Which one will claim the pre-filled vape pod throne?
Every once in a while, an e-cig comes along that takes the vaping world by storm. Ever since JUUL launched back in 2015, it has become a worldwide behemoth, commanding over 70% of the market share in the United States. Many products have come and gone in their effort to compete with JUUL, and the latest challenger has now entered the arena to form our byte vs JUUL head-to-head!
Below we will take a look at just what the byte can offer people in comparison to the JUUL, with all the pros and cons exposed!
1 – Appearance
Appearance is subjective, but how does the byte compare to the sharp design lines of JUUL?
byte
The byte has almost the complete opposite appearance to the JUUL. With rounded edges and a soft, rubberised plastic body, there is no question that the byte looks and feels good to hold.
The byte is longer and thicker than the JUUL, although this is not a negative since the JUUL does have a smaller battery and is very thin. The byte logo is printed on the body and the micro USB port is located at the bottom, making it easy to recharge with any micro USB cable.
JUUL
The JUUL opts for a squared off appearance and a metal body with the company logo moulded in. It is very small and thin with a stylish, almost Apple-Esque feel to it.
A magnetic USB charging port is a neat addition, although it does mean that you have to keep a JUUL charger handy as it is a unique connection.
Verdict
It’s a tough one, as both of these devices each have their own aesthetically pleasing touches, however this round has to go to JUUL, with the sharply designed body, magnetic charging port and slim form factor winning this one!
Score: byte 0 – JUUL 1
2 – Performance
The most important aspect of any e-cigarette is the performance. It doesn’t matter if it looks like something out of a James Bond movie if it doesn’t have the performance to match!
byte
Firstly, the byte pods have been designed to be incredibly easy to use. When opening a new pod, an innovative silicone plug dubbed the ‘ripcord’ seals off the liquid from the coil, so you don’t have to worry about receiving flooded or soggy packaging due to e-liquid leakage.
The magnetic connection fits perfectly, plus the pods are 1.25ml, nearly double the size of JUUL’s 0.7ml pods. The performance for a small pod is fantastic, with good, fluffy clouds of vapour being produced.
The 1.6% (16mg) ‘next generation’ nic salts within provide a great balance of flavour and a silky smooth throat hit. It’s a pity that more flavours aren’t available, particularly since mixed fruit tastes so good.
Like JUUL, the 350mAh byte battery is automatically activated, meaning no buttons to press, you simply inhale to create vapour. We did notice that the byte’s auto switch is more sensitive than JUUL, which makes it very similar to drawing on a cigarette.
JUUL
The JUUL pods are ready to use straight out of the packet, and are simply pushed into the battery until you hear a ‘click’ when it is in position.
The overall performance of the JUUL was weaker than the byte, and whilst the vapour produced was adequate, it didn’t quite hit the spot like its competitor.
The 280mAh automatically activated battery works well, and does do a good job in bridging the gap between smoking.
JUUL has a wider selection of flavours than the byte, which is really good if you prefer more fruity or dessert style options. Although the flavour can be a little muted on certain pods.
Verdict
These two vape pods both have their own pros and cons. The byte lacks the flavour options and JUUL isn’t able to produce as much vapour.
With this being said, the byte edges out the JUUL to win this round, purely because the flavour and vapour production was deemed superior in all tests.
Score: byte 1 – JUUL 1
3 – Value For Money
Providing an e-cig that looks good, performs well and offers value for money can be difficult. How does the byte compare next to JUUL? We have a handy chart below which directly compares the two side by side!
On the surface, the byte may not seem to offer vapers much more value for money than JUUL. However after viewing the above chart, you will find that it actually offers better long term value for vapers.
The main reason for this because each byte pod has 1.25ml of e-liquid, which compares to JUUL’s 0.7ml; almost double the e-liquid.
This means each pod will last longer in-between replacements, reducing the need to buy additional supplies as often.
Verdict
The byte is the clear winner here when it comes to offering vapers value for money. The larger pod capacity, cheaper RRP and bigger battery all surpass the JUUL.
Final Score: byte 2 – JUUL 1
Final Verdict
Whilst the JUUL may have lost this head-to-head, it nevertheless offers a solid pre-filled pod solution. One that has not only stood the test of time, but surpassed any vaping product in terms of sheer popularity.
The success of JUUL can be put down in many ways to its simplicity and single vision marketing which focuses on one product. When this is coupled with a generally well-received e-cig, their success was perhaps always assured.
The byte has proven itself to be a worthy competitor to JUUL. With replacements stocked in selected vape stores around the country, it stands as a truly viable alternative.
The byte offers vapers great value for money, performs well and provides great flavour with the available pods. Pound for pound, it is perhaps one of the most complete vape pod solutions currently available. But only time will tell whether it can scale the significant heights achieved by JUUL.
Pease note: The original JUUL has been discontinued, please see the JUUL2 for the next generation device.
