Pax 3 Vs Firefly 2 Plus

Pax and Firefly have long been prominent names in the vape industry. For years they have held a place in the upper echelons of the portable vape scene. Both have released a series of high quality vaporizers, each a refinement of the last. 

The Pax 3 is the latest dry herb vaporizer from Pax Labs. It is an ultra stylish and ultra compact device that offers incredible, premium quality vape hits. Its robust body and minimalist design makes it a fantastic everyday carry.

The Firefly 2 Plus is the most recent iteration of the famous Firefly range of vapes. It has a striking and elegant design that is still understated and easy to carry. Firefly have been very vocal about the incredible level of flavor this vaporizer is capable of generating.

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Pax 3 vs Firefly 2 Plus: A Quick Comparison

Here’s a quick run down about what’s going on under the hood of both of these vaporizers . 

 What's in the Box:

Design: Pax 3 vs. Firefly 2 Plus

The intricacies of design is where many vaporizers distinguish themselves from each other. Some design philosophies favor discretion and portability, and make smaller vaporizers. However the trade off here is often in terms of capacity and battery life.

On the other hand favoring chamber size and use time can result in a larger and less discreet vaporizer. Both the Pax 3 and the Firefly 2 Plus have built themselves for optimal style and discretion, however they have also managed to pack superb vape capacity in, too. 

The Pax 3 has a sleek, stylish, and compact design. It is a pocket-sized vaporizer measuring in at a tiny four inches long. Its understated design keeps ornamentation to a minimum, with little more than an X shaped LED on its main body. This LED serves as the main indicator for the device, relaying information about the battery life and heat setting back to the user.

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For more in depth information and control, users can connect the Pax via Bluetooth to a bespoke app. While it is small, the Pax 3 is a solid piece of kit. Its outer body is composed of anodized aluminum that is more than capable of standing up to the trials and tribulations of daily use.

Much like the Pax 3, the Firefly 2 Plus is a discreet and stylish vaporizer. It makes a few more statements in its design than the Pax, featuring an interesting body shape of straight lines and contrasting curves. It is also available in a range of striking, patterned finishes.

Like the Pax, the Firefly 2 Plus has a minimalist display in the form of an LED indicator light. Onboard, The Firefly 2 Plus features a two button control system. This is straightforward to use, but some may find it hard to hold and depress both buttons at the same time. It also features a smartphone app that vastly increases its functionality. 

Both of these vaporizers are incredibly stylish, designed to be discreet but also instantly recognizable. Choosing between them is nearly impossible, so we have no other choice but to call it a tie!

Winner: Tie!

Ease of Use: Pax 3 vs. Firefly 2 Plus

If a vaporizer hits the market and it requires an engineering degree to use, then something has gone terribly wrong. It doesn’t matter if it can produce the finest clouds ever to grace the vape industry, if it doesn’t provide a good and intuitive user experience, then it isn’t a good vape.

The Pax 3, like many vapes its size, features a simplified single button control scheme and simple LED “X” display. The display lights up in a variety of different ways to indicate different statuses. For example, it lights up and pulses gently when the vaporizer is activated and begins heating, and it displays each of the four temperature settings by lighting up the corresponding number of segments: One for the lowest setting, two for the next up, and so on up to four.

Users can get more information if they connect the Pax 3 to its smartphone app. This app allows users to not only see more about what's going on inside their vape, but it also allows them to have more control over its heating settings. 

The Firefly 2 Plus also features a minimalist interface. It has a simple two button control scheme and LED indicator light mounted on the face of the device. Both the buttons must be pressed before the Firefly 2 Plus will start to heat up. This ensures that the device can’t accidentally go through a heating cycle in your back pocket, wasting herb and battery life.

However, it also means that the Firefly needs to be held in a certain way during use, which some users find awkward. Like the Pax, this device also has a compatible smartphone app. This app allows users to access a wider range of temperature settings, and it also allows users to change the heating activation to work with a single button press. 

Both of these feature greatly simplified onboard control schemes and displays. These offer a surprising amount of control while keeping the general design of both devices uncluttered. Both also feature fantastic smartphone apps that increase the user’s level of control.

This is truly neck and neck, however the Pax 3 wins by a nose. The unusual two button activation system on the Firefly 2 Plus forces you to hold it in an unconventional way that some may find uncomfortable. 

Winner: Pax 3

Temperature Options: Pax 3 vs. Firefly 2 Plus

Vaping offers a whole world of new ways to enjoy dry herbs. This is thanks to its ability to generate a huge range of different temperatures. Lower temperatures mean you’ll get to enjoy a mild, subtle vapor. Higher temperatures, on the other hand, generate potent, dense clouds. The broader a vape’s temperature spectrum, the more options you have. 

The Pax 3 features four convection heating presets by default: 360°F, 380°F, 400°F, and 420°F. Cycling through each of these is done by simply holding down the main control button. While most users will be more than happy with these options, the more fussy among us can connect the Pax to its app for more options.

The app doesn’t just let you enjoy more precise temperature controls it also unlocks entirely new functions. The most interesting of these is the boost mode. This gives the heating system a kick to quickly generate a burst of dense vapor. Another handy function is stealth mode, which turns off all the LEDs on the body, perfect for low key vaping.

The Firefly 2 Plus has a similar temperature range to the Pax 3. Its convection heating system offers a selection of presets that ranges from 320°F to 420°F. These can be selected with its default, on board controls. For added functionality, simply connect it to the smartphone app for a broader temperature spectrum that ranges from 200°F to 420°F.

Both of these vaporizers feature a surprisingly broad range of temperature options considering their size. Both offer presets out of the box, with an expanded array of options once you connect their respective smartphone apps. It's a draw!

Winner: Tie!

Vapor Quality: Pax 3 vs. Firefly 2 Plus

All good vapes live and die on their vapor quality. Whether it is a $20 pen vape or a $400 desktop vaporizer, the first and foremost thing it has to do is provide decent vapor quality. Vapor quality describes how smooth, tasty, potent, and cool the hits provided by a vaporizer are. While some may think that quality equals clouds, there’s a bit more to it than that.

Despite its size, the Pax 3 produces premium vapor quality. Its vapor is smooth, tasty, and dense. It has an ultra fast heat up time, too. Hitting its hottest temperature in around 30 seconds. This is always a huge plus when it comes to portable vaporizers. Despite its compact body, the Pax 3 offers surprisingly good cooling. This is all down to a clever layout that places the herb chamber down at the bottom of the device, as far from the mouthpiece as possible. 

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The Firefly 2 Plus puts one feature above all others, the amazing flavor it can produce. Its convection vaping system is carefully designed to get the most out of your herb’s natural taste. Each drag from this device will let you enjoy the distinct, authentic taste of your favorite herbal blends. This allows you to enjoy dry herb and concentrates in a way that you couldn’t with pipes or bongs.

Both of these vaporizers fit incredible, premium quality convection vaping into ultra-compact forms, no mean feat! However the incredible flavor the Firefly 2 Plus can produce puts it on another level when compared to the Pax 3. 

Winner: 

Cleaning and Maintenance: Pax 3 vs. Firefly 2 Plus

Cleanliness is next to godliness in the vape world. Dry herb constantly produces a small amount of sticky resin, and this is kicked into overdrive when you apply heat to the equation. In time, this resin can build up into a hard grim that can block airpaths, and cause hotspots in heating chambers. The only way to stop this is to open up your vape and give it a good clean. 

The Pax 3’s compact and straightforward design makes keeping it clean a piece of cake. The only supplies you’ll need is some rubbing alcohol or vape cleaning fluid, some cotton swabs, and the included soft cleaning brush. You can use these to rub down the mouthpiece, vapor path, and the oven. None of this requires any disassembly at all!

Compared to many vapes, the Firefly 2 Plus requires somewhat frequent cleaning. It makes up for this by being incredibly easy to clean. Simply lift the lid and wipe down the chamber and glass airpath with a cotton bud wetted with a drop of isopropyl alcohol. Ensure that the airpath is free of clogs, and the vape should be as good as new. 

The Pax 3 noses out a win in this category due to the fact that the Firefly 2 Plus requires more frequent cleaning. While both are simple to keep clean, the Pax isn’t nearly as demanding. 

Winner: Pax 3

Final Verdict: Which Is Better, Pax 3 or Firefly 2 Plus?

The Pax 3 is the latest in the ultra-popular Pax series, and it has obviously learned a lot of lessons from its predecessors. Its stylish and compact build makes it perfect for parties, clubs, or wherever else you may need it. It is ultra portable and can fit in any pocket or bag and thanks to its aluminum construction, it can easily stand up to the trials of everyday use.

Its vapor quality is easily in the upper tiers of the vape market and its fantastic app offers a superb amount of control. Unfortunately, some users may find that needing a second device to overcome the limitations of its single button control scheme is a trade off they aren’t willing to make.

The Firefly 2 plus is an elegant, discreet, and potent vape. It is perfect if you want a vape that you can carry with you everyday. Its vapor quality is certainly impressive, offering a level of flavor that few other vaporizers could hope to match. Unfortunately, much like the Pax 3, its restrictive onboard controls can be a turn off to many. On top of this, the unusual dual button configuration may be a major turn off to those who don’t like the way it forces them to hold the vaporizer.

These vapes are incredibly similar, both featuring a design philosophy that prizes style and portability. Both feature incredibly potent heating systems, and both feature cutting edge smartphone apps. However, the Pax 3 manages to win out over all, thanks to its intuitive and clever design!

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