Updated 6-7-24
Oil vape pens come in many shapes and sizes with an array of different features and resulting benefits to the user. The sheer volume of options that are available on the market today can make it difficult to determine which style, what features and what specs make one 510 thread battery better than another, and which one is right for you?
Rather then filling a buyers guide with product reviews, we decided to compile something useful… The most extensive resource available. This way you can get all the important information and find the product that is right for you. So whether you are beginner trying to find the right place to start, a oil vape connoisseur looking for new features, a vape shop owner looking to better educate your customers, or an extractor who needs to ensure the right product for their next wholesale order, read on to get all the info you’ll need to ensure an optimal buying experience.
Let’s start with the basics…
Oil vape pens utilize 4 major components. The atomizer, the cartridge, the battery and the electronics. The vape pen battery is the component that stores and sends power to the atomizer. In that sense, it actually does a bit more then a normal li-on battery. It also contains the internal electronic circuitry that controls the amount of power transferred, any led’s or displays to show you the power level and other features that may help you to optimize your vaping experience such as voltage adjustments.
Those electronics send power to the atomizer, a wire coil or ceramic element then heats up and vaporizes the oil that is held in the vape cartridge. These two components are connected by a 510 thread connection. Simply put, the vape pen battery is the power source that stores power and manages the power transfer to the atomizer during the vaping process.
In order to have a flawless and wonderful experience with your oil vape kit, all of these components need to work together. In the case of oil vape pens the atomizer is normally built into the cartridge, so there is not much concern between those two. However, it is very true that not every oil will work well with every oil cartridge. Likewise, not every battery battery will work well with every cartridge and some may not even fit correctly.
Unlike a cartridge, a battery may be able to be used for years without issue, where as even the best cartridges are only recommended to be refilled a couple times, if at all.
The term 510 thread battery refers to a universal thread design that doesn’t actually have a basis in any technical aspects of the thread itself. Sometimes called an ego thread, it’s a term that is used to describe the style that has been universally adopted in the vape industry for a range of atomizer and vape cartridge connections. This doesn’t mean that anything with a 510 male thread should be used with anything with a 510 female thread. In fact it is very important to know that you are choosing the right components regardless of whether they fit together or not.
That said, it does mean that there is a ton of compatibility between cartridges and batteries and that allows many cartridge brands and battery brands to work together well. Having the inside knowledge of pairing components will give you an edge in getting a kit that works well with many different types of store bought carts which should all have 510 threads. I some cases a magnetic adapter is used to increase a perceived product uniqueness, however that is normally just screwing on to a 510 thread anyways. We love 510 threads because it keeps so many vape pen products open source and allows you to customize for your best experience.
Vape pen batteries come in a range of voltages and also in variable voltage styles. The common range that you will expect to find is between 2.8v and 4.8v. In general you should expect that any stylus or slim pen voltage will be in the range of 3.3v, they may adjust the voltage with the strength of the draw which may allow them to draw as low as 3.0v. This is about the right voltage for the common polycarbonate style oil cartridge but it won’t have enough power to properly heat a ceramic or wickless ceramic cartridge. These offer a higher quality vapor and require voltages in the range of 3.7 or higher. Finding the right voltage will depend on the resistance from the atomizer to reach the optimal temperature which is from 280* to 350* for most oils. Lower voltage means more pure vapor but a lighter hit, so always start low and work your way up. Voltage numbers don’t tell you whether it’s a better product, they just tell you whether it is the right product for your cartridge and vice versa.
We always hear, “how long does this pen stay charged for?”. Well the simple way to know is by looking at the Mah rating (milliamp hour). This essentially tells us, how much power can a battery supply and for how long before requiring a charge. Generally a vape pen battery will provide between 280-900 mah. The high rating of a 900 mah is normally reserved for high voltage or high resistance kits such as a wax pen battery. The answer to the question can’t really be boiled down to specific usage since it’s completely dependent on the voltage, the resistance of the cartridge you’re using, and how long of a pull the user is taking.
While no one can explain why the football team left San Diego for LA, we can explain plenty about vape pen chargers. First off, it is extremely important to use the charger provided with your vape battery and to use a normal usb charger rather than a rapid charger. Trying to cut corners can damage a lithium ion battery and fry either the processor or the battery itself. Avoid using your phones rapid charger and opt for a normal usb port, wall adapter or car charger. It’s important to match the voltage of your charger with your battery.
Some vape batteries will come with higher voltage or amperage chargers then others. If you have questions about replacing a charger contact us for help choosing the right one for your battery.
There are many aspects that go into choosing the right oil vape cartridge. For all the info you ever wanted check out our Vape Cartridge Bible. Until then heres a 2 mile view:
There are essentially four generations of oil vape cartridges. The first being the classic polycarbonate or plastic vape cartridge, this generally works best on a low voltage battery. The second generation is a glass vape cartridge which utilizes a similar design with a glass casing and a higher quality design. These work best in the range of 3.3 to 3.7 volts. The third removes the wire coil in place for a ceramic heating element that heats the wick. The proper voltage for this model is in the range of 3.3 to 4.0 volts. Then came the fourth generation is a wickless ceramic cartridge which contains a coil less ceramic heating element that does not use a wick for the oil. We recommend using a battery that can drive at least 3.7 + volts. Ideally a variable voltage battery or a fixed 3.7 volt should be paired with wickless ceramic cartridges.
Now we have reached the current age of Full Ceramic Cartridges & All Glass Cartridges that separate the contents of the cartridge from any contact with metal materials of any kind and offer the purest vape on the market. These are currently the pinnacle of the industry and pretty much any of the other designs are old news. The element used in these is similar, so battery voltages are going to be consistent in the 3.3V to 3.7V range, though we have met some Low Voltage vape enthusiasts that swear by voltages under 3.0 to maximize flavor and longevity. Also consider other features such as Variable Airflow valves that allow for smoother, or thicker vapor.
For more check the buyers guide:
The difference between a high quality battery and a low quality battery can be exceptionally hard to tell from a buyers perspective. This is true for every type of battery. The fact is, there are many manufacturers making batteries of many different quality components and many of them look the same. A higher quality vape battery is going to give you more charges, consistent power ratings and hold a charge for longer. The best way to discern whether you are looking at a high quality battery or not is whether the seller stands behind the product. Since it is difficult to show the quality by opening up a battery to see whats on the inside, we offer a lifetime warranty on almost every battery that we sell. Some of our higher powered batteries receive a one year warranty since they are put under more rigorous usage.
We hear stories from customers that come to us and say they have a drawer full of batteries and they don’t want to buy any more. That makes sense because many have cheap components. We usually tell them to throw them all out and get one with a warranty.
Sometimes referred to as an auto draw or slim vape pen, this is the most common vape pen that you will find. These vary the voltage depending on the strength of your draw and are activated only when being hit. Generally the voltage limit is 3.3 volts. They should only be charged with the charger provided as they run lower voltage and should be charged at a slower amperage.
Common buttonless pens are filled with cheap components and can’t be relied on for long term usage. Be sure to find something high quality, with a warranty or be prepared to replace them frequently.
Benefits:
Specs: 3.3 Volts, 280 Mah
Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 120 mah
Cartridge recommendations: Poly carbonate Cartridges, Plastic oil cartridges, Glass Cartridges,
The next rung up the buttonless vape pen battery ladder, in our opinion is the fixed voltage buttonless battery. This runs on 3.7 volts and is perfect for running a wide variety of cartridges. Many people prefer the ease of use as there is no battery, no need to turn it on or off with multiple button clicks and it ensures that there is no way for it to turn on in your pocket. These come in a variety of colors, kits and volumes and are often paired with higher quality oils and cartridges.
Benefits:
Specs: 3.7 volts, 400 mah
Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 150 mah
Cartridge recommendations: Poly Carbonate, Plastic, Ceramic, Wickless Ceramic
The flexible buttonless fixed voltage battery has a close relative with an extra feature, this is the button activated model of the premium 3.7 volt vape pen battery. The ability to control the flow of power to the atomizer and the the ability to fully shut off the pen from operation are features that some users like to have. With this, the pen can be activated intermittently as you take a longer pull and completely turned off if it is in your pocket.
Benefits:
Voltage: 3.7 volts, 400 mah
Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 150 mah
Cartridge recommendations: Poly Carbonate, Plastic, Ceramic, Wickless Ceramic
For the ultimate in power management and battery function, we recommend considering a variable voltage vape battery. By using a dial or selecting voltages through a button clicking function, you are able to literally “dial in” your voltage and the correlating atomizer temp. This means no matter what cartridge or oil you have you can make these batteries get you a great puff. Anything ranging from a light taste with terps to a heavy hit with a bigger cloud can be attained using these batteries. Variable voltage vape pens come in a number of different shapes and sizes as well. See our models here.
Benefits:
Voltage: 3.3v – 4.8v, range from 300 mah to 400 mah
Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 150 mah
Cartridge recommendations: any vape cartridge, Poly Carbonate, Plastic, Ceramic, Wickless Ceramic
Sometimes you want a battery that you can travel with, not worry about damaging or even give to friend in a bind. Disposable vape pens are a great option as they are considered single use and when they are out of oil the can be discarded. For a long time, these all in one vapes were a risky purchase, or way to package your oil due to a short shelf life and the risk of the battery running out. Now we have designed these with charging ports for a single recharge, that way you won’t risk wasting your good stuff.
This has also made them more popular as a wholesale solution since manufacturers are able to fill them with their product and customers customer don’t need to buy a whole vape pen kit if they don’t already have one they love. The lower cost and cool designs make them very popular. There are even e-cigar versions that look like mini cigars. The quality of the product doesn’t need to suffer as they are even available with the disposable ceramic vape pens with ceramic cartridges and multiple hole sizes to match the thickness of your oil. Our traveller disposable vape batteries are technically full vape pens, however we wanted to include them as they fall under both categories.
Benefits:
Specs: 320 mah
Charging: single recharge on O2VAPE disposables
Cartridge recommendations: Built in Ceramic (on O2VAPE models)
This is a product category that we are proud to have brought to market. The FLIP concealable vape battery is, in our opinion, the best of every world. It provides safe keeping for your cartridge when tucked away, has a high level of discretion as it looks like a key fob, and includes a built in charger that means you never have to carry one around, lose one or try to replace it with another model. We offer the FLIP ULTRA Vape Pen, a digital variable voltage battery with lightning and micro usb ports, puff counter and battery meter as well as The FLIP platinum is an exclusive upgraded version with a variable voltage and automatic on/ off feature making it one of a kind. As the originator of the FLIP, we have progressed past the versions that you may be used to and discontinued our original 3.7 volt model for the newer versions.
We get a ton of great reviews on these and for good reason, they work with every type of cartridge and come with a lifetime warranty.
Benefits:
Voltage:
-ULTRA: Variable Voltage 3.2-4.8V
– Platinum – 3.3v to 4.3v
Charging:
-ULTRA: Dual Chargin Ports (lightning & micro USB)
-Platinum: Built in charger (Cool!)
Cartridge recommendations: Any 510 thread cartridge will work well due to the variable voltage settings.
We love giving our customers an amazing product and backing it up with quality. What we’ve seen over 2023 is the industry trend of wholesalers moving towards All Glass Disposable Vape Pens for performance, quality and convenience. As part of our commitment to our clients, we will always make the right recommendation, even if it costs us the sale. We put our reputation as a partner with integrity before the bottom line. Our reviews and responses make us feel good about it, and creates a life for us that is filled with long term clients that thrive as leaders in the industry.
We work with some of the best people in the industry on the wholesale and sourcing side. That means representing them through product spec, design and packaging, sourcing and testing and all the way through to helping them find efficient filling methods. Sourcing vape batteries can be risky for those that aren’t familiar or don’t have a consistently quality supply chain. For instance, getting a great cartridge with the wrong battery can cause the whole product to work poorly or even worse, make a product taste bad. We work with oil manufacturers to ensure a great packaging experience by helping them with custom vape batteries, logo vape batteries and by overseeing the entire process. If you are looking for a company that can ensure that you will get a great quality product that won’t end up in your customers drawer soon, reach out and we will be glad to walk you through the process!
Contact us For Wholesale Inquiries
