The Dr. Dabber Switch 2 is by far my favourite electric dab rig. I bought mine pretty much as soon as it came out and it’s been blowing my mind pretty much ever since.
But if you want something smaller, cheaper, or with controls you can adjust on a touchscreen, for instance, and, yes, some people do REALLY want that, there are some good reasons to buy something else.
First, Why Look for a Switch 2 Alternative?
I own the Dr. Dabber Switch 2, and I absolutely love the thing.
It’s brilliant. It works great. And unlike something like the Puffco Peak, you don’t have to eventually replace the atomizer. The Switch 2 uses induction heating around a removable insert.
For me, it’s about as close to a perfect electric dab rig as I’ve found.
But there are caveats.
The main one? It’s pretty damn big.
You can take it around your buddy’s house. Stick it in a backpack, pack it properly, and off you go. But you’ll know it’s in there. This isn’t something you can tuck away in a little pocket and forget about.
I think of the Switch 2 as a desktop rig. It’s something you keep at home, on a table, ready to go.
And that’s absolutely fine. That’s predominantly how I want to use it.
But you might want something smaller.
You might want to spend less.
Or you might want a feature the Switch 2 doesn’t have, like a touchscreen, because apparently even our dab rigs need screens now.
Fair enough.
That’s what this guide is for. Every option here has a specific reason to exist alongside the Switch 2, whether that’s price, portability or the way you control it.
There’s no particular ranking. The right alternative depends on what you want to change about the Switch 2.
Dr. Dabber Switch GO: For a Smaller, Lighter Setup
The Switch GO is the most obvious place to start if your issue with the Switch 2 is its size.
Here’s the difference:
| Specification | Switch 2 | Switch GO |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 9 inches | 6 inches |
| Width | 4 inches | 3.3 inches |
| Weight | 25.6oz | 12.8oz |
| Listed battery life | Up to 30 heating cycles | Up to 20 heating cycles |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
| Price | $420 | $329.95 |
- Half the weight is a proper reason to consider an alternative.
- Three inches less height helps too.
If you regularly move your rig between places, that’s a difference you’ll appreciate every time you pack it.
The GO also keeps access to Dr. Dabber’s app customisation, including adjustable heating curves. You can customise your profiles rather than being stuck with a handful of fixed settings.
That makes it a sensible option for someone who wants a smaller device while keeping that control over their sessions.
There are compromises. The battery life is shorter, the warranty is shorter, and the GO’s standard kit doesn’t include the heated loading tool or wall charger you get with the Switch 2.
It’s also still a water-filtered rig with glass attached, so smaller doesn’t automatically mean something you can casually shove in a jacket pocket. You’ll still need to assemble it and clean it. If you want a true on-the-go dab system, check out the Dr Dabber Ghost 2.
Why choose it over the Switch 2? You want a rig that’s easier to carry, costs about $90 less, and keeps Dr. Dabber’s customisable session controls.
Puffco Peak: For Spending Less Without Giving Up Water Filtration
The current Puffco Peak has a very straightforward argument in its favour.
- It costs $250.
- The Switch 2 costs $420.
That leaves $170 in your pocket.
For that money, you get a water-filtered electric rig with a 3D chamber, a joystick cap and four heat settings. It covers the main things someone buying their first proper e-rig is likely to want.
And there’s something to be said for keeping things simple.
If you tend to find a setting you like and stick with it, you might not get much use out of custom heating curves or detailed app settings. Paying extra for them only makes sense if you’ll actually use them.
The Peak’s limitations are clear, though. You don’t get app control or custom temperature profiles. You’re working with its four presets.
You also have a replaceable heated chamber. That’s one of the things I particularly like avoiding with the Switch 2, so I’d factor future chamber replacements into the purchase.
Why choose it over the Switch 2? You want a straightforward water-filtered rig, four presets are enough, and saving $170 matters.
Focus V CARTA SPORT: For Custom Settings on a Smaller Budget
The CARTA SPORT gets interesting because its lower price doesn’t mean giving up app customisation.
At $235, it’s $185 cheaper than the Switch 2. You can customise temperature and session settings through the Focus V app, so it gives you more room to dial things in than a rig limited to fixed presets.
If you like adjusting your sessions but don’t want to spend over $400, that’s a good starting point.
There’s another practical feature I like the idea of: the removable CARTA CONNECT airpath.
Cleaning access matters. It’s one of those things that might not sell you a device in the first five minutes, but it starts to matter once you’re using it regularly. Being able to remove the airpath gives you direct access to that part for cleaning.
The trade-off is its atomizer system. The SPORT uses replaceable INTELLI-CORE atomizers, so you need to account for that ongoing expense.
Warranty coverage is also shorter than the Switch 2’s: Focus V lists one year for the base and six months for the atomizer.
Why choose it over the Switch 2? You want customisable sessions and a removable airpath while spending considerably less upfront.
DaVinci EQ Skyrise: For Touchscreen Controls at a Lower Price
The DaVinci EQ Skyrise (it’s the cheaper EQ E-Rig, pictured left) does something very easy to explain: it puts the controls on the rig itself.
You get a touchscreen for adjusting temperature and customisable Smart Paths. If you want to change how your session runs, you can do it directly on the device.
The Switch 2 lets you use saved profiles through its buttons, which works perfectly well. But its deeper customisation happens through the app.
If you’d prefer to handle those adjustments on the rig, the EQ gives you a reason to switch.
The Skyrise (pictured left) currently costs $349, making it $71 cheaper than the Switch 2. It comes with the EQ touchscreen base, a replaceable quartz crucible and a Skyrise glass bubbler with a listed 30ml water capacity.
That’s a good combination on paper: quartz, water filtration and direct access to your settings for less money.
There is one difference I’d pay attention to before buying, though.
- The EQ’s temperature range starts at 450°F.
- The Switch 2 goes down to 250°F.
- If you use settings below 450°F, that could settle the decision right there.
A touchscreen is handy, but it won’t make up for losing temperatures you actually use.
Why choose it over the Switch 2? You want touchscreen control, a quartz crucible and a lower purchase price, and the EQ’s temperature range suits you.
DaVinci EQ Jacuzzi: For the Fuller EQ Package
The Jacuzzi is the other EQ setup I’d consider, particularly if you want a rig you can use at home and pack away for trips.
It combines the EQ touchscreen base with the Jacuzzi bubbler, zirconia mouthpiece and carb cap, plus a hard travel case.
The case is a useful inclusion for that sort of ownership. You’ve got somewhere to pack the device when you’re taking it around a friend’s house or putting it away between uses.
But there’s a price caveat.
- At $499, the Jacuzzi costs $79 more than the Switch 2.
So it needs to make sense for your preferences; personally, I don’t think the math makes sense here. I own both and the Switch 2 is the superior setup, and it’s not even really close. The touchscreen, supplied parts and travel case are nice but these need to be things you actually want.
I wouldn’t buy it purely because the bubbler holds more water, either. Water capacity alone doesn’t prove one rig delivers a better experience than another.
The same temperature limitation applies here as with the Skyrise: its listed range starts at 450°F.
Why choose it over the Switch 2? You specifically want the EQ’s touchscreen controls, want something that is actually portable, and prefer the Jacuzzi package enough to pay extra for it.
For someone mainly interested in getting those touchscreen controls for less money, the Skyrise makes the stronger price argument.
Which One Would I Actually Buy?
For my use, the Switch 2 remains the one I’d choose.
I predominantly want to use a rig at home. Its size doesn’t bother me there, I love how it works, and the induction heating setup is a big part of its appeal.
If you’re looking at one and thinking, “I just want a brilliant electric dab rig for home,” I really don’t think you’ll regret it. It’s by far my favourite.
But if there’s something specific holding you back, these alternatives make sense:
- Too big? Start with the Switch GO.
- Too expensive, and you want simple controls? Look at the Puffco Peak.
- Too expensive, but you still want custom settings? Consider the CARTA SPORT.
- Want to adjust settings on a touchscreen? Look at the DaVinci EQ Skyrise, or the Jacuzzi if you prefer its supplied kit.
That’s how I’d make the decision. Pick the thing you actually want to change, then buy the rig that solves it.
And if you don’t particularly need smaller dimensions, a lower price or a touchscreen? Get the Switch 2. It’s freaking phenomenal.
