I’ve used every DaVinci IQ since the original came out in 2017. I still have that first one, and it still works perfectly. It’s been knocked around and looks well used, but the battery still delivers power, the controls work, and it heats as it should. I keep the airway clean and give it a proper clean every couple of weeks.
That’s been enough to keep it going for nearly a decade.
With this in mind, and given my age, my current DaVinci IQ3 will see me well into the late 2030s. And that’s not something you could say about anything from PAX, Storz & Bickel, Utillian or ARIZER.
The IQ3 has the same basic appeal as the original: a solid portable vaporizer with simple controls and a removable battery. DaVinci has improved the design, airflow and cooling, but the main reason I’d choose it is still the same.
If you look after it, you can replace the battery instead of retiring the whole device when the battery wears out.
What you get with the IQ3
The IQ3 is a portable conduction vaporizer with a brushed aluminum body, a glass-lined ceramic oven, and a zirconia and glass vapor path. It has a removable 21700 battery, a 0.7 g oven, and a 0.2 g dosing capsule. You can set the temperature from 32°F to 430°F, and it heats up in about 30 seconds.
DaVinci also includes its Cool Core vapor-cooling system and an adjustable Air Dial, so you can change the draw to suit you. There are Smart Paths if you want the temperature to rise gradually during a session, you do this through the app, but you can also set a temperature manually using the buttons on the device. The app is optional.
That’s the way it should be. I personally hate any kind of dry herb vaporizer that forces you to use an app to use it. It’s one of the worst design decisions of modern times. I despise it. I am so glad that DaVinci has not leaned into this trend while keeping it in play just in case your less of a grump curmudgeon than me.
The IQ3 is compatible with accessories too like DaVinci’s water tool adapter which can be easily attached to the device, filled with water, and then used to cool the vapour for a much, much smoother hit. I use mine quite often. It’s really cool. You can also use the dosing capsule when you want a smaller, more contained load, or to save on mess (which means less cleanup).
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It feels like a premium device
The IQ3 is big and weighty. It feels good in the hand, and you can tell it’s in your pocket. I carry mine in my jeans pocket without finding it a nuisance. It isn’t the smallest vaporizer you can buy, but it’s portable enough to take with you most places.
I like that bit of weight. It feels solid rather than flimsy, and I like being able to feel where it is when I’m out. If you want something smaller, DaVinci has the IQ Core and MIQRO-C. They have a similar design, minus the removable battery and AFC, and take up less room. Neither of these smaller devices pack the power the IQ3 either; they’re more entry-level vaporizors aimed at beginners.
As always with IQ vaporizers, the materials are a big part of the appeal. The aluminum body feels sturdy, while the zirconia and glass parts give the vapor path a clean, well-finished feel. It’s never hot or too harsh and the flavor notes are always on point. It looks and feels like a high-end product, and that carries through in how it works.
Easy to use, without the app
The IQ3 is straightforward. Pack the oven, turn it on, set the temperature and take a draw. The buttons are easy to use, and the LED display gives you the information you need. For ease of use, it really doesn’t get any simpler than this: and that’s EXACTLY the way it should be.
I don’t use vaporizer apps. I find them annoying, and when an app needs to be sideloaded instead of downloaded through the App Store, that’s more hassle than I want. The IQ3 doesn’t make you use one. I can set the temperature on the device using the side buttons, and that’s all I ever do. The app is OK, of course, and it does work fine most of the time. I did have a few crashes when I tested it out but that’s usually par for the course with vaporizer apps.
The main reason you’d use the app is to access Smart Paths which basically let you change the temperature as the session goes on, usually ramping up as you approach the end. I tend to prefer choosing a temperature myself, but it’s useful to have both options without needing to connect your phone.
How it performs
The IQ3 produces excellent flavor, and the Cool Core helps make the vapor more comfortable to inhale. The Air Dial gives you a way to adjust the draw, too. I find it works well for a relaxed session where I can take my time, rather than a quick puff and put-away device.
The oven holds up to 0.7 g and I’ll usually just pack it to the brim. I don’t always use it all at once but packing it well helps the IQ3 perform at its best. You can use less than its maximum capacity if you have the dosing capsules, and I would recommend these. You can use less weed per session with them and they ensure your device stays spotless which means way less cleaning and maintenance.
I also like using it at a lower temperature over a longer stretch of time. If I’m taking the dog out for a few hours, I can sip away at it during the walk. By the time I get back, the bowl is spent, but the session has lasted long enough to get me through the hike.
That kind of use suits the IQ3 better than expecting it to behave like a tiny on-demand vape. It’s made for a proper session. The larger oven is useful if you want a longer bowl or want to share with friends, but it may be more capacity than you need if you only ever want a few quick draws. If that sounds like you, I’d check out the PAX FOUR or the DaVinci MICRO which are both cheaper and smaller.
The removable battery is the biggest reason to buy it
Many vaporizers have internal batteries. Once one starts losing capacity, you may have to replace the whole device. With the IQ3, you can remove the 21700 battery and replace it. You can also carry a spare and swap it in when the first one runs out.
That matters to me because I’ve already seen how well the idea can work. My original IQ is nearly ten years old and still performs as it should. I take care of my products, keep the airway clean and replace batteries when needed. The IQ3 gives me the same chance to keep using a device long after the first battery would have become a problem in a sealed unit.
That doesn’t mean every IQ3 will last ten years. It depends on how you use and care for it. But the removable battery gives you more control over the device’s lifespan, and I think that’s a real advantage.
Cleaning and maintenance
You do need to clean it. Residue builds up in any vaporizer, and the IQ3 has several parts in its vapor path that need attention. I clean the airway every couple of weeks, and I find that regular upkeep keeps the draw and flavor where I want them.
It isn’t a difficult routine once you get used to it, but it is part of owning the device. If you want something you never have to take apart or maintain, you’ll have to go back to smoking your herb. All vaporizers, from dab rigs to desktop vaporizers, require cleaning and maintainance. For me, a bit of cleaning is an easy trade for a device I expect to keep using.
Is the IQ3 worth the price?
The IQ3 is expensive. At around $399, it costs more than the PAX Plus and PAX 4, and sits around the same price as the PAX Flow. But this is pretty much par for the course with premium vaporizers. You’ll pay anywhere from $399 to $420, or even more, for really expensive vaporizers from Storz & Bickel and other boutique brands.
While $399 might sound a little alarming at first, you have to keep in mind that this is a device that’s probably going to last you for the next 10 years, provided you look after it properly.
For me, the value comes from owning it for a long time. If I get close to a decade of use from it, the purchase price works out to around $40 a year. I’d rather pay for one well-built device with a replaceable battery than have to replace a sealed-battery vaporizer when its battery starts to fade.
The IQ3’s ten-year warranty adds reassurance, although the battery and accessories have their own terms. The warranty isn’t a promise that the whole device will need no care or replacement parts for ten years. The stronger argument is the design: if you keep it clean and look after it, you can replace the battery without replacing the vaporizer.
Who should buy the DaVinci IQ3?
I’d recommend the IQ3 if you want:
- A premium portable vaporizer with excellent flavor
- A large oven for longer sessions or sharing
- A removable battery you can replace or swap
- Simple on-device controls, with no need to use the app
- Adjustable airflow and temperature control
- A solid device you can maintain and keep using for years
It’s less suited to you if you want the smallest vape possible, only take very short sessions, or don’t want to clean your device regularly. The 0.7 g oven may also feel oversized if you’re looking for a tiny bowl, although you can load less than its maximum capacity.
Verdict
The DaVinci IQ3 is a simple, premium vaporizer with excellent flavor, a large oven and a removable battery. It feels well made, it’s easy to use without the app, and it works well for longer sessions at home or out and about.
For me, the battery is the key reason to buy it. I’ve used every DaVinci IQ since 2017, and my original still works. The IQ3 is the best one in the range so far, and I’d put it among my top three dry herb vaporizers, alongside the Mighty Plus and the Utilian 850.
It isn’t cheap, small or maintenance-free. But if you want a high-end device that feels good to use and has a better chance of staying useful for years, the IQ3 is an easy one for me to recommend.
