Njoy is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and was first established in 2006. The company made their name with rechargeable cigarettes, but they’ve since reduced their options (with only the “Express” rechargeable kit on offer) in favor of the new Njoy King.
It’s disposable, meaning it’s at an immediate disadvantage in terms of price, but the company’s deal with Horizon Media has seen them continue their marketing efforts, recruiting Courtney Love for a somewhat formulaic marketing webisode in support of it.
Is the Njoy King worth it?
The Njoy King is nearly the ultimate disposable e-cigarette. Whilst it wipes the floor with the majority of disposables, it still falls down in many of the expected ways. The nicotine levels partially make up for it, but in practice you’d spend a comparable amount on Njoy Kings as you would on tobacco cigarettes.
The high nicotine levels, cigarette-like flavor, good throat hit and thick vapor production make it a good option for the heaviest smokers, but if you’re serious about vaping there’s no substitute for a rechargeable.
Full review
Njoy’s TV ad for the disposable King brand sparked controversy for several reasons. It’s been over 40 years since an advertisement aired in the US extolled the virtues of anything resembling smoking, and the Njoy King definitely does that. The advertisement opens with ethereal, out of focus close-ups of a hand caressing the speckled butt and paper-like exterior of the e-cig, playing on the taboo of advertising cigarettes like a child who’s just learned a new curse word. The groomed face of a handsome young man appears, taking a drag on the e-cig and blowing crisp white vapor into the camera. It definitely grabs your attention.
This might be a useful tool for convincing smokers that vaping is a genuine alternative to smoking, but it does nothing to rank Njoy against the other options on the market. For vapers, much more justification is required to pay around $8 for a single disposable, so we've tested both the Traditional and Menthol Kings out.
Packaging and Design
The packaging of the Njoy King is like the plastic love-child of a Zippo lighter and a pack of cigarettes. It’s slim – easily slipping into a pocket – and pretty durable for a thin plastic container; you won’t break it unless you fall directly onto it or take to it with a hammer. The packaging is very similar in design to a pack of cigarettes, with a simple diagonal stripe running across the front, colored according to the flavor and strength you choose. The lid flicks open with a satisfying click, much like a Zippo. Inside, there’s a short leaflet explaining the basics of the e-cig and the small tip poking out invitingly.
Njoy Kings are disposable, automatic e-cigs, so there is no assembly required whatsoever (for the rechargeable Njoy e-cigs, read our review here). The first thing you’ll notice is how much like a tobacco cigarette it looks. The size and weight are pretty much perfect, and the extra features take the authentic appearance to the next level. Yes, there’s the speckled beige cartridge and the paper-like rings on the battery, but they've gone to pains to make it actually feel like a cigarette. Stroke the battery and you could swear you’re touching paper, and squeeze the cartridge between your lips and it will morph under the pressure, just like a cigarette butt. These additions make the Njoy King more like the tobacco version than any other e-cig we've tried. When you inhale, the plastic, ashen tip lights up red-amber, but the light is further down into the body of the battery. This creates a realistic effect, like the ember is glowing underneath a short tube of expended ash – very cool.
Nicotine Levels
The Njoy King is only available in two nicotine levels, but both pack a serious punch. With Gold (3.5 percent) and Bold (4.0 percent) options available, the heaviest smokers will be happy with the nicotine content. However, this leaves very few options open to anybody looking to reduce their consumption – the Njoy King is for people who still want to “enjoy” the nicotine. In contrast, the majority of e-cig manufacturers offer a maximum of 18mg (1.8 percent) nicotine in their cartridges.
Flavors and Vapor
The comparatively small battery may sound alarm bells in the heads of experienced vapers, but the little unit doesn't let you down when it comes to vapor production. The volume of vapor you get is impressive, serving as an effective sensory replication of smoking. The high nicotine levels contribute to the Njoy King’s realistic and pleasing throat-hit, and afterwards you’ll puff out a cloud of vapor you’ll be more than satisfied with.
Although you only have two flavor choices, Menthol and Traditional (tobacco), they are both excellently executed. The Traditional is arguably one of the best tobacco replications you can find, being one of the few which instantly evoked memories of tobacco cigarettes when I took a puff. The Menthol dampens down this basic flavor a little, but adds a realistic twinge of mint that does a similarly excellent job of capturing the true flavor of a menthol cigarette. The only criticism in this department is the very limited range of flavors, but this evidently works with their cigarette-like aesthetic.
Battery
This is one of the most important elements for a disposable e-cigarette because once the battery has been depleted you need to buy another. Njoy claims that the King is equivalent to around 40 cigarettes, but this claim can only really be justified if you think in terms of nicotine. In practice, the battery lasts considerably less time than you’d expect, since you won’t exactly be satisfied if you equate a few puffs to a “cigarette.”
In realistic terms, the battery-life is good enough for around 20 cigarettes’ worth of vaping. You’ll get a lot of nicotine, but the disposable won’t last a heavy vaper much over a day. It performs well – heating up quickly even without priming puffs – but doesn't go the distance. This isn't much of an issue compared to other disposables, but since this is a flagship brand it should offer more than the average.
This leaves new vapers looking for a simple-but-satisfying vape in a difficult spot. The King ticks a lot of boxes, but just isn't a sustainable option for long-term vaping. There are other devices that hit on all the same positive-points but improve where the King lacks, though. The JUUL from Pax is really, really easy to use and compact, but it's a rechargable device that genuinely offers everything you need to stay smoke-free long-term. With high-nicotine liquids (50 mg/ml) like the Kings, using nicotine salts to make it even more satisfying, five flavors to choose from and a cool, futuristic design, it's a great alternative to the NJOY King. Check out our review of JUUL to find out more!
Manufacturing and Warranty
The manufacturing quality of the Njoy King is instantly evident, with a responsive battery and a sleek appearance, but it isn't perfect. One of the two Njoy Kings tested ran out considerably more quickly than the other, indicating some inadequacies in the process, even if it was an isolated incident. There’s a one-year warranty to protect you against any defects in your e-cig, though. This is unlikely to be needed, however, since it’s a disposable e-cig you’ll have finished in a day or two. Plus, if you’re unsatisfied, there’s a 30-day money back guarantee.