Quick Answer
Yes. Air bubbles in RELX pods are normal, and most of the time they’re actually a good sign. They usually show up because the ceramic coil inside is wicking properly. Only worry if the bubble is paired with something else — dry hits, gurgling, or actual leaking. A bubble on its own, with normal taste and normal vapor, isn’t a problem.
The Technology Inside RELX Pods (Why Bubbles Exist at All)
RELX device models — Pod Pro, Infinity, Infinity 2, Artisan and Essential — all use something called Feelm ceramic technology. Instead of the cotton-and-wire setup you’ll find in older vape systems, RELX uses a honeycomb-structured ceramic block to hold and heat the e-liquid. Here’s the physics behind the bubble: that ceramic block absorbs liquid into its pores. Every time liquid vaporizes and leaves, something has to fill the space it left behind. That something is air.
Air moves in, liquid moves out, and you get a visible bubble. A bubble showing up isn’t a flaw in the system — it’s pressure equalizing the way it’s supposed to. If anything, a pod that never shows any bubble at all is more worth watching, since that can point to under-wicking and a higher risk of a dry, burnt hit.
What a Normal Air Bubble Looks Like
- Small to medium size, usually near the top of the pod
- Moves slowly when you tilt the pod
- Shows up after use, then settles and stays put
- No leaking, no burnt taste, no gurgling sound
If that’s what you’re seeing, there’s nothing to fix.
When Air Bubbles Can Affect Performance
A bubble becomes more noticeable, or briefly interferes with your draw, in a few specific situations:
- It settles directly over the bottom intake ports
- The pod’s been sitting unused for a while after opening
- You’ve been chain vaping hard and fast
- You’ve just gone through a sudden temperature or pressure change, like stepping from AC into heat
None of these mean the pod is broken. They just mean the bubble picked an inconvenient moment to sit somewhere it shouldn’t.
Learn how to fix the issue in this guide on RELX pod spitting liquid into your mouth
When Air Bubbles Are a Genuine Red Flag
Pay attention if you notice:
- The bubble keeps growing after every single puff
- Repeated dry or burnt-tasting hits
- Gurgling combined with spitback
- Any visible damage to the pod’s seal or base
That combination is different from a normal bubble sitting quietly near the top. That’s worth acting on.
How to Fix Air Bubble-Related Issues
Fix #1: Clear a trapped bubble
- Remove the pod from the device
- Hold it vertically, mouthpiece facing up
- Flick it gently a couple of times
Air is buoyant, so it naturally wants to rise. Since the ceramic intake sits at the base of the pod, flicking it upward moves the bubble away from the ports it might be blocking.
Fix #2: Let it re-stabilize
Put the pod back in, let it sit upright for 2–3 minutes, then take slow, steady puffs. Rushing straight back into hard chain-vaping after clearing a bubble is a good way to bring it right back.
Why This Happens More in Dubai
Here’s a scenario that plays out constantly here: you step from a 21°C air-conditioned room straight into 43°C outdoor heat. That kind of swing makes the air inside the pod expand fast. When that happens, a bubble can get pushed downward into the ceramic matrix instead of sitting harmlessly near the top, and in some cases a bit of extra liquid can shift into the airflow channels at the base.
Quick recovery tip: pull the pod out, blow gently through the mouthpiece into a tissue to clear any excess liquid, then let it sit upright for about 2 minutes before putting it back in.
Does an Air Bubble Mean the Pod Is Fake?
No. Authentic RELX pods show bubbles by design — it’s a normal side effect of how the ceramic wicking works, not a manufacturing flaw. What actually signals a counterfeit is different: inconsistent vapor quality, a thin or harsh-tasting liquid, or leaking that happens with no temperature change involved at all. If you’re seeing those, the bubble isn’t your problem — where you bought the pod is. Always buy from an authorized seller.
Why RELX Pods Are Built to Handle This Safely
A few engineering details work together here:
- A leak-resistant “maze” base structure
- A ceramic coil that resists sudden dry burns compared to cotton-based systems
- An internal structure built to balance pressure rather than trap it
- A design that captures excess liquid before it reaches the device’s charging contacts
This is why a bubble, on its own, rarely turns into an actual functional problem.
Top RELX Pod Flavors Users Ask About Most
Bubbles tend to show up more visibly in these flavors, mostly because of their cooling agents and thinner liquid profiles.
- Watermelon Ice: RELX’s global bestseller. Sweet, crisp watermelon with a strong icy finish. High cooling agents and frequent chain-puffing make bubbles more visible here than in most other flavors.
- Menthol Plus: The go-to pick for people coming off menthol cigarettes. Clean, sharp, and cold with no fruit sweetness at all. High menthol volatility means more noticeable pressure shifts inside the pod.
- Ludou Ice (Mung Bean): A well-known flavor in RELX’s lineup with strong roots in Asian markets — sweet, earthy mung bean dessert notes layered with heavy cooling. The creamy base against the cooling effect makes bubbles stand out visually more than in most flavors.
- Tangy Purple (Grape Ice): Bold black grape sweetness with a chilled exhale. Fruit acidity combined with the cooling blend increases vapor displacement, which is part of why bubbles show up here too.
Flavor takeaway: icy and menthol-heavy flavors just make bubbles more visible. That’s not leakage or weakness — it’s the same pressure equalization happening in every pod, just easier to see against a stronger cooling profile.
Pros and Cons of RELX’s Closed Pod Design
Pros:
- Engineered pressure control
- Very consistent atomization from first puff to last
- No cotton scorching or hot spots like older wick-based systems
Cons:
- Occasional micro-airlocks need a manual flick to clear
- Clear pod housings make normal bubbles more visible, which can cause more worry than it should
Common Myths About Air Bubbles
- “Bubbles mean less nicotine.” False. A bubble is air displacing vaporized liquid, not a sign of missing nicotine.
- “Shaking the pod hard helps.” Incorrect, and it can actually push liquid into places it shouldn’t be. Flick gently instead.
- “Clear pods shouldn’t show bubbles.” Wrong. Clear housings just make a completely normal process more visible than opaque ones do.
Conclusion
Air bubbles are a normal, often beneficial part of how RELX pods work. Judge a pod by taste and vapor quality, not by how it looks. If you’re in the UAE, give your pod a couple of minutes to settle after any big temperature swing, whether that’s AC to outdoor heat or the reverse. Handle it right and you’ll get consistent performance and a longer-lasting pod out of it.
FAQ
Why does my RELX pod make a popping or crackling sound?
That’s an air pocket detaching from the ceramic and breaking surface tension. Completely normal.
Will an air bubble cause a burnt taste?
Only if it’s sitting directly over the bottom intake ports. If that happens, remove the pod and flick it upward once or twice to clear it.
Should I return a pod just because I see bubbles?
No. Only return it if there’s actual leaking, repeated dry hits, or visible seal damage.
Is it safe to vape with a bubble present?
Yes. A bubble on its own doesn’t affect safety or nicotine delivery.