Gold Bar Apollo Prefilled Pod Kit

Overview

The Gold Bar Apollo Prefilled Pod Kit by Gold Bar delivers up to 4,000 puffs across 8 flavours at 10mg and 20mg. Pick up the BUY 3 FOR £25 multibuy — free UK delivery over £20 and same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 4pm.

Gold Bar Apollo Prefilled Pod Kit overview

The Gold Bar Apollo Prefilled Pod Kit is a rechargeable pod system from Gold Bar, aimed at adult smokers and ex-smokers in the UK who want a compact, low-effort way to vape. Instead of a sealed unit that you use once and throw away, the Apollo is built as a kit: a battery device that you keep, plus a prefilled pod of nicotine e-liquid that you replace when it runs out. The manufacturer rates the system at around 4,000 puffs, and the range comes in nine flavours.

That format matters in the UK right now. Single-use disposable vapes are no longer legal to supply, so the market has moved towards rechargeable devices with replaceable pods, and the Apollo sits squarely in that category. You are buying a piece of hardware that is designed to be charged, reused and recycled at the end of its life, rather than a throwaway item with a lithium battery inside it.

This page goes through the Apollo in detail so you can decide whether it suits you before you order. It covers how the puff rating should be read, what the flavour range offers, how the device is built, how the battery and mesh coil behave, how to choose a nicotine strength, who the kit suits (and who should look elsewhere), how to set it up, what to do when something goes wrong, and how it stacks up on price against other options.

Key points at a glance:

• Format: rechargeable battery device with a replaceable prefilled pod
• Rated puffs: around 4,000, as stated by the manufacturer
• Flavours in the family: nine, selectable on this page
• Nicotine: UK rules cap retail nicotine e-liquid at 20mg/ml, so no Apollo pod will go above that
• Pod size: UK rules limit a prefilled pod or tank to 2ml of e-liquid
• Intended users: adults aged 18 or over who already smoke or vape

As with every nicotine product, the Apollo is not risk-free and is not meant for people who do not already use nicotine. If you are a smoker looking to switch, it is one tool to consider alongside the free support offered by NHS stop smoking services. Everything below is written to give you an honest picture, including the limits of the product, so that you buy the right kit for your habits rather than the one with the biggest number on the box.

Performance and puff delivery

A puff rating is the first number most people look at, so it is worth understanding what it actually tells you. The roughly 4,000-puff figure on the Apollo is the manufacturer's estimate, typically produced on a testing machine that takes short, evenly spaced draws of a fixed length. A human vaper rarely draws that consistently. Some people take quick two-second sips, others pull for four or five seconds, and the longer the draw, the more liquid and battery you use per puff.

So treat 4,000 as a ceiling under favourable conditions rather than a guarantee. In day-to-day use, a light user taking short draws may get close to the rating, while someone who chain-vapes with long inhales will land noticeably lower. A reasonable expectation is that your own total could sit somewhere between about 60 and 100 per cent of the headline number, depending on your habits.

Because UK rules cap a prefilled pod at 2ml, check the product listing to see how many pods come in the box and how the rating is divided between them. That one detail explains most of the confusion around puff counts on pod kits, and it is the reason to compare packs on the volume of e-liquid and the number of pods supplied rather than on the puff figure alone.

What you can expect in practice:

• Draw style: a mouth-to-lung draw, meaning you draw vapour into your mouth first and then inhale. This is the style closest to smoking a cigarette, which is why pod kits of this type tend to suit people who are switching.
• Throat hit: moderate at 20mg/ml and gentler at lower strengths, softened by the smoother character of nicotine salt liquid, which is the common choice for pod kits.
• Vapour volume: modest. Pod kits are designed for flavour and satisfaction, not for large clouds.
• Consistency: flavour and vapour should stay steady across the life of the pod, then fade over the last stretch as the liquid level drops.

Several habits affect how far a pod goes. Short, steady draws use less liquid than long ones. Chaining puffs without a pause heats the coil and can burn through liquid faster while dulling the flavour. Keeping the device upright when you are not using it lets the liquid stay at the wick instead of pooling around the mouthpiece. And storing the kit away from heat, such as a car dashboard in summer, avoids thinning the liquid and the leaks that can follow.

The final stretch of a pod is worth learning to recognise. When the liquid gets low, the vapour may feel hotter and slightly harsh, or the flavour turns flat and papery. That is the signal to swap the pod, not to keep pulling harder. Carrying on with a nearly empty pod risks a burnt taste, and it can shorten the life of the coil, which in a prefilled design is part of the pod itself. Replacing the pod at the first sign of fade keeps every pod tasting the way it did on day one.

Flavour profile and the nine-flavour range

The Apollo family offers nine flavours, which is a sensible spread for a pod system: enough variety to find something you enjoy, without a catalogue so wide that choosing becomes a chore. Use the flavour selector on this page to see the exact names currently listed, since stock and naming can change between batches.

Like most prefilled pod ranges, the line-up is organised around a few broad styles. Knowing which style suits you is more useful than reading a flavour description alone:

• Fruit flavours: berry, citrus, tropical and stone-fruit profiles tend to deliver a bright, sweet vapour with a clean finish. They are the usual choice for people leaving behind the taste of tobacco, because they break the association with smoking.
• Ice and menthol styles: a cooling agent adds a fresh, chilled finish to the exhale. These are popular with former menthol smokers and in warm weather, although the cooling can feel sharp to anyone sensitive to it.
• Sweet and candy flavours: softer, rounder profiles with a confectionery character. They can start to feel heavy after an hour of steady use, so some vapers save them for the evening and use something lighter during the day.

Check the selector to see which of these styles sit in the nine. If you are coming from tobacco and want a closer match, look for the least sweet option available; if you are coming from menthol cigarettes, an ice or mint-led flavour is the natural place to start.

How a flavour lands depends on more than the name on the label. Prefilled liquids are blended on a base of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, and the ratio between the two changes how flavour carries and how thick the vapour feels. The mesh coil used in this class of pod vaporises liquid evenly, which gives each flavour a clean, consistent profile from the first puff to the last, but it also delivers any sweetener in the liquid very efficiently. A sweet flavour will taste sweet immediately; an ice flavour will cool immediately.

Because the pod carries the flavour and the battery is flavour-neutral, the same device can be paired with a different pod whenever you want a change. Where replacement pods are sold separately, that is the practical route to switching flavour without buying a whole new kit. Pods are made to fit the Apollo battery, so do not assume that pods from other brands will fit or work safely, and never force a pod into a device it does not seat in properly.

Two tips help you get the most out of the range. First, give a new flavour a few days before judging it. Your sense of taste often needs time to adjust after you stop smoking, and many vapers find a flavour they disliked on day one becomes enjoyable by day five. Second, rotate between two flavours if you vape heavily. Constantly vaping the same sweet profile can dull your palate, an effect often called vape tongue, and a short break or a switch to a different style usually restores the flavour straight away.

Design and build quality

The Apollo is a compact, pocketable pod device, sized to slip into a jacket pocket or a bag without the bulk of a refillable mod. Pod kits in this class are normally moulded from durable plastic or a light alloy shell, and the Apollo follows the same practical approach: it aims to be light enough to forget about and robust enough to survive everyday carrying. Finish and colour can vary between flavours, so the exact look of the unit you receive is set by the variant you choose.

A few design elements are worth knowing about before you buy:

• Pod seating: the prefilled pod clips into the top of the battery. A good fit gives a firm, secure feel with no rattle. If a pod can be pulled out with almost no resistance, it is not seated properly and should be pushed home or re-fitted.
• Mouthpiece: pods of this type generally use a flattened, oval mouthpiece that sits comfortably between the lips. It is part of the pod, so it is replaced every time you swap, which keeps things hygienic.
• Activation: the kit is built to be simple, so there is very little to learn. Check the leaflet in the pack for the exact activation method on your unit.
• Indicator light: a small LED shows when you are drawing and typically changes state when the battery is low or while charging. The pack leaflet lists the light patterns.
• Charging port: a port on the base for the charging cable. USB-C is the norm on current devices, which means one of the cables you already own may be enough.

In terms of build quality, expect what you would from a well-made consumer vape rather than a premium hobby device. Seams should be tight, the pod socket should be clean, and the finish should be even. A device at this price point is not designed to be dropped repeatedly or carried loose with keys and coins, and scuffs to the body are normal after a few weeks of pocket life. They affect looks rather than performance.

When your kit arrives, a short check takes under a minute and catches most faults early:

• Seat the pod and make sure it sits flush with no wobble.
• Look at the base of the pod for any visible liquid; a small amount of condensation is normal, but a wet pod is not.
• Take a gentle draw and confirm the indicator light responds.
• Check that the charging port is clean and undamaged.

If any of those fail on arrival, contact the shop with a photo straight away rather than trying to fix it yourself. For everyday care, wipe the body with a dry cloth, keep the port free of lint, put the device back in a case or a separate pocket compartment, and keep it away from water. The Apollo is not waterproof, and a device that has been soaked should not be charged until it is completely dry. Good care adds up over time, because the battery is the part you intend to keep through many pods.

Battery and charging

The Apollo is rechargeable, which is the biggest difference from the throwaway devices that used to dominate UK shelves. A rechargeable battery means you pay for the cell once and keep using it across many pods, instead of discarding a lithium battery with every empty unit.

The exact capacity is printed on the pack, but devices in the 4,000-puff pod class normally carry a built-in lithium-ion cell somewhere in the region of 500 to 650mAh. That is enough to get through a good part of a pod, and often a whole pod, on a single charge for a typical user. Heavier users may charge once a day; lighter users may go several days between charges. Because the battery is sized around the pod, you should not need to carry a power bank for an ordinary day out.

How to charge it properly:

• Use a standard charger: a normal 5V phone or laptop USB port is suitable. High-output fast chargers are unnecessary, and a cheap unbranded adapter is a poor place to save money.
• Plug in and check the light: the indicator normally shows that charging has begun and changes when the battery is full. A typical charge from low takes somewhere around an hour, but check the pack leaflet for the exact time.
• Unplug when full: do not leave a device charging overnight or unattended. Most modern cells have protection circuits, but charging a lithium battery when you are asleep is a risk you do not need to take.
• Charge on a hard surface: never on a bed, sofa or cushion, where heat can build up and cannot escape.
• Avoid using while charging: unless the pack says otherwise, finish charging before you vape.

A few habits extend battery life. Avoid leaving the device in hot places such as a car in summer or on a radiator, and avoid very cold conditions that temporarily reduce capacity. If you will not use the kit for several weeks, store it with some charge rather than fully empty. Stop using and stop charging any device with a swollen body, a hissing sound, a strong chemical smell or unusual heat; move it somewhere safe and away from anything flammable, then dispose of it properly.

Looking after the environment is part of owning a rechargeable kit in the UK. Batteries must never go in household bins or kerbside recycling, because crushed lithium cells cause fires in collection lorries and recycling plants. Instead, take the old device to a drop-off point. Household waste recycling centres accept them, many supermarkets and electrical retailers have small-electricals recycling bins by the entrance, and shops that sell vape devices are expected to take back old ones. Empty pods contain a little residual nicotine liquid, so seal them in a bag and hand them in alongside the device rather than throwing them into general waste. Recycling the battery is also the point of choosing a rechargeable kit in the first place.

Coil and mesh technology

The coil is what turns liquid into vapour, and in a prefilled pod it is built into the pod itself. The Apollo uses mesh-style heating, which is standard for kits in this puff class. Understanding the difference from older coil designs explains why modern pods taste better for longer.

A traditional round-wire coil is a spiral of metal wrapped around a cotton wick. It works, but the heating surface is small, so the coil can heat unevenly, producing hot spots that sometimes taste scorched. A mesh coil is a flat or curved sheet of fine metal mesh that sits against the wick. The mesh has far more surface area in contact with the liquid, which brings several practical benefits:

• Even heating: the liquid is vaporised across a wide area rather than at a single point, so flavour is more consistent from puff to puff.
• Faster response: a mesh coil reaches working temperature quickly, so the first draw after a pause still delivers vapour and flavour.
• Better flavour reproduction: the more even the temperature, the more the subtle notes in a fruit or menthol blend come through.
• Longer coil life: spreading the load across a larger surface slows the build-up of residue, which is the main reason a coil tastes dull as it ages.

Because the coil is part of the prefilled pod, there is no coil to buy, fit or prime separately. When the pod is spent, the coil goes with it, and the new pod arrives with a fresh coil already installed. That is a large part of the appeal for people who do not want to learn about resistance values or wicking. Pods in this class generally run a resistance in the region of one ohm, suited to a mouth-to-lung draw, and the battery output is set at the factory so you cannot overdrive it.

Priming matters, even with a prefilled pod. The wick needs a few minutes to absorb liquid fully after the pod has been sitting in a box. If you draw straight away, the coil may be partly dry and the first puffs can taste burnt, which also damages the coil. After seating a new pod, wait around five minutes, then take a couple of gentle draws before you settle into normal use. The same logic explains why you should not chain-vape: drawing again and again does not give the wick time to refill, and the coil heats against a drying wick.

Finally, remember that the mesh coil is engineered for the liquid it ships with. The viscosity, the sweetener load and the nicotine salt content are all matched to it. Do not try to refill or modify a closed pod, because adding a different liquid can flood the coil, block the airflow or create a leak, and it falls outside what the product is designed or sold for.

Nicotine strength guidance

Choosing the right strength is the decision with the biggest effect on whether switching works for you. UK rules cap nicotine e-liquid at 20mg/ml (2 per cent) for retail sale, and the Apollo range sits at or below that ceiling. Check the variant selector on this page for the strengths currently offered for your chosen flavour, because not every flavour is stocked in every strength.

As a rough guide, based on smoking habits:

• 20mg/ml: usually the starting point for smokers of ten or more cigarettes a day, or anyone who lights a cigarette within half an hour of waking. It delivers the throat hit and nicotine level that most closely replaces a cigarette.
• 10mg/ml: suits lighter smokers of around five to ten a day, social smokers, and vapers who find 20mg/ml too strong or who are already reducing.
• Lower strengths: suit occasional use and people stepping down. If a lower strength is not offered in the Apollo, a different product will serve you better than forcing a mismatch.

Most prefilled pods use nicotine salts, which are smoother than the freebase nicotine used in older liquids. That smoothness is the reason a 20mg/ml pod can feel gentler than the number suggests, and it also means it is easy to take in more nicotine than you realise. The vapour feels comfortable, so you keep going, and the total builds up quietly. If you move from cigarettes to a high-strength pod, pay attention to your own response during the first few days.

Signs the strength is too high include dizziness, nausea, headache, a racing heart, sweating or a feeling of lightheadedness. If you notice any of these, stop, drink some water, and step down to a lower strength next time. Signs it is too low include constant cravings, vaping far more often than you smoked, or reaching for a cigarette in between. If you are still smoking alongside vaping, the strength is probably too low, and moving up is likely to help you stop smoking altogether, which is the goal.

Some practical points to keep in mind:

• Match your first strength to what you actually smoke, not to what you hope to smoke in future. You can step down later.
• Take it slowly in the first week; a few short draws at a time are enough.
• If you intend to quit nicotine entirely, plan a gradual step-down over weeks or months rather than going from the highest to nothing.
• Nicotine is addictive. This product is for adults who already use nicotine and it must not be used by anyone under 18.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have heart conditions, or take medicines that could interact with nicotine, speak to a GP or pharmacist before using any nicotine product.

Nothing in this section is medical advice. If you want structured help quitting, local NHS stop smoking services offer free behavioural support and can talk you through the options, including vaping as one of them.

Who the Apollo is for, and who should look elsewhere

No single device suits everyone, and a clear view of where the Apollo fits saves you money and frustration. This section is deliberately frank, because a kit that is wrong for you is not good value at any price.

The Apollo suits:

• Adult smokers switching to vaping: the mouth-to-lung draw, pocket size and absence of settings make it easy for a first-time vaper to pick up without learning new technique.
• Former disposable users: if you used single-use vapes before they were withdrawn, the Apollo gives you a similar point-and-puff experience in a rechargeable format. You are not forced into refill bottles, coil swaps or tank cleaning.
• People who want low maintenance: nothing to refill, no coil to buy, and swapping a pod takes a few seconds.
• Flavour-led vapers: nine flavours across a mesh-coil system give plenty of choice in a small package.
• Anyone wanting a cleaner end of life: a rechargeable device that you recycle is a tidier choice than a throwaway.

You should look elsewhere if:

• You do not currently smoke or vape. Nicotine vapes are for adult smokers and ex-smokers only. They should not be used by non-smokers or anyone under 18.
• You want big clouds or adjustable power. The Apollo is a fixed-output pod kit. If you enjoy tuning wattage or airflow, a refillable pod mod or a larger kit is the better fit.
• You want the lowest possible running cost. Refillable systems cost less per millilitre over time, as the value section explains.
• You want to choose your own e-liquid. A closed pod ties you to the flavours Gold Bar offers.
• You are sensitive to nicotine or have a medical condition. Speak to a GP or pharmacist first.
• You need wide-ranging pod availability. A closed-pod ecosystem depends on the manufacturer continuing to supply pods, so check that the range is stocked before you commit.

It is worth being honest about the middle ground, too. If you are a heavy smoker, the Apollo can still work, but you may find you need to charge and swap pods more often than the headline puff rating implies. If you are a light or occasional vaper, one kit and a spare pod might last you weeks. Think about how many puffs you take in a day, and compare that against the rating and the pod count, rather than guessing from the box.

How to use the Apollo kit

Setup is quick, and the steps below take most people less than ten minutes, most of which is spent waiting for the wick to saturate. Read the leaflet in the pack as well, as it covers the details specific to your unit.

• Step 1, unpack and inspect. Remove the device, pod and cable from the packaging and peel off any seals or protective film on the mouthpiece and base of the pod. Check that nothing is leaking or damaged.
• Step 2, seat the pod. Push the prefilled pod firmly into the battery until it sits flush. Do not twist or force it. If it does not seat, remove it and try again with the pod the right way round.
• Step 3, charge if needed. Check the battery state. If the indicator suggests it is low, charge it first. A fully charged device gives you a clean start.
• Step 4, let the pod prime. Wait about five minutes so the wick can absorb liquid. This is the step most often skipped, and skipping it is the main cause of a burnt first puff.
• Step 5, take gentle first draws. Inhale slowly and steadily for two to three seconds. Pause for around twenty to thirty seconds between puffs while you settle in.
• Step 6, find your rhythm. Short, regular puffs are better than long ones. Many people take a few puffs when they would have had a cigarette and then stop.
• Step 7, swap the pod when it fades. When the flavour thins out, the vapour turns hot, or the liquid is visibly low, pull the empty pod out and seat a fresh one. Let the new pod prime for a few minutes.

A few extra points for everyday use:

• Storage: keep the device upright where possible, away from heat and out of direct sunlight, and well out of reach of children and pets. Nicotine liquid is hazardous if swallowed or if it gets on the skin.
• Travel: carry vape devices in your hand luggage on flights, never in checked baggage, because of lithium battery rules. Check the airline's policy before you fly, and check local laws abroad, as some countries restrict or ban vapes.
• Cleaning: wipe the body and port with a dry cloth. Do not rinse the device or the pod.
• Where to vape: workplaces, trains, pubs and public venues set their own rules, and the law restricts vaping in some enclosed public places. Be considerate and ask if you are unsure.
• Used pods: seal and recycle them at a drop-off point instead of putting them in household bins.

Never attempt to open the pod, refill it, or modify the device. Those actions void any warranty and create real safety risks with both the liquid and the battery.

Troubleshooting common problems

Most problems with prefilled pod kits have simple causes, and a few quick checks fix them. Work through the matching entry below before deciding the unit is faulty.

• No vapour or no response when you draw: first check the battery by charging for around thirty minutes. Then remove the pod and re-seat it firmly, since a pod that is slightly out of position breaks the connection. Wipe the contacts with a dry cloth. If the pod is empty, it needs replacing.
• Weak or flat flavour: the pod may be running low, or the wick may not have saturated. Give a new pod five minutes, take slow draws, and replace the pod if it is nearly empty. If you have been vaping the same sweet flavour for days, vape tongue could be the cause, so try a different flavour for a day.
• Burnt or harsh taste: this usually means the coil is overheating against a dry wick. Stop chaining puffs, wait for the wick to refill, and prime new pods properly. If the burnt taste persists after a rest, the pod is spent and should be replaced.
• Leaking or wet pod base: some condensation is normal. A pod that is visibly leaking may have been stored on its side in heat, been over-drawn, or damaged in transit. Wipe the device clean and dry, fit a new pod and keep the device upright. A persistently leaking new pod is a fault; contact the shop.
• Gurgling noise: liquid has pooled in the airflow path. Remove the pod, tap it gently against a tissue to clear the mouthpiece, and keep the device upright while it settles.
• Indicator light flashing: a flashing light normally signals low battery or a connection problem. Check the leaflet for the specific pattern. Charge the device and re-seat the pod.
• Not charging: try a different cable and a different power source, and check the port for lint. If the indicator never responds to a known-good cable and charger, contact the shop, and do not keep forcing the connector.
• Sore throat or cough: the strength may be too high, the draw too long, or the flavour too cooling. Take shorter, gentler puffs, drink water, and consider a lower strength or a less intense flavour.
• Dizziness or nausea: stop using the device, sit down, and drink water. This is a sign of too much nicotine and you should step down next time.

If the unit gets unusually hot, smells of burning, swells or makes a hissing noise, stop using it at once, place it somewhere safe on a hard, non-flammable surface away from other items, and contact the shop. Do not try to charge or repair it. Once a device has shown those signs, it needs to go to a recycling point, not back into your pocket.

Keep the packaging and a note of your order number, as these make support requests quicker. Photos of any damage or leakage help the shop assess a fault and arrange a replacement where one is due.

Value for money

Price is easier to judge when you reduce it to a cost per puff and then compare it against what smoking costs you. The formula is simple: divide the kit price by the number of puffs you realistically expect, then multiply by 100 to get the cost per 100 puffs.

For illustration only, suppose a kit were listed at 15 pounds and rated at 4,000 puffs. On the full rating, that works out at 0.375 pence per puff, or about 37.5 pence per 100 puffs. If you only achieved 70 per cent of the rating in real life, around 2,800 puffs, the cost rises to roughly 0.54 pence per puff, or about 54 pence per 100. Substitute the current price on this page into the same sum to get your own figure.

Compare that with smoking. A pack of 20 cigarettes in the UK commonly costs somewhere in the mid-teens of pounds or higher, which means a 20-a-day smoker spends well over 5,000 pounds a year. Even allowing for heavier use and more frequent pod swaps, vaping with a prefilled pod kit is generally a fraction of that cost. The biggest saving comes from stopping smoking, rather than from the difference between one vape and another.

Factors that shape value beyond the headline price:

• You keep the battery: you pay for the device once. Later pods cost less than a whole kit, so the cost per puff falls after your first pod.
• Number of pods in the box: compare the volume of e-liquid supplied, not just the puff number.
• Replacement pod price and availability: check that spare pods are sold and priced reasonably, because the ecosystem is closed.
• Your own usage: heavy users get more from a larger pod count or a refillable system, whereas light users avoid waste with a smaller pod format.
• Hidden extras: a charging cable, a plug and delivery charges can add to the total if you do not already own them.
• Waste: a rechargeable kit that you recycle reduces the number of devices thrown away, a saving that is not measured in pounds but still matters.

Where the Apollo gives particularly good value is for the buyer who wants a simple, flavour-rich way to switch from smoking without the learning curve of a refillable setup. Where it gives less value is for someone who already enjoys refillable pods, since a refillable pod costs less per millilitre once you buy liquid in bottles. Both statements can be true, and which one applies depends on your habits and patience.

As a final point on value, avoid buying on puff count alone. A bigger number on the box is only worth paying for if you will actually use that many puffs before the flavour fades or you want a change. An honestly rated kit that you finish and enjoy is better value than a higher-rated one that sits half used in a drawer.

How the Apollo compares with other pod kits

Fair comparison means setting the Apollo against the realistic alternatives a UK vaper has today, not against a weak straw man. Brand-by-brand specifications change often, so the points below deal with formats and use examples only where they help.

Against other prefilled pod kits. Closed-pod systems from other brands, such as Vuse ePod, follow the same basic idea: a rechargeable battery and a sealed, replaceable pod. Where they differ is in pod volume, battery size, nicotine strengths on offer and how many flavours are in the range. The Apollo's nine flavours and 4,000-puff rating position it as a mid-to-high capacity option within that category. Puff ratings are not measured on the same basis across brands, so a figure on one box cannot be compared directly with a figure on another. Compare pod volume, number of pods, battery capacity and price instead.

Against refillable pod systems. Devices such as the SMOK Novo series or the Uwell Caliburn class use pods that you fill from a bottle. They have clear advantages: liquid costs less per millilitre, you can choose from thousands of flavours and strengths, and coils are inexpensive to replace. The trade-offs are that you handle liquid, you need to learn to fill and prime a pod, and leaks and spills are more common. If you value convenience, the Apollo wins. If you value flexibility and long-term cost, a refillable system does.

Against larger refillable kits. Sub-ohm tanks and mods produce more vapour, offer adjustable power and airflow, and suit people who want a direct-to-lung draw. They are a different category from the Apollo, and a poor starting point for most people switching from cigarettes. They are also the wrong choice if you want something you can forget about in a pocket.

Against nicotine alternatives that are not vapes. Patches, gum, lozenges, inhalators and sprays are licensed medicines that carry clinical evidence and are available through pharmacies and NHS stop smoking services. For some people they are a better first step. A vape suits those who want to keep the hand-to-mouth habit and the sensory feel of smoking.

The overall picture is straightforward. The Apollo is a convenient, rechargeable, flavour-led kit that removes most of the effort from vaping, in exchange for less flexibility and a higher cost per millilitre than a refillable setup. If that trade matches what you want, it is a sensible choice. If it does not, there are good alternatives, and no kit is worth buying just because the puff count looks impressive.

Whichever option you choose, remember the basics: buy only if you are an adult who already smokes or vapes, choose a nicotine strength that matches your habit, charge it safely, and recycle the device and pods at a proper drop-off point when they reach the end of their life.