The 3 Best Portable Vaporizers
We previously recommended the AirVape X. But we’ve found the newer AirVape Legacy Pro — with its improved design and easier charging — to be a better choice overall.
The Arizer Solo III produced tasty vapors, and our test panelists appreciated the lighting feature, which shows the device’s progress while it’s heating up. Its body is similar to that of the Pax Plus, but this model is far more weighty. We appreciate its long-running battery — which lasts up to three hours — but it isn’t user-replaceable, and it takes three hours to fully charge. (You can use the device while it’s charging.)
Although the now-discontinued Arizer Air produced tasty vapors, we disliked the digital display and DC-input charger. Our testers found its design, with its conspicuous glass stem, polarizing, and they noted that it wasn’t something most people would want to tote around. We chose not to test the Air II (also discontinued) or the Air Max, which has a design similar to that of previous models but charges via USB-C. In our tests, the ArGo created smooth and tasty vapors, on a par with those of our picks. But it is a touch trickier to operate and 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 Firefly 2+ was previously a pick in this guide and remains a great device. It’s currently unavailable, however, as parent company Slang Worldwide looks to sell the Firefly brand. Unlike our other picks, the Firefly 2+ has an exposed bowl, so you can easily see when it’s time to repack. Although this is not the device that most people would reach for regularly, its unique design provides a pleasant shared experience. We’ve found it a worthwhile addition to an existing vape collection.
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 Grenco Science G Pen Elite II uses hybrid heating, which boosts its efficiency and improves taste significantly in comparison with the original Elite model we tested (which is no longer available). The Elite II has a user-friendly interface on a full-color LED display, including temperature control (aficionados will likely appreciate the precision) and session-time toggles, among others. It charges faster than its earlier iteration, needing about an hour and a half to fully charge, and in our experience it lasts about an hour per charge.
The Grenco Science G Pen Pro is a variation on the device that’s also marketed as the X Pen Pro. It’s the epitome of a generic vaporizer, with none of the nice touches that the Grenco G Pen Elite and G Pen Elite II offer. Shaped like a small flashlight, the G Pen Pro’s plastic body matches its plastic mouthpiece. It also matches the taste: The vapor was thin and plasticky on every setting in our tests. You control the whole device with a single button, and it gives you feedback with just a single light.
The Linx Gaia requires a cap to protect its glass stem, and the 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 that it looks organic and cool. 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.
There’s 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 runs hotter than we’d like. Although the Flow produces tasty vapors, don’t expect plumes.
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 similar price. The similarly priced XMax V3 Pro produces great flavor, and its vapors are cooled by a ceramic disc in the mouthpiece. But it feels a bit awkward to use — this model easily earned the nickname “penny whistle” from our panel of testers. It’s also less portable than the Miqro-C because it’s so long.
Stock issues kept us from testing the Yllvape Angus Enhanced, which requires two (replaceable) 18650 batteries.
Mark Smirniotis and Jordan McMahon contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
