The Davinci IQ 2 is now official and if you’re thinking about picking up one, check out our guide to what is looking likely to be one of 2020’s #1 portable vaporizers…
Davinci IQ 2 Vaporizer – What Is It?
The Davinci IQ 2 is the successor vaporizer to the Davinci IQ, one of the most popular portable vaporizers on the planet alongside the PAX 3. As many of you will know, I was a big fan of the original Davinci IQ so when I got wind of a new, updated model in the form of the Davinci IQ 2, I was kind of excited.
The New Davinci IQ 2 – Available In A Range of Colors (Prices Start From $295 w/ 10-Year Warranty)
This isn’t a Davinci IQ 2 review; you can read my full Davinci IQ 2 review here. Instead, it’s a quick overview of what makes this vaporizer tick, what’s new, and whether or not it is worth its $295 asking price – the #1 question most of you will have on your lips right now.
First, let’s take a look at the Davinci IQ 2’s new features – the stuff that you don’t get on the Davinci IQ…
Davinci IQ 2 New Features
The Davinci IQ 2 picks up where the original Davinci IQ left off, adding in a couple of new features that are sure to impress. The first is adjustable airflow and the second is Dose Calculation – both very cool. Let’s take a look at each feature individually:
- Adjustable Airflow – With adjustable airflow, a first for portable vaporizers, in my experience, you can change how the Davinci IQ 2 draws either by increasing and decreasing the resistance. Want more vapor? Open up the airflow. Prefer a tighter draw and less vapor? Tighten it down. Or, if you’d prefer something in the middle, experiment with the Davinci IQ 2’s five adjustable airflow settings until you find the perfect setting.
- Dose Calculation – This new feature is pretty darn fancy, and also a little gimmicky. But if you’re lucky enough to live in a state or country where cannabis is legal, you can input your strain’s potency and the amount of it you put into the Davinci IQ 2, and it will calculate your dose per draw and per session. You can even set up dose limits, so you don’t go overboard. Dose Calculation works on the device and in the app. If you’re using the Davinci IQ 2 for medical purposes, this feature will be a godsend as you’ll be able to get the exact right dose for your needs and no more.
These are the two biggest new features of the Davinci IQ 2, the ones that you cannot get on the original Davinci IQ. Effectively, these are what you’re paying that extra 60-odd bucks for (the Davinci IQ 2 costs $295, while the original Davinci IQ retails for $229). The original IQ is still a great option if you don’t mind missing these features but want a quality vape for slightly less money.
Davinci IQ 2 Specs
- Compatible With: Dry Herb Extracts
- Capacity: 0.5g Dry Herb Oven; 0.2g Dosage Pod
- Heating System: Glass Lined Oven, Heat-not-burn Conduction
- Air Flow: Adjustable, Five Levels
- Air Path: Airtight, Glass and Zirconia Ceramic
- Temperature Control: Smart Paths and Precision Temperature Mode
- Smartphone App: Personalization, Temperature Control, Track and Report Dosage, Update Firmware
- Materials Outside: Brushed Aluminium
- Size: 1.75 x 3.61 x 0.97 inches
- Weight: 5.6 oz / 159 g
- Heat-up Time: Less than 1 Minute
- Battery Type: 18650, 1 Hour Use, Removable/Rechargeable
- Charging Time: 6 Hours in IQ2 (less in external chargers, sold separately)
- Warranty: 10 Years
The Davinci IQ 2 keeps much the same internal spec as its predecessor; you have the same 18650 battery system for power, similar design and dimensions, and Davinci’s iconic Smart Path technology (detailed in bullet-points below) which lets you quickly control how your cannabis and dry herbs are vaporized.
- Mode 1: starts at 350F and increases to 370F
- Mode 2: starts at 370F and increases to 390F
- Mode 3- starts at 390 and increases to 410F
- Mode 4: starts at 410 and increases to 430F
Personally, I don’t think Davinci needed to mess with the physical design and/or battery power this time around anyway. Having the ability to use 18650 batteries for power is a great option because you can always have a few on charge that are ready to go when you’re having a big session. With vaporizers that have internal batteries (like the PAX 3) once the battery is dead the fun is over until it charges back up again – and that can take upwards of an hour!
Boost Mode is still available on the Davinci IQ 2 and is a handy way of burning through the last of your bowl. To access Boost Mode, simply hold down the power button and the Davinci IQ 2 will power up to 430ºF (it’s the highest setting) for maximum performance. You’ll know it’s activated if you see arrows going upwards on the Davinci IQ 2’s LED display.
Davinci IQ 2 Design
I also really like the design of the original Davinci IQ, so I’m glad Davinci kind of stuck with it for the Davinci IQ 2. There are subtle changes, however, things like the outer chassis now being honed from brushed aluminum instead of sand-blasted aluminum. It’s a small change, granted, but I think the vaporizer looks infinitely better for it.
Overall dimensions are 1.75 x 3.61 x 0.97 inches and it weighs just 159g, making it a very portable and pocketable vaporizer. Like the original, the Davinci IQ 2’s bowl is located on the bottom of the device. It still features a Zirconia Pearl that is still adjustable and is there to ensure that your cannabis or dry herbs are vaporized evenly. How it works is simple too – it essentially reflects heat back into the bowl which makes the entire vaporization process more efficient.
You have two options for the mouthpiece on the Davinci IQ 2; the first is the standard, slightly concave style and the second is the more traditional drip-tip style add-on. Personally, I prefer the flatter, slightly concave mouthpiece – I tend to get better flavor and I prefer the way the device looks in this configuration. You get both in the box, so, as always, experiment to find out what you like best…
Davinci has kept the flavor chamber in place on the IQ 2 as well. The flavor chamber is located at the top of the Davinci IQ 2, you have to lift the mouthpiece off to access it, and in here you can store about a session’s worth of material. You do have to use the tool that Davinci provides to get it open, however – it’s the long, thin tool you get in the box.
Davinci IQ 2 Adjustable Airflow – How To Use It
For me, the biggest and best new feature of the Davinci IQ 2 has to be the adjustable airflow. The Davinci IQ 2’s new adjustable airflow can be found on the bottom of the device. It has four potential settings and, when used correctly, can make a major difference to flavor and vapor production.
You can have it wide open for maximum vapor or closed right down for a tighter draw and less vapor (this setting would be ideal for stealth vaporizing in places you maybe shouldn’t – on the bus, for instance).
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The adjustable airflow setting also affects flavor too; the more open it is, the faster the air passes through the oven which makes for cooler, denser vapor. Conversely, if you have the adjustable airflow dialed right back to its tightest setting, the airflow will be restricted and pass through the oven at a slower rate, making for warmer vapor.
Again, your preferences will vary from mine. I like cool vapor, so I have it wide-open most of the time. If you prefer a warmer vape, as many do, then you’ll want to have it less open. Finding the exact right setting for you might take some experimentation but it is very easy to do, just turn the dial left or right.
Is The Davinci IQ 2 Worth It Then?
I was a massive fan and advocate of the original Davinci IQ. I loved the way it looked, performed, and how simple it was to set up and use. The Davinci IQ 2 essentially takes everything that made the original IQ great and adds in more features and functionality. The vaporizer itself looks better than the original with its new brushed aluminum exterior and, importantly, it still runs on a 18650 battery which means you can hot-swap batteries and carry on using the device.
The adjustable airflow on the Davinci IQ 2 is a big deal too. I’ve never used (or even heard of a vaporizer) that has something like this on it. Having the ability to totally customize how your vaporizer performs is super-important, especially when you’re paying big bucks for it, so I’m super-pumped that Davinci added this in for the Davinci IQ 2. It makes a BIG difference to flavor and vapor production, so make sure you use it…
Like the original Davinci IQ, the Davinci IQ 2 is a beautifully engineered, precision-crafted piece of technology. The ins and outs of the device have been meticulously tested and rated for optimum performance, and, thanks to the design of the chamber and air passage, the device is still very easy to clean and maintain. Add in Smart Path technology and the Davinci Phone App and you’re looking at one of the easiest-to-use portable vaporizers on the market.
Is it worth $295? Yes.
Why? High-end vaporizers are expensive; this is just a fact. But the gulf between a device like the Davinci IQ 2 and a cheaper, $100 vaporizer is enormous – way bigger than the price in dollars and cents. Premium vaporizers like the Davinci IQ 2 use high-quality build materials for safe vaping. They also produce cleaner, better quality vapor – what’s what you’re really paying for.
If you’re in the market for a solid, portable vaporizer in 2020 and you don’t want to spend more than $300, the Davinci IQ 2 should be high on your list. Right now, for this price point, it is just about the best portable vaporizer on the planet. It’s cheaper than the Mighty vaporizer and it performs better than the PAX 3 in my experience.
For me, the Davinci IQ 2 is the vaporizer to beat in 2020…
Where To Buy? The Davinci Store – $295 (w/ 10-Year Warranty)
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