Our Heated Products
glo Hilo, our latest Heated Product platform innovation.
The success of THR depends not only on the availability of reduced-risk*† products, but also on their ability to provide an appealing and acceptable substitute for cigarettes for those smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke.
glo Hilo
glo Hilo marks a transformative step in our journey to A Better Tomorrow™, setting a new standard across every aspect of the user experience. Building on consumer insights and evolving expectations, glo Hilo has been designed to better address adult consumer preferences for taste satisfaction, simplicity and personalisation. The product is designed to be an appealing alternative to combustible cigarettes for adult smokers, who would otherwise continue to smoke, to switch completely to a potentially reduced-risk*† alternative.
By improving aspects of the product that matter most to consumers, innovation can help encourage complete switching and, in turn, accelerate the potential for population-level harm reduction. glo Hilo has an enhanced sensory experience, faster time to first puff and a more customisable experience compared to our previous glo devices, designed to further enhance the experience for current smokers and hence facilitate complete switching.
Heated Products play a critical role in our THR ambitions and broader multicategory strategy. For many adult smokers, Heated Products can provide the ritual, satisfaction and sensory experience they are seeking, making it one of the most effective pathways for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke, to switch completely to a smokeless product.
Through focused investment in priority markets, the rollout of glo Hilo has been a success, scaling premium growth. Following an initial test-and-learn approach, Hilo was launched across BAT's largest Heated Product markets (including Japan, Italy and Poland) where early results have demonstrated encouraging momentum. In 2026 Hilo continues to expand its footprint, increasing coverage across a substantial proportion of global Heated Product markets.
Sensory Experience
The product incorporates an internal heating system and compact form factor, intended to address sensory attributes that are important to adult consumers to support complete switching
Rapid Activation
The device incorporates an auto-start function and reaches operating temperature within five seconds providing a responsive user experience.
User Interface
The 2-piece device features a touchscreen providing straightforward device navigation and interaction.
Addressing Diverse Consumer Preferences to Accelerate Switching
Connectivity and a companion application, enable a more personalised experience to accelerate the complete transition away from combustible cigarettes.
Our Devices
The glo devices utilise varying heating technologies to heat a nicotine-containing consumable. The maximum temperature the products heat to is 400 degrees, below the level of combustion.
Heating Technologies
Resistive Heating
Heat is generated through an electrical current flowing through a resistive material (Figure 1). Our resistive heating devices utilise this technology with a flexible thin-film heater. The resistive heater is wrapped around a metal tube, in which the consumable is inserted.
Induction Heating
Heat is generated through a magnetic field that heats up a specific electrically conductive material. The magnetic field is generated by an alternating current passing through a wire coil (Figure 2). Our induction heating devices utilise this technology with an electrically conductive metal tube (1) surrounded by a specific wire coil (2). The wire coil generates the magnetic field (3) that heats the electrically conductive metal tube, in which the consumable is inserted.
Infrared Technology
The Hilo products heat a nicotine-containing substrate utilising an internally heated pin. Electrical current is passed through a heating coil located within the pin. This heat is then conducted through the pin and transferred into the surrounding consumable material, providing controlled and efficient heating.
Figure 1. A simplified representation of a resistant heater
Figure 2. A simplified representation of an induction heater
Figure 3. A simplified representation of the internal pin heater
Our Consumables
Specifically designed for use with our glo devices, our consumables deliver an aerosol that comprises mainly water, glycerol, nicotine and flavours when heated. Our consumables are not combusted but heated to temperatures closer to a baking experience. Controlled heating has a direct impact on the complexity of the heated product aerosol compared to cigarette smoke.
Why Do Adult Consumers Demand Heated Products?
With the objective of meeting our consumer demands, it is important that we can understand the drivers of choice and bring meaningful innovation through bespoke science to deliver and build on the future of the category.
Our Consumer Drivers of Choice are:
01 Reduced-risk*† Potential
Non-combustion for Heated Products results in aerosol that has ~90-95% reduction in key toxicant levels relative to cigarette smoke*†#.
02 Taste Satisfaction
Familiarity in taste satisfaction compared to a consumers current nicotine product.
03 Ritual & Intuitiveness
A familiar experience that fits naturally into existing user rituals.
04 Product Availability
Easy to access where the product is available.
05 Value
The role of price in consumer choice.
06 Identity
A brand that delivers through innovation and progression.
Understanding Heated Products
The Evolution of Our Heated Products
Charcoal Tip Heated Products
Premier
The first heated tobacco product was introduced by RJ Reynolds in 1988. Premier was the same shape and size as a traditional cigarette, but used a carbon-based heat source attached to a tobacco roll and aluminium capsule containing tobacco extract and glycerol that would heat up to 225°C. Premier’s distinct taste and odour led to low consumer acceptance.
Eclipse
Eclipse was the second-generation heated tobacco product introduced by RJ Reynolds in 1996, after undertaking substantial efforts to address the consumer acceptance issues that arose with Premier. Like Premier, Eclipse was the same shape and size as a traditional cigarette, but used an advanced carbon heating element, along with a two-segment roll of tobacco and glycerol. Eclipse continues to be sold in the United States but has had low consumer acceptance.
Resistive Heating, Kingsize Superslim (KSSS)
Launched: 2016 (❶ Series 1), 2018 (❷ Series 2) and 2019 (❸ Mini,❹ Nano)
The first glo devices used resistive heating to heat a KSSS consumable to 240°C. The glo resistive heating series offered a single 3 minute 30 seconds heating mode with a ramp-up time of 40 seconds. Series 1 and 2 provided up to 30 sessions per charge; however, miniaturisation to Mini and Nano saw this decrease to 15 and 10 sessions, respectively. Overall, a well-received series; however, the biggest negative was the ramp-up time, which adult consumers wanted shortened.
Induction Heating, Kingsize Superslim (KSSS)
Launched: 2019 (❺ Pro) and 2021 (❽ Pro Slim)
Induction heating is a more effective and energy efficient technology. This technology in glo resulted in three key improvements: 1. Two heating modes, 2. Shorter ramp-up times (20 seconds Standard, 10 seconds Boost), 3. 30 seconds longer standard experience. The Pro device was a similar shape and size to Series 1, whereas Pro Slim offered a slimmer and lighter design. Total sessions per charge for Pro and Pro Slim were up to 20 and 16, respectively.
Induction Heating, Demislim (DS)
Launched: 2020 (❻ Hyper), 2021 (❼ Hyper+), 2022 (❾ Hyper X2), 2023 (❿ Hyper X2 Air, ⓫ Hyper Pro and ⓬ Hyper Pro+*)
The power of induction heating technology allowed us to move to a larger consumable size, which delivered adult smokers an improved sensory performance. Each device delivers two heating modes, standard and Boost, with ramp-up times of 20 seconds and 10 seconds, respectively, and up to 20 sessions per charge. Our induction heating Demislim range resulted in a real step-change in our Heated Products’ performance.
* Device not shown
Induction Heating, Mini-Slim (MS)
Launched: 2025 (⓭ Hilo - 1-piece device and ⓮ Hilo - 2-piece device)
Hilo heats a nicotine-containing substrate using an internally heated pin. An electrical current passes through a coil within the pin, generating heat that is transferred directly to the consumable material for controlled and efficient heating. The Infrared technology marks a significant step in BAT’s A Better Tomorrow™ journey, combining advanced technology with consumer-centric design to create a premium product that delivers our best sensory experience to date.
Footnotes
* Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive.
† Products sold in the U.S. including Vuse, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, and Camel Snus, are subject to FDA regulation and no reduced-risk claims will be made as to these products without agency clearance.
# Comparison with smoke from a scientific standard reference cigarette (approximately 9 mg tar) in terms of the average of the nine harmful components the World Health Organization recommends reducing in cigarette smoke. These products are not risk free and are addictive.
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