Vape Guides · 6 min
MTL, RDL or DL: Which Draw Style Suits You?
MTL, RDL or DL: ohm, watts, airflow, e-liquid and nicotine strength compared by draw style, and which pod system or tank suits your draw.
Vape Vape Guides · Part 2 of 4
Prefilled Pod or Refillable: Which Pod System Suits You?
A prefilled pod comes ready filled: 2 ml of nicotine salt at 20 mg/ml, plug it in, vape it empty, replace it. A refillable pod you fill yourself with the e-liquid of your choice. That is much cheaper per millilitre, but takes a few more steps.
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Prefilled and refillable compared
Both systems run on a rechargeable battery. Unlike with a disposable vape, you throw away only the empty pod, not the whole device. The difference lies in the pod.
| Value | Prefilled pod | Refillable pod |
|---|---|---|
| E-liquid | In the pod from the factory, sealed | You fill it yourself from the bottle |
| Fill volume | 2 ml, lasts for about 600 puffs | Usually 2 ml per fill |
| Nicotine | Almost always 20 mg/ml nicotine salt, some flavours nicotine-free | Freely selectable, for switching 10 or 20 mg/ml nicotine salt |
| Flavours | Only the flavours of the pod series | Any e-liquid that suits the coil and draw style |
| Coil | Comes new with every pod | Fixed in the pod, replace the pod every 1 to 3 weeks |
| Effort | Plug in the pod, done | Fill, let it soak in, replace the pod in good time |
| Cost per ml | Higher | Much lower |
Prefilled pod: plug in and start vaping
A prefilled pod is filled with e-liquid from the factory and sealed. You plug it onto the base device, vape it empty and take the next one. A 2-ml pod lasts for roughly 600 puffs, as much as a disposable vape. Refilling is not intended. On the SKE Crystal Plus, the pod sits on top of the device; the Crystal Plus Pods come in a pack of two. At Elfbar they are called ELFA Pods, filled with 20 mg/ml nicotine salt.
Refillable pod: your e-liquid, your flavour
A refillable pod, usually called an empty pod, you fill yourself. With it you vape any e-liquid that suits the coil and draw style, from nicotine salt to nicotine-free e-liquid. It is filled from the top (top fill), from the side (side fill) or from the bottom (bottom fill). The Innocigs eGo Pod holds 2 ml, is filled from the side and has a 1.2-ohm coil for the mouth-to-lung draw (MTL). You fill the Vaporesso XROS 5 Mini from the top, also 2 ml with 1.2 ohm.
Pod plus refill container: the 10-ml systems
In between are systems that combine an atomiser pod with a prefilled 10-ml container. The e-liquid is ready, you fill nothing in yourself, but you have more supply than in the 2-ml pod. The Arcbear Pro 15000 Starter Kit comes with a 10-ml e-liquid pod at 20 mg/ml and an empty pod with dual mesh coil. On the Vaporesso Dojo Blast X, the 10-ml container sits magnetically in the device. On the SKE Crystal Edge, the e-liquid flows from the 10-ml container into a 2-ml atomiser pod with 0.8 ohm. The flavours stay tied to the series, as with the prefilled pod.
What are the running costs?
With the prefilled pod, you pay for e-liquid, coil and pod every time. Per millilitre that is much more expensive than e-liquid from the bottle. From a 10-ml bottle, you fill a 2-ml pod five times. With the empty pod, only the pod replacement is added, every one to three weeks depending on e-liquid and power. In Germany, tobacco tax is levied on e-liquid, 0.32 euros per millilitre since 2026, the same for prefilled pods and bottles. If you vape daily, the empty pod therefore works out noticeably cheaper.
Filling and replacing an empty pod
After the first filling, you wait about five minutes so the cotton soaks up fully. Otherwise it scorches on the very first puff. Small MTL pods need 50/50 e-liquid; e-liquid with 70 per cent VG or more wicks poorly. Heavily sweetened e-liquids make the coil gum up faster.
If the coil is built into the pod, you replace the whole pod. It is time when the flavour turns flat, the pod gurgles or tastes burnt. You will find replacements under pods with vaporiser.
Which system suits you?
If you are coming from the disposable vape and do not want to change anything, take prefilled: the same handling, the same flavour, the same nicotine strength, only the battery stays. If you vape daily or want other flavours and strengths, the empty pod is worthwhile. For switching, nicotine salt e-liquids at 10 or 20 mg/ml are suitable.
Still undecided? The Elf Bar ELFA Turbo base device takes both: the prefilled pods of the ELFA and Tappo ranges and the ELFA Turbo empty pods for filling yourself. Which draw style suits you is covered in the article MTL, RDL or DL.
Side fill
You fill the Caliburn G4 Classic from the side; the set includes pods with 0.4 and 0.6 ohm.
Top fill
You fill the XROS 5 from the top; the set includes pods with 0.6 and 0.8 ohm.
Bottom fill
You fill the Eco Nano Plus from below; the pod holds 10 ml.
Pod plus 10 ml
The Dojo Blast X holds its pod magnetically; the 10-ml container comes ready filled.
Replacement pods
The coil is fixed in the pod; the whole pod is replaced.
Once your system route is settled, it comes to choosing a device: in the vape advisor you switch between refillable and prefilled and choose your budget.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refill a prefilled pod?
No. Prefilled pods are sealed and not intended to be opened. For your own e-liquid you take an empty pod, if there is one for your device.
How long does a prefilled pod last?
A 2-ml pod lasts for roughly 600 puffs, as much as a disposable vape.
Is a prefilled pod the same as a disposable vape?
No. With the disposable vape you throw away the whole device including the battery; with the prefilled system only the empty pod. You recharge the battery.
How often do I have to replace an empty pod?
Usually after one to three weeks, depending on e-liquid and power. At the latest when it tastes flat or burnt or gurgles.
Which e-liquid goes in an empty pod?
For small MTL pods, 50/50 e-liquid; for switching, nicotine salt at 10 or 20 mg/ml. E-liquid with a lot of VG wicks poorly in small coils.
Do prefilled pods fit every device?
No, only the devices of their series, for example ELFA pods in the ELFA base device.
About the author
Philip
Vape veteran
For this article
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