Vaporizer Comparison: Pax 3 vs. Pax 2
Pax 3 VS Pax 2: Which One is for Me?
When the original PAX, (we’ll call it 1.0) was launched, it was lauded for being the best portable vaporizer in its class. It was reasonably compact, the battery life was top notch and the design was a welcome change from the run-of-the-mill vaporizers that were being churned out back then.
So, when Pax 2 arrived, it had big shoes to fill.
Not surprisingly though, it was much better than the PAX 1.0. The mouthpiece was easier to use, the design was way better and it had an upgraded vapor channel that made it totally worth the extra buck.
Then came the Pax 3.0 with loads of bells and whistles. It boasts of a new heating element, support for concentrate (add-on pack) and Bluetooth connectivity.
The question is, do you really need the fancy features? Or can you do just fine with the Pax 2.0, which is a terrific vaporizer for its price?
Let’s compare the Pax 3 and the Pax 2.
The Design
The Pax 3 was almost a year and a half on the drawing board. So most users, including us who were expecting some major design changes were disappointed when it finally came out.
Yet despite the lengthy development time, it looks almost identical to the Pax 2 barring the finish on the aluminum casing. By contrast, the Pax 2 has the brushed aluminum finish whereas the Pax 3 comes with a smoother, satin finish. There are also no visible buttons on either models which adds to their sleekness.
We personally liked the brushed aluminum finish more. It was more forgiving on scratches and scuffs as compared to the smoother finish on the Pax 3.
But that’s subjective, isn’t it?
Ease of Use
Both the vaporizers are extremely easy to use.
The oven is located at the bottom and the oven lid can be opened by pressing on the side of the device. Once you pack the herb, just press the mouthpiece and the heating begins.
You can press it again to stop the heating. The multi-tool provided in the complete kit allows you to stir the herb between draws.
Cleaning is equally simple.
Heating time and Temperature settings
Another surprise to most users was the oven size in the Pax 3 which is the same size as the 0.3gram capacity oven in the Pax 2. So, if you were hoping to pack in more herb (or concentrate), sorry to disappoint.
But other than the oven size, everything has been revamped.
The new heating element is a brute. It goes from cold to the highest temperature in just 25-30 seconds depending on the battery life. That’s twice as fast as the Pax 2. Also, it heats up in just five seconds in between draws.
The Pax 2 had just four preset temperature settings to choose from (360, 380, 400 & 420). The Pax 3, however, gives you a lot more control over the temperature. It can be synced with the ‘Pax vapor’ app on your smartphone and the temperature can be adjusted in one-degree increments from 360 to 420.
The Haptic feedback or the vibration when the device powers up and is ready to vape, is more of a vanity feature. You can adjust the intensity of the vibration as well as adjust the color of the LED lights on the Pax 3.
The dynamic inhalation modes though, are pretty useful if you are looking to start vaping without tinkering with too many settings.
There are three modes. The Boost, which is the quick heating mode and saves time. The flavor mode, which heats slower. Last but not least, the efficiency mode cranks up the temperature gradually, making it perfect for group sessions.
Battery Life
The Pax 3 is powered by a 3500mah Lithium-Ion battery that gives it 110 minutes of runtime as compared to the 90-minute runtime of the Pax 2. It takes approximately 95 minutes for a full charge which is about 30 minutes lesser than the charging time of the Pax 2.
Warranty
The Pax 2 had an industry-leading 10-year warranty for a while after it was launched. This has been reduced to a more standard 2-year warranty now.
By upgrading to the Pax 3, you get the option to buy the 10-year warranty with the complete kit. (More on this in a bit)
The Complete Kit vs. the Standard Option
Pax gives you the option to select from two kits.
The standard kit includes the vaporizer, a cleaning kit, two mouthpieces (standard and raised) and the charger and is a pretty good value for the price, which is $199 as of today.
For an additional $50, you get the complete kit which includes a boatload of extras. You get the concentrate insert, some extra screens, a multipurpose tool that can be used to stir the oven among other things, the half pack lid which is pretty useful if you are looking to pack the oven loosely and a beautiful carrying case made of tweed.
If you were to buy the concentrate insert separately, it would cost you at least $50. So the complete kit is worth a lot more than what it costs. Check out our concentrate vapes.
Our Verdict
Despite the near identical designs, there are a lot of differences in the Pax 2 and Pax 3.
The latter is a meatier upgrade that heats up faster, lets you customize the temperature to the T and also gives you the option to dab concentrate if you are willing to shell out an extra fifty bucks. Even if you are a dry herb user, then enhanced battery life and the preset inhalation modes make it completely worth it.
We highly recommend the Pax 3 over the Pax 2. It may not be a game-changer. But it’s definitely more convenient and comes with a neat bit of extras. If the Pax isn't what you're looking for, read our DaVinci MIQRO vaporizer review.
