Juuling (pronounced "jool-ing") is a slang term for vaping using a Juul brand device. The term is still in common use today, but the product behind it has changed substantially. The original Juul device was discontinued in 2023 and replaced by the Juul2, an updated version with a longer battery life, larger pods, and a companion app. The Juul2 is the current product on shelves in the UK.

This guide explains how the Juul device actually worked, why it became one of the most popular vape brands ever made, and how the current Juul devices on the market perform.

Where the word "Juuling" came from

Juul Labs launched its first e-cigarette in 2015. The device was designed to be more convenient and user-friendly than the bulky vape kits that dominated the market at the time: pocket-sized, button-free, USB-shaped, and charged in a laptop port. To use the vape, the user simply inhaled from the mouthpiece.

Juul's discreet form factor, smooth nicotine salt e-liquid, and viral marketing campaigns made the brand especially visible among younger users, and the term "juuling" started being commonly used by these younger users by 2018.

How a Juul device works

The mechanical principle behind every Juul device is the same as any other pod vape: a small lithium-ion battery powers a heating element, which warms nicotine salt e-liquid inside a sealed pod into vapour. The user inhales through the mouthpiece, and the vapour delivers nicotine through the lining of the mouth, throat and lungs.

The components inside every Juul

• Rechargeable battery.
• Pre-filled, sealed pod: Juul pods are not refillable, once empty, the pod is discarded and replaced. Juul2 pods sold in the UK hold 1.2ml of e-liquid at 18mg/ml nicotine strength.
• Atomiser coil and wick: built into each pod, so coil performance is replaced fresh with every pod change.
• Draw-activated airflow sensor.
• Authentication chip (Juul2 only): the Juul2 device verifies that each pod attached is a genuine Juul2 pod, helping to limit counterfeit and unauthorised refills, a longstanding problem with the original Juul.

The user experience

The user slots a pod into the device, inhales, and produces a short, fairly low-vapour draw with a tight cigarette-style throat hit. The vapour cloud is smaller than what a sub-ohm vape kit produces, which is part of why the device became known for being discreet.

What's inside a Juul pod?

Juul pods use nicotine salt e-liquid rather than freebase nicotine. The four core ingredients are identical to most UK pod-system e-liquids, though Juul's patented formulation is designed to produce a particularly smooth, cigarette-like throat hit.

• Nicotine salts: UK Juul2 pods contain 18mg/ml; the original Juul UK pods were 20mg/ml. In the US, Juul pods historically contained as high as 59mg/ml, roughly three times the UK legal limit.
• Propylene glycol (PG): carries the flavour and produces the throat hit.
• Vegetable glycerine (VG): produces the visible vapour.
• Flavour concentrates and benzoic acid.

Is Juul banned in the UK?

Juul is not banned in the UK, though the vaping industry faces a significantly tighter regulatory landscape than in previous years. Despite the nationwide ban on disposable vapes that came into effect in June 2025, Juul products remain legal because they're classified as reusable, prefilled pod kits rather than single-use disposable vapes. However, the government has recently gained the power to restrict specific flavours and packaging under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 to ensure the products and their marketing don't appeal to underage people. For now, you can still purchase Juul devices and pods through registered retailers.

What's the difference between the original Juul and the Juul2?

The original Juul was discontinued in 2023 and replaced by the Juul2. Both are pod-based vape devices, but the newer version represents a fairly substantial redesign.

Anyone who still owns an original Juul cannot buy new original-format pods; Juul2 pods are not backwards-compatible with the original device, and vice versa. If you're still using an original Juul, upgrading to the Juul2 may be more convenient.

Is Juuling safe?

Like all nicotine vaping, juuling is generally considered substantially less harmful than smoking tobacco cigarettes, but not entirely risk-free. The NHS explicitly recommends vaping as one of the most effective tools for adult smokers trying to quit, and Public Health England's long-standing estimate places vaping at around 95% less harmful than smoking. That assessment comes with several important caveats.

Key health considerations

• Nicotine is addictive: Juul devices are designed to deliver nicotine efficiently. A single Juul2 pod contains roughly the nicotine equivalent of a 20-pack of cigarettes, which is fine for an adult smoker switching across but represents a meaningful dependence risk for anyone who has never smoked.
• Long-term respiratory effects are still being studied: heating PG and VG produces trace amounts of formaldehyde, acrolein and acetaldehyde, far less than cigarette smoke, but not zero.
• Counterfeit pods: using counterfeit Juul pods poses significant health risks, as the contents of counterfeit pods are not regulated, quality assured or tested. This is less of an issue now that modern Juul devices have authentication chips to ensure only authorised pods are used, but it's still important to only purchase official Juul pods from approved retailers.

Juuling vs other types of vaping

Juuling is just one corner of a much larger UK vaping market. The Juul system sits firmly at the convenience end, small device, sealed pods, minimal setup, in exchange for less control over flavour and cost than refillable systems. Here's how it compares to other common UK vape types.

Juuling alternatives

The closest like-for-like alternatives for Juul devices all share the same core qualities: mouth-to-lung draw without buttons, low vapour output and fast nicotine delivery.

1. Pre-filled pod kits

Pre-filled pod kits are the natural alternative to juuling. A small rechargeable device takes a sealed, pre-filled pod that clicks in and out the same way Juul pods do. Once the pod runs out, swap it for a fresh one. Flavour ranges are generally wide, with bold fruit, dessert and menthol options. Best for users who value the simplicity and convenience of Juul devices.

2. Refillable pod kits

Refillable pod kits use a reusable pod that gets topped up with bottled nicotine salt e-liquid. The trade-off is one extra step at refill time. The pay-off is the widest flavour selection of any vape category, the lowest long-term cost (a 10ml bottle covers around five pods' worth of vaping for a fraction of the price), and complete control over nicotine strength. Best for anyone seeking long-term value for money or more flavour variety.

3. Vape pens and MTL pod mods

For users who liked the discreet, cigarette-style draw of a Juul but want a more durable device and bigger battery, a slim vape pen or MTL pod mod is a sensible upgrade. Devices in this category offer adjustable airflow and far longer battery life, while keeping the tight, satisfying mouth-to-lung draw. Best for regular or heavy vapers who want a more durable and customisable nicotine experience.

Key differences at a glance

Which option is right for you?

The choice usually comes down to finding the right balance of convenience, performance, flavour choice and cost.

Stay with Juul if:

• Brand familiarity matters.
• You value the pod authentication chip as a quality and safety guarantee.
• The companion app features are useful to you.

Switch to a different pre-filled pod kit if:

• You want a wider flavour range.
• You're looking for the same simplicity as Juul at a lower price per pod.

Switch to a refillable pod kit if:

• You want the most value for money.
• You want the widest range of flavours.
• You vape heavily and burn through pods quickly.

Frequently asked questions