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What is IQOS 3 DUO?
IQOS 3 DUO is a heated tobacco device from the blade family made by Philip Morris. It has two parts: a holder that takes the stick and a pocket charger. The word DUO refers to the holder being usable twice in a row before it needs to go back into the charger, as described in the manufacturer's launch announcement.
The blade family was the first IQOS system, before ILUMA arrived. The full timeline is on latest IQOS devices, and the device section is listed on IQOS devices.
This is the only English page here that focuses on the blade family.
Its sticks, HEETS, are covered later on this page.
When did IQOS 3 DUO launch, and how is it different from IQOS 3 and IQOS 3 MULTI?
Philip Morris introduced IQOS 3 and IQOS 3 MULTI in Tokyo on 22 October 2018, then IQOS 3 DUO on 26 September 2019. The headline feature of DUO was two consecutive uses without recharging the holder. IQOS 3 MULTI is a one-piece device that can be used several times in a row.
All three share the blade system; they differ in body design and uses per charge. We have not confirmed the MULTI figure in a manufacturer document, so we leave it out.
The one-piece versus two-piece idea carried over to ILUMA, as in ILUMA ONE.
Why is IQOS 3 DUO called ORIGINALS DUO in some countries?
The official IQOS Jordan page names the product IQOS ORIGINALS DUO and notes in brackets that it was formerly IQOS 3 DUO, showing it is the same device under a new name. We have not found the year of the rename in official documents, so we do not give one. ORIGINALS is the name for the whole blade family.
IQOS Philippines says both ORIGINALS DUO and ORIGINALS ONE use HeatControl with a ceramic blade, and that the two were withdrawn there from October 2023.
Seeing ORIGINALS on a label therefore means the blade family; see our model comparison.
The two names look alike on paper because they describe one and the same product.
How does the HeatControl blade warm the tobacco?
A ceramic blade sits inside the holder. When a HEETS stick is pushed in, the blade enters the middle of the tobacco and heats it from the inside outwards, while HeatControl keeps the temperature below the point of combustion. ILUMA works differently, with no blade and a metal element inside the stick heated by induction.
Because the blade touches tobacco directly, residue can build up on it, so this family needs regular cleaning according to its manual.
The wider mechanism is explained in heat-not-burn explained and what IQOS is.
This is the main practical difference owners notice when they move from a blade device to ILUMA.
Can TEREA sticks go into IQOS 3 DUO?
No. The IQOS FAQ says TEREA should not be used in devices with a blade, because the device may be damaged. TEREA were designed for the bladeless ILUMA family and carry a metal heating element inside each stick. IQOS UK likewise states that TEREA work with ILUMA devices only, so the answer is the same everywhere.
People ask this in many languages, because plenty of blade devices are still around. The same answer applies to every stick in the SMARTCORE STICKS group; see IQOS stick types.
The structural comparison is on HEETS vs TEREA.
Trying it anyway puts the device at risk, not just the stick.
What sticks were designed for IQOS 3 DUO?
IQOS 3 DUO takes HEETS, which were made for blade devices using HeatControl. According to IQOS UK, HEETS are built so a blade can be inserted into the centre of the stick, and they have no metal element inside like TEREA. They suit the blade family but were never designed for ILUMA.
HEETS flavour names differ by market, just as TEREA names do. The naming logic for TEREA is set out in TEREA flavours explained, which makes a handy comparison.
The general TEREA overview is on TEREA sticks.
Some markets, such as Indonesia, list both HEETS and TEREA at the same time.
How many uses does IQOS 3 DUO give per charge?
IQOS Philippines states that ORIGINALS DUO, formerly IQOS 3 DUO, gives up to 20 uses per charge of the pocket charger, and that the holder can be used twice in a row before going back into the charger. That is the manufacturer's maximum; the real number depends on how old the battery is.
Charging the holder from the pocket charger works the same way as on two-piece ILUMA models, described in IQOS charging.
If the status light behaves oddly, IQOS troubleshooting covers the signals.
An ageing battery is the usual reason an older device gives fewer uses than the official maximum suggests.
In daily use, how does the blade family differ from ILUMA?
In three ways. First, the sticks: blade devices take HEETS, ILUMA takes TEREA and related sticks. Second, care: blade devices need their blade cleaned, while ILUMA has no blade to clean. Third, heating: the blade family heats through a ceramic blade, while ILUMA uses induction with a metal element in the stick.
The individual ILUMA models are covered on ILUMA i and ILUMA i ONE.
For travellers, note that official travel advice describes possessing heat-not-burn devices of any family in Thailand as illegal; see IQOS in Thailand.
These three differences also explain why the two families cannot share sticks.
| Topic | IQOS 3 DUO / ORIGINALS DUO | ILUMA family |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | HeatControl, ceramic blade | SmartCore Induction, no blade |
| Sticks | HEETS | TEREA and SMARTCORE STICKS |
| TEREA allowed | No (device may be damaged) | Yes |
| Blade cleaning | Needed | Not needed |
| Consecutive uses per holder charge | 2 | Depends on model |
| Launch | 26 Sep 2019 | 18 Aug 2021 (Japan) |
Frequently asked questions
Can IQOS 3 DUO use TEREA?
Are IQOS 3 DUO and ORIGINALS DUO different devices?
Does IQOS 3 DUO need regular cleaning?
How is IQOS 3 different from IQOS 3 DUO?
How many uses does IQOS 3 DUO give per charge?
Are blade devices still being made?
Sources
- IQOS 3 DUO launch (26 Sep 2019) — Philip Morris International
- IQOS 3 and IQOS 3 MULTI launch (22 Oct 2018) — Philip Morris International
- IQOS ORIGINALS DUO kit (former IQOS 3 DUO) — IQOS Jordan
- How do IQOS models differ from each other? — IQOS Philippines
- TEREA sticks FAQ — IQOS Iraq
- Differences between HEETS and TEREA — IQOS UK
- IQOS ILUMA launch in Japan (18 Aug 2021) — Philip Morris International
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