Product intro and specs
Six years after dropping the PAX 3, PAX Labs has finally released two new portable weed vaporizers—the PAX Plus and the PAX Mini. The Mini is set to replace the PAX 2, and the Plus is the latest evolution of the original PAX trilogy. Today, I will be testing out the new PAX Mini.
The PAX Mini is essentially a more accessible version of the PAX. It’s more pocketable, simpler to use, and more affordable than the PAX Plus. The only downside is that the chamber is half the size, and it doesn’t do concentrates–only flower. It comes with a two-year warranty versus a ten-year one with the Plus. But aside from those few things mentioned, the specs are nearly identical.
I’ve been a regular PAX user since 2015, so I’m very excited about testing the new PAX Mini. In this review, I will lay out all of the advantages of the Mini and find out whether it’s worth upgrading from the PAX 2, or if it just makes more sense to go all out and just get the PAX Plus.
The PAX Mini was sent courtesy of PAX Labs for the purpose of this review.
Price: $150 (at PAX)
Colors: Platinum, Onyx
- Dimensions: 93 mm x 32 mm x 22 mm
- Fixed temp setting
- USB charge dock
- 2-year warranty
- Flat & raised mouthpieces
- Oven lid
- Maintenance kit
- Charging cable
PAX Mini Features
The PAX Mini is like an upgraded and more compact PAX 2. It heats up in 22 seconds and runs for two and a half hours. Other features include bigger and brighter LEDs and a more elegant and “grippier” design. In addition, the oven features a new 3D screen, which is easier to remove and clean. The PAX Mini still includes two mouthpieces, a raised one and a flat one. It also comes with a new wire brush that makes it a bit easier to clean than the previous editions.
The Mini stands at 93 mm x 32 mm x 22 mm. The herb chamber holds 0.25 grams instead of the traditional 0.5 grams. So it’s basically like a built-in half-pack oven. The user operation is very simple. No modes and no menus. Just turn it on, vape, then turn it off. It seems like it would be a fantastic vape for beginners for its superb ease of use.
How to use the PAX Mini
PAX has really refined the whole experience with the Mini. It’s super simple to use. Just pack it and press the mouthpiece down, and it will turn on and heat up. There’s not much that can go wrong, but here are some helpful tips on getting the most out of your flower with the PAX Mini.
- Remove the magnetic oven lid.
- Give your herbs a coarse (not fine) grind.
- Pack the entire chamber nice and tight.
- Put the oven lid back on the PAX Mini.
- Press the mouthpiece to activate the PAX Mini.
- Wait until the LED lights turn green.
- Take small, steady puffs (sip, not rip).
- The PAX Mini will enter standby mode when idle.
- Press the mouthpiece to turn the PAX Mini off.
- Clean the oven after each session with the included brush.
- Shake the PAX Mini during a session to view battery life.
- Attach to the magnetic USB adapter to charge.
- Deep clean the PAX Mini between every charge cycle for optimal performance.
How does it perform?
I’ve been excited to test some of my favorite strains in the PAX Mini. I’ve been really into some heavy Indica-dominant hybrids like Gumbo Killa, Oreoz, and Black Sauce. I loaded them up and have been lost in the sauce ever since. I’ve been getting some really nice hits off this thing, and I love how fast it heats up. When the session is about to end, there is a noticeable difference in flavor quality compared to the first round, so it’s pretty easy to know when the session is over.
I wasn’t excited about the single heat setting at first, but it wasn’t a problem at all. I think they just dialed in the optimal temperature for the Mini—and it just works. It feels just like the third heat setting on previous PAX devices, which has always been my favorite one. In a way, not having to worry about temp modes kinda set me free. I love when devices are high-tech without being too techy. But that’s easy for me to say, as the default setting happens to be my favorite one.
The only reason why I would consider upgrading to the PAX Plus would be for the larger oven. But in this day and age, who still wants to pass around vapes? Most of my sessions are either solo or with very close friends, and most of my friends are not even heavy vapers. So, I’m going to stick with the Mini until I get an urge to start playing around with some temp modes again.
Does it perform better than the PAX 3? Yes. Not by much, but it does. There is a noticeable difference in vapor production. You can see vapor flowing out of the mouthpiece as soon as it heats up. The older models had a bit of a grace period, so that first hit would often be rather wispy despite its flavor. Now you get smacked with those tasty terps accompanied by a cloud.
How to clean the PAX Mini
Cleaning the PAX Mini is pretty easy. Here are some helpful tips to keep your PAX Mini clean and performing at its best. Don’t forget to brush out the chamber after every session and do a deep clean every charging cycle. If you’ve ever cleaned a PAX before, the Mini is nothing new.
- Remove the mouthpiece and chamber lid.
- Soak the mouthpiece and screen in iso alcohol, rinse off and dry.
- Soak a pipe cleaner in isopropyl alcohol and “floss” the vapor path with it.
- Use a pipe cleaner or a Q-tip soaked in iso to clean the chamber deeply.
- You can use the pipe cleaner to pop out the 3D chamber screen.
- Use an alcohol pad to clean the outside of the device.
- Insert the chamber screen and attach the mouthpiece once completely dry.
- Always brush out your chamber after each session while it is still warm.
Battery life and charging
The PAX Mini is equipped with a 3000 mAh internal battery. It is capable of running for a bit over two hours on a full charge, providing approximately seven full sessions. This will vary based on the length of your sessions, but considering the small oven and single heat setting, not by much.
Charging time will also vary depending on whether you’re using a wall adapter or USB, but it takes anywhere between two and a half to three hours to go from a depleted to a full charge. The PAX 3 took at least two hours to charge and had less battery life, so that’s an upgrade. One last thing I’ll mention is that they updated the charging block to more of a cable now. I’ve also seen a few really cool charging docks that are available for the PAX devices separately.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
So, to recap: the PAX Mini is a smaller, more affordable, and more up-to-date version of the PAX. It performs a little better but with the same vapor quality and flavor that made the PAX so popular. On top of that, they’ve made it easier to use by eliminating mode options.
With these factors considered, I can see the PAX Mini becoming popular with beginner vapers. But even for experienced PAX users like myself, it’s still worthwhile. If you tend to do more solo sessions and don’t care about vaping wax or tinkering with temp settings, it’s an excellent option. And as for the two-year warranty, that’s not bad at all compared to most portable herb vaporizers in this price range.
What was your experience like with PAX vaporizers? Are you excited to try the Mini? Leave a comment below and share.
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