How to Tell When a Disposable Vape Is Empty

A disposable vape is empty when the flavour disappears, the vapour becomes thin, and the final puffs start to taste burnt. The quickest way to be certain comes down to a single factor: whether or not your device has a charging port. With a non-rechargeable disposable, if the light is blinking and there is no vapour then the device is empty regardless. In the case of a rechargeable one, the same symptoms generally indicate a dead battery rather than empty e-liquid, and there is a simple test to determine which it is.

Check This First: Does It Have a Charging Port?

Check the bottom and the sides of the device for a USB-C (or an older micro-USB) port, because this one feature alters the meaning of all the other signals.

No port means the battery is sized to run out at roughly the same time as the e-liquid. If it stops producing vapour, the device is done, whichever ran out first. There’s nothing to revive.

Has a port means the battery and the e-liquid run down independently. A device that’s stopped working might just need 20 to 40 minutes on a charger, and plenty of people throw away rechargeable disposables that still had days of e-liquid left in them.

The 4 Signs a Disposable Is Running Out

1. Flavour fades first

This is typically the first sign, and it is gradual rather than sudden. The flavour becomes dull and ordinary within a day or two before any other changes occur. With devices that have mesh coils and produce big puffs, the flavour tends to stay consistent for a longer period of time, which means that when it does start to fade, the device is actually approaching the end rather than simply having a bad day.

2. Vapour gets thin

With the same level of effort, the vapour produced is less obvious. On a rechargeable device this is unclear, since thinning of the vapour is also the appearance of a low battery: the coil is not receiving enough power to vapourise properly. On a non-rechargeable device, however, if the vapour gets thinner and continues to do so it means the liquid is running out.

3. A burnt or harsh taste

This occurs when the coil fires even though there isn’t enough e-liquid absorbed by the wick to take in the heat. The final few puffs of a truly empty device are usually noticeably worse in taste than all the previous puffs. If the burnt taste appears gradually at the end of the expected lifetime of the device, then it’s empty. But if it appears suddenly on a device which should still have plenty left, that indicates a different issue.

4. The light blinks and it won’t fire

Most disposables have a small LED which flashes when the device cuts power to the coil, the number of flashes usually being between three and ten, although the exact number and the colour differ from brand to brand. The thing that most people get wrong is that a flashing light generally indicates a problem with the battery, not a low level of e-liquid. Only some of these devices indicate an empty tank by flashing; nearly all of them indicate a dead battery by flashing.

Battery Dead or E-Liquid Empty? The Test

On a rechargeable disposable, this is the whole question, and it resolves quickly:

• Fully charge it and then attempt it once more. If vapour is produced, then the battery was at fault and there is still some device left.
• If it is charged but still doesn’t vape, then the e-liquid has run out. That is the end of the device.
• If the battery doesn’t take a charge, the battery has failed before the liquid has run out. This is uncommon, but it does happen, and the outcome is the same: the device is finished.

The majority of rechargeable disposables take about 20 to 60 minutes to be fully charged when they are empty. It is better to use a standard low-output charger than one that fast charges, since the small cells in these devices do not gain any advantage from fast charging and in fact get hot when doing so.

When “Burnt” Doesn’t Mean Empty

A burnt taste from a device which should still have a good amount of e-liquid is generally not due to an empty tank. The most typical causes are chain vaping (drawing repeatedly without allowing the wick to re-saturate between puffs), drawing for longer than the device’s built-in cutoff time, since most disposable devices automatically stop working after about 8 to 10 seconds of continuous drawing, or the coil having failed prematurely.

For the practical test, leave the device undisturbed for five to ten minutes and then take one slow draw. If it tastes normal once more, it means the wick wasn’t keeping up before and the device is all right. But if it still tastes burnt after the rest, and the device isn’t one that should be nearly empty considering how long you’ve had it, the coil has probably burnt out prematurely. Regardless of the situation, stop using it as soon as every puff tastes burnt. There’s no benefit in using the device beyond that point.

How Long Should It Have Lasted?

The puff counts that are given are figures obtained in laboratories under ideal conditions, and in real-life situations they are usually 30 to 40% lower depending on the length of your puffs. If you’re comparing the best disposable vapes, it’s also worth looking at their rated puff counts alongside factors such as e-liquid capacity and battery performance. It is generally normal if your device fails well before its rated puff count rather than indicating a defect. For a full explanation of the maths behind puff counts, refer to our puff counts explained guide, and for an explanation of why two devices with the same puff rating can hold very different amounts of e-liquid, see our mesh coils and e-liquid capacity guide.

FAQs

Does a blinking light mean my disposable is empty?
It usually indicates that the battery is depleted, not that the e-liquid has run out. With a non-rechargeable device the distinction doesn’t matter, since the device is finished in either case. With a rechargeable one, charge it first; if it then works, the problem was the battery.

Can you refill a disposable vape once it’s empty?
No. Disposable devices are sealed and designed for single use, and the coil wears out together with the e-liquid. Even if you managed to get liquid in, you’d end up using a coil that’s already been used up. Recycle it and begin again.

Why does my disposable taste burnt when it’s not empty?
It is most often caused by chain vaping or drawing past the 8 to 10 second limit, since this means the wick doesn’t get a chance to re-saturate. Rest the device for five to ten minutes and then try again. If it still tastes burnt, the coil has probably failed prematurely.

How long does a rechargeable disposable take to charge?
It usually takes between 20 and 60 minutes to fully charge when the device is empty. Use a standard low-output charger rather than a fast-charge adapter, since the small batteries in these devices get hot when using fast chargers even though they aren’t charged any faster as a result.