Switching to induction heating raises a second question immediately: which ILUMA? At their core the devices are technically very close – the difference lies in the body, the controls and the battery concept.
ILUMA i PRIME against ILUMA i
The most common question concerns the two more expensive models: what does the PRIME do better? Build and presence. The aluminium body feels more valuable, and it adds an easily swapped magnetic cover across almost half the charger.
The only genuinely relevant difference is the charger body.
Possible downsides of the PRIME: aluminium is cold in the hand in winter and heats up noticeably more in summer sun. And the fabric-covered part of the body turns visibly grey over the months – nothing dramatic, but fabric is fabric.
Identical holder: that is where the differences end. Battery life, heating and the holder itself are the same; the holder can even be swapped between the PRIME and the ILUMA.
The cheaper ILUMA i ONE
With the ONE the difference is visible at a glance. The all-in-one device is compact, roughly as tall as the ILUMA but slimmer. The battery is smaller and covers around 20 sticks in a row; after that the whole device has to be charged, so there is no topping up in between.
Something else is more of a nuisance: the ONE has no automatic activation when the stick goes in – you hold the button instead. The touchscreen is likewise reserved for the larger models.
What all three share
- The same bladeless induction heating, meaning almost no cleaning
- The same TEREA sticks across every device
- The heating pause, the defining feature of the i generation
- Around six minutes or 14 draws per stick
Verdict
The PRIME is for people who value the material and the look. Anyone who would rather save the money makes no mistake with the ILUMA i – it is the most sensible device in the range. We recommend the ILUMA i ONE mainly as a second device for travel, the car or work, and for newcomers who want to try the system first.
Prices vary considerably between markets; check the official iqos.com shop for your country.