How heated tobacco devices work

Discover how heated tobacco devices such as IQOS work - an alternative to continued smoking.

Heated tobacco devices heat tobacco instead of burning it. The result? A tobacco experience with none of the fire, ash or smoke smell that cigarettes produce. All heated tobacco devices contain a heating source. The heated tobaccos exact temperature can vary within lower temperatures but never exceed 350 degrees. What’s important is that heated tobacco products do not reach the high temperatures where tobacco is burn.

What is the difference between heated tobacco devices and heat-not-burn devices?

Heated tobacco devices are also called heat-not-burn devices because they heat tobacco instead of burning it. Essentially, the two terms - heated tobacco and heat-not-burn - are interchangeable. IQOS heated tobacco devices are sophisticated electronics that are used together with specially designed heatsticks called heatsticks. Since IQOS heated tobacco devices are battery-powered, they need to be charged regularly, just like you would charge a smartphone. Once the IQOS heated tobacco device is ready, a heattick is inserted into the device. Once the experience is over, the used heatstick can be removed from the device and disposed of in a bin or one of our containers, the portable container IQOS Clip-On Tray or the larger IQOS Ceramic tray.

We have gathered everything you need to know about your IQOS device on our support page where you will also find videos and step-by-step guides.

The IQOS technology

From thought to reality, each element of IQOS is carefully crafted. IQOS HeatControl™ Technology is the heart of the product. It is responsible for heating tobacco, without burning it, and instead emitts an aerosol. The ceramic blade inside IQOS, which has gold and platinum tracks, heats the tobacco inside the heatsticks. So IQOS adult users get the experience of the real tobacco with no fire, no ash and no smoke smell.

The tobacco taste

IQOS and heatsticks were designed to provide IQOS legal age users with a tobacco experience and duration similar to that of cigarettes. Each heatstick can last up to 6 minutes or 14 puffs on average.
Find out more about IQOS heated tobacco devices and the technology behind them.