Blu Vape Pen Overview
History
blu is quite an old player in the vape and e-cigarette game, as it was founded back in 2009 by James Healy and a group of investors in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their global headquarters are in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
After the initial success in the e-cigarette business, the company was sold in 2012 to Lorillard Tobacco Company for around $135 million. Being a giant in the tobacco world, Lorillard Tobacco Company enabled blu eCigs to go from around 10,000 to a whopping 136,000 retailers.
A year later, Lorillard Tobacco Company also bought the UK e-cig firm Skycig for $48.5 million and decided to rebrand those products under the name blu Ecigs.
That same year, blu was sold once again. This time, however, the sale was mandatory since the company that bought Lorillard, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, owned another e-cigarette and vape brand called Vuse.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Imperial Brands agreed on a deal, of which blu was a part, worth $7.1 billion.
Nowadays, blu products are still owned by Imperial Brands but are manufactured by Fontem Ventures and are some of the best-selling vape pens in the world. In fact, it has been like this for quite some time since, for example, blu was the second most popular brand in the US in 2014.
Concentrating on the production and innovation of an in-demand vape pen was one of the reasons why in 2016, Fontem Ventures decided to discontinue another e-cig and vape company they operated, JAI.
Features
Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent features blu’s vape pens have to offer!
- Pod System
When they first started on this journey, blu was a company making just disposable e-cigarettes. However, in 2014, they developed the refillable and rechargeable blu PRO and the blu PLUS+, which incorporated a pod system.
But it was not until 2016 when people went crazy after the My. Von Erl vape pods that everyone started appreciating this system. Von Erl was later actually bought by Imperial Brands, which, as you know, owns the blu brand and decided to rebrand those pods as myblu.
Vape pods or pods are designed for ease of use and maintenance with a simple pod or coil replacement system. Unlike tanks, these integrated pods allow for low-powered pulls with higher nicotine strengths. This combination results in a portable and user-friendly vape system.
Almost all of blu’s rechargeable vapes use the pod system. Up until the blu 2.0 model, the company used the clip-on (or click) design to mount the pod onto the vape.
However, as magnetic locks/ports are becoming increasingly more popular and are slightly more user-friendly and trouble-free, blu incorporated them in its latest vape pen.
- Build Quality & Design
Even though all blu’s vape pens are lightweight, they make solid and sturdy products meant to be used for a long time. All of the products have a sleek and futuristic design that is quite on the simple side. But that is, in a way, really charming and elegant.
Adding to this type of allure is the fact that they only make vape pens in black – only the logo gets to be blu.
The pod with e-liquid, which is sold separately, comes with a mouthpiece, meaning you will get a brand-new and clean one every time you buy a pod.
- Flavors
We will not spend much time talking about flavors here because we reviewed some of them in the later parts of the article, but let’s just say this: they have a lot of them – much more than some of the fiercest competitors, like the trendy brand Juul.
They also offer e-liquids with varying levels of nicotine so anyone can enjoy their preferred type of throat hit. Also, they switched from freebase nicotine, which they use in their “older” models, to nic salts in their latest blu 2.0 vape pen.
The liquids are made with propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavorings, water and nicotine.
- Charging Technology
blu’s rechargeable devices, such as myblu and blu PLUS+, use the micro and standard USB ports, which are slowly going out of fashion. However, their latest vape pen, the blu 2.0, has left this technology behind and uses the universal Type-C port and charger.
- Ease Of Use
When it comes to ease of use, these devices are as easy as it gets – no power buttons, clicks, nothing. Just draw in the vapor and enjoy it!
- Vapor Production, Throat Hit & Airflow
You might now expect it from such a compact and mostly beginner device, but blu’s vape pens are fantastic when it comes to playing with smoke – if you catch our drift.
And not only that, their e-liquids have a great throat hit that will mimic that of a tobacco cigarette. Some people actually complain that it does too good of a job in this department.
Last but not least, the solid airflow allows for strong and tight draws, which in turn make for a good mouth-to-lung sensation most pod vapers enjoy.
Blu Vape vs Spiritbar Vape
Product Types
- Blu offers vape pens, disposables, and cartridges for nicotine e-liquids.
- Spiritbar specialized in high-performing disposable vapes.
Device Format
- Blu uses cartridge-based vape pens with replaceable pods.
- Spiritbar vapes are draw-activated disposable all-in-ones.
Customization
- Some Blu devices have temperature and airflow adjustments.
- Spiritbar disposables provide a consistent, preset vaping experience.
E-Liquid
- Blu vape pods must be refilled with e-juice after finishing.
- Spiritbar vapes come pre-loaded with nicotine salt e-liquid.
Battery Life
- Blu batteries last around 300 puffs before recharging.
- Spiritbar batteries last for thousands of puffs before disposal.
Cost Over Time
- Blu requires buying new pods frequently to refill.
- Spiritbar only needs replacing when the e-liquid runs out.
In summary, Blu focuses on cartridge systems while Spiritbar offers extreme longevity in easy disposable devices. Each can suit different vaper preferences.
Blu Vape Pen Price & Series
We have mentioned some of the blu’s vape pens already, but now it is time to take a closer look at them and others we still haven’t talked about!
1. Myblu Price & Details ($9.99)
Myblu is probably blu’s most popular rechargeable vape pen that has been around for a long time. With a weight of just over 20 grams, a length of over 4 inches, and slightly curved edges, it almost looks and feels like a traditional cigarette.
It is great news because these types of vapes are the entry point for people transitioning from smoking. And with the short charging time of around 25 minutes, these vapes will allow you to constantly vape like you would with smelly cigarettes.
Myblu works with 1.5 ml liquid pods that are good for about 240 puffs. Its battery of 350 mAh promises good enough usage time without worrying about the charge running out. By the way, with the full charge, you will be able to puff puff about 200 times.
2. Blu Disposable Price & Details ($7.99)
Next on our list is the blu disposable vape pen. You know the draw behind these devices – low cost, no strings attached, possibility to cycle through a lot of flavors in a short time, no worries regarding the device’s “health”, etc.
blu’s disposable e-cig offers this and even more. It is obviously easy to use, but you will not have to exert much power when trying to inhale, allowing for an undemanding vaping experience.
These devices also have a great hit which is enhanced by one of 5 flavors – Vanilla, Cherry, Classic Tobacco, Menthol, Polar Mint.
Considering their price and the fact they are worth around 400 puffs, you really have nothing to lose if you decide to buy one.
3. Blu PLUS+ Price & Details ($10.99)
blu PLUS+ is one of the three oldest brand’s vape pens. It was launched as a disposable device back in 2014 but redesigned as a rechargeable in 2017.
PLUS+ is the only rechargeable vape pen produced by blu that does not use the pod system. Instead, they use cartridges that need to be screwed onto the pen.
This vape was designed as an upgrade to their disposable one, hence the PLUS+, and is meant as a beginner device for people starting to feel like single-use vapes are not for them anymore.
They are available in three nicotine levels: nicotine free, 12 mg/ml, and 24 mg/ml.
4. Blu 2.0 (Coming Soon To US)
We saved the best for the last. Yes, we are talking about the blu 2.0, aka the new and improved myblu. blu did not need to do any kind of big rehaul to the popular myblu vape because it was already a really solid device. But you can always do better, right? And that is what they did.
The battery went to 400 mAh, pod volume to 1.9 ml, puffs per charge to around 260, and puffs per pod to almost 300… The list goes on.
They did make a few more noticeable improvements, such as finally incorporating a Type-C USB charge port, making the pod transparent so you can see the amount of e-liquid left in it, and switching from cotton to ceramic wicks for even better taste and vapor production.
One thing they added, though, is the PowerTap technology with which you can see the amount of charge you are working with at the moment. Tap your device three times, and the LED indicator will light up. Red indicates 0% – 20%, amber 21% – 35%, and blue 36% – 100%.
Best Blu Vape Pen Flavors
One of the best things blu has going for them is the variety of flavors. In fact, they have so many flavors that we could write a whole article or two about them.
But we will not do that here. Instead, we will give our opinions on some of the best and most popular ones!
1. Rich Tobacco Flavor
Since vapes are actually a replacement for traditional tobacco cigarettes, any serious company producing them will also have tobacco flavors, which is the case with blu.
Their Rich Tobacco flavor promises an enhanced tobacco pleasure mixed with a hint of walnut that ends on a sort of oaky note. And who likes tobacco with mild nutty flavors more than ex-smokers?
2. Menthol Flavor
Menthol is one of the classics when it comes to vaping and smoking since it is popular with both traditional smokers and vapers.
Thanks to the taste of freshness it leaves on the palate and the cooling effect it has on the mouth, menthol will probably never lose its popularity, and that is the reason why blu did not try to get fancy with its Menthol flavor.
3. Tobacco Ice Flavor
Do you like tobacco but still want something that will cool your mouth? Blu has a solution for you in the form of their Tobacco Ice flavor since they claim you can have the best of both worlds.
4. Gold Leaf Flavor
If you are looking for a smooth and full-flavored tobacco flavor that is not obtrusive, look no further – Gold Leaf will allow you to taste just as much tobacco as you need. On top of that, this flavor features a touch of smokiness to make your vaping experience complete.
5. Cherry Flavor
We can’t be talking about vape flavors and not mention any fruity ones, right? They are the whole point of vaping a lot of the time!
Well, blu has a lot of fruity flavors. One of their most popular ones is cherry, which features an authentic and rich fruity taste that will make you think you’ve eaten an actual cherry.
6. Strawberry Mint Flavor
If a sweet and genuine fruity taste is simply not enough for you when it comes to the flavor of your e-liquid, we recommend you go for the Strawberry Mint.
This flavor not only has a sweet juicy taste courtesy of strawberries but also a cool and clean aftertaste of mint – a perfect combo if you ask us.
Note: All flavors listed here are blu’s regular flavors. Those of you who like these or other blu’s flavors but want to go to 11: try their INTENSE line of e-liquids.
Blu Vape Pen FAQ
How do I know when my Blu vape pen is charged?
blu vape pens come with a LED indicator that is located at the end (in the middle point on the blu 2.0). When it turns off, the device is fully charged.
While it is being charged, it will glow red.
What’s the difference between Juul and Blu?
Juul and blu are some of the biggest names in the vape pens with pod system world. Even though Juul is the more popular one, blu has some advantages over it, such as bigger vapor production and pod volume, longer battery life, and a more diverse flavor portfolio.
On the other hand, Juul vape pens offer a stronger and better throat hit and are lighter.
They are tied in fields such as ease of use, pricing, and design.
