Join the IQOS user group
What is IQOS ILUMA i?
ILUMA i is a holder-and-pocket-charger device from the second ILUMA generation. PMI's launch announcement of 13 March 2024 introduced it alongside ILUMA i PRIME and the one-piece ILUMA i ONE. Like the first generation, it heats TEREA sticks by induction and has no blade.
The family overview is in the devices section.
The name ILUMA i covers the standard holder model; ILUMA i PRIME is the premium version with the same features.
What does the ILUMA i touch screen show?
According to IQOS country pages, the screen on ILUMA i and ILUMA i PRIME shows information such as the number of uses left in the charger and the time left in the current session. It is also where features like Pause Mode are switched on.
ILUMA i ONE has no touch screen; it adds Autostart and FlexPuff instead.
Vibrations still mark the start, the ready state and the end of a session.
A screen also makes it easier to see how many uses are left before a trip, instead of counting lights.
How does Pause Mode work on ILUMA i?
Pause Mode lets you stop a session for up to 8 minutes and continue later with the same stick. IQOS says it can only be started within the first 3 minutes or 8 puffs, only in Performance Mode, and only once per stick. It is not available on ILUMA i ONE.
Pause Mode and FlexPuff cannot be used together in the same session.
Pause Mode is designed for short interruptions, not for storing a used stick for later.
What is FlexPuff?
FlexPuff adapts the session to how the user draws on the stick. IQOS says it can add up to 4 extra puffs, while the session still ends within 6 minutes. FlexPuff does not work when Pause Mode has been used on that stick.
Without FlexPuff, IQOS support pages describe a session of up to 6 minutes or 14 puffs.
FlexPuff is available on ILUMA i, ILUMA i PRIME and ILUMA i ONE.
Because FlexPuff and Pause Mode are exclusive, users choose one or the other for each stick.
What is FlexBattery?
FlexBattery offers two modes. In Performance Mode the holder can be used 3 times in a row, or twice if Pause Mode is used. In Eco Mode it gives one use per holder charge, which IQOS says can extend the holder's battery life by up to a year if Eco Mode is used throughout.
The mode is chosen on the device; the manufacturer's figures are listed in the table below.
FlexBattery is a feature of the holder models; ILUMA i ONE has its own built-in battery.
How long does ILUMA i take to charge?
IQOS country pages list about 135 minutes to fully charge the pocket charger, and around 20 uses from a full charge. The holder recharges each time it goes back into the pocket charger, so the number of back-to-back uses depends on the FlexBattery mode.
If the device does not charge, IQOS UK's ILUMA i troubleshooting page is listed in the sources.
IQOS UK's ILUMA i troubleshooting page covers the most common charging and heating issues.
Charging figures published for ILUMA i are close to those of the first generation, so the new features do not come with a longer charging time.
Is ILUMA i better than the original ILUMA?
It is newer and has more features, but both heat TEREA the same way. The practical differences are the touch screen, Pause Mode, FlexPuff and FlexBattery. Whether those matter depends on how a person uses the device, so we compare features rather than declare a winner.
The first generation is covered in ILUMA PRIME and ILUMA ONE.
Both generations share the same heating principle.
Readers who already know the first generation will find the basic steps unchanged: insert, wait for the ready signal, use, remove.
Can ILUMA i be used or brought into Thailand?
No. Official travel advice says possessing or using a heat-not-burn device in Thailand is illegal, with no exception for tourists. A newer model does not change that, and neither does buying it legally in Japan or Europe. The rule covers every generation.
These devices and sticks are illegal to possess or use in Thailand, according to official travel advice. See IQOS in Thailand.
Official advice has not changed since the ILUMA i launch.
| Feature | What IQOS says |
|---|---|
| Launch | Japan, 13 March 2024 |
| Pause Mode | Up to 8 min, within first 3 min / 8 puffs, once, Performance Mode only |
| FlexPuff | Up to 4 extra puffs within 6 min, not with Pause Mode |
| FlexBattery | Performance: 3 in a row (2 with Pause) · Eco: 1 per holder charge |
| Charging | About 135 min full charge · about 20 uses |
| Sticks | TEREA |
Frequently asked questions
When was ILUMA i launched?
Does ILUMA i use new sticks?
Can I pause twice with the same stick?
Does ILUMA i ONE have Pause Mode?
How many uses per charge?
Is ILUMA i allowed in Thailand?
Sources
- IQOS ILUMA i range launch (13 Mar 2024) — Philip Morris International
- IQOS ILUMA i range features — IQOS Cyprus
- IQOS ILUMA i ONE — IQOS UK
- Troubleshooting IQOS ILUMA i — IQOS UK
- How to use IQOS ILUMA — IQOS Switzerland
- Thailand travel advice: safety and security — GOV.UK
Read more
← Back to the Legal section · Back to the homepage
Join the IQOS User Group (Thai-language LINE group)
A space for IQOS users to exchange information with each other — not a commercial channel of any kind. For readers aged 20+ only. Note: this is a Thai-language LINE group.
Join the IQOS User Group (Thai-language LINE group)