NARNAY / Device comparison
glo HILO and IQOS ILUMA i use different heating systems, stick formats and controls. The difference starts inside the device: HILO uses a quartz-based heater, while ILUMA i heats a metal element inside its compatible stick.
glo HILO vs IQOS ILUMA i: the short answer
HILO is an all-in-one device with Standard and Boost modes. IQOS ILUMA i has a separate Holder and Pocket Charger, a Touch Screen and conditional Pause Mode. Their consumables are not interchangeable: HILO uses virto or rivo, while ILUMA i requires compatible SMARTCORE sticks such as TEREA.
This comparison covers the original one-piece glo HILO and the two-piece IQOS ILUMA i. HILO Plus and ILUMA i ONE are identified separately. Specifications were checked against the manufacturer sources linked below on 26 October 2026.
In this comparison
glo HILO vs IQOS ILUMA i: technical comparison
The figures below are manufacturer specifications, rather than measurements from a side-by-side test. Charging estimates assume suitable power equipment and can vary with battery condition and temperature.
Swipe horizontally to see all three columns on a small screen.
| Feature | glo HILO | IQOS ILUMA i |
|---|---|---|
| Device format | Battery and heater in one body | Holder plus separate Pocket Charger |
| Heating platform | Quartz-based resistive and infrared heating | SMARTCORE induction; heating element inside the stick |
| Compatible stick family | virto and rivo for HILO | SMARTCORE sticks labelled for IQOS ILUMA |
| Published preheating time | About 5 seconds | About 20 seconds |
| Main controls | Physical Standard and Boost buttons; EasyView display | Touch Screen on the Holder; Pocket Charger button |
| Session controls | Standard: 5 min 10 sec; Boost: 4 min 10 sec | Pause Mode and FlexPuff, with conditions explained below |
| Approximate full charge | 90 minutes | 135 minutes for the Pocket Charger |
| Routine internal cleaning | Not generally required for continued performance | No routine blade or tobacco-residue cleaning |
Quartz heating and SMARTCORE induction are different systems
HILO uses TurboStart technology combining resistive and infrared heating. BAT describes this as a different platform from the glo HYPER family. The quartz-based heating system works with consumables designed specifically for HILO; it is not the same induction arrangement used by ILUMA.
IQOS ILUMA i uses an electromagnetic field to heat an element inside the compatible stick. The device has no heating blade that enters the tobacco. The metal element is part of the SMARTCORE consumable, not a removable accessory inside the Holder.
The practical consequence is compatibility: a similar-looking stick cannot substitute for the required internal construction. Do not force a stick into the other device or alter it to make it fit.
Technical references: BAT’s heating-platform explanation and IQOS SMARTCORE induction explanation. For the comparison within glo’s own range, see HILO vs HYPER PRO.
Can you use TEREA in HILO, or virto in ILUMA i?
No. These are separate consumable platforms. glo’s official platform guide assigns virto and rivo to HILO. IQOS specifies SMARTCORE sticks for ILUMA i. Brand names and ranges vary by market, so the device compatibility printed on the pack matters more than its colour.
Swipe horizontally if the table does not fit your screen.
| Stick type | glo HILO | IQOS ILUMA i |
|---|---|---|
| virto / rivo labelled for HILO | Compatible | Not compatible |
| TEREA for IQOS ILUMA | Not compatible | Compatible |
| Other SMARTCORE ranges, including locally available DELIA or LEVIA | Not compatible | Use packs explicitly labelled for IQOS ILUMA in your market |
| neo / veo made for glo HYPER | Not compatible | Not compatible |
| HEETS for bladed IQOS | Not compatible | Not compatible |
Controls, Pause Mode and FlexPuff
HILO: physical mode buttons and a display
The original HILO has separate Standard and Boost buttons. Its EasyView screen displays information; it is not a touchscreen. The HILO user guide identifies both physical buttons. glo’s Polish support explains that the mode is selected before the session and cannot be changed during it.
Holding a HILO button to end a session should not be confused with pausing it. glo’s support instructions describe this as cancellation. The myglo app can adjust the Standard session length in supported markets; that is also a different function from pause and resume.
ILUMA i: a Touch Screen with conditional Pause Mode
IQOS ILUMA i supports Pause Mode, but availability depends on the Holder’s settings and the stage of the session. The IQOS UK troubleshooting guide gives these limits:
- Performance Mode and Pause must be enabled.
- Pause is available for one of the first two sessions from a fully charged Holder.
- It must be activated within the first 3 minutes or 8 puffs, whichever limit is reached first.
- Eco Mode does not provide Pause Mode.
IQOS’s Swiss device FAQ specifies a pause of up to 8 minutes. If that window expires, the session ends. Resume also requires preheating; it is not an instant continuation.
FlexPuff is separate from Pause. It may add four puffs to the usual 14 within the session’s maximum six-minute window, depending on usage. IQOS says it is designed for tobacco sticks and does not activate in a session where Pause is used. Extra puffs are not guaranteed. See the official FlexPuff explanation.
Charging: one battery versus a Holder and Pocket Charger
HILO charges directly through its USB-C port. glo publishes up to 20 sessions from a full charge and approximately 90 minutes for a full recharge with the recommended equipment. Those are laboratory figures, not a guarantee for every battery or usage pattern. See glo’s charging FAQ.
ILUMA i has two charging stages: the Pocket Charger receives power through USB-C, then charges the Holder. IQOS lists approximately 135 minutes for a full Pocket Charger charge. A charged case does not mean an empty Holder is immediately ready.
IQOS’s FlexBattery guide specifies up to three consecutive Holder sessions in Performance Mode without Pause, or two when Pause is used for one of them. Eco Mode limits the Holder to one session without Pause. These Holder limits should not be compared directly with HILO’s whole-device charge figure.
Use the power requirements in the guide for your model. A shared USB-C connector does not make every cable and adaptor combination equivalent.
Cleaning and care: neither follows the old blade-cleaning routine
glo says routine internal cleaning is generally unnecessary for HILO’s continued performance. Its sealed stick design is intended to keep fragments out of the chamber. This does not make the quartz heater a surface to scrape with an old glo cleaning brush.
For ILUMA i, the IQOS care guide likewise distinguishes its bladeless system from older devices needing internal tobacco-residue cleaning. The charging contacts between Holder and Pocket Charger still need attention; IQOS specifies a soft dry cloth.
If a stick breaks, stop and use the instructions and extraction tool approved for that exact model. HILO’s support page warns against scratching the chamber or the central quartz heater. An extractor designed for one system should not be assumed suitable for the other.
HILO references: routine-care guidance and stick-removal precautions. For general device questions, use our HILO FAQ or ILUMA i FAQ.
What does not transfer between these systems?
- Sticks: HILO, glo HYPER and IQOS ILUMA are separate compatibility groups. Existing sticks do not become compatible because the device looks similar.
- Charging cases and holders: HILO Plus’s EasySwitch pen and IQOS’s Holder belong to their own charging systems.
- App settings: myglo settings and IQOS settings do not describe equivalent features. Standard or Boost is a heating-mode choice; Performance or Eco controls the ILUMA i Holder’s battery behaviour.
- Maintenance habits: do not transfer a blade-cleaning or HYPER brushing routine to these devices.
Published specifications explain operation. They do not establish a winner on taste: that would require a clearly described assessment of the particular consumables, rather than a comparison of startup times or screen features.
Final Verdict
Two platforms with different controls and consumables
HILO combines its battery and heater in one body, with physical Standard and Boost controls. IQOS ILUMA i separates the Holder from its Pocket Charger and adds touchscreen-based session functions, including Pause under defined conditions.
The central distinction is the system each device requires. TEREA does not transfer to HILO; virto and rivo do not transfer to ILUMA i. HILO Plus also needs its own comparison if a removable heating pen and touchscreen are the features you mean.
Frequently asked questions
Is glo HILO an induction device like IQOS ILUMA i?
No. HILO uses quartz-based resistive and infrared heating. ILUMA i uses induction to heat an element inside a compatible SMARTCORE stick.
Can TEREA sticks be used in glo HILO?
No. TEREA is designed for IQOS ILUMA. HILO requires sticks designed for the HILO platform, including virto and rivo.
Does the standard HILO have a touchscreen?
No. The original one-piece HILO has an EasyView display and physical buttons. HILO Plus is the model with a touchscreen and removable EasySwitch pen.
Does ILUMA i ONE have the same Pause Mode as ILUMA i?
No. Pause Mode belongs to the two-piece ILUMA i and ILUMA i PRIME. The all-in-one ILUMA i ONE does not have that feature or the Holder’s Touch Screen.
Related guides
Sources and updates
Manufacturer documentation checked on 26 October 2026. The linked glo sources mainly describe the Greek and Polish markets; IQOS sources identify their own market. Local consumables, app availability and firmware can differ.
- BAT: glo platform overview — heating architecture and HILO model formats.
- glo HILO user guide — controls, charging requirements and precautions.
- glo Greece: device and stick platforms and HILO care — compatibility, display and routine maintenance.
- glo Greece FAQ, glo Poland support and myglo app guidance — battery figures, session cancellation and app settings.
- IQOS UK: ILUMA i specifications and SMARTCORE technology — preheating, charging and induction.
- IQOS UK: Pause Mode conditions and IQOS Switzerland device FAQ — pause eligibility and duration.
- IQOS: FlexBattery and FlexPuff — Holder limits and conditional additional puffs.
- IQOS UK: ILUMA i care and IQOS Pakistan compatibility FAQ — maintenance and SMARTCORE restrictions.
For adults of legal smoking age. Heated tobacco and nicotine products are not risk-free. Nicotine is addictive.
