Davinci IQ vs Arizer Air 2 – Portable Prowess
Davinci IQ vs Arizer Air 2
Vapor QualityCan I just start by saying that the more comparisons I do, the more I realize how far vaporizers have come in the last few years? Either one of these would have been unfathomably good not that long ago, and here I am critiquing them. Ive been sitting here trying to decide which one is better between Davinci IQ vs Arizer Air 2, and honestly, I cant do it. Theyre different, and depending on your preferences, you may like one more than the other. Let me explain. With the Arizer Air 2, you are going to be getting lighter but very flavorful vapor. There is less draw resistance than the original and the heater seems more up to the task of keeping up with more airflow, but I still wouldnt call the clouds it puts out dense. But the flavor is great and it goes down smooth, which are the two things I value most from vapor. The DaVinci IQ is a full conduction vaporizer, but it still performs surprisingly well in terms of flavor. I still think the Air 2s vapor was better in this respect, but the IQ comes close. In my opinion, IQs strength was vapor density. So if you want better flavor, the Air 2 is the better bet. If you want harder-hitting vapor, go with the IQ. If you’re looking for something similar, then have a look at the Storz & Bickel Mighty Vaporizer. |
Manufacturing QualityThe Air 2 is a simple but very functional device. It has a removable 18650 battery and a digital screen that allows for precision temperature control down to the degree. The glass stems in combination with the Arizer Air mouthpiece provide ample time for the vapor to cool down, and the heater is more powerful than the one in the original Air. I think the IQ is a little better made though. For starters, its smaller. Like the Air 2, you get a removable 18650 and the ability to fully control the temperature from the device, but you also get an app that allows for smart heating modes. One that has been a favorite of mine is the Smart Paths, which automatically increase the temperature throughout your vaping session. We would also like you to check out the Utillian 620 Vaporizer for its unique convection heating. Either one of these is more than capable of getting the job done, the IQ just seems a bit more advanced. |
Ease of UseI wouldnt call either of these easier to use than the other. Im always skeptical of apps, because they often do little more than add complexity, but in this battle of Davinci IQ vs Arizer Air 2, the DaVinci did a great job of enhancing the features of the vape while keeping the core functionality intact. The big thing for me is being able to access all the temperature options from the device itself, which both of these units do. In general, I wouldnt expect anyone to have a difficult time using these vapes. The Air 2 might have a slight advantage in ease of cleaning, though it’s not enough to call it the winner here. If you’re looking for something at a lower price but with a premium feel, try checking out the Flowermate Slick. |
PortabilityThe IQ is the easy winner here. If you just take one look at each of these you can see why. Where the Air 2 has a glass stem for a mouthpiece, the IQ just has an indentation built into the device itself.Youll have a lot easier time carrying the IQ around, and it is pocket-friendly in my opinion. To carry the Air 2, youll need some kind of case because you risk breaking the stem without one. Try checking out the Dynavap M for its slim pen-style design and its unique on-demand heating system.
|
Battery LifeFrom my experience the DaVinci IQ’s 18650 tends to die relatively quickly, I have had mine die as quickly as 45 minutes or 3 – 4 sessions. Which is more on par with the original Air.The Air 2, on the other hand, tended to last me close to an hour and a half of use or about 6 sessions. While both offer the ability to swap batteries on the go, the Arizer Air 2 batteries last significantly longer than the IQ. The Zeus Arc GTS Hub should provide with more than 5-6 sessions, lasting you upto 90 minutes of battery life, go check that out!
|
DiscreetnessThe IQ wins this category easily for the same reason it won on portability. It is one single piece that is much easier to conceal in your hand than the Air 2. It also heats up considerably faster, which is ideal in a situation where you may not have a lot of time to enjoy a session. Then there is the fact that with the IQ, you can have it prepacked and ready to just turn on. So across the board, the IQ will perform better when trying to be discreet. The IQ’s younger brother, Davinci Miqro would also be something that you should check out, for its small size, making it easy to hide it on your hand. |
Temperature FlexibilityBoth of these between the Davinci IQ vs Arizer Air 2, offer full temperature control straight from the device. You can adjust it in single degree increments with the click of a button. This will be more than enough for most people, but the IQ does have some extra tricks. One cool option is boost mode, which causes the chamber to continuously heat until you let go of the button or it reaches max temp. This makes it kind of like a manual vape for the duration that boost mode is activated. There are also the Smart Paths that I mentioned before. So, for this reason, the DaVinci IQ gives you a bit more flexibility with your temperatures on the fly. If you’re looking for something with huge flexibility on temperature, where you can choose from various different settings try checking out the Crafty Plus Vaporizer. |
SHOWDOWNThe IQ is the winner! The IQ won the manufacturing quality, portability, discreetness, and temperature flexibility categories. They tied on vapor quality, ease of use, and battery life. The Air 2 didnt actually win any of the categories. Id like to make something clear though. These are closer matched than those results seem to indicate. The IQ may clearly outperform the Air 2 in portability and discretion, but theyre pretty evenly matched everywhere else. The IQ earned its additional wins thanks to the advanced heating options, but those really dont make a huge difference to the overall enjoyment youll get from the device. Theyre cool but far from necessary. I really like both of these and imagine youd enjoy either. If you want something powerful and portable, get the IQ. If you dont care as much about always having a vaporizer in your pocket and you value flavor more than anything, the Air 2 may be the better option. For that that have decided on the DaVinci IQ and want a more up to date device with new features and better build quality, consider checking out our Da Vinci IQ2 review. If youd like to see another comparison like the Davinci IQ vs Arizer Air 2, check out our recent showdown between the Solo 2 & DaVinci IQ and to see how these 2 units stack up against the field, be sure to check out our Portable Vaporizer Ranking Chart. |