XMAX Starry 4 Vaporizer Review [POTV]

The XMAX POTV Starry 4 ($99) is one of the best entry-level portable vaporizers currently on the market. The Starry 4 vaporizer is packed with features, including a 25-second heat-up time, a replaceable 18650 battery system, and a full temperature spectrum ranging from 212F-464F. The overall weight of the Starry 4 is slightly higher than competing vaporizers in this price range but the slim form factor and magnetic zirconia mouthpiece make it easy to conceal in your pocket or purse.

I’ve rated the XMAX POTV Starry 4 an 8.89/10, which places it in the best under $100 category, directly competing with the POTV One. I’ll get more into the details of the XMAX Starry 4 and comparable models below and you can dive into the performance category at the bottom of this review to see where it shines and where it falls short.

The XMAX Starry 4 retails for $99, and you can click here to pick it up from Planet of the Vapes. Read on below for my full XMAX Starry 4 vaporizer review, and hit me up in the comments below with any questions.

Starry 4 – What’s Included

History of Starry Vaporizer Models

Overall, the XMAX Starry 4 gets some much-needed upgrades, allowing it to compete with current market standards. The addition of USB-C Charging, adding in the airflow slider, and fixing the battery door is just what the new Starry 4 vaporizer needed. The retail price remains the same at $99 and you still get the one-year manufacturer warranty.

Portability and Concealment

If you’ve read any of my portable vaporizer reviews, you know one of the most important aspects for me is the actual portability and pocketability of the device. The XMAX Starry 4’s slim profile, lightweight feel, and magnetic lid make it easy to store in your pockets, purse, or fanny pack.

The Starry 4 IS a bit heavier than most portable vaporizers in the price range and runs about 20 grams heavier than the previous Starry 3 model. I’m guessing a lot of the weight was added to the new hinge design for the battery door. The POTV version is also running a bigger battery (3200mAh vs 2550mAh), so the POTV version might weigh a bit more than the Top Green model.

There are definitely smaller options like the Davinci Miqro-C, but you will have no problem concealing the XMAX Starry 4 when out and about. So far, the magnet attaching the mouthpiece to the chamber seems pretty strong and hasn’t come off while stashed in my pocket.

The exact dimensions of the Starry 4 are 4.5 inches tall by 1.5 inches wide and weighs roughly 138 grams.

Another good feature of the portability aspect is that the XMAX Starry 4 has a replaceable battery system. You can pick up a couple of extra batteries and keep them charged up for use on the go. A couple of extra batteries will easily last you a multi-day festival or camping trip if you’re not using it non-stop in group situations.

Heating and Temp Options

Not too long ago, all full temp spectrum was not industry standard, and cheaper devices like this one only came with a handful of temp options. Nowadays, a full temp spectrum is standard, and most portable vaporizers will feature a wide range of temperature options.

Temp Spectrum – The XMAX Starry 4 has a full temp spectrum ranging from 212F to 464F. I personally never go above 410-420 because I feel like the taste tends to drop off quite a bit, and the vapor gets pretty hot on higher temps but you can use the higher temps for concentrate use.

For dry herbs, I prefer to start a session around 360-380, but the temps on the XMAX Starry run high, so I encourage you to experiment with different temps and see what works best for you.

It’s also important to realize that different strains produce different results. More moisture in the bud will create less vapor and require higher temps to extract the compounds within the plant fully. In contrast, dry flower will produce TONS of vapor and might not need higher temps.

I also recommend temp-stepping your sessions. Temp Stepping is when you start the session at a certain temperature, say 360F, then as the session goes on and you take a couple of draws, increase the temp by 10-20 degrees and take a few more draws. Continue this method until the vapor is wispy and loses flavor. The finished flower will look brown to dark brown in color.

You can change temps via the up and down arrows located on the side of the device and can see your preset temp, actual temp, session timer, and battery life via the on-vape display.

Chamber Info + Loading Tips

I can get about .25 grams of flower in the XMAX Starry 4 chamber, but that’s a pretty full pack. Average chambers will run about .2 grams of flower, and you can definitely load less.

My XMAX Starry 4 also came with a dosing capsule. You can read more about dosing capsules in my Dosing Capsule 101 Guide, but basically, they allow you to pre-load flower into a canister and place it into the chamber. This helps keep the flower within the canister and makes cleaning the device much easier.

It also allows you to pre-pack capsules for use throughout the day, and you know exactly how much herb you’re loading into each canister. Many people like to use the dosing capsules because it makes the entire process a bit easier to manage, but they do add quite a bit of conduction heating and reduce the flavor and vapor density throughout the session, which is why I only use them occasionally.

I recommend an average grind, a little finer than normal, and lightly tamp down the chamber. Make sure all the herbs are in contact with the sidewalls and the mouthpiece still fits snugly on the top.

Pro tip: Remove any flower from the chamber immediately after a session. This includes dosing capsules because the resin from the flower will gunk up the chamber faster and increase the cleaning frequency.

Vapor Quality and Performance

I’m impressed by the performance of the Starry 4 vaporizer. The XMAX Starry 4 is one of the best-performing portable vaporizers in this price range. You get a conduction heating system, a 25-second average heat-up time, and a zirconia mouthpiece to help cool the vapor.

Top-mounted chambers usually run hot, but the mouthpiece does a good job at reducing some of the heat coming off the chamber. It’s not entirely on par with the Crafty+ vaporizer (read review) and its top-mounted cooling unit, but we get what we get in this price range.

Overall vapor quality is about average for a conduction portable vaporizer in this price range, and it’s a close match to the POTV One (read review) but it’s not quite as good as the Davinci IQC (read review), which features a bottom-mounted chamber and longer vapor path, which helps cool vapor quite a bit more.

Again, the XMAX Starry 4 is about average for this price in both the Vapor Quality and Performance category.

Battery Life and Charging Options

I GIVE IT A 10! 10! What more can you ask for? The XMAX Starry features a replaceable battery system with a rechargeable 2550mAh 18650 and a USB-C charger.

Don’t forget the Planet of the Vapes XMAX Starry V4 vaporizer features an UPGRADED 3200mAh 18650 battery AT NO EXTRA COST. This is why I recommend purchasing the XMAX Starry 4 from POTV. Everything else is identical.

Battery Life – I’ve been averaging around 60 minutes of runtime with the 2550mAh battery and roughly 90 minutes of continuous use with the POTV 3200mAh battery. Roughly 50% more battery life.

Charging Info – Charging times run roughly 90 minutes via USB-C for both batteries. You can also pick up an external battery charger like this (ANKER LINK), allowing you to charge multiple batteries simultaneously. This also frees up the vaporizer because using the device while charging is not recommended.

Overall, there’s not much more you could ask from the XMAX Starry 4 in the Battery Life and Charging department. Check out the XMAX Starry 4 from POTV here (LINK).

Starry 4 Vaporizer Comparisons

The XMAX Starry 4 is top of its class, considering price, features, and overall portability. There are better portable vaporizers especially considering categories like vapor quality and smoothness, but they will run closer to the $200 – $300 price point.

My favorite and top-rated vaporizer is the Crafty+ vaporizer. It uses a hybrid heating system to deliver some of the best-tasting vapor you can get from a portable dry herb vaporizer. Check out my Crafty+ review for more info.

I would also check out the XMAX V3 Pro. The V3 Pro vaporizer features a hybrid heating system offering better vapor quality and better efficiency with your herbs. It’s smaller, lighter, and more streamlined, making it easier to fit into tight pockets. It also features on-demand heating, the same 3200mAh battery from POTV and USB-C Charging. The only downside is the temp spectrum only goes to 428F. So you can only use the XMAX v3 Pro for dry herbs.

The XMAX V3 Pro vaporizer retails for $109 and you can click here to check it out from POTV. Once again, you get the upgraded battery specs with your purchase through POTV. Check out my full XMAX V3 Pro review for all the details.

Starry 4 Warranty Info

The XMAX Starry 4 comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. POTV is an authorized reseller of Top Green / XMAX products. While I’ve never had to warranty ANY of my XMAX / POTV devices, I’ve worked with both companies for many years and can assure you they will take care of you if you have any issues.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The cleaning and maintenance with the XMAX Starry 4 is simple and straightforward. The main thing you’ll need to stay on top of is the screen above the chamber. Make sure to empty the chamber immediately after a session and wipe any residue off the screen in the mouthpiece. You will notice more draw resistance when the unit starts to get dirty and needs to be cleaned.

To clean the XMAX Starry 4, you’ll need a Q-tip, some isopropyl alcohol, and some paper towels. There are only three things to clean, the chamber/bowl, the removable screen from the mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece itself. The best way to do this is to clean it after a session when everything is still warm and easy to remove.

Total cleaning time with a dirty unit would take 5 minutes. All in all, the XMAX Starry 4 is a very easy vaporizer to maintain and keep clean.

XMAX Starry 4 Review Conclusion

The XMAX Starry 4 is a great entry-level portable vaporizer that checks all the boxes. The Starry 4 features a full temp spectrum, a replaceable battery system, quick heat times, and decent vapor quality. It’s a bit heavier than the average portable vape in this price range and there are better options for overall vapor quality, but it fits easily in a pocket, purse, or your super cool fanny pack and offers decent vapor quality for a full conduction unit.

When I started reviewing portable vapes at the end of 2013, I never would have imagined such a feature-packed vape would ever be available at under $100 bucks, but here we are! You can click here to check out the Starry 4 from POTV.

As I mentioned above, I recommend picking up the POTV XMAX Starry 4 version because it has an upgraded battery for the same price. You can click here to check out the XMAX Starry 4 from POTV. Check out the full buying options and any available Starry 4 vaporizer coupon codes below.

Buying Options

Technical Specs

Name:	Starry 4 Vaporizer
Category:	Best Under $150
Manufacturer:	XMAX / POTV
Rating:	8.8/10
Price:	$99
Materials:	Dry Herbs / Concentrates
Temp Range:	212F – 464F (100C – 240C)
Heating:	Conduction
Battery Life:	6-8 Bowls Avg
Battery Type:	Replaceable 18650 3200mAh (POTV)
Charging Type:	USB-C
Charging Times:	90 Minutes
Warranty:	1 Year

Performance by Category

Category	Rating
Vapor Quality	8.6
Ease of Use	9.0
Build Quality	9.0
Reliability	9.0
Portability	9.5
Efficiency	8.6
Battery Life	9.2
Cleaning	8.8
Value	9.2
Warranty	8.0
Starry 4 Rating:	8.89/10

Pros and Cons

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