Crystal, made by SKE, and Lost Mary are two of the most established prefilled pod brands in the UK, and both cover similar ground: a compact entry-level kit built as a direct replacement for their own pre-ban disposable, and a larger, higher-capacity kit for those who want fewer pod changes. This guide compares both brands across both tiers, plus the wider products each range includes.
Entry Tier: Crystal Pro 600 Vs Lost Mary BM600
Both of these are the brand's direct legal replacement for their own single-use disposable of the same name, built to carry the same flavours and feel into a rechargeable format.
The Crystal Pro 600 (also sold as the Crystal Bar 600 Pro) runs a 400mAh battery with a 2ml prefilled pod, rated for up to 600 puffs per pod, magnetic pod connection, and is available in both 20mg/ml and 10mg/ml nic salt, across roughly 25 flavours carried over from the original Crystal Bar range.
The Lost Mary BM600 runs a 360mAh battery with a 2ml prefilled pod, also rated for up to 600 puffs per pod, dual mesh coil, USB-C charging, and is sold at 20mg/ml nic salt.
The two are close matches on format and puff rating. The clearest difference is nicotine strength options: Crystal Pro 600 offers a 10mg/ml alternative alongside its 20mg/ml pods, while the Lost Mary BM600 is sold at 20mg/ml only. Crystal's slightly larger battery (400mAh versus 360mAh) means marginally less frequent charging, though both charge quickly via USB-C or magnetic connection.
| Crystal Pro 600 | Lost Mary BM600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 400mAh | 360mAh |
| Pod capacity | 2ml, ~600 puffs | 2ml, ~600 puffs |
| Nicotine options | 10mg/ml, 20mg/ml | 20mg/ml only |
| Connection | Magnetic | USB-C |
| Flavour count | ~25 | 16-24 depending on listing |
Choosing Between The Two Tiers
The entry tier (Crystal Pro 600, Lost Mary BM600) suits someone who wants the closest possible match to their old disposable, in size and in how often they'll need to think about the device, a single 2ml pod lasting roughly 600 puffs before it's swapped out. The big-puff tier (Crystal Pro Switch 30K, Lost Mary Nera 30K) suits someone who'd rather change pods less often, using multiple 2ml pods paired with 10ml refill containers to reach a far higher puff count from one battery charge cycle, at the cost of a larger device. Neither tier is a straightforward upgrade of the other, they're built for different amounts of hassle someone's willing to accept in exchange for size and puff count, which is also the same trade-off covered in more detail in the switching-from-cigarettes piece in this cluster.
Big-Puff Tier: Crystal Pro Switch 30K Vs Lost Mary Nera 30K
Both brands also offer a larger-format kit built around multiple 2ml pods paired with 10ml auto-refill tanks, covered in more detail in the heavy-vapers piece in this cluster.
The Crystal Pro Switch 30K runs an 850mAh battery with a dual-flavour switch built into the mouthpiece, letting you toggle between two loaded flavours without swapping pods, rated for up to 30,000 puffs. Its flavour range leans toward fruit, menthol and sweet profiles, and does include a tobacco option, listed variably across retailers as a standalone Classic Tobacco flavour or as part of a Creamy/Sweet Tobacco combo pairing, covered in more detail in our tobacco flavour guide.
The Lost Mary Nera 30K runs an 800mAh battery with Normal and Turbo output modes and a curved Fullview display, also rated for up to 30,000 puffs, using Lost Mary's MaryLiq nic salt.
Both sit at 20mg/ml nic salt and roughly the same total e-liquid capacity. The practical difference is the feature each brand chose to add: Crystal's dual-flavour switch versus Lost Mary's dual power mode and display, rather than any difference in core puff rating or strength.
| Crystal Pro Switch 30K | Lost Mary Nera 30K | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 850mAh | 800mAh |
| Puffs | Up to 30,000 | Up to 30,000 |
| Nicotine | 20mg/ml | 20mg/ml |
| Signature feature | Dual-flavour switch | Dual power modes, Fullview display |
| Tobacco flavour | Yes, naming varies by listing | Not confirmed |
The Rest Of Each Range
Both brands go beyond the two kits compared above. On the Crystal side, the Crystal Plus is a further rechargeable prefilled kit in the range, and the SKE Bar 15K sits as a mid-tier big-puff option between the 600 and the 30K. On the Lost Mary side, the BM6000 is a higher-capacity version of the BM600 with a built-in digital screen, the Tappo is a compact, disposable-style pod system, and the 4-in-1 is a multi-flavour kit built around rotating pods. These sit outside the two direct comparisons above, worth knowing they exist if the two flagship kits in either tier don't fit what you're after, but specs for this wider group are less consistently documented across retailers than the flagship kits compared in detail here.
You can browse the full Crystal vapes collection and the full Lost Mary collection for the complete range from each brand.
UK Compliance
Every kit named here, across both brands and both tiers, is built to the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), implemented through the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR), which caps nicotine containing e-liquid at 20mg/ml and limits any single sealed pod to 2ml (gov.uk/guidance/e-cigarettes-regulations-for-consumer-products). Both brands' bigger-format kits reach their higher puff counts by combining multiple compliant 2ml pods with 10ml refill containers, the same mechanism covered in earlier pieces in this cluster, not by exceeding either limit.
Both brands' entry-tier kits became widely available as direct disposable replacements after the UK banned the sale and supply of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025 (gov.uk/guidance/single-use-vapes-ban). From 1 October 2026, the UK's Vaping Products Duty applies at a flat £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid regardless of nicotine strength or brand (gov.uk/guidance/handling-wholesale-or-retail-vaping-products-in-the-uk).
FAQ
Which is better, Crystal or Lost Mary?
Both cover the same two tiers, a compact 600-puff entry kit and a 30,000-puff big-puff kit, with closely matched specs in each. The Crystal Pro 600 offers a 10mg/ml option the Lost Mary BM600 doesn't. The Crystal Pro Switch 30K adds a dual-flavour switch where the Lost Mary Nera 30K adds dual power modes and a display. Neither brand is a clear overall winner, the right pick depends on which specific feature matters more to you.
Is the Crystal Pro 600 the same as the Lost Mary BM600?
Similar format and puff rating, but not the same product. Crystal Pro 600 has a slightly larger battery and offers a 10mg/ml nicotine option, while the Lost Mary BM600 is 20mg/ml only with a slightly smaller battery.
What's the difference between Crystal Pro Switch 30K and Lost Mary Nera 30K?
Both share the same puff rating, nicotine strength and total capacity structure. Crystal's version adds a dual-flavour switch in the mouthpiece and includes a tobacco option, Lost Mary's adds dual power modes and a curved display.
Does either brand offer more than these two kits?
Yes. Crystal also has the Crystal Plus and the SKE Bar 15K. Lost Mary also has the BM6000, Tappo and 4-in-1. These sit outside the two most directly comparable kits covered in detail here.
Are Crystal and Lost Mary kits TPD compliant?
Yes. Every kit named here is built to the same 20mg/ml nicotine cap and 2ml single-pod limit under UK TPD regulation, regardless of brand or tier.
Should I get the entry tier or the big-puff tier?
The entry tier (Crystal Pro 600, Lost Mary BM600) is closer in size and puff rating to a disposable, with more frequent pod changes. The big-puff tier (Crystal Pro Switch 30K, Lost Mary Nera 30K) is larger but needs pod changes far less often. Neither is strictly better, it depends how much size you're willing to trade for fewer pod changes.
Does Crystal or Lost Mary have a bigger battery in the entry tier?
Crystal Pro 600 runs a slightly larger 400mAh battery against the Lost Mary BM600's 360mAh, meaning marginally less frequent charging, though both charge quickly regardless.
This guide is intended for adults aged 18 and over and is provided for general information only. Current TPD details can be confirmed at gov.uk.
