IQOS
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IQOS guide
Explore the details and find answers to common questions.
What Is IQOS and How Does It Work?
IQOS is the heated tobacco system made by Philip Morris, and it is the biggest-selling product of its kind worldwide. Rather than filling a tank with e-liquid, you insert a small tobacco stick into the device. The current ILUMA generation heats that stick from the inside using induction: a metal element sealed within the stick warms the tobacco to a controlled temperature, releasing a nicotine vapour with authentic tobacco flavour.
Because nothing burns, there is no ash, no lingering smoke smell, and no blade inside the device to snap or scrape clean. A session lasts around six minutes or fourteen puffs, roughly the rhythm of a cigarette, then the stick is done. That familiar pattern is a big part of why long-term smokers find IQOS easier to settle into than vaping. New to heated tobacco? Start with our heated tobacco overview.
The IQOS ILUMA ONE
The ILUMA ONE is the compact all-in-one model in the ILUMA family and the device we recommend for anyone trying heated tobacco for the first time. Everything sits in a single pocket-sized unit rather than a separate holder and charging case, and one full charge covers up to 20 sticks, comfortably a full day for most users. It charges over USB-C and works exclusively with TEREA sticks.
At £15.99 the ILUMA ONE costs less than most starter vape kits, which makes switching from cigarettes a low-risk experiment: pick up the device and a couple of packs of TEREA sticks and you have everything you need. No cleaning routine, no spare parts, no settings to learn.
IQOS FAQ
How do I use the IQOS ILUMA?
Slide a TEREA stick into the holder as far as it goes, do not twist it, then press the button and wait for the vibration that signals it is ready. Puff as you would a cigarette for about six minutes or fourteen puffs; the device vibrates again near the end of the session. Pull the used stick out and bin it responsibly. There is nothing to clean afterwards.
Can I use HEETS with an ILUMA device?
No. HEETS were made for the older blade-heated IQOS models and do not contain the metal element that ILUMA induction heating relies on. ILUMA devices only work with TEREA sticks, and TEREA sticks will not work in older IQOS devices.
Is IQOS better than smoking cigarettes?
Switching completely from cigarettes to IQOS removes combustion, and it is burning tobacco that produces most of the harmful chemicals in smoke. Heated tobacco is not risk-free and still delivers nicotine, which is addictive, but for adult smokers who will not quit nicotine entirely it is a meaningfully less harmful way to use tobacco.
Is IQOS better than vaping?
They solve different problems. IQOS gives you real tobacco taste and a fixed cigarette-like session, which many long-term smokers prefer. Vaping offers far more flavour variety, lower running costs and, according to current UK guidance, sits lower on the risk scale because it contains no tobacco. If flavour range appeals, compare our vape kits before deciding.
How many puffs do you get per stick?
Each TEREA stick delivers around fourteen puffs over a six-minute session, after which the device ends the session automatically. A pack contains 20 sticks, the same count as a pack of cigarettes, at £6.95 from us.
Can you use IQOS indoors in the UK?
The indoor smoking ban applies to lit tobacco, and IQOS does not burn, so it is not automatically covered. Individual venues make their own rules and most treat it like vaping, so check before using it in pubs, restaurants or workplaces. The light, fast-fading scent means it rarely bothers anyone at home.
Where can I buy IQOS in the UK?
Right here. We keep the ILUMA ONE kit and the full TEREA flavour range in stock at our UK warehouse and despatch quickly on tracked services. Buying device and sticks together saves a separate trip, and our team can help you pick a starting flavour.
