Aspire vs GEEK BAR: Features, Price + More (2024)
The epic showdown: Aspire vs GEEK BAR. We're here to dissect every puff, flavor, and cloud.
But how do they compare against each other in terms of product range, performance, flavors, value, and more?
Whether you're on team Aspire or rooting for GEEK BAR, this detailed comparison guide is packed with juicy details!
And stick around, because we've got a twist for you – nicotine-free vapes from Cyclone Pods. Safer, smoother, and even more satisfying.
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A Quick Intro to Aspire and GEEK BAR
One of the global leaders in vape brands, Aspire boasts more than a decade of R&D and manufacturing in electronic atomization products. Aspire offers a wide range of vaping devices, including pods, tanks, and mods, in over 30 countries, including the USA, through a network of over 150 distributors.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, GEEK BAR is a brand under the umbrella of Geek Vape Technology Co. Ltd., a popular vape company. GEEK BAR is known for its disposable vapes, which come in various colors and are pre-filled with nic salt e-liquid. These devices are a favorite among beginners.
Brand History and Background of Aspire and GEEK BAR
Let’s look at how the two brands evolved.
Established in 2010, Aspire traces its origins back to Shenzen, China. It is a brand owned by Shenzhen Eigate Technology Co., Ltd. The company is famous for developing several of the industry’s first technologies, such as the ‘Capillary System E-liquid Conduction.’ In 2021, Aspire was among the four e-cigarette brands that the US FDA requested social media marketing details from, due to concerns about vape marketing practices targeting youth.
GEEK BAR, founded in 2015, has a distribution network spanning several countries, including the USA and the UK. In order to expand its business in the UK, it’s setting up an advanced manufacturing facility in China’s Guangdong province. However, the brand has encountered significant challenges with its counterfeits in the market, impacting brand integrity and consumer safety. In 2021, the company faced controversy when a 12-year-old TikTok user claimed to have sampled GEEK BAR products and posted videos and posts with the hashtag #geekbar. In 2022, the brand launched an online platform called Vapewatch to help wholesalers, retailers, and distributors comply with UK regulations and ensure that they are selling vapes only to adults.
Aspire vs GEEK BAR Comparison Summary
Take a quick look at the features of Aspire and GEEK BAR vapes before we get into the details:
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Aspire |
GEEK BAR |
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Product Range |
Pod systems: Raga AIO (All-In-One), Flexus, Cyber, Gotek, and Fluffi Series Sub-ohm tanks and mods: Huracan, Veynom, and Proteus Series |
Disposable Vapes: Pulse, Meloso, Wondar 1, DF8000 Pod Kit: J1 Pod Kit
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Nicotine-free options available? |
No (most Aspire vapes are recommended to be used with nic salt e-liquids) |
No |
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Device Quality & Build |
Classic design theme, tactile PU and modern metal aesthetics, ergonomic design, vibrant colors, TFT Color/OLED screen (in select devices) |
Brightly colored, ergonomic, soft mouthpiece, innovative designs, full-screen displays with animations (for certain devices) |
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Battery Capacity |
Minican 3 Pro Vape Kit: 900mAh Cyber X Pod Kit: 1000mAh Flexus Blok: 1200mAh BP Stik: 2500mAh R1 Disposable: 650mAh |
Wondar 1: 650mAh Meloso Mini: 550mAh DF8000: 600mAh Meloso Ultra: 630mAh J1 Pod Kit: 500mAh |
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Pod Capacity, Nicotine Strength |
Raga AIO: 4.5ml BP Stik: 5ml PCTG reservoir Cyber S: 2ml/3ml (depending on the limit set by local regulations like TPD and CRC) Aspire typically recommends using their vapes with nicotine salt e-liquids ranging from 5-20mg nicotine strength |
J1 Pod Kit: 2ml (2% nic salt) Meloso Pro: 12ml (2% nicotine) Pulse: 16ml (5% nicotine) DF8000: 14ml (2%, 5% nicotine options) Meloso Ultra: 18ml (5% nicotine) |
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Number of Puffs per Pod |
Raga AIO, BP Stik, Cyber S: 500 puffs Aspire R1 Refillable Disposable Vape: 3500 puffs |
Meloso Pro: 4000 puffs DF8000: 8000 puffs J1 Pod Kit: 600 puffs Meloso Ultra: 10000 puffs Pulse: 15000 puffs (regular mode), 7500 puffs (pulse mode) |
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Charging Time |
Raga AIO: Around 1-1.5 hours |
Wondar 1: 45 minutes (Type C-quick charge) Pulse (standard version): 60 - 90 mins (Type C-quick charge) |
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Safety Features |
Precision airflow, Aspire ASP chipset, overheat protection, low voltage protection |
Short circuit protection, overcharging protection, low-voltage protection, VPU for a more balanced atomization effect |
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Device and Pod Cost |
P Stik: $24.57 Flexus AIO Kit: $32.40 Gotek Pro: $20.25 Cyber G Pod Kit: $18.99 Onemore X1: $13.98 (prices from online Aspire store) |
Pulse: $12.99 Meloso Max: $11 - $13 Meloso Ultra: $15 - $16 |
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Customer Support and Warranty |
90 days |
14 days (quality warranty) |
Now let’s compare these brands in detail:
1. Design and Aesthetics
Aspire vapes are sleek with a modern design, with a focus on sustainability and performance. For instance, the Raga AIO is built from sustainable nylon ceramic material which is strong, durable, and sports a high-end look and feel. Some Aspire vapes, such as the Hurricane series, feature ergonomic, metal aesthetics with TFT color screens for added visual appeal. A few drawbacks include the stiffness of the airflow control ring in the Aspire Nautilus 2, which could affect the vaping experience. Also, having to remove the Breeze 2’s mouthpiece for airflow adjustment makes the design less intuitive than it could be.
GEEK BAR vapes are known for their vibrant colors (gradient color schemes in some devices) and metallic accents. This design aesthetic adds to the visual appeal of their vapes but could deter those preferring a subtler, understated look. Some of the devices, such as Pulse, feature sleek cosmic graphics and a full-screen display with animations.
2. Performance and Battery Life
Aspire vapes offer reliable performance and battery life. For instance, the Aspire AVP features a 700mAh battery that lasts a full day on medium to high strength nic salts. The device provides consistent output and charges in about 50 minutes, offering pass-thru vaping while charging. However, some users may find the lack of adjustable airflow a drawback. Similarly, the Cyber G vape pen comes with an 850mAh battery, offering nearly two full pods of vaping on a single charge, showcasing impressive battery life for its size.
The pre-charged batteries of the GEEK BAR disposables have smaller capacities compared to reusable vapes. However, the battery performance of most of its products is at par with the industry standards. For instance, the Wondar 1 comes with a 650 mAh battery and tops up from 0 to 100% in 45 minutes. That said, some models, like the Pulse, face battery life issues as screen animations drain the battery much faster.
3. Longevity
Most of the Aspire vapes, like Raga AIO, BP Stik, and Cyber S, offer close to 500 puffs per pod. Similarly, the R1 Refillable Disposable Vape offers up to 3500 puffs per pod. Aspire coils are designed to last longer than traditional ones, with users reporting extended periods of use before needing a replacement, depending on their vaping habits and type of e-liquid used. With proper care and maintenance, Aspire devices can last between 6 and 24 months.
GEEK BAR offers a range of disposable devices with varying degrees of longevity depending on the model and your vaping habits. For instance, the J1 Pod Kit offers up to 600 puffs on its 500 mAh single-use battery. On the other hand, Meloso Ultra delivers as many as 10000 puffs per pod. The Pulse series offers you the option of switching between regular and pulse modes that guarantee 15000 and 7500 puffs, respectively. The standard GEEK BAR will last you anywhere between one and three days. While regular draws will ensure your device delivers close to the estimated puff count, longer draws will likely deplete your device faster.
4. Flavor Selection and Nicotine Options
Aspire offers a diverse range of flavor selections to cater to different preferences and tastes. Some popular flavor categories include fruit, beverages (tea and coffee), tobacco, and menthol.
GEEK BAR disposables come with pre-filled liquids in a variety of flavors to suit your unique taste preferences. You can find a range of tropical, refreshing, and dessert-inspired flavors such as watermelon ice, mango smoothie, chocolate mint ice cream, blue cotton candy, and more. A few GEEK BAR devices, like Wondar 1, feature a refillable pod that you can fill with 3rd party e-liquids for a more personalized flavor selection.
5. Vaping Experience
Aspire vapes have innovative coil technologies like the BVC (Bottom Vertical Coil) and mesh coils, which lead to efficient e-liquid absorption and heating. So, you get a consistent and satisfying vaping experience. In terms of throat hit, Aspire vapes cater to diverse preferences, offering options for mouth-to-lung (MTL), direct-to-lung (DTL), and restricted direct-to-lung (RDTL) vaping. But, there are a couple of issues too. The limited 2ml capacity of the Nautilus 2 might frustrate heavy users due to frequent refills. The Aspire AVP is often criticized for lacking adjustable airflow and difficulty in filling with thicker nozzles, and so on.
Given that they require no filling or maintenance, GEEK BAR vapes are a convenient, hassle-free option for vaping enthusiasts. Their vapes operate on the VPU (vape processing unit) technology which claims to boost cloud volume by 23.7%. GEEK BAR vapes feature FDA-certified food-grade shells for a safe and hygienic vaping experience. However, the lack of customization options (e.g., no adjustable wattage) on GEEK BAR vapes might leave experienced users wanting more.
6. Health and Safety Concerns
Aspire claims to conduct rigorous safety checks to ensure a safe vaping experience. However, most of their products are recommended to be used with nicotine e-liquids. And nicotine is known to be a highly addictive stimulant that can harm respiratory and cardiovascular health.
GEEK BAR vapes come pre-filled with e-liquids ranging from 2% to 5% nicotine strength. Nicotine can be highly addictive and have damaging effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Additionally, GEEK BAR primarily offers disposable vapes that raise environmental concerns over the waste they generate.
7. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Issues
Aspire has faced some regulatory compliance and legal issues in the US market. For instance, the FDA raised concerns about Aspire importing new tobacco products, such as Aspire Breeze, without premarket authorization. In the UK market, Aspire vape pods were found non-compliant with certain vape regulations that mandate tanks with a maximum of 2ml capacity, nicotine strength under 20mg/ml, and display of manufacturer details and health warnings.
There have been concerns about the “super-strength GEEK BAR” vapes in the US market being equivalent to smoking 125 cigarettes. And as we mentioned earlier, there have been reports of underage individuals using GEEK BAR devices. This is due to the influx of counterfeit products that are sold irresponsibly to minors and can lead to serious health and addiction issues associated with nicotine use. Additionally, the 2024 UK regulations — like the ban on disposable vapes and the limit on e-liquid capacity (max 2ml) and nicotine content (max 20mg/ml) — might lead to the discontinuation of many Geek Bar products. For instance, devices like the GEEK BAR Pro have 5% nicotine and a tank capacity of 4.5ml.
Note: Consumers must also verify adherence to the latest local laws prior to any purchase of devices from these brands.
8. Nicotine Content Potential
Most Aspire vapes are recommended to be used with nicotine salt e-liquids ranging from 5-20mg in strength. Some of Aspire’s sub-ohm devices, such as Revvo Mini Tank, are more compatible with low nicotine e-liquid. But, vape pods, such as Cobble and Breeze 2, with high ohm ratings and low wattage, can also be used for low-nicotine e-liquids.
GEEK BAR vapes are prefilled with e-liquid that have nicotine strengths varying from 2% to 5%. Devices like Meloso Pro and J1 Pod Kit offer beginner-friendly 2% nicotine in their e-liquids. On the other hand, with their 5% nicotine strength, Pulse and Meloso Ultra pack a punch for heavy users.
9. Compatibility with Other Products
Many Aspire are compatible with third-party pods and accessories, allowing you to customize your vaping setup according to your preferences.
Most disposable GEEK BAR vapes are prefilled with flavored e-liquids. They are not designed to be modified or re-filled.
10. Availability and Accessibility
Aspire vapes are easily available online and in local vape stores in the US, UK, and other regions. While location-based restrictions may apply in other areas, Aspire products are generally accessible to vapers worldwide through authorized retailers and online platforms.
GEEK BAR products are available in retail and online stores worldwide, including the US, UK, and China. However, look out for specific location-based restrictions, especially in regions with strict e-cigarette regulations or flavor bans.
11. Cost vs. Quality
Aspire balances cost and quality, providing durable and reliable products at competitive prices. For example, devices like the Aspire Minican and the AVP series, are well-known in the vaping community for their reasonable prices and reliable performance. However, users must note that Aspire warranty coverage may not include coils or accessories, which may lead to additional replacement costs.
GEEK BAR vapes are competitively priced and offer decent value for money. While they may be a good option as your backup device or travel companion, their disposable nature makes them less cost-effective in the long run than refillable and rechargeable vapes.
Pros and Cons of Aspire and GEEK BAR
To summarize, here are the benefits and drawbacks of both these brands:
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Pros of Aspire |
Cons of Aspire |
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Pros of GEEK BAR |
Cons of GEEK BAR |
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In short, both Aspire and GEEK BAR stand out in the vaping market with their unique strengths and offerings.
However, both Aspire and GEEK BAR are not without their regulatory challenges.
Now, if you’re on the lookout for a nicotine-free alternative without compromising on the vaping experience, we’ll tell you what’s best.
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