VIGGO vs. JUUL: How Do the Best Pod Vapes Compare?

When the new VIGGO pod system from Vaper Empire hit the market, life changed in a big way for vapers in Australia. Before the release of the VIGGO, Australian vapers who wanted to take advantage of the latest vaping technologies had little choice but to buy JUUL kits and pods – at great cost – from companies that imported the products from American distributors. It was hardly an ideal situation, but the JUUL e-cigarette wasn’t – and still isn’t – officially available in Australia. 

Clearly, there was a real need for a company that understood the complexities of the Australian vaping market to come forward with a next-generation vaping device that could be shipped affordably to Australian buyers. That device is now available in the form of the VIGGO, and that leaves only one question: How does the VIGGO compare with the JUUL? Although the JUUL has a significant amount of notoriety and name recognition going for it, it’s also a product that has barely been updated in the more than six years since its release. The fact that the VIGGO pod system is so much newer means that it has some major advantages. We’ll explore the differences between the two devices in this VIGGO vs. JUUL comparison.

Flavor Selection

The short answer here is that VIGGO offers more flavors than JUUL by a wide margin. That’s especially true if you’re considering buying JUUL pods from a company that gets its JUUL gear from American distributors. U.S. legal restrictions prevent any company from selling pre-filled e-cigarette cartridges and pods in flavors other than tobacco and menthol. JUUL does have a wider selection of flavors in other markets, but those flavors are difficult to get in Australia, and the selection still doesn’t compare to VIGGO’s assortment of 11 different flavors that include Creamy Custard, Flat White Coffee and more.

Technical Specifications

The VIGGO has a gently curved shape that makes it feel small in the hand despite the fact that it is a bit larger than the JUUL. Because of its larger size, though, the VIGGO outperforms the JUUL in the two key areas of battery life and e-liquid capacity. 

Battery Life

• JUUL: 200 mAh
• VIGGO: 400 mAh

Pod Capacity

• JUUL: 0.7 ml
• VIGGO: 1.8 ml

Using any pre-filled vaping device isn’t cheap. You pay a little more for a vaping device that uses pre-filled pods, but the reward for paying a little extra is that you get to use an e-cigarette requiring virtually no effort – just charge the battery, drop in a pod and vape. It’s a real bonus, though, when the device that you’re using has a generous pod capacity, and that’s definitely true of the VIGGO.

Nicotine Strengths

JUUL pods are available in a variety of different nicotine strengths depending on the market for which they’re manufactured. In the United States, the two available nicotine strengths for JUUL pods are 3% and 5%. VIGGO pods, meanwhile, are available with a nicotine strength of 3% or without nicotine. Although the JUUL has a higher maximum nicotine concentration, it’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison because the VIGGO offers greater vapor production. If your vaping device produces bigger clouds, you can use a lower-strength e-liquid without compromising your satisfaction because you’ll absorb roughly the same amount of nicotine per puff. 

The fact that the VIGGO pod system has nicotine-free pods available merits special mention because very few e-cigarette companies offer pre-filled pods without nicotine. We’ll avoid speculation as to why that is the case. Suffice it to say, though, that there is ample demand for nicotine-free vape pods, and Vaper Empire is one of the few companies offering them.

Vapor Production

The JUUL is a very small vaping device, and it’s based on technology that hasn’t been updated substantially in more than six years. It produces very small vapor clouds, and it makes up for its lackluster vapor production by using an e-liquid with a very high nicotine concentration. If you read the vaping discussion groups online, you’ll see all of the tricks that JUUL owners use to get their devices to hit harder. They’ll cover the device’s airflow vents, look for pods with specific lot codes and more – but what they really need is a more powerful device. 

The VIGGO is a fully power-regulated vaping system, and that means it has the ability to operate at different voltage levels. When you use the VIGGO, you can toggle between three different voltage settings to get the volume of vapor that you want. Since the VIGGO produces larger clouds than the JUUL while using e-liquid with a lower nicotine concentration, it can deliver the same level of satisfaction while offering a much smoother vaping experience.

Physical Design

When the JUUL first hit the market, the fact that it looked a bit like a USB thumb drive was seen by many as a breath of fresh air. Until that point, the small vaping devices that were marketed to beginners invariably looked like tobacco cigarettes. People were clamoring for a new design paradigm that symbolized a clean break from tobacco products and smoking, and that’s exactly what the JUUL delivered. More than six years later, though, the “thumb drive” design is starting to look a bit long in the tooth. The JUUL looks a bit old-fashioned and gimmicky these days – and who even uses thumb drives anymore? Also, it has to be said that the JUUL, with its squared-off edges, isn’t particularly ergonomic. 

The VIGGO, on the other hand, looks far more modern. It has a soft-touch surface that feels great in the hand, and the device’s curved shape isn’t just great from an ergonomic standpoint; it also makes the device look and feel smaller than it actually is.

Available Accessories

A beginner-oriented vaping device can always benefit from a large ecosystem of accessories, and that’s one area where the VIGGO pod vape really delivers. Many owners of vaping devices, for instance, would rather charge their devices with wall adapters rather than using their computers for charging. The VIGGO is one of the only vaping devices on the market that has a manufacturer-approved wall adapter that won’t cause a risk of overheating. The VIGGO also has a stylish carrying case available. Thoughtful additions like those really make you feel like you’re buying into an entire product ecosystem rather than just getting an e-cigarette.