What Is Pulse Mode, Turbo Mode, and Boost Mode on a Vape?

Key Takeaways

• Pulse mode, Turbo mode, and Boost mode are brand-specific names for the same basic feature: a higher-power setting on a dual-mode disposable vape.
• Geek Bar calls it Pulse mode, Lost Mary uses Turbo on the MT series and Boost on the VIZ 55K, and brands like VIHO and RYL also go with Boost.
• Most boosted modes fire both mesh coils or push more power to the coil, so each puff comes out bigger, warmer, and with more flavor.
• The trade-off is puff count. Expect roughly 40 to 55% fewer puffs in the stronger setting, along with faster battery drain.
• Nicotine strength on the label stays the same in every mode, yet each boosted puff can carry more vapor and more nicotine.
• Regular mode makes sense for all-day vaping, while the boosted setting works best in short sessions when you want a fuller hit.

Every brand has its own term to describe it, but they all mean the same thing. On a dual-mode disposable vape, the enhanced mode is simply the higher-power setting. These modes use either two mesh coils or one coil with the option to push more power, resulting in bigger clouds and more intense flavor. Bigger clouds mean fewer overall puffs, though, typically 40 to 50% fewer, as well as a battery that will need to be charged more often. Choose regular mode for casual vaping and enhanced settings for special occasions. 

What Pulse, Turbo, and Boost Modes Mean on a Disposable Vape

Pulse mode and Turbo mode are brand-specific names for a high-power setting on a disposable vape, and Boost mode is the more generic label for that same switch. Flip it on and you'll get denser clouds and more intense flavor. You'll also burn through e-liquid and battery faster, which is why every dual-mode device lists two puff counts on the box. Plenty of vapers see these names on a new device and assume they're totally different technologies, but they're mostly marketing labels, and each brand picks its own terminology.

Same Idea, Different Brand Names

Each brand decides for itself what "Pulse" or "Turbo" means. Geek Bar uses Pulse on its Pulse line, and other manufacturers picked their own names as dual-mode disposables caught on.

Here's how the labels line up across popular devices.

• Pulse mode: Geek Bar's name for its high-output setting on the Pulse, Pulse X, and Pulse X 2 disposables.
• Turbo mode: Lost Mary's name for the enhanced mode on MT15000 Turbo and MT35000 Turbo, where the default setting is called Smooth mode.
• Boost mode: The label used on the Lost Mary VIZ 55K, VIHO Shadow 75K, and RYL VUE 70K.
• Other names: Some brands use their own terms, such as CLIQ mode on the BERI Cliq 50K.

Comparing "Pulse" on one device to "Boost" on another won't tell you which one hits harder. Each brand tunes its high-output mode differently, so the only fair comparison is between the two modes on the same vape.

How Dual Mesh Coils Make It Work

Most of these devices run on a dual mesh coil. In regular mode, the chip sends lower power through the coil system for a cooler, smoother draw. Switch to the boosted setting and the device fires both mesh coils together or sends more wattage to them, which heats a larger surface area of wicked e-liquid on every pull.

More heated surface means more vapor. The coil runs warmer too, and more liquid gets used up per puff. Newer devices pack a chipset that keeps output steady as the battery drains. Geek Bar calls its version a vapor processing unit (VPU), and it's meant to keep the last boosted puffs feeling close to the first ones.

Brands rarely publish exact wattage for either mode. That's a little frustrating if you like hard numbers, but the puff counts printed on the box give you a solid clue about how much harder the enhanced setting is working.

What Is Pulse Mode on a Geek Bar?

Pulse mode is the high-power setting on Geek Bar's Pulse family of disposables. It's one of the best-known dual-mode lines in the U.S., so many vapers recognize Pulse first.

Pulse Mode Puff Counts on Current Geek Bar Devices

Regular mode on a Geek Bar Pulse gets you close to double the puffs of Pulse mode. The Pulse X, for example, is rated at about 25,000 puffs in Regular mode and about 15,000 in Pulse mode. It holds 18 mL of 5% (50 mg/mL) nicotine salt e-liquid and runs on an 820 mAh battery with a dual mesh coil.

The newer Geek Bar Pulse X 2 50K pushes those numbers much higher, with roughly 50,000 puffs in Regular mode and 25,000 in Pulse mode from a 1,000 mAh battery. Put another way, flipping to Pulse mode on the Pulse X 2 costs you about half the device's lifespan in exchange for a heavier, more flavorful hit.

How to Switch Into Pulse Mode

Switching modes on a Geek Bar Pulse device takes about two seconds.

1. Flip the vape over and find the small toggle switch on the bottom.
2. Slide it toward the Pulse setting to turn on high-output mode.
3. Check the curved screen for an animation or mode indicator to confirm the change.
4. Slide it back to Regular whenever you want to stretch out your puff count.

What Is Turbo Mode on a Lost Mary?

Turbo mode is Lost Mary's version of the same idea. On the Lost Mary MT35000 Turbo, the standard setting is called Smooth mode, and a button on the bottom of the device switches to Turbo. The word "Turbo" pops up on the display between the battery and e-liquid indicators once it's on.

Turbo vs. Smooth Mode on the MT35000 Turbo

The Lost Mary MT35000 Turbo shows the trade-off clearly. You'll get up to 35,000 puffs in Smooth mode and about 20,000 in Turbo mode, which works out to around 43% fewer puffs for the stronger setting.

The MT35000 Turbo holds 18 mL of 5% (50 mg/mL) nicotine salt e-liquid and runs on a 1,000 mAh fast-charging battery. It also uses a dual mesh coil. Vaping360 reported that a 10- to 15-minute charge brings the battery back to about 20%, and a full charge from empty takes roughly 90 minutes.

What Turbo Mode Feels Like

Reviewers describe Turbo mode as bigger and warmer hits with more intense flavor. Vaping360's review noted that draw resistance doesn't change between modes; only the intensity does, so airflow feels the same while each puff carries more vapor.

Some vapers find Turbo harsh for all-day use, especially with 5% nicotine salt. If you're newer to high-strength disposables, take shorter puffs in Turbo until you know how it affects you.

What Is Boost Mode?

Boost mode is the most common generic label for a high-output setting, and you'll see it on a growing number of high-capacity disposables and pod kits. It works like Pulse and Turbo, with more power and more vapor per puff at the cost of total puff count.

Boost Mode Devices You'll See in 2026

High-capacity devices with a Boost setting are easy to find this year. Here are a few current examples and their rated puff counts.

• Lost Mary VIZ 55K: About 55,000 puffs in Normal mode and 30,000 in Boost mode, with an 850 mAh battery and a blend-in display that tracks e-liquid and battery levels.
• VIHO Shadow 75K: About 75,000 puffs in Normal mode and 35,000 in Boost mode, powered by a 1,000 mAh main battery plus a 250 mAh battery in the replaceable pod.
• RYL VUE 70K: About 70,000 puffs in Normal mode and 35,000 in Boost mode, so you're trading half the device's capacity for the stronger hit.

Boost Mode and Adjustable Airflow

Many boost-mode devices also have adjustable airflow, and the two controls do separate jobs. Power mode decides how hot the coil runs, and airflow decides how much air mixes in with the vapor, and how tight or loose the draw feels.

The VIHO Shadow 75K puts three airflow levels right next to its mode switch. Pairing boost mode with a looser airflow setting tends to give a cooler, airier cloud, whereas boost with tight airflow gives a warmer, more concentrated mouth-to-lung (MTL) draw.

Pulse vs. Turbo vs. Boost Mode Side by Side

Since the three names describe the same feature, the real differences come down to the device itself. The rated puff counts below show how much each brand's high-output mode cuts into the device's total.

• Geek Bar Pulse X: 25,000 puffs in Regular mode and 15,000 in Pulse mode (40% fewer).
• Geek Bar Pulse X 2 50K: 50,000 puffs in Regular mode and 25,000 in Pulse mode (50% fewer).
• Lost Mary MT35000 Turbo: 35,000 puffs in Smooth mode and 20,000 in Turbo mode (about 43% fewer).
• Lost Mary VIZ 55K: 55,000 puffs in Normal mode and 30,000 in Boost mode (about 45% fewer).
• VIHO Shadow 75K: 75,000 puffs in Normal mode and 35,000 in Boost mode (about 53% fewer).

Is One Mode Stronger Than the Others?

The name alone won't settle it. A bigger drop in puff count usually hints at a more aggressive boost, so by that measure the VIHO Shadow 75K's Boost mode is tuned harder than the Pulse mode on a Pulse X. Still, how strong a device feels also depends on coil design and airflow, so your own preference counts for a lot here.

What Higher-Output Modes Cost You

Every boosted setting pulls more from the device. Before you leave it on all day, it helps to know where that extra performance comes from.

Battery Drain and Charging

Higher power pulls more current from the battery with every puff, so you'll charge more often. If you plan to leave turbo or boost mode on full time, daily charging is a realistic expectation.

More charging means more attention to battery safety, too. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using the correct charger, avoiding overnight charging, and keeping the device out of extreme heat, like a hot car in the summer.

E-Liquid and Puff Count

A boosted puff vaporizes more e-liquid, and that's why rated puff counts drop so sharply. The tank holds the same amount; enhanced puffs just empty it faster. With an 18 mL device like the Pulse X, running Pulse mode full time means you'll likely finish the tank thousands of puffs sooner than you would in Regular mode.

Heat, Harshness, and Nicotine per Puff

The nicotine percentage on the box is fixed. A 5% (50 mg/mL) disposable stays 5% in every mode, because the switch changes power output and leaves the e-liquid alone. What changes is how much vapor you inhale per puff. A study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that raising device voltage from 3.3 V to 5.2 V increased nicotine yield from 0.72 mg to 3.23 mg over 15 puffs at the same puff pattern, roughly a 4.5-fold jump. That study tested an older device style, but the same principle applies to current disposables, so a boosted setting can deliver noticeably more nicotine per puff. Keep this in mind if you're sensitive to strong hits or trying to manage your intake.

When to Use a Boosted Mode and When to Skip It

Picking the right mode depends on how and when you vape. Many vapers switch back and forth during the day.

Good Times to Switch It On

Boosted modes shine in a handful of situations.

• Flavor sessions: Higher heat pulls more flavor out of desserts and bold menthols.
• Short, satisfying breaks: A few fuller puffs in boost mode can hit the spot faster than a long session in regular mode.
• Bigger clouds: If you enjoy denser vapor, the high-output setting delivers it.
• Direct-to-lung (DTL) style draws: Pairing boost with open airflow feels closer to a sub-ohm-style hit.

When Regular Mode Makes More Sense

The standard setting is the better pick for day-to-day.

• All-day vaping: Regular mode stretches your puffs and keeps each draw smoother.
• Beginners: A cooler, gentler draw is easier to get used to, especially at 5% nicotine.
• Travel and long days: Lower battery drain means fewer trips to the charger.
• Managing nicotine: Smaller hits make it easier to keep track of how much you're vaping.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Any Power Mode

A few simple habits help your device last longer and taste better in either setting.

1. Start in regular mode for the first few puffs so the wick gets fully saturated before you add more heat.
2. Switch to an enhanced mode only when you want it, then flip back immediately afterward, since leaving it on is the fastest way to drain the device.
3. Take slower, steadier draws in boost mode because long, hard pulls can overheat the coil and cause a burnt taste.
4. Keep the battery charged above about 20% when using high-output modes, since some devices feel weaker as the battery runs low.
5. Give the vape a short break between chain puffs so the wick has time to soak back up.
6. Watch the e-liquid indicator on the screen, and stop boosting once the tank gets close to empty to avoid dry hits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does boost mode increase nicotine strength?

The nicotine concentration printed on the device stays the same in every mode. Boost mode does produce more vapor per puff, so you may take in more nicotine with each pull.

Does pulse mode burn out the coil faster?

It can if you chain vape or take long, hard pulls. Mesh coils in these devices are designed to handle their high-output mode, but a dry wick combined with high heat can lead to a burnt taste. Slower draws and short breaks help.

Can I switch between modes whenever I want?

Yes. You can switch as often as you like, and the device will pick up right where it left off. The puff count you actually get will land somewhere between the two ratings, depending on how often you boost.

Why is my real puff count lower than the box says?

Rated puff counts are based on short, standardized puffs in a lab. Longer draws and chain vaping both use more e-liquid per puff, which brings the real total down.

Is turbo mode the same as pulse mode?

They do the same job. Turbo is Lost Mary's name for the feature on its MT series, and Pulse is Geek Bar's. How strong each one feels depends on the device.

Find Your Next Dual-Mode Vape at PerfectVape

If you're ready to try a boosted mode, PerfectVape carries the dual-mode disposables vapers are talking about, including the Geek Bar Pulse X 2 50K, Lost Mary MT35000 Turbo, Lost Mary VIZ 55K, and VIHO Shadow 75K. As a wholesale distributor based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we get our products straight from the manufacturer, so every device is original and authentic.

Whether you're a beginner choosing your first disposable or a longtime vaper hunting for the highest puff count, we have a device that fits how you vape. Plus, every order earns PV Rewards points you can put toward your next purchase. Browse our disposable vapes and find the mode that works for you.

References

• Vaping360, Lost Mary MT35000 Turbo Review
• Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Effects of User Puff Topography, Device Voltage, and Liquid Nicotine Concentration on Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Yield
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Tips to Help Avoid Vape Battery Fires or Explosions

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.