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How many current IQOS devices are there, and which ones?
Six, spread across two generations. The first generation is ILUMA, ILUMA PRIME and ILUMA ONE. The second is ILUMA i, ILUMA i PRIME and ILUMA i ONE. All six use the SMARTCORE INDUCTION SYSTEM and the same TEREA sticks; what separates them is the design of the device and the extra features each one offers.
Earlier ORIGINALS devices, which take HEETS, are left out because they heat in a different way.
For the full three-family history, see latest IQOS devices, and for the blade model most people remember, IQOS 3 DUO.
Six devices may sound like a lot, but they reduce to two generations with three versions each.
What is the key generational gap between ILUMA and ILUMA i?
ILUMA i adds a touch screen, Pause Mode and FlexPuff to its standard and PRIME versions, features the first ILUMA generation does not have. The induction heating and TEREA compatibility are the same in both generations, so the gap is about how the device is controlled rather than how it heats the stick.
This split sorts the six devices into two groups first. The table at the end then breaks each group down to model level.
Pause Mode and FlexPuff are described on the ILUMA i page.
Put simply, a first-generation owner and an ILUMA i owner insert the same sticks and get the same heating method.
How does a PRIME model differ from the standard one in the same generation?
In both generations, PRIME is about the body of the device: materials such as anodised aluminium and colours reserved for that version. The core functions are the same as the standard model of the same generation. The difference is therefore mostly external design, not what the device can do.
The pattern repeats in each generation: PRIME is the design-led top version, not a model with extra operating features.
Details are on ILUMA PRIME, and the materials angle is echoed by special designs on limited editions.
Choosing between the two in the same generation is therefore a question of look and feel.
How do the ONE models differ from those with a separate holder?
ONE models combine the holder and the portable battery in a single piece, while the standard and PRIME versions split them into a holder and a charging case. ILUMA i ONE also differs from the first ILUMA ONE by starting automatically instead of with a button, and it has no touch screen, unlike its ILUMA i siblings.
Counting the pieces is one of the quickest ways to pick out a ONE model.
Both one-piece devices have their own pages: ILUMA ONE and ILUMA i ONE.
A two-piece device lets the holder recharge in its case between uses, while a one-piece device is plugged in as a whole when its battery runs low.
Do any of the six devices accept HEETS?
None of them. All six use induction and are designed only for TEREA. HEETS are built for the blade system of the ORIGINALS family and lack the metal core that induction needs. Using a stick meant for the other system can stop the device from working normally, so the two should not be mixed.
This question comes up most often from people moving from an older blade device to ILUMA or ILUMA i.
The detailed reasoning is on HEETS vs TEREA, and every stick family is listed in IQOS stick types.
The rule works in both directions: TEREA do not belong in blade devices either.
Which pair of model names causes the most confusion?
ILUMA PRIME and ILUMA i PRIME, since the names differ only by the letter i. Next come ILUMA ONE and ILUMA i ONE, for the same reason. The easiest way to tell the PRIME pair apart is the touch screen, which only the ILUMA i generation has. For the ONE pair, look for FlexPuff in the manual or on the box.
If you are unsure which device you are looking at, start with the table below, then open the page for that model.
Our ILUMA PRIME page has a section comparing it with ILUMA i PRIME.
Among the one-piece pair, only ILUMA i ONE carries FlexPuff, which is the practical clue.
Can the ILUMA PRIME be customised through an app?
The comparison on the Thai edition of this page lists app-based customisation as a feature of ILUMA PRIME, alongside its premium materials. We describe it only at that level, because the manufacturer's feature set can differ between markets and app availability changes over time. Check the official page of the country concerned for current details.
Operating features such as Pause Mode are easier to verify, because official IQOS pages describe them in detail.
Everything else about the device family sits on IQOS devices.
If a feature matters to you, confirm it on the official site of the country you are in rather than relying on a summary table like ours.
Does the choice of model change anything for travellers to Thailand?
No. Official travel advice says possessing or using heat-not-burn devices in Thailand is illegal, and that covers every model in this table, from the plainest standard ILUMA to a PRIME or a special design. A premium finish or a newer generation does not create any exception to the rule.
What the law says and what travellers should know before arrival are set out on IQOS in Thailand.
Airline rules are a separate question, covered on flying with IQOS.
No generation, finish or special design changes this, and the same applies to the older blade devices outside this table.
| Model | Generation | Touch screen | Design | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILUMA | First (2021) | No | Holder and charging case, standard design | Bladeless induction |
| ILUMA PRIME | First (2021) | No | Holder and charging case, aluminium finish | Premium materials, app customisation |
| ILUMA ONE | First (2021) | No | One piece, holder and battery combined | Single-piece portability |
| ILUMA i | Second (2024) | Yes | Holder and charging case, standard design | Pause Mode, FlexPuff |
| ILUMA i PRIME | Second (2024) | Yes | Holder and charging case, premium materials | Pause Mode, FlexPuff |
| ILUMA i ONE | Second (2024) | No | One piece, holder and battery combined | Autostart, FlexPuff |
Frequently asked questions
In short, what does the i in a model name mean?
Is PRIME only a design difference?
Do all six devices use the same TEREA sticks?
Which models have a touch screen?
Does ILUMA i ONE have Pause Mode?
Are older blade devices part of this table?
Sources
- What is Pause Mode on the New IQOS ILUMA i? — IQOS Philippines
- Frequently asked questions about heated tobacco products — PMI
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