ONEWING GROUP LIMITED › RELX HERC 12000 › RELX HERC vs Alibarbar Ingot 9000: When Bigger Isn’t Just Bigger (2026)

RELX HERC vs Alibarbar Ingot 9000: When Bigger Isn’t Just Bigger

By ONEWING GROUP LIMITED · Updated 2026 · Reading time: 6 min

The Ingot 9000 is one of the most recognisable high-capacity devices in Australia, and it earns its reputation: 22ml of e-liquid behind a 2,350mAh non-rechargeable cell, a mesh coil, an LED display and a premium metallic chassis. So why would anyone choose a 12,000-puff device over it? Because capacity alone is not the whole calculation.

The ratio question

The Ingot 9000 carries more liquid (22ml) than the HERC 12000 (18ml) but is rated for fewer puffs (9,000 versus 12,000). Both figures can be true at once — they simply describe different power levels. A device driving 22ml at a lower power density produces fewer, more intense puffs; one driving 18ml at higher efficiency produces more, steadier puffs.

That is not a criticism of the Ingot. Alibarbar has clearly optimised for flavour richness and build presence, and the gold-bar silhouette sells itself on a shelf. But it means the two devices are not competing on the same axis, and a buyer comparing only the puff number is comparing the wrong number.

Where the extra capacity pays off

Higher capacity pays off for heavy users. If a customer consumes 400+ puffs a day, whether a device lasts nine days or twelve materially changes their repurchase rhythm — and your units-per-customer-per-month maths. For lighter users, both devices comfortably exceed a week, and the difference becomes largely academic.

The HERC’s practical edge for that heavy-user segment is that its battery is specified to match its reservoir. There is no scenario in which the customer is left with a full tank and a flat cell, which is the most common source of "this one died early" complaints in high-capacity disposables.

Build and day-to-day feel

The Ingot 9000 is a heavier, more sculpted object with a large curved gold body and a clear LED readout. The HERC is a tighter aluminium shell with a smart side display that reports both battery and e-liquid level. Neither is objectively better — one reads as jewellery, the other as instrumentation. On a crowded counter, that visual difference is genuinely useful: two devices that do not look like duplicates of each other.

Specification Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ingot 9000 better value than the HERC because it holds more liquid?

Not automatically. Value per dollar depends on cost per usable puff, not tank volume. At their published ratings, the HERC delivers more puffs from less liquid, which usually means a lower cost per puff at comparable trade pricing. Always compare landed cost per rated puff.

Do neither device need charging?

Correct — both the HERC 12000 and the Ingot 9000 are built without charging ports, so the battery is specified to cover the full reservoir in each case.

Which has the better display?

Both show battery and liquid level. The Ingot’s display is larger and more prominent; the HERC’s side display is designed to be checked with a glance and kept out of the way.