Urgent warning over smart vapes with built-in video games

Alarm bells are ringing among experts about "dangerous" vapes that double as gaming devices, a move condemned by parents. These "smart vapes" aren't just for smoking ; they're equipped with video games, call-making capabilities, music playback, and fitness tracking features. Available online, these devices go by names such as Posh Pro MAX, Craftbox V-Touch, and Halo SYNIX, each priced around $53.

Concerns were raised in a recent British Medical Journal forum post by specialists Artur Galimov, Liam Obaid, and Jennifer B. Unger, who highlighted the troubling trend of vaping devices adopting smartphone-like features, which could appeal to youngsters by disguising their true purpose from adults. TSA reveals 11 new carry-on items you can take at any size - see the full list How a dad made a friend dig his own grave and kill himself after raping daughter, 6 Some variants come with speakers, fitness trackers, and can even deliver social media alerts.



They're juiced up with rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth technology, allowing them to be located and connected to smartphones. These vapes also entice with fruity and sweet flavors and boast an impressive average of 30,000 puffs. Last October, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took decisive action against the sale of e-cigarettes resembling smart technology, issuing warnings to nine online retailers and one manufacturer.

The FDA highlighted that these products are designed with features that could appeal to youths such as gaming capabilities, smartphone connectivity, and customizable wallpapers. Brian King, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, condemned the products, saying: "They're illegal to sell and a flagrant attempt to target kids." Despite the crackdown, investigations reveal that these vapes remain accessible online.

Jennifer Unger, a professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, voiced her alarm over the emergence of "smartphone" vapes, which she fears could ensnare more young people in nicotine addiction. She warned: "I think they could have a really damaging impact on youth. These devices are combining three things that are highly reinforcing: nicotine, video games, and sweet flavors.

And they're being packaged in a way that makes them feel safe, fun, and even nostalgic." She warned: "For young people, especially those already exposed to stress or trauma, that's a dangerous combination. And in communities where vaping is already prevalent, this could just make it worse-normalising use, lowering the age of initiation, and making it harder to recognise when someone is vaping.

When a vape looks like a toy and rewards you for using it, it's not just a product-it's a behavioral trap." After first spotting these devices on retailer websites in 2023 and 2024, their presence soon ballooned on social media. She pointed out: "What's striking is how they're being marketed not just as nicotine products, but as fun, trendy gadgets.

Some of them look like gaming consoles or phones, and others are actually playable, with retro-style games built right in." Further, she observed: "They're clearly designed to catch the attention of young people, and the marketing follows that lead-through influencers, unboxing videos, and viral content on platforms like TikTok. It's not hard to imagine a teenager thinking: 'This looks cool' before even realizing it's a vape.

" Professor Unger emphasized the key difference between traditional vapes and these newer "smartphone" vapes: the element of interactivity. She elaborated: "A conventional vape just delivers nicotine. These newer devices add in gaming elements-sometimes with full-on video games that reward the user with points or prizes every time they take a puff.

" She added: "For young people, especially those already exposed to stress or trauma, that's a dangerous combination. And in communities where vaping is already prevalent, this could just make it worse-normalising use, lowering the age of initiation, and making it harder to recognise when someone is vaping. When a vape looks like a toy and rewards you for using it, it's not just a product-it's a behavioural trap.

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