We previously recommended the Apollo AirVape X. But we’ve found the newer AirVape Legacy Pro 2, with its improved design and easier charging, to be a better choice overall. The Legacy Core is a pared-down version of the Legacy Pro 2, with seven preset heat options but no wireless charging.
As with the Arizer Solo II before it, around 5,000 Arizer Solo III 2.0 vaporizers have been recalled because of battery issues posing a potential risk of fire hazards and injury.
The Arizer ArGo created smooth and tasty vapors on par with those of our top pick. But it is a touch trickier to operate, and it lacks the optional accessories that set the Planet of the Vapes Lobo apart.
Compared with previous versions in the line, the DaVinci IQ3 has a bigger battery and a bigger oven (holding just over half a gram), plus an improved cooling chamber. However, it still has significant drawbacks. The battery lid can be tricky to close, and the charging port is awkwardly placed, as it was on the IQ2 version we previously tested. The IQ3 has a shorter battery life than our picks.
The Grenco G Pen Dash II has a handy poker tool built into the device, which makes it easier to clear, repack, and stir the loading chamber. At $50, it’s the least expensive vaporizer we’ve considered. But it also feels like it. When the non-replaceable 1100mAh battery battery naturally degrades, the unit is essentially useless.
We wanted to test the beloved Firewood (the latest version is the 8), but it is sold out more often than it is available.
The Linx Gaia requires a cap to protect its glass stem, and its vapor quality in our tests was just so-so.
The Magic Flight Launch Box heats up ridiculously fast, and it features a unique, retro design. Its positives, however, begin and end in its organic, cool looks. You heat the flower by pushing an external battery into the vape body; this task can be difficult, especially for people with hand-mobility challenges. Additionally, the Launch Box offers just one setting, and if you hold the battery in too long, you can easily scorch your cannabis accidentally. It isn’t exactly intuitive to use, even as its clear closure flap helps you gauge how much vapor you’re about to pull.
We found a lot to like about the Pax Flow, including its extra-large bowl with secure magnetic lid, which make loading and cleaning this model exceptionally easy. It has intuitive controls and an ergonomic design. During longer sessions, the device ran hotter than we would’ve liked. Although the Flow produced tasty vapors in our tests, don’t expect plumes.
The Pax Plus is easy to load and fairly intuitive to use. But it’s more expensive than our top pick and more fiddly overall. It’s warrantied for 10 years, it heats quickly via conduction (in about 20 seconds), it pulls well, and it produces vapors with great flavor. It’s easy enough to clean, with no impossible-to-reach parts. Although the Plus can connect to the Pax app (Android or desktop), which lets you tinker with the temperature and other device settings, this model is fully functional without it. We don’t love this vaporizer’s proprietary charger, non-replaceable battery, and oddly shaped mouthpiece, however.
The Pax Mini is a smaller-capacity, more-portable version of the Pax Plus. Unlike the Pax Plus, which can also work with cannabis concentrates, the Mini is designed for packing with flower only.
We previously recommended the Storz & Bickel Mighty, which remains a solid choice. Compared with the Venty model, which we now recommend as our upgrade pick, the Mighty is bulkier and takes longer to heat up (90 seconds versus the Venty’s 20). The Storz & Bickel Crafty+ provides a similar experience.
The Tinymight 2 features a cooling unit and offers robust flavor, plus two modes (on-demand and session). This model runs on a rechargeable and easily replaceable 18650 battery. Overall, though, our testers found it confusing to use and difficult to clean.
The XMax Starry is easy to load and offers intuitive onboard temperature controls, but the DaVinci Miqro-C is a better overall choice for a comparable price. The similarly priced XMax V3 Pro produces great flavor, and its vapors are cooled by a ceramic disc in the mouthpiece. But in our tests it was a bit awkward to use — this model easily earned the nickname “Penny Whistle” from our panelists. It’s also less portable than the Miqro-C, because it’s so long.
Mark Smirniotis and Jordan McMahon contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
