Firefly 2+: Dynamic Convection and a 33% Boost in Airflow

What is it?

The Firefly 2+ is an updated version of the Firefly 2, a rather unique weed vaporizer. What makes the Firefly different from most vaporizers is that it provides on-demand dynamic convection. It doesn’t require a whole session—it heats up for every puff you take. And it heats up fast! Another standout feature is that there are no buttons or menus, just touch-activated sensors on each side—a feature that fits perfectly with the vaporizer’s high-end design and overall aesthetics.

The 2+ now features more airflow than its predecessor and a firmware that offers more battery life. And while it was originally designed for dry herb, the Firefly 2+ also works with concentrates using an included pad. I’ve been wanting to try the Firefly since they released the second edition, so let’s get right to it. I’m very curious how it compares to some of the best portable vapes that I’ve tested over the years.

The Firefly 2+ was sent by O.pen Vape Shop for the purpose of this review.

Price: $249.95 (at Firefly)

Colors: Jet black, gold, blue, black, oak, zebra wood.

What’s in the box

The Firefly 2+ arrives pretty barebones. In the box, you’ll find the device, a charging dock, a USB cable, a concentrate pad, some cleaning wipes, and a two-page manual. The manual is more of a quick-start guide, so you’ll need to go online to answer most of your questions.

Unlike the Firefly 2, the 2+ doesn’t come with a spare battery. On a positive note, the firmware of the 2+ is claimed to make more efficient use of the battery, and the retail price of the 2+ is lower than that of its predecessor. Replacement batteries can be found at the company’s website alongside other accessories, like an external charger and a zipper case.

Product features

The Firefly 2+ slips easily into the pocket and is pretty lightweight at 140 grams. It’s 129.54 mm in length, 35.56 mm wide, and 24.13 mm thick. It has a nice high-end look and feels well-constructed despite being so lightweight. The body is made of magnesium alloy, and the vapor path is all glass. I received the gold edition, but it comes in plenty of other attractive styles like oak and zebra wood. The magnetic lids are swappable and available for purchase separately.

The Firefly is different—it’s not your typical session vape. It’s meant for individual puffs. The 3-second heat-up time makes this possible. It actually starts at a lower temp and gradually reaches your max setting over the course of 10 seconds by heating the air that enters the chamber while you inhale. This dynamic heating system is designed for efficient cannabinoid consumption.

The Firefly 2+ hooks up to your Android devices, which unfortunately I don’t own. They have a web-based app too, but it didn’t seem to work for me. The good news is that I am still able to adjust the heat settings using the touch sensors, which is all I really need to give you feedback on the performance itself at least. Outside of temp adjustments, the app allows firmware updates, the ability to activate the device using one button only, and a “calibration” mode that lets you adjust between richer/smoother vapor—which sounds a bit gimmicky, to be honest.

The touch sensors activate the heating system when your fingers are gently pressed on both of them. There is a green LED logo that blinks twice and then stays lit to indicate that it’s ready. The herb chamber is visible through the round glass window. You can see it glow when it heats up, which is also pretty cool.

Last but not least, the big update on the 2+ is the airflow. According to Firefly, they have increased it by 33%. I find the draw to be on the tighter side, but I’m glad they decided to improve it compared to previous editions.

How to use

The Firefly 2+ isn’t difficult to use, but it will take some getting used to. You’ll want to experiment with packing and hitting it in different ways to see what works best for you. Once you get the hang of it, it’s smooth sailing. Here are some tips for using the Firefly 2+.

And here’s a breakdown of the seven temp settings.

How does it perform

Flower

The first thing that stands out is the extremely pure flavor. Especially that first puff. If you stir the flower between puffs, you still get a lot of that fresh green taste. When you start experimenting with the 4th and 5th heat settings, the flavor is sacrificed a bit for warmer, denser clouds.

The vapor is actually surprisingly cool on the lower settings. Sometimes I’m not even sure if I got a puff until I exhale a wispy cloud of vapor. I tend to prefer the 4th setting (380F) because it just feels more satisfying.

The draw is on the tighter side, so that took a bit of getting used to. But just because it has a tight draw doesn’t mean you have to pull very hard. Long and steady 10-second draws seem to work best for me. I don’t mind the tight draw but it might be too restrictive for some vapers. You can pause between puffs, just don’t let go of those touch sensors.

Last but not least, the heat-up time is crazy fast. It’s like, ready set go! The LED logo flashes twice then stays lit for the duration of your puff. After 30 seconds, it turns off automatically. Most vapes don’t even come close to the Firefly 2+ in terms of heat-up time, so that’s a huge advantage.

Concentrates

I was pretty shocked how well the Firefly 2+ works with concentrates. I was expecting a few gentle puffs, but it felt more like a hard-hitting wax pen than a weed vape. It’s almost like hitting a low intensity dab rig. I was able to get at least 4-5 nice hits from just a 0.1-gram dab.

I thought it would get a little messy, but the wax just melts into the concentrate pad and ends up getting completely vaporized. As long as you don’t overpack it, cleanup will not be a big issue from my experience.

The flavor is just as good with concentrates as it is with flower. You can really taste all the terpene flavor when you load it up with some tasty shatter or live resin. To my surprise, the Firefly 2+ actually performs just as well (if not better) with concentrates as it does for flower!

The overall performance of this vaporizer is awesome, especially for flavor chasing. Since you don’t need to pack much, it’s great for testing out different strains. The effects were very clean and tend to creep up on you sometimes.

Battery

On average, I was able to get about five or six bowls out of a full charge with about five long hits per bowl. The lower heat settings might give you a bit more vaping time. That feels on par with its 770 mAh battery capacity. Note that the original Firefly 2 was not known for its battery life, but users of the 2+ have reported much better efficiency. Not having used the 2 I can’t really compare battery life, but I have no complaints whatsoever from the 2+.

Keep in mind that you can spread out your bowl over the course of a few hours or even a whole day if you’d like. Or you can just go for it in one session. If you’re using the Firefly 2+ as your main device, it would make sense to invest in the spare battery and charger. Because when you go to hit a freshly packed bowl and that red light starts blinking, it’s such a bummer. Unfortunately, the device doesn’t do pass-thru charging.

The good news is that the Firefly 2+ charges relatively fast. It actually reaches 80% within 20 minutes and a full charge in about 45 minutes. For the fastest charge, use the included USB cable and plug the base into a wall adapter. It tends to take a little bit longer when charging on a PC.

How to clean

The Firefly 2+ body tends to get sticky under the hood after a session, so it needs regular cleaning. Make sure to be extra gentle when cleaning the lid so you don’t mess up the rubber seal. A new lid for the Firefly isn’t too expensive compared to the device itself, but if you take good care of it, you’ll avoid having to shell out the extra $40.

If you’re OCD about cleaning your devices, you’re either going to love or hate the Firefly. While it does require frequent maintenance, it’s also not hard. You can get it pretty clean just with a single alcohol wipe between sessions, then give it a more thorough cleaning every other day or so. The kit includes a few alcohol pads to get you started, then you’re on your own.

Pros / Cons

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Verdict

All in all, the Firefly 2+ is a little flavor machine. It has a stylish and luxurious design with some unique features. Unfortunately, you’ll need an Android device to access all of its bonus features. But I can’t really blame Firefly for that, since it was Apple’s decision to remove all vape-related apps from the App Store.

I was surprised by how many cons I was able to come up with, but I feel like they’re counterbalanced by its unique advantages. With that said, I don’t think the Firefly 2+ is designed for everyone.

But if flavor your top priority, then it is worth considering despite my cons which are mostly subjective. Not to mention those fast heat-up times, the on-demand convection heating capabilities, and the fact that it vaporizes concentrates just as well as bud—which is pretty rare in this product category.

What do you think about the Firefly 2+? Leave a comment below.