Pax Plus Vaporizer Review

The Pax Plus is a dry herb and concentrates portable vaporizer made by Pax Labs. Pax vaporizers are known for their durability, ease of use, and pocket-friendly form. If you were to mention dry herb vaporizers to any one of your friends, odds are, they have heard of and probably even used a Pax vaporizer.

Where do I use my Pax vaporizers most? I use my Pax vaporizers most for outdoor activities like skiing, biking, hiking, skateboarding, and other on-the-go types of activities. The Pax vaporizers are the perfect vaporizers for adventures because they are reliable, durable, and good for group sessions. Are there better options? Sure. But not in terms of portability and overall dependability.

What is the Pax Plus? The Pax Plus is an “upgraded” or “simplified” version of the Pax 3 vaporizer and features a new heating profile that uses Experience Modes rather than precise set temperatures – similar to the Pax 3 settings when we (iOS users) had access to the smartphone app.

So while the session experience has changed a bit, the overall dimensions, chamber size, heating times, warranty, etc., have all remained unchanged.

What will I find in this review? In this Pax Plus review, I’ll go over the differences between the Pax 3, Pax Plus and touch a bit on the Pax Mini. I’ll talk about the session experience, battery information, maintenance, and whether or not I think I think the Pax Plus is worth $200.

The Pax Plus is currently rated 9.23 out of 10 and dubbed the “Most Pocket-Friendly Vaporizer” for 2024.

You can click here to pick up the Pax Plus directly from Pax Labs and read below for my Pax Plus breakdown. Scroll to the “buying options” section for more purchase options + coupon codes.

History of Pax Vaporizers

My first review on vaporizerwizard.com, both written and video, was for the OG Pax vaporizer. I published my Pax Vaporizer Review and Tutorial video on Youtube on Feb 19th, 2014, and while I don’t use it anymore, my OG Pax is still going strong to this day.

The Original Pax Vaporizer was released in 2012. It was an exceptional device for its time but plagued by a sticky mouthpiece issue. Besides the mouthpiece issue, the OG Pax was indestructible and one of the first TRUE portable vaporizers. I still have my OG Pax vaporizer, and it still works to this day.

The Pax 2 vaporizer was released on March 10, 2015—a streamlined version of the OG Pax vaporizer featuring a recessed mouthpiece which fixed the sticky mouthpiece issue. The Pax 2 was also smaller and lighter overall. Upgrades included an added temp option, increased battery life, and changed to the magnetic charger to what is used with the current Pax vaporizers. They basically improved upon and/or fixed everything wrong with the OG Pax vaporizer.

The Pax 3 vaporizer was released in November of 2016 and introduced a wide range of new features, including the ability to use both dry herbs and concentrates and tons of customizable features via the new Smartphone APP.

The Pax 3 also received a massive battery upgrade (3500mAh vs. 2600mAh on Pax 2), increased heat-up times (20ish seconds vs 45 seconds on Pax 2), and a glossy outer shell, which was later revealed not to be the best for scratches, dings, drops, etc. and is now why we see the current models in a soft matte finish.

In the Box + Accessories

Design and Build Quality

Whats Changed? Not much has changed design-wise from the Pax 2 and Pax 3 to the new Pax Plus and Pax Mini. The Pax Plus and Pax mini feature a Satin bead-blasted outer shell with a soft matte coating, whereas the Pax 2 and Pax 3 vaporizers featured a brushed anodized finish.

One thing they did fix/upgrade is the screen in the chamber. It’s now a 3D-printed screen, making removing, cleaning, and maintaining the device much easier. It’s also slightly improved airflow, but I don’t think the average vaporist would notice it too much. Either way, an excellent improvement for the overall ease-of-use factor.

I personally like the NEW Pax Plus/Mini outer shell. The Matte finish isn’t as glossy or shiny as the Pax 2 or Pax 3 models, and I feel like it will hold up better over time, especially if you are the type to drop things often, like yours truly. You can check out the Pax Plus anatomy below.

Portability and Discreetness

Pax vaporizers have always been my top picks for the most portable vaporizers because they are incredibly rugged, durable, and reliable. They also come with a 10-year warranty.

I use my Pax Plus most while skiing, mountain biking, hiking, or simply for outdoor activities. If I drop or bang any of my vaporizers against a rock while outdoors, the Pax units are the most likely to survive with nothing more than a scratch. They fit easily in my pocket, heat up quickly, and the battery life has always been enough for these sorts of activities.

The other thing I really like about the Pax vaporizers and the Pax Plus specifically is the ability to use them for single-person sessions with the half-pack lid or big group sessions with a full chamber. The Pax Plus (and Pax Mini) are great for group scenarios and easy to pass around.

The one thing I’m not particularly fond of with the Pax vaporizers is the slick outer shell. It can be hard to grip in colder conditions or just in general. Luckily, Pax Labs released some new grip sleeves for the Pax Plus and the Pax Mini. I recommend picking one of these up, as it will also help keep your hands cooler with longer sessions.

Are there smaller, more pocket-friendly vaporizers than the Pax Plus? Absolutely, but none offer the durability, functionality, warranty length, and ease of use featured with the Pax vaporizers.

Overall, if you’re looking for a rugged, capable portable vaporizer for outdoor adventures without worrying about breaking your vaporizer, consider the Pax Plus or the Pax mini vaporizer.

Heating and Temp Control

Temperature Control – The new Pax Plus uses “experience modes.” Each experience mode represents a range of temperatures ranging from 360F – 420F (182C – 215C). I’ve listed the four heat settings below and what each one means:

The new experience modes are quite the change from the typical full temp spectrum approach. You have less control over your session when compared to other portable vaporizers with full temp spectrums, but this brings up a valid question. Do we really need all these specific temperature settings?

If an algorithm or “experience modes” can best predict a session experience for you based on what you’re looking for at that moment, maybe it’s better to let the device do it for us. What are your thoughts on full-temp spectrum devices vs. session modes? Hit me up in the comments below.

Lip-Sensing Tech – The Pax Plus still uses the Lip-Sensing Technology from the previous Pax 3 version. So the Pax Plus knows when you’re drawing from the device. It knows how hard you’re pulling, the temperature of the air entering the chamber, the temperature of the chamber itself, and possibly the ambient temperature of the oven. It uses all of this information to provide a ramping (temp stepping) session within the range of the mode you picked.

Heat-Up Times – I’ve found the Pax Plus to average a 20 to 30-second heat-up time depending on different variables like ambient temp, starting session temp, chamber size (half-pack/full-pack), and overall battery life when starting the session.

The Pax Plus heat-up times are about average for a portable conduction vaporizer. It does come with haptic feedback, so you can power it on, throw it back in your pocket, and wait for the vibration notification.

The Pax Plus will pulse purple while heating up and match the selected color mode or glow green when fully heated and ready to go. You can check out the Pax quick start guide below:

Standy Mode – The Pax Plus also knows when it’s being held or moved around via the accelerometer and will place the device in standby mode if you set it down and forget about it. This will also stop the heater. So when you pick it back up, the petals will glow purple to show it’s heating back up and change to the color mode selected when ready to go.

Chamber / Oven Info

Chamber/Oven Size – All of the Pax vaporizers hold around .35 grams of ground flower, and you can reduce the chamber size of the Pax Plus (or any other current Pax vaporizer) with the Half-Pack Oven Lid.

Half-Pack Lid – The Half-Pack lid will reduce the chamber size to around .15-.20 grams—a much more manageable amount for solo-person sessions. A fully loaded Pax Plus vaporizer is quite the session. I recommend experimenting a bit with the half-pack lid first. On the flip side, a full chamber is perfect for a group session with a couple of friends.

The bottom chamber on the Pax Plus creates a longer vapor path (stainless steel) which cools vapor quite a bit more than top chamber vaporizers like the XMAX v3 Pro or Healthy Rips Rogue. Another example of a bottom oven portable vaporizer is the Davinci IQC.

Vapor Quality & Performance

Vapor Quality – Overall, the Pax Plus produces good vapor quality for a portable conduction vaporizer. I think a few other conduction vaporizers offer better vapor quality, but this isn’t necessarily a vaporizer for purists. It’s a vaporizer for someone who needs a pocketable, portable, quick-heating device that’s durable and reliable.

If you wanted a portable vaporizer with better vapor quality, you’d want to switch from a conduction-dominant device to a convection or hybrid-style vaporizer like the Crafty+, which I discuss below in the comparison section.

I will say that these new “experience modes” are much faster at extracting the compounds within the plant. The sessions are much quicker, and the flavor of the herbs tends to hang around a bit more compared to previous Pax vaporizer models like the Pax 3. I think the Pax Plus heater/algorithm is a bit more aggressive while drawing when compared to the Pax 3 vaporizer, and it cools down quicker to preserve herbs within the chamber.

Draw Resistance – The Pax Plus has better airflow than the Pax 2 and Pax 3, but it still takes some getting used to. Especially when compared to freer flowing units like the Storz and Bickel Crafty+ and even other conduction vaporizers like the Davinci IQC.

Pax Labs uses the phrase “sip it, don’t rip it!” to describe the draw technique for pax vaporizers, and that’s because they do have quite a bit of draw resistance.

You can’t rip these devices like you would a bong or a piece. It’s like sipping the first drink of your morning coffee. Once the vapor starts forming on your tongue (you can feel the heat), you can draw a little more aggressively. It’s important to note that drawing harder doesn’t equal more vapor. The best approach is to take a big deep breath in – let it out – and start a long, slow inhale until you are ready to exhale the vapor.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery Capacity – The Pax Plus uses a 3000mAh internal NON-replaceable lithium-ion battery and charges via a proprietary magnetic charging dock. The charging dock plugs in via USB and can be charged pretty much anywhere.

Honestly, I wish that Pax Labs would go away from this proprietary charger and use a typical USB-C charger like everyone else in the industry. It’s a bit annoying to bring your PAX charger with you everywhere. There have been so many times that I’ve been able to swap charging cables between vaporizers without issue, and you’re pretty much SOL if you don’t have the PAX charger with you… moving on.

Battery Life – I’ve been averaging around 75 minutes of use on a fully charged Pax Plus battery. Unfortunately, this is about 20 minutes less than the Pax 3 battery life. The Pax 3 used a 3500mAh battery (3000mAh on Pax Plus), and while it took a bit longer to charge, the added battery life was a big plus (pun intended) for those longer adventures.

I really don’t know why they used a smaller battery, but if I had to guess, the 3000mAh batteries might be easier to get and/or cheaper than the 3500mAh batteries. I know the battery market has been in shambles since the pandemic, so maybe there’s more to the story here than we know.

Charge Times – On average, the Pax Plus will charge from dead in about 90 minutes which is about the same charge time of the Pax 3. Maybe slightly quicker. Again, this new Pax Plus isn’t necessarily an upgrade from the Pax 3. I think it’s more of a “let’s get rid of the app and simplify things” update. It’s unfortunate that they couldn’t use the same 3500mAh battery that was in the Pax 3.

LED Indicators – You can shake the device to show the current battery life via the Pax petals on the front of the vaporizer. One light in the upper left corner is a 25% charge, two petals on top equal a 50% charge, three petals equal a 75% charge, and four LEDs lit up mean the Pax Plus is fully charged. A red blinking LED indicates a low battery, and you need to charge the device.

The same thing goes for charging. One LED petal lit in the top left corner equals 25%, two petals equal 50%, and so on. The four LED petals will stop blinking and remain lit when the Pax Plus is fully charged.

Pax Plus Comparisons

Pax Plus vs. Pax Mini – The Pax Mini is the smaller version with fewer features but is overall very similar to the Pax Plus. You get the same battery, a slightly smaller device (both weight and form factor), same heat-up times but only one experience mode.

With the Pax Plus, you get four experience modes (mentioned above), the concentrate insert, the half-pack lid, a 10-year warranty vs. 2-year on the Pax Mini, and roughly double the chamber capacity from .25g (Pax Mini) to .5g (Pax Plus). So you actually get a lot of value for that $75 price difference. The most significant being the 10-year warranty.

This comes down to whether or not you need the .5-gram capacity chamber or if you think you’ll be using your Pax vaporizer with concentrates. If you will only use it in single-person scenarios and don’t use concentrates, get the Pax Mini and save yourself $75.

If the Pax vaporizers just aren’t your jam, I recommend checking out the Healthy Rips Rogue, the Davinci IQC, or the Crafty+ vaporizer mentioned below.

Healthy Rips Rogue – The HR Rogue (read review) is basically a Pax vaporizer with a full temp spectrum, better battery life, and a small form factor. The Pax Plus is the better vaporizer for being pocket-friendly, rugged, and reliable, but the HR Rogue is quite a bit cheaper and offers better vapor quality.

Crafty+ Vaporizer – The Crafty+ (read review) is dubbed the “Best Overall Portable” and has sat at the top of my best portable vaporizer list since the OG Crafty debut in 2014. It’s easy to use, offers excellent vapor quality via the hybrid heating system, and is one of the most free-flowing vaporizers you can use, so it doesn’t take much effort to get great hits.

The Pax vaporizers are known for their draw resistance and having to “sip, not rip” for best results. You can absolutely rip the Crafty+ vaporizer. Again, I think the Pax Plus is still the better option for someone who needs a slim form pocket-friendly device, but overall the Crafty+ is a much better buy.

Warranty & Customer Support

One thing Pax Labs has always done is backed up its products with industry-leading warranties and customer service. The Pax Plus comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty. Most other vaporizers will come with a two or three-year warranty. Davinci Vaporizer is the only other vaporizer company to offer a 10-year warranty on a portable vaporizer.

It is a limited warranty and doesn’t cover normal degradation of the battery, which is internal and non-replaceable. Any opening or tampering with the device will void the warranty, so I don’t recommend changing anything yourself. You also need to regularly clean and maintain your pax vaporizer to keep your warranty valid.

Battery replacement info – I contacted Pax Labs to get a definitive process on battery degradation and how a warranty return would work due to the battery failing or losing performance. Both times I contacted them for information, they replied the same day. Here’s what they had to say:

Pax Plus Review Verdict

The Good – The Pax vaporizers have been the reigning kings of the “most portable vaporizer” category for almost ten years because they are easy to pocket, durable, and have a great warranty.

The Pax Plus is no different. It’s the perfect portable vaporizer to take out biking, hiking, skiing, or any on-the-go activity. It heats up fast, the outer shell is extremely durable, and the four experience modes are more than enough options for the average vaporist.

The Bad – However, I feel like the Pax Plus is overpriced for the features offered and the current competition in the market. The Pax Plus uses a smaller battery and gets less average battery life than the previous Pax 3 model, and I feel like there are other models, priced significantly lower, that offer the same or possibly a better session experience.

More Options – If you aren’t entirely sold on the Pax Plus, I recommend first checking out the Pax Mini because it’s basically the same device internally, and it’s roughly $75 cheaper at $125 retail. You only get one experience mode and no concentrate insert, but I’ve honestly never used the Pax vaporizers for concentrates outside of testing to see if it actually works. It does work, but I’d much rather grab a nice dab rig like the RiO (read review) for the best session experience with concentrates. Check out the Pax Mini at Pax Labs here.

Overall – The Pax Plus is just a simplified version of the Pax 3 vaporizer. I think this was a play to change the name (From Pax 2/3 to Pax Plus/Mini) and get away from the smartphone app, which has been banned in the Apple store since November 2019. The app was “cool” and offered some great customizable options but was never really needed, or I never used it anyways.

So while the Pax Plus isn’t a huge “upgrade,” it’s precisely what the company needed to move forward with a device they could properly market and make money off of for future products. I have no doubt that they have multiple products in the works. At least, I’m really hoping so.

The Pax Plus is rated 9.24/10 and dubbed the “Most Portable Vaporizer” for 2023. You can click here to check out the Pax Plus directly from Pax Labs or check out more options, plus coupon codes below.

I hope this Pax Plus vaporizer review helped you decide whether or not the Pax vaporizers are right for you. Feel free to hit me up with any questions in the comments below.

Buying Options + Coupon Code

Performance by Category

Category	Rating
Vapor Quality	8.8
Ease of Use	9.0
Build Quality	9.5
Reliability	9.8
Portability	9.7
Efficiency	8.8
Battery Life	9.0
Cleaning	8.9
Value	9.0
Warranty:	9.8
Pax Plus Rating:	9.23/10

Pax Plus Technical Specs

Name:	Pax Plus Vaporizer
Category:	Most Portable Vaporizer
Manufacturer:	Pax Labs
Rating:	9.23/10
Price:	$200
Materials:	Dry Herbs and Concentrates
Temp Range:	360F – 420F
Heating:	Conduction
Battery Life:	5 – 7 Bowls
Charging Type:	Charging Dock
Charging Time:	90 Minutes
Warranty:	10 Years
Extras:	Haptic Feedback

Pax Plus Pros and Cons

More Pax Reviews

Resources / Links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Labs
• https://www.pax.com/pages/faq
• https://pax.kustomer.help/en_us/mini-plus-battery-charging-Bkl1jUCds
• https://techcrunch.com/2012/06/17/an-interview-with-the-creator-of-the-ultracool-pax-vaporizer/