- Best Disposable Vapes 2026 — our full ranking of disposables
- Best Pod Vapes 2026 — top pod systems for every budget
- FDA Authorized Vapes List — which vapes are legally sold in the U.S.
- Smart Vapes Guide — our earlier overview of the category
Frequently Asked Questions
Are smart vapes legal in the US?
Most disposable vapes with digital screens have not received PMTA authorization from the FDA. They’re sold under enforcement discretion, which means the FDA could choose to act against them at any time. Refillable pod systems like the SMOK Novo 6 Ultra and VOOPOO Argus G4 are in a different regulatory category and face fewer restrictions.
Do screens drain the battery faster?
Yes, though not dramatically. Animated displays use more power than simple segment displays. In my testing, devices with full-color animated screens lost roughly 5-10% more battery over a day compared to similar devices with basic indicators.
Is adjustable wattage worth it on a disposable?
Depends on your vaping style. Most disposable users never change settings. If you like a cooler draw in the morning and warmer vapor at night, wattage control makes a real difference. Everyone else can safely skip it.
Can you turn off the animations?
On most devices, yes — usually by switching to a different mode or tapping the screen. Worth doing if battery life matters more to you than light shows.
All nicotine products carry health risks and are intended for adults of legal age only. Product specifications verified via manufacturer websites and authorized retailers as of May 2026. Prices may vary. Disposable vape products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA and are sold under enforcement discretion.
Kevin Li — Founder & Editor, VapeObservation.com Kevin reviews vape products hands-on, prioritizing real-world performance over manufacturer claims. His goal: honest, practical advice that helps everyday vapers make informed choices. Before launching VapeObservation, he was a longtime vaper frustrated by promotional content disguised as reviews. Every article on the site reflects his commitment to data-driven, reader-first testing.
