Pax 3 Review

Pax 3 Review: Your Questions Answered, Size Specs, and More

PAX is one of the best selling vape brands in the world, and over the years it’s developed significant street cred when it comes to making gorgeous and easy-to-use vapes. And each time it releases a new edition, prospects only get better for the brand. 

With the PAX 3, the company has upped the game for itself, streamlining the Pax model above and beyond what they achieved with the Pax 2.

PAX 3 Tech specs

The Pax 3 Complete Kit vs. Basic Kit/Device Only

You have 2 different routes when it comes to buying the Pax 3. You can purchase the basic kit, which includes a charger, cleaning tools, and 2 different variations on the mouthpieces, flat and raised.

The Complete Kit will include all of the above, plus a concentrate insert, changing the game for you as a vaper, since you will get the ability to enjoy wax concentrates. You also get extra screens, a new packing tool, and the half-pack cap that you can insert into the oven to manage your servings thanks to the oven being on the larger side. 

The basic kit retails at $199.00, while the Complete Kit comes in at $249.00. 

Our take? If you want to utilize dab style vaping, it is a no brainer, the PAX 3 complete kit is the way to go. 

What's In The Box?

Pax Smartphone App

The smartphone app by Pax enhances the user experience to a new level! The PAX Mobile App is available in the Google Play store, which allows you to choose precision temperatures, track your usage, and nerd out in various other ways. The app is only available for Android smartphones, since Apple kicked out all vape-related apps from its store in 2019. You’re not completely out of luck if you’re an iPhone user, though. 

In fact, there is a workaround. Download the Connect Browser from the iOS App store. Once that is installed, open up the Connect Browser app and enable bluetooth settings once prompted. 

From here, go to pax.com and select Pax 3 from the menu of options. Voila! You can now use this app with this simple workaround. 

Pax 3: The Easy to Use Vape

If you are thinking about buying a PAX 3, the appeal of this particular device is that it just works without much effort on your part. But in case you’re curious, here’s an overview of how the PAX 3 does what it does.

1. The Pax 3 Heating System

As mentioned before, the PAX 3 uses a conduction heating system. In case you’re wondering why this is worth mentioning, the answer is that it makes your device heat up faster, which is nice when you’re prepping for a quick discreet session. Conduction heating systems work by directly applying heat to your material via the walls of the oven chamber, so they offer faster heat up times than convection systems (which depend on blasting the material with hot air).

2. Loading the Pax 3

The PAX 3 is loaded from the bottom of the device. Press the magnetic cover on one side, and it’ll pop right off. You can then insert your dry herb or, if you’re vaping wax or shatter or something similar, the Dosing Capsule. When using dry herb, you’ll want to grind your material quite finely and pack it in densely—this can have a big impact on the visibility of your vapor.

3. Turning on the Pax 3

The top of the PAX 3 conceals its power button—whether you’re using the flat mouthpiece or the extended one, just press down in the center for a moment until the petals on the front of the device light up. They’ll sparkle in various colors for a while before turning green, at which point you’re ready to vape. 

4. Setting the Temperature On The Pax 3

There are two ways to set the temperature on the PAX 3. To toggle between the device’s 4 preset settings—360° F, 380° F, 400°F, and 420° F—you can press and hold the power button until the petals start blinking (one petal indicates the lowest setting, four indicates the highest). Once you’ve chosen the desired temperature, press and hold the power button again to lock in that temperature. If you’re looking for more personalization, you can also use the PAX Mobile App on your phone, or the web version via Google Chrome. 

5. Hitting the Pax 3

The PAX 3 is a direct draw vape, meaning you don’t have to press any buttons or perform any special actions to take a hit. Just hold it up to your lips and “sip” the mouthpiece like you’re tasting a cocktail.

The Pax 3 Vapor Quality

Pax has made vast improvements in vapor quality with the PAX 3—the new version has considerably better airflow thanks to the isolated vapor path. 

At higher temperatures, say around 400° F, the vapor is highly impressive, with impactful clouds and still maintaining a bit of the flavor that you encounter with the first 2 petal presets, which provide thinner vapor but a hefty rich flavor. 

The isolated air path combined with the flush mouthpiece ensure that the vapor does not hit you with a blast of uncomfortable heat. All in all, a smooth, reliable vaping experience with the Pax 3. 

Tips For Getting The Best Vapor Quality With the Pax 3

Advice for modding out your PAX vape abounds across the internet—replacing oven screens is one of the top suggestions—but before you go that route, it’s worth experimenting with two things first. 

First, try grinding your material more finely than you normally do. You can do this by using a two-part grinder with lots of sharp teeth, or by using your four-part grinder (and holding it upside down so your material spends more time getting shredded before falling through the grate).

Second, If you feel like you are getting draws that are too intense or biting more than you can chew, size down. The complete kit has a half-pack oven inclusion, which is a cap that functions by siphoning off half of the chamber. This can be ideal for those of us who prefer shorter, quicker sessions. 

Remember to take slow, even draws as well. 

Is the Pax 3 Easy to Clean?

One of the nice things about the PAX 3 is that cleaning the device takes about 20 seconds of your day—just scrape out any excess material from the oven chamber and give it a quick rub with some isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab. 

The airpath can be cleaned using the pipe cleaners included in the kit (when you run out, you can find more at any office store or stationary shop). If you do this about once a week, your device will be in great shape for the long haul.

The Temperature range of the PAX 3

The PAX 3 can hit temperatures between 360°F - 420°F. The device comes with 4 preset settings at various levels, and you can also change the temperature by individual degrees (more on that in a second).

Stealth mode can help maintain flavor with a smooth, rapid cool down after a hit. The Pax’s light will dim as an indication in the interest of discretion. This works with all four temperature presets including a fifth preset, which you have the privilege of setting through the Pax 3 web-based app on iOS, or via the Google Play store on your Android. 

How the PAX 3 displays temperature and battery

PAX is known for its trademark LED petals on the front of each device, and these do more than tell you the device is on—they also indicate the temperature setting, though for more precision you’ll need an outside tool to help with that (we promise we are getting to this part in a second!).

• One green petal will mean 360° F (180° C)
• Two yellow petals will mean 380° F (193° C)
• Three orange petals is 400° F (204° C)
• Four red petals signify 420° F (215° C)

For battery, the petals will illuminate white when checking the battery, and the petals correspond to a 25% increment - 4 illuminated petals corresponds to 75%-100%, as an example. 

When the battery needs topping up, the upper left petal will begin to flash red. 

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pax 3 Dry Herb Vaporizer?

The PAX 3 has a lot going for it, but it also has its drawbacks (like any vaporizer). Here’s a bird’s eye breakdown: 

Pax 2 vs. Pax 3

On a superficial level, the Pax 2 and Pax 3 are difficult to tell apart - the Pax 3 has a few more color options and a nicer finish, but to the naked eye, these are incidental. 

The Pax 3 surpasses the Pax 2 with its superior battery life and quicker heating times, and the 3 also introduces haptic feedback into the fold. But more important is the inclusion of a concentrate insert in the Pax 3 complete kit, enhancing the function and use of the portable Pax vape brand - being able to do both dry herb and dabs is pretty impressive.

Who Should Buy the Pax 3?

The PAX 3 is ideal for people who want a simple, good-looking vape that can fit in just about anywhere (if you’re the kind of person who likes to enjoy a clandestine vape while strolling down the street, this is the device for you, though remember that the PAX 3 isn’t entirely odor free). The PAX 3 is especially nice if you enjoy vaping both dry herb and concentrates and don’t want to fully commit to either.

So Is The Pax 3 Worth It? 

If you’re going to spend around $200 on a vaporizer, the PAX 3 is one of the best deals out there. There’s a reason it’s won awards from Digital Trends, High Times, and just about every vape-focused website on the internet. It’s compact, versatile, and that warranty is almost too good to be true. Plus, now that PAX has unveiled a new line of colors for this model, there might not be a single vape out there that can beat the PAX 3 in the style department.

All in all, the Pax 3 is great vape that you will get plenty of mileage and longevity out of.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can you vape with the PAX 3?

The PAX 3 is a dual use vaporizer—meaning it can handle both dry herbs and concentrates (e.g. wax, shatter, budder). You will want to use the concentrate insert—included in the Complete Kit—if you’re planning on vaping the latter, as the oven chamber can get a bit messy otherwise. 

2. How big is the PAX 3?

The PAX 3 is one of the most pocket-friendly vapes on the market, with dimensions of 1.2” x 0.8” x 3.5”. That is about half the size of your average smartphone (especially if you’re talking about one of the jumbo new models). 

3. How much does the PAX 3 weigh?

As you might expect given its diminutive dimensions, the PAX 3 is quite a lightweight vaporizer: it weighs a mere 3.3 oz, or roughly the same as a deck of cards. 

4. How big is the PAX 3’s oven chamber?

This is another area where the PAX 3 starts punching above its weight—its oven can hold a robust 0.35 g, which is more than enough for a hearty group session (or two, depending on your friends’ appetites). 

5. What’s the PAX 3’s heating system?

Like its predecessor, the PAX 2, the PAX 3 uses a conduction heating system. We’ll discuss that in a bit more detail later, but for now the important thing to remember is that the PAX 3’s heating system gives it a speedy heat up time of 22 seconds (down from 45 seconds for the PAX 2).

6. Which battery does the PAX 3 use?

The PAX 3 comes with a non-removable 3500mAh lithium ion battery, which is rechargeable. The device comes with a “charging cradle” that attaches via magnet to the back of the device.

7. How long is the PAX 3’s battery life?

Depending on your temperature settings, you can expect to get around 8-10 sessions worth of vaping on a full charge of your PAX 3. For most people, this will cover at least a day or two of vaping. 

8. How long does the PAX 3 take to charge?

The PAX 3 will take around 2.5 hours to go from “completely out of juice” to “totally powered up.” If, for whatever reason, you need to charge your PAX 3 without a charger, there are a number of DIY tutorials available that show you how to fashion a makeshift charging cradle out of common household objects.

9. Does the PAX 3 have an auto shutoff feature?

Yes, the PAX 3 will turn off after roughly 3 minutes of inactivity. Giving it a quick shake will “wake up” the device and display its battery level (which is indicated by those LED petals, with all four indicating a full battery and a single petal indicating the battery is getting low). 

10. Does the PAX 3 have a warranty?

This is one of the PAX 3’s finest features—it comes with a 10 year warranty, which is by far one of the longest in the vape business.

Check out why the pax 3 is so popular?

11. What Colors Are Available To Me?

The Pax 3 comes in Sage (a rich darker green), Onyx (a shimmering metallic black), Burgundy (a deep maroon red), and Sand (an off white, beautiful vape).