DaVinci IQ 2 Review: Is It Better Than The PAX 3?

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I’ve just spent several blissful weeks testing the DaVinci IQ2 and, BOY, is it impressive! I liked the original IQ. But this one is just awesome…




TL;DR – I ditched my DaVinci IQ for the PAX 3, and now I’ve ditched my PAX 3 for the DaVinci IQ2.

Things happen fast in the weed vape niche, new stuff appears all the time, but DaVinci has really raised the bar here, adding in adjustable airflow as well as a raft of design changes that combine to make the IQ 2 a vastly superior vaporizer.

The flavor, as always is great, but because you now adjust the airflow (it’s located on the bottom), you can seriously dial-in how this device vapes – from open and swooshy to tight and focussed.

It’s a masterstroke of innovation that literally no one else is doing in the space, and it makes a world of difference when using the device.

And the battery life is killer too. You have the ability to swap out its 18650 for a freshly charged unit, so you never have to have any downtime.

You cannot do this with the PAX 3 or the Firefly 2, or any other weed vaporizer at this price point or size.

And that, along with the IQ2’s amazing performance and ease of use, is why this is now my go-to #1 portable weed vape.

Bottom line? I used to be a PAX 3 fanboy but the DaVinci IQ2 has now taken over as my go-to portable weed vaporizer.

For flavor, for design and functionality, and for performance it is a superior device that now feels like an essential piece of kit for anyone that takes their vaporizing technology seriously.

Best Place To Buy | DaVinci Store | $295.00


Full DaVinci IQ 2 Review – A Complete Run Through Everything

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Design

If you’ve used a DaVinci vaporizer before, you know what to expect – classy design, premium build materials, and meticulous attention to detail. The DaVinci IQ2 is no exception to this rule. Available in several color options – black, silver, purple, blue – the DaVinci IQ2 looks every bit the flagship vaporizer. It has a nice weight and gait to it as well and the overall aesthetic, in my opinion, is utterly flawless.

With respect to dimensions, the DaVinci IQ2 measures in at 9.2 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm and it weighs 159g; that makes it bigger and heavier than the original DaVinci IQ. Not that this should worry you, though – the extra weight and size only serve to make this device feel more ergonomic in the hand, as well as more premium and solid.

The entire outer chassis is home from a solid piece of anodized aluminum. The interior elements have a beautiful mirrored polish and the mouthpiece, as always, is made from ceramic zirconia for unparalleled comfort and heat retardation. Like its predecessor, the IQ 2 is a fine-looking device that stands out from the crowd and will please even the pickiest user.

The main event, with respect to design, however, is located on the bottom of the device. I’m talking, of course, about the adjustable airflow which, like everything else on the IQ 2, is constructed and implemented exquisitely. And you can use it for both dry materials and concentrates.

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The entire mechanism is made from laser-etched, sandblasted aluminum and it has a super-satisfying click whenever you adjust it. It looks and works perfectly. And, importantly, it makes a MASSIVE difference to your vaping experience (more on that in a bit though)…

Specs & Features

  • Height: 3.61 in / 9.2 cm
  • Width: 1.75 in / 4.5 cm
  • Depth: 0.97 in / 2.5 cm
  • Weight: 5.6 oz / 159 grams
  • Battery – 1x 3000 mAh removable 18650 battery
  • Oven Capacity – 0.5g dry herbs; 0.2g of extract with dosage pod

As you can see, the DaVinci IQ2 keep its most important element in play; the ability to remove the battery. The DaVinci IQ2 is powered by a single 3000mAh 18650 battery, the very same style of battery you use in your vape mods. This means you basically never have to worry about battery life or the internal battery degrading over time. Just replace the battery and the DaVinci IQ2 will function as good as new – for years to come.

For me, this is the #1 reason to go with the DaVinci IQ2 over, say, the PAX 3. With internal batteries, it’s only a matter of time before you run into issues. The cell will one day die; they only have so many recharge cycles and when this happens you’ll have to either buy a new device (which sucks) or get a replacement battery installed (although I have no idea how you’d go about doing this). With the DaVinci IQ2, you just pull out the battery and replace it with a new one.

The battery in the DaVinci IQ2, therefore, will never die. This means you could, technically, be using this device for the rest of your life, providing you take good care of it. You cannot say the same thing about the PAX 3 or many other portable vaporizers on market right now, so thank you very much for keeping this feature in place, DaVinci!

New Bits

Rather than subject you to a wall of text on what new stuff you can find inside the DaVinci IQ2, let’s instead go over them quickly using bullet points:

  • Adjustable Airflow – The adjustable airflow on the DaVinci IQ2 makes it incredibly easy to properly dial in your vaping sessions to your exact requirements. You can have it wide open and swooshy, this gives you A LOT of vapor, or closed down and tight which creates a more stealthy, focused vape with less vapor production. I switch between open and closed quite often during a session simply because it is so easy to do. This feature is brilliant and it works great. Expect to see a lot more companies doing the same.
  • Concentrate Support – You can now run concentrates in the DaVinci IQ2 which effectively brings it 100% inline with the PAX 3. I don’t use concentrates, as you cannot get them where I live, but if you’re in a 420 State, the DaVinci IQ2 has you 100% covered when it comes to concentrates.
  • The Phone App – Like PAX, DaVinci has a phone app. Only this time around it’s A LOT better than the previous version which launched alongside the original DaVinci IQ. Inside the app, you can control all aspects of the device, as well as calculate the dose of each bowl which brings me to my next point…
  • Dosage Calculation – If you live in a 420 state, you’re getting quality weed that is made to high standards. You also know EXACTLY what you’re vaping. And with the DaVinci IQ2, you can enter a few details about the strain you’re using and calculate your exact dosage per session. If you’re a medicinal marijuana user, this feature will be a godsend as you can have just enough to get the results you’re after and no more.

Performance & Vapor Quality

The PAX 3 is great when it comes to vapor production and flavor. I didn’t think the DaVinci IQ2 would be able to surpass it, but after my first session I already had a definitive answer – the DaVinci IQ2 is a freakin’ monster with respect to vapor production and overall performance.

You get PLUMES of vapor on the higher settings and near-perfect vaporization of the contents in the oven; it’s even, controlled, and appears to extract every last drop of what’s in there. The vapor it produces is plentiful and smooth. The quick settings on the side of the device, whereby you can quickly increase or decrease the power in four stages, allow for precise control over your session too.

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I start low (around setting #2) and the move up through the power settings as I near the end of my session, finishing on power setting #4. Even at lower power settings, the DaVinci IQ2 kicks out a ton of vapor, so please do make sure you start nice and low; this will ensure your sessions last longer and you get more mileage from your weed – or whatever you’re vaping inside it.

You can also use the adjustable airflow on the DaVinci IQ2 to dial-down the vapor production too. If you’re at a party or traveling someplace, set it nice and tight and take a deep draw; this will reduce the amount of vapor (and smell) and allow for a pretty comprehensive stealth vape session. To date, I’ve used the DaVinci IQ2 in a variety of settings and have not had any issues.

Heat Up Times

When it comes to heat-up times, the DaVinci IQ2 is not as fast as the PAX 3 – or many of the top vaporizers on the market right now. From dead, it will heat-up to its maximum temperature of 390F inside a minute. Running it at lower temperatures? It’ll do it in around 45 seconds. Is this bad? No, not really – I mean, it’s 60 seconds. That’s not a long time, although the PAX 3 will do the same in 30 seconds.

I have used a PAX 3 for almost 12 months straight. I thought this would bother me, but it really didn’t. The DaVinci IQ2 takes its time. And that’s fine because the results of its more “focussed” heat-up process mean the weed is vaporized in a more precise manner and this means you get a cooler, more flavorful vape. From this perspective, it is easy to see why DaVinci made this call.

I’ll happily wait an additional 30 seconds for better-tasting weed, and I’m sure most of you would too!

Battery Life

As noted earlier, when it comes to battery life (and longevity), the DaVinci IQ2 is perhaps the best option on the market right now. Not only does it come with a rechargeable 3000mAh 18650 battery, but you can also use your existing vape mod batteries in it, so if you have a battery charger (I use this one), you can effectively hot-swap batteries and extend your vaping sessions indefinitely.

The other MASSIVE benefit of using removable 18650 batteries is that technically speaking, the DaVinci IQ2 could last and work for the rest of your life, providing you take good care of it. Non-removable batteries, the type found in phones and the PAX 3, only have a finite number of recharge cycles, and once these cycles are up the battery dies. If this happens, you either need to get a new device or the battery replaced. And neither option is ideal.

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You simply don’t have to worry about this with the DaVinci IQ2, just get a new, fresh 18650 battery and you’re away. This means that the device, with correct care, will work perfectly for years to come.

This is why DaVinci is happy to provide each of its customers with a 10-year warranty; it knows its hardware will last and go the distance. This feature also mitigates the DaVinci IQ2’s high price somewhat too; $300 is a lot for a vaporizer, but if $300 is all you spend on vaporizers in the next 5-10 years, it’s actually not that much money.

Ease of Use

The DaVinci IQ2 is super-simple to use too. You grind up some of the good stuff, pack it in the chamber (located on the button), click the power button five times to switch the device on, and wait 60 seconds for it to heat up. That’s literally it; it couldn’t be easier. Adjusting the power settings is a cinch too, just click up and down on the power rocker on the side of the device to switch between modes.

I also like the fact that you DO NOT need a phone app to use the DaVinci IQ2. Phone apps are great, but when you NEED one to use the device, they’re kind of annoying. The PAX 3 works this way, and it’s always bugged me. I prefer manual, on-device controls. They’re easier and more intuitive and the less I have to interact with my phone the better.

With the DaVinci IQ2, you can use the phone app, of course, but it isn’t essential – it’s just there for those that like that kind of thing. Me personally, I’ll take the physical controls any day of the week (and twice and on a Sunday).

Should You Buy The DaVinci IQ2?

As you can probably tell, I really like the DaVinci IQ2. Coming from the PAX 3, I didn’t think the DaVinci IQ2 would have what it takes to beat out PAX’s ultra-popular and similar-priced vaporizer. But it did. And it achieved this a few key areas:

  • The Battery is Replaceable
  • The DaVinci IQ2 has Adjustable Airflow
  • You Can Use The DaVinci IQ2 Without A Phone

Individually, these three things might not look like a lot but combined they make a massive difference. Having the ability to hot-swap batteries, for me, is the #1 reason to go with the IQ 2 over the PAX 3. The DaVinci IQ2 is also a powerhouse with respect to performance, regardless of what you’re running inside it, and when you put all this together, I think you’re looking at one of the best portable vaporizers on the market right now.

Best Place To Buy | DaVinci Store | $295.00


Davinci IQ2 Long Term Review: Six Months of Usage… 

It has now been about six months since I published my review of the Davinci IQ2, so I think it’s about time to look at how the device has held up over this longer period of time.

First and foremost, and despite having access to plenty of other vaporizers, the Davinci IQ2 is still my go-to vaporizer right now. I have about 10 portable vaporizers in my home, including the PAX 3 and the Firefly 2, and the Davinci IQ2 is the one I always turn to without fail every Friday evening.

Why? It’s the battery. The Davinci IQ2 runs on removable 18650 batteries and will safely charge via USB, so you’re basically covered for all eventualities.

I always have a couple of fresh 18650 batteries on charge, mostly for my vape mods, so this means, even if I forget to charge the Davinci IQ2, I can just replace the 18659 and run it at full power.

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In this context, the Davinci IQ2 is in a league of its own. If I forget to charge my PAX 3, I have to wait a couple of hours for it to charge (via a propriety charging dock). And if I’m away and forget my charging dock, it’s game over.

The other reason I keep coming back to the Davinci IQ2 is because of its adjustable airflow. I didn’t think I’d use this feature much, but it is something I actually use every single time I use the device: I like to have it wide open when I first start and then gradually dial-it down tighter as I progress through the bowl.

Again, the PAX doesn’t have this feature. And neither does the Firefly 2. Or the Crafty Vaporizer.

Mostly, though, I just love the design of the Davinci IQ2; it’s just so easy to use and it works perfectly every time with zero maintenance. It delivers the best, most consistent flavor of any of my vaporizers, and the ability to hot-swap batteries means it can be used with friends in social settings.

I honestly think this vaporizer is perfect. I actually couldn’t pick any faults with it if I tried. It does everything I want and more. And even now, six months later, I still feel the same.

And that is the sign of a quality product.

Best Place To Buy | DaVinci Store | $295.00

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