The 4 Best Portable Vaporizers of 2023

Pax is discontinuing the 3 we recommend and replacing it with two new models, the Pax Plus and the Pax Mini. We’re testing the Plus and Mini and will update this review with our findings.

The Pax 3 suits new and seasoned cannabis users alike, offering an easy vaporizing experience from start to finish while allowing you to fine-tune the device settings—if you feel like it.

Recommended by employees at cannabis dispensaries across the country—and unanimously favored by a diverse panel of testers—a packed Pax 3 lasts several enjoyable sessions, producing pleasing vapors without overheating. Plus, it's easier to clean than most portable vaporizers.

We looked for models with clear, intuitive controls and an oven that's easy to load and quick to heat up.

The best models mimic drinking from a straw and produce vapors that taste good and don't burn.

A good vaporizer can reliably be returned to near-mint condition with minimal effort.

Most models have adequate—and largely similar—battery life. We prefer that they rely on universal charging cords but didn't require it.

A great choice for newbies and experienced cannabis users alike, the Pax 3 can last several sessions, tucks neatly into a purse or pocket, and is relatively simple to clean. We don't love its mouthpiece or charger, though.

Pax is discontinuing the 3 we recommend and replacing it with two new models, the Pax Plus and the Pax Mini. We’re testing the Plus and Mini and will update this review with our findings.

Budtenders we spoke with unanimously recommended the Pax 3, and our test panel agreed: It's the portable vaporizer they’d buy for themselves. It's easy to load and intuitive to use. It heats quickly (in about 20 seconds), pulls well, produces vapors with great flavor, and is easy enough to clean, with no impossible-to-reach parts. And it lasted about two of our test sessions on a single charge. Although this model can connect to the Pax app, which lets you tinker with the temperature and other device settings, the Pax 3 is fully functional even without using the app. We don't love this model's proprietary charger, non-replaceable battery, and oddly shaped mouthpiece, though.

The AirVape Legacy Pro is just as easy to load as the Pax 3 and has a nicer mouthpiece. But it doesn't last quite as long on a single charge, and its vapors are slightly lacking in flavor.

The AirVape Legacy Pro is about as intuitive to use and as easy to load as the Pax 3, and it heats up just as quickly (in about 15 seconds). Unlike the Pax 3 (and Apollo's original Legacy), the Legacy Pro has a door that snaps shut, so you can feel solid your product is safe inside. The Legacy Pro lasts about a session on a single charge, compared with the Pax 3's two sessions. But we much prefer the Legacy Pro's longer, flatter mouthpiece to that of the Pax model. There's no app to nerd out on: You adjust the temperature with straightforward up and down arrows on the device itself. In our experience, the Legacy Pro's vapor flavor came off a bit more thin, with more waifish plumage (although it's still plenty tasty and milky). You can charge the Legacy Pro via USB-C or wirelessly, so you will stress less about possibly losing a proprietary cable.

The Mighty is less portable than all of our other picks, and it takes longer to heat up. But it dependably produces the tastiest vapors.

The Storz & Bickel Mighty is far bulkier than the Pax 3 and AirVape Legacy, but it produces the best-tasting vapors of any portable vaporizer we’ve tested. Because of its size, this model is likely to appeal to someone who plans to use it mainly at home. Its heat-up time hits closer to 90 seconds, which can be a slog in comparison with those of our other picks. There's no app to mess with (you control all temperature and other settings on the device itself). But we dislike this model's reliance on a proprietary power adapter.

The high-capacity Firefly 2+ quickly produces intense, tasty vapor. And with its visible heating chamber, it's super easy to clean.

Unlike the chambers on our other picks, the Firefly 2+'s chamber is visible, so you can see how much viable material is packed and better gauge when it's time to re-up. In use, it feels similar to the type of bowl you might smoke cannabis with—only no lighter is required. The fastest of all our picks to heat up (2 seconds quicker than the speedy Magic Flight Launch Box), the Firefly 2+ takes around 3 to 5 seconds to be ready for use. Like the Pax 3, the Firefly 2+ can sync to an app for fine-tuning temperature and other settings. Like the Pax 3 and the AirVape Legacy, the Firefly 2+ has a proprietary charger. This vape is a worthwhile addition to an existing vape collection, but we don't recommend relying on it as your primary (or only) option.

The AirVape Legacy Pro is just as easy to load as the Pax 3 and has a nicer mouthpiece. But it doesn't last quite as long on a single charge, and its vapors are slightly lacking in flavor.

The Mighty is less portable than all of our other picks, and it takes longer to heat up. But it dependably produces the tastiest vapors.

The high-capacity Firefly 2+ quickly produces intense, tasty vapor. And with its visible heating chamber, it's super easy to clean.

We’ve talked to more vaporizer experts, read more editorial and buyer reviews, and tried more models firsthand than most regular vaporizer shoppers ever get the chance to.

The experts we’ve consulted over six years of research and testing include Bud, the reviewer at The Vape Critic, and Buzz, the man behind the curtain at VaporizerWizard.com. (Both sites include affiliate links for some products they recommend, as explained in The Vape Critic's disclosure page and VaporizerWizard.com's disclosure page.) We also spoke with staff members at 11 cannabis dispensaries around the country to get an idea of what they sell most at their shops and what they would buy for their family and friends.

Writer Beca Grimm has been a tireless weed-doer for almost 20 years. She has covered cannabis for Rolling Stone, Vox, and others, and she has penned an herb-specific column for Good Beer Hunting. She co-founded—and from 2016 to 2021 operated—the feminist cannabis culture zine and brand Graze Club (formerly known as Dope Girls), raising funds for nonprofits such as Last Prisoner Project, which promotes clemency for people serving time for cannabis-related offenses.

A note of disclosure: Vaporizer manufacturer Grenco co-sponsored a Dope Girls print issue and release party in October 2019.

If you’re completely new to cannabis or have been a casual pot smoker in the past, you should know that a vaporizer is a great way to avoid the by-products of combustion and skip the sticky, icky ash mess that's an inevitable part of smoking joints, pipes, and bongs. A dry-herb vaporizer (like all those we reviewed for this guide) heats dried cannabis (or cannabis concentrate) that you pack into the device's oven, and it produces inhalable vapors. Dressed in a sleek and discreet housing, a portable vaporizer feels like something you can bring to a dinner party along with a bottle of wine.

If you’re a patient looking to use medical cannabis for symptom relief, portable vaporizers offer additional benefits. A quality vaporizer for ground cannabis flowers can reliably hit a consistent dosage with precision temperature controls, allowing you to control the effects better. That's not as easy with smoking or edibles.

Note: Portable vaporizers are legal—unless you use them with a substance that federal and/or local law says is illegal. Cannabis is illegal in some places.

Over six years of research, we’ve considered more than 50 portable vaporizers, mostly selected based on input from experts at sites like The Vape Critic and VaporizerWizard.com and from owners in enthusiast forums, including FuckCombustion and the r/vaporents subreddit. We also called 11 dispensaries across the country to see what budtenders have bought for themselves. We’ve panel-tested nearly two dozen models over the years to get an idea of how people with differing levels of cannabis familiarity think about the experience of using different vaporizers.

For this guide, we didn't consider vaporizers for oils, extracts, wax, cartridges, or other concentrates. We also didn't consider e-cigarettes or other products specifically for tobacco or nicotine use. The devices that use these substances are broadly called vaporizers, which is confusing. Our coverage here is limited to "flower vaporizers" for old-fashioned buds. We concluded that this product category is the best entry point for most people because it gives you a lot of options in terms of flavors, effects, and potency.

We also focused only on portable models—no offense to fans of tabletop favorites like the Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid. We evaluated models for on-the-go use, as well as for longer vaporizing sessions while you’re out on a hike, snuggled up on the couch, or relaxing around a backyard fire.

As we tested and retested portable cannabis vaporizers, we considered several important features:

We looked for models with clear, intuitive controls to start up the device, see when it's ready, adjust the temperature, and check battery life. We wanted the device's oven to be easy to load, quick to heat up, and unlikely to burn material if you forget that it's on. Some vaporizers transfer heat to packed material via conduction (direct contact), others with convection (air circulation), while still others use some combination of the two.

We wanted vapor that was good enough to never warrant smoking instead. As a result, we dismissed vaporizers that produced unpleasant flavors (like burnt popcorn) or harsh or uncomfortably hot vapor, as well as any that tended to clog or caused us unusual difficulty in inhaling. Truly great models produce vapors that taste good, don't burn, and feel like drinking from a straw.

When you’re living with these things long-term, cleaning proves to be an important factor because all devices require it, and the best vaporizers can reliably be returned to near-mint condition with minimal effort. The worst models have parts that need frequent replacement, areas you can't fully clean, or a cumbersome disassembly process. We avoided models with long, skinny airways that you need to ream out with pipe cleaners—they’re too hard to get truly clean.

It's most convenient when a vaporizer uses a common charging port like Micro-USB or USB-C, which works with cables you probably already have. A proprietary charger (such as a dock or a unique cable) is not as convenient, but we didn't dismiss models for that alone. We found that on most good vaporizers, battery life lasts for about four bowls, without a ton of differentiation among models. We appreciate vaporizers that have user-replaceable rechargeable batteries, but that feature isn't crucial.

A good vaporizer looks and feels nice to hold, has a body durable enough to survive a drop (it's inevitable), and offers a simple and effective mouthpiece that feels natural on your lips—and doesn't burn them. Subtle additions, such as concealed cleaning tools or aligned magnetic oven closures, also contribute to a satisfying experience. Many vaporizers put all the necessary info and controls on the body of the unit, while others rely on an app. For simplicity we prefer a vaporizer to be controllable without a smartphone app—but we didn't dismiss any models based on that factor.

Pax is discontinuing the 3 we recommend and replacing it with two new models, the Pax Plus and the Pax Mini. We’re testing the Plus and Mini and will update this review with our findings.

For a reliably excellent experience, we regularly reach for the Pax 3, which packs easily, heats up quickly (without overheating), and is fairly simple to keep clean. Our test panelists rated it their favorite vaporizer by far in every respect except vapor flavor (the Storz & Bickel Mighty won that one). This conduction vaporizer slam-dunks ease of use with intuitive on-device controls, yet it also allows for precision tinkering via an app. Simply put, this model is comfortable to use and pretty to pull on.

You simply tap the magnetically sealed oven lid to access the bowl for easy loading. The oven itself is pretty big, so you can pack a good amount of dried flowers in there (almost half a gram).

With the Pax 3, Pax moved away from largely leaning on its app, instead providing intuitive, tap-based temperature controls right on the device. Depending on the intensity of the flavor and effects you select, the Pax 3's four-light system illuminates when you click (more illumination means higher temperatures). The device gently vibrates when it reaches the desired settings and is good to go.

The clandestine silicone mouthpiece lies flush with the device. The Pax 3 also comes with a more traditional, raised mouthpiece, which you can easily snap in place.

In our tests the Pax 3's vapor flavor was solid and consistent—unlike the more staccato experience with some competitors. We found it smooth and grassy or gassy, depending on our strain of choice.

The Pax 3 Complete Kit comes with cleaning tools. A snappy wire brush and pipe cleaners root up charred nugs, and an easy, quick isopropyl bath restores the submersible components back to squeaky-clean. It's a quick, simple routine that doesn't necessitate a clear mind or a spare toothbrush. The Pax 3 currently comes in five colors—more than most other vaporizers we’ve considered, but not quite as many as the Firefly 2+.

Warranty: 10-year limited

Replaceable battery: no

The lithium-ion batteries in all of our vaporizer picks will degrade over time. But unlike batteries in our other picks, the Pax 3's battery is non-replaceable. (A company spokesperson said battery issues beyond "normal performance degradation" may be covered under warranty.)

Like other vaporizer apps, the Pax app (Android, desktop) is no longer available for iOS. To control the Pax 3 with an iPhone, you need to use the web app.

Although the Pax 3's flush silicone mouthpiece is great for sipping, it can be a lip-balm thief, making it a less-than-ideal option (especially for sharing).

The Pax 3 also has a proprietary charger, which runs you $25 to replace. And unlike the Storz & Bickel Mighty, this device can't be used while it's charging.

The AirVape Legacy Pro is just as easy to load as the Pax 3 and has a nicer mouthpiece. But it doesn't last quite as long on a single charge, and its vapors are slightly lacking in flavor.

Apollo's AirVape Legacy Pro, which our test panel deemed a close second to the Pax 3 overall, is a real weighty piece that feels good in your pocket. Its oven uses both convection and conduction heating, and it fully powers up a touch faster than the Pax 3. The onboard temperature controls are easy to use, and the device is super simple to clean. Its adjustable microdosing disc helps pack your bowl economically while allowing easy airflow. The Legacy Pro's digital display is easy to read in any light. In our tests, its vapor tasted clean and great, and our panelists preferred this device's mouthpiece to the Pax 3's.

The case snaps open for easy bowl access. (Our panelists found this process simple, even while very stoned, especially when compared with accessing the bowl on the Storz & Bickel Mighty.) Another chamber contains an easily removable glass straw that you pull from (and that is a breeze to clean). You can remove the mouthpiece so it doesn't chip or get smashed while in transit, and you can charge the Legacy Pro via USB-C or wirelessly. This model comes in two colors.

Warranty: limited lifetime with device registration

Replaceable battery: yes, for $15 (and you can do it yourself)

The Mighty is less portable than all of our other picks, and it takes longer to heat up. But it dependably produces the tastiest vapors.

The Storz & Bickel Mighty is the largest of all our picks (and it looks sort of like a drill battery), but it's a solid device that produces exceptionally tasty vapor. Less portable and discreet than the Pax 3 and the AirVape Legacy, the convection-heating Mighty easily loads dried materials at the top, and it gives you straightforward up and down buttons to adjust the temperature (as shown on a digital display). This device has a straw-like mouthpiece, which makes it great for full-bodied tokes. It does not have an app.

Of all our picks, the Mighty takes the longest to heat up—around 90 seconds—but it's well worth the wait. Plus, you can still toke on this vape even if the battery is totally drained, as long as it's plugged in to charge and switched on, something our other picks do not allow.

Like the Pax 3, the Mighty comes with a cleaning kit (plus spare screens and other handy accessories, like a capsule for precision dosing). The device charges via an AC wall adapter. (Usually priced about $50 more, the Mighty+ heats up a bit more quickly—the company claims 60 seconds. And it charges via USB-C. We haven't tested it.) The Mighty comes in only one color: a power-tool-like matte black.

Warranty: three years with device registration

Replaceable battery: yes (as part of a Storz & Bickel service package, for a fee)

The high-capacity Firefly 2+ quickly produces intense, tasty vapor. And with its visible heating chamber, it's super easy to clean.

The convection Firefly 2+ heats up very quickly—four times as fast as our next-fastest-heating pick—and it's fun to use. Unlike our other picks, the Firefly 2+ has an exposed bowl, so you can easily see when it's time to repack. While it's not the device we think most people will reach for regularly, its unique design makes for a pleasant shared experience. We’ve found it's a worthwhile addition to an existing vape lineup.

But setting the temperature on the device itself can be tricky. To activate the oven, you hold down the right-side sensor while tapping the one on the left three times. Then this vape is ready to hit almost instantly—the bowl glows orange for extra indication and excitement. You can then tap up to six additional times to raise the (preset) temperature. Our testers found this process somewhat finicky, and we believe that most people would prefer to control the temperature using the Firefly app (Android, desktop).

The Firefly 2+ is arguably the easiest of our picks to clean, since you can effortlessly open the device to expose the oven. Then you simply use some of the included alcohol wipes and give it a quick wipe-down.

The mouthpiece, while comfortable to use, seems like it could snap off if you lazily toss the Firefly 2+ into a tote bag. Learning to pull a reliable, consistent hit with this device can be tricky, too, since you have to hold both the right and left sensors while inhaling. One-handed use is possible, but our panelists were divided on this kind of drag; some found it overly cumbersome when compared with pulling on our other picks.

Not unlike a traditional bowl, the Firefly 2+ does get warm (though not aggressively so). It comes with a handy charging dock, or you can use a standard Micro-USB charging cord. The Firefly 2+ comes in six colors.

Warranty: two-year limited

Replaceable battery: yes, for $30 (and you can do it yourself)

If you can't or don't want to spend $200-plus: Consider the DaVinci Miqro, an ultra-portable, mostly conduction-heated vaporizer that our test panelists enjoyed using—though not as much as our picks. Load it up just below the mouthpiece, tap the control button five times to turn it on, and use the intuitive up and down arrows to adjust the preset temperature controls (and if you forget any of this, a set of instructions is printed underneath the device). It's fairly intuitive to use and charges via Micro-USB, but its deep chamber is more difficult to load. Like the Storz & Bickel Mighty (and unlike our other picks), the Miqro can be used while it's charging. The Miqro's components are a bit harder to clean than those of our picks—especially its mouthpiece, which consists of a slightly concave opening lined with ridges that can collect lip gloss. This model comes in five colors.

Warranty: five-year limited

Replaceable battery: yes, for $11 (you can do it yourself; see video)

Regular cleaning helps portable vaporizers work better and longer. But not all parts of every vaporizer need to be (or can be) cleaned. Always refer to a model's manual or instructional videos for care and maintenance instructions specific to the device (check out the videos for the Pax 3, AirVape Legacy Pro, Storz & Bickel Mighty, and Firefly 2+). Still, a few general cleaning tips apply to virtually every vape.

Frequent cleaning, including emptying spent material from the heating chamber each time you use a vaporizer, helps prevent the sort of residue buildup that often necessitates a deeper clean. For quick spot-cleaning of the chamber between uses, consider keeping alcohol wipes or isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs near to where you store your vaporizer.

To do a thorough cleaning, you need to access the chamber, vapor path (or air path), and mouthpiece per the manufacturer's instructions. Note that moisture can cause substantial damage to a vaporizer's heating element and other electronics. None of our picks should ever be fully submerged in liquid while assembled. You can easily clean most glass, steel, and silicone components with isopropyl alcohol; for stubborn residue, consider soaking the individual components in alcohol. You can clean most vapor paths using pipe-cleaner-like brushes, such as those included with some of our picks. Be sure to wipe clean each piece and let it dry fully before reassembling your device.

Over time, lithium-ion batteries—like those in all our picks—degrade. They’ll eventually hold less charge overall.

The Pax 3's battery is non-replaceable (unless you’re okay with potentially damaging the vape and voiding its warranty), and the company doesn't cover degradation. Storz & Bickel recommends storing the Mighty at a battery capacity of between 20% (one bar) and 80% (four), and occasionally fully draining the battery before recharging it, to "adjust the battery capacity and keep the battery gauge correct." For a fee, the company will replace the Mighty's battery as part of a service package. You can buy and install your own replacement batteries for the AirVape Legacy Pro ($15) and Firefly 2+ (PDF) ($30).

We previously recommended the AirVape X, but we’ve found the newer AirVape Legacy and AirVape Legacy Pro—with their improved designs and easier charging—to be better choices overall. Compared with the Legacy Pro, the AirVape Legacy has a smaller loading chamber and is slightly more difficult to clean. We think the Legacy Pro is worth the extra spend.

The Grasshopper Hopper iO, a former pick in this guide, is ultra discreet. Over long-term testing, however, we’ve found that the Hopper iO gets so hot at times that it can feel unsafe to toke. The Hopper Glass Bubbler, a now-discontinued $75 accessory, uses water to cool the vapor and enhance its flavor, but the piece is far from portable. Controlling the Hopper iO's temperature can be confusing—especially when you’re high—and the device requires a proprietary charger (which costs $40 to replace).

The Tinymight features a cooling unit and offers robust flavor, plus two modes (on-demand and session). Its glass mouthpiece gives us serious pause—you have to be extra careful to keep this unit intact. Compared with other cannabis vaporizers we’ve considered, this one looks more like a tobacco-style vaporizer. Plus, we’ve found it confusing to use and difficult to clean.

The Grenco Science G Pen Elite is a fine vaporizer overall, with simple controls, vapor that our testers enjoyed, convenient charging, decent battery life, and a sleek design that's portable and functional. The lower price is appropriate, since the G Pen Elite can't match our picks, including in vapor quality and ease of cleaning.

The Grenco Science G Pen Pro is just one variation on the same device that's also marketed as the X Pen Pro. It's the epitome of a generic vaporizer, with none of the nice touches the Grenco G Pen Elite offers. Shaped like a small flashlight, the G Pro's plastic body matches its plastic mouthpiece. It also matches the taste: The vapor was thin and plasticky on every setting in our tests. You control the whole device with a single button, and it gives you feedback with just a single light.

In a battle for great vapor flavor, the Storz & Bickel Crafty+, the Arizer ArGo, and the DaVinci IQC would rank close to one another. In our testing, all three produced richly flavored vapor that made our taste buds sing. The ArGo created particularly smooth vapor, though the IQC and Crafty+ weren't far behind in that respect. But each device has its disadvantages, namely cleaning issues with the Crafty+, durability concerns during travel with the ArGo, and a combination of cleaning and interface flaws with the IQC. (We haven't tested the DaVinci IQ2.)

The Magic Flight Launch Box heats up ridiculously fast—it's not quite as quick as the Firefly 2+, but still impressive—and features a unique, retro design. Its analogue positives begin and end in that it looks organic and cool. You heat the flower by pushing an external battery into the vape body, which can be challenging. Additionally, the Launch Box offers just one setting, and if you hold the battery in too long, you can easily, accidentally scorch your dry product. It isn't exactly intuitive to use, even as its clear closure flap helps you gauge how much vapor you’re about to pull before doing so.

We wanted to test the beloved Firewood, (the latest version is the 8), but it is sold out more often than it is available.

The XMax Starry is easy to load and offers intuitive onboard temperature controls, but the DaVinci Miqro is a better overall choice for a similar price. The similarly priced XMax V3 Pro produces great flavor, and its vapors are cooled by a ceramic disc in the mouthpiece. But it feels a bit awkward to use (this model easily earned the nickname "penny whistle" from our panel testers). It's also less portable than the Miqro because it's so long.

The Linx Gaia requires a cap to protect its glass stem, and the vapor quality in our tests was just so-so.

Although the now-discontinued Arizer Air produced tasty vapors, we disliked the digital display and DC-input charger. Our testers found its design, with its conspicuous glass stem, polarizing, noting that it wasn't something most people would want to tote around. We chose not to test the Air II (also discontinued) or the Air Max (which has a design similar to that of previous models but charges via USB-C).

Mark Smirniotis and Jordan McMahon contributed reporting.

This guide was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

Beca Grimm

Beca Grimm is a culture writer and editor based in Southwest Atlanta.

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