It is clearer than ever that vape manufacturers have run out of ideas. New e-cigarettes are dumb, boring, and lack new functions. Vape brands are desperately inventing new models out of the classic lines, wishing to replicate the successes. Once in a blue moon, I hope to see one vape that is unique, no matter how dumb it looks. Then I found Keystone Key OS the other day, and I was shocked by a combination of regular cigarettes and a vape.
Table of Contents
1. What Is Keystone Key OS?
We need to figure out what category Keystone OS belongs to. Its specifications are simple as follows:
- Cigarette Companion / Cigarette Flavor Enhancer
- 2ml E-juice Capacity
- 1.2ohm Mesh Coil
- 400mAh Built-in Non-rechargeable Battery
- Doubled Throat Hit
- Lifespan: 12 Standard Cigarettes
- Durability: Roughly 600 Puffs
- Nicotine Included
Keystone OS can function as a normal disposable vape with a less competitive lifespan and features. Controversially, its selling point lies in its flavor enhancement for cigarettes.
2. How Does Key OS Vape Work?
Technically, there is nothing new with the function of this Key OS vape. The 1.2ohm mesh coil vaporizes the e-juice and delivers vapor. Keystone Key OS can be used as an individual vape, but its lifespan is much shorter (approximately 600 puffs). Also, the bottom airflow hole is too big and not adjustable. MTL vapers will find it too loose to vape normally. A cigarette can fix this, but what if your customers have already quit smoking?
But how does Keystone Key OS enhance cigarette flavors? First, you need to insert the filter side of a traditional cigarette into the airflow hole. Then you need to light the cigarette as usual. Then you suck from the mouthpiece on the vape side. You just hit a vape and a cigarette at the same time. The extra flavor comes from the Keystone vape flavor you choose.
3. Why Does the Vape + Cigarette Hybrid System Fail At the Beginning?
Big Tobacco has spent decades on harm reduction of cigarettes. E-cigarettes, as an effective alternative to smoking, are well accepted despite undeniable harm to human health. An attempt to combine vapes with traditional cigarettes eventually backfires or becomes the source of vape memes.
Firstly, the adverse effects of smoking are clear, and most ex-smokers switched to vapes for harm reduction. Vapers who used to smoke often comment that cigarettes taste and smell worse now compared with vapes. If you want a cigarette with vape flavors, why don’t you just vape, as long as you are of legal age? Besides, products such as Keystone Key OS are not nicotine-free. In this case, you consume more nicotine than with simple smoking.
Most importantly, Keystone OS is non-rechargeable. The lifespan is just roughly 12 cigarettes. The hypothetical e-waste problem should have been overwhelming if Key OS vape became popular. The good news is that only a few people will notice, and fewer will pay for it and hope for a flavor boost.
4. Flavor Enhancer, Flavor Beads and Flavored Tips
In order to add flavors to cigarettes, various methods are adopted. Flavor enhancers, beads, and filter tips are the most common ones. Here is my comparison:
| Type | Harm Reduction | Dependence | Flavor | Adds Nicotine? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flavor Enhancer | ✗ | ↑ | ↑ | ✓ |
| Flavor Beads | ✗ | ↑ | ↑ | ✗ |
| Flavored Filter Tip | ✓ | ↑ | ↑ | ✗ |
Obviously, a flavor enhancer increases the flavor at the cost of more nicotine use and stronger dependence on cigarettes. Flavor beads and filters don’t expose users to more nicotine and chemicals, but they also make smokers more dependent on cigarettes with increased flavor types. Flavor enhancers, such as Key OS, could be the worst option as it combines cigarettes with vapes and makes everything worse.
5. Unloved By Smokers, Hated by Vapers
For smokers, flavor additions to cigarettes are always accessible and affordable, even after flavored tobacco bans in states like California. As we discussed before, flavor beads and flavored filters can be cheap. Keystone KeyOS, as a pre-filled vape without PMTA, tends to be more expensive than the former 2 options.
At first, CDC expressly states that dual use of both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes is not an effective way to safeguard health. For vapers who quit smoking, a vape with only 2ml e-liquid won’t last a day and is out of date.
6. Summary
The global vape market has witnessed a recession due to stricter regulations, fiercer competition, and lack of innovation. In order to replicate the successful concept, such as the phone vape, vape brands come up with much sillier ideas to make their vapes go viral. On the contrary, if you can focus on the designs and flavors, you may win more customers rather than simply combining cigarettes and vapes together. Hopefully, the newly launched Keystone OS can make a cautionary example for manufacturers and thus avoid wishful thinking.
FAQ
1. Can I use Keystone KeyOS without a cigarette?
Yes. This product can be used as an individual vape without a cigarette.
2. How long can Key OS last?
The lifespan of this product is 600 puffs or the flavor enhancement of 12 cigarettes according to the Keystone official data.
