Vaping devices are getting a makeoverone that seems likely to turn more teens into consumers.
Experts have long worried that nicotine vapes appeal to minors with flavors like Cotton Candy and Blue Razz, along with bright candy-colored designs.
Todays vapes double as digital gadgets. Some mimic video games, others resemble smartphones or tamagotchi-style pets that die if you stop puffing. Its gamified addiction.
Behind the flashy designs lies a serious danger. Research shows that vaping harms both cardiovascular and respiratory health and can lead to nicotine dependency. Many of these new products are also unregulated, often smuggled in from overseas manufacturers. As vapes become more like toys, their health risksand appeal to childrenonly increase.
Vapes are going digital
Dozens of vape manufacturers have started integrating screens into their products, originally meant to show simple battery displays. Some keep it basiclike Fumots design, which features a digital-clock-style percentage gauge below its signature monkey icon. But others are going bigger. Raz uses animated fire symbols, while Geek Bar displays constellationsmini light shows embedded in a puff.
Some devices push things even further, embedding full-on video games just inches from the mouthpiece. The Craftbox V-Play, for example, comes in flavors like Strawberry Blowpop and Grape Escape, and features three built-in games: knockoffs of Pac-Man and Tetris, plus a fighter jet simulator. Marketed as a Vapentertainment system, the device even plays music as you game.
For those seeking more connectivity, some vapes now function like smartphones. The Swype 3000 is perhaps the most well-known. It syncs with the users actual phone, displaying notifications and offering a limited suite of apps on the vapes body. The tech is far from seamlessBusiness Insiders Katie Notopoulos reported issues like buggy games and blurry alertsbut the concept is catching on. Brands like Airfuze, Vookbar, and Feed Sync are also producing so-called smart vapes.
Despite their digital upgrades, vapes remain cheap, often selling for less than $20 wholesale (comparable to their analog predecessors). And, of course, theyre still disposable. Once the nicotine runs out, youre left with a dead vape that doubles as a cheap video game consoleor a phone with no service.
A legal gray area
Many gamified, screen-equipped vapes operate in a legal gray zone. They’re rarely manufactured in the U.S. (most come from Chinese factories) and almost none have received marketing authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. In 2024, the FDA sent a warning letter to the online retailer Vapes and Such cautioning against selling products that may be attractive to youth by imitating a smartphone or imitating gaming technology.
Vapes have long faced criticism for their appeal to minors. In 2023, Juul agreed to pay $462 million in a settlement over its marketing tactics, which regulators said were designed to target children. Over time, concern shifted from flavors to designsleek, candy-colored devices that looked more like tech accessories than tobacco products. If it looks glamorous and it looks appealing, thats going to be the first driver that will bring a horse to water, Brian King, at the time the FDAs tobacco regulator, told The New York Times.
Screens represent the next evolution of that appeal. They dont just make vapes look glamorous, they make them status symbols. With built-in games and push notifications, theyre nicotine devices and conversation starters. But that allure can be dangerous, especially for young users.
