Technically, yes. Both of these devices are smokeless, i.e. when used, the combustion process is excluded and the heating is activated. Roughly speaking, the HNB device is a modified electronic cigarette. The difference is that tobacco is not used in the vape. The electronic cigarette works by heating a flavored liquid (with or without nicotine) and converting it into vapor. The HNB also uses tobacco-based (nicotine) sticks or tea leave (nicotine-free).