Arizer now has new versions of both of their popular portable vaporizers, and we’re about to find out which one is better. It’s a showdown between the Solo 2 and the Arizer Air 2, and it won’t end until we have a winner. Get ready for round 1 of Arizer Solo 2 vs Arizer Air 2.
Every time I compare two Arizer units, I feel obligated to point out that we’re already talking about some of the best vapor you can find from a portable, period. One of these offers a better overall experience, but they’re both significantly above average in this department.
The Solo 2 wins this round of Air 2 vs Solo 2, even though the Air’s vapor quality was close enough to beat Solo 2 in this round due to its glass aroma tube. While they both have similar setups as far as heaters and vapor pathways, the Solo 2 performs better in several important areas. For starters, it can produce denser vapor. I’m not sure if this has to do with power or airflow or something else, but I notice that it hits me harder at comparable temperature levels.
I also think the Solo 2 has the best airflow out of any of the Arizer portables. This was one of the few areas where you heard frequent complaints from users with the original Solo and Air, and both new units were improved. They just did a better job on the Solo 2 in my opinion. However, when comparing airflow, the Utillian 722 is another great device with its convection vapor airflow that gives a smooth draw.
With either of these, the flavor is incredible. It starts off great, and it stays good much longer than it does with your typical vaporizer. These are great for longer sessions.
Manufacturing Quality
Once again, we’re dealing with two Arizer units so we’re also dealing with excellent manufacturing quality across the board. Both of these have some big improvements when compared to their original versions though.
The big change is that they both have full temperature control and a digital screen. The screen and button setup is a little bigger and nicer on the Solo 2 though.
They also have improved battery life. The Solo 2 has an internal battery capable of delivering up to 3 hours of continuous use on a single charge. In practice, you’ll likely get a little less than this, but it’s still good for 15+ sessions. It’s the best battery that I know of in a portable.
The Air 2’s battery life and charger are also improved. It still uses a removable 18650, which you may really like or not like at all. The max life on a full charge of one battery for this is 1.5 hours, so you’d need two fully charged batteries to match the Solo 2.
They both heat up faster than the originals too, but the Solo 2 seems to have the more powerful heater. It can heat up in less than 30 seconds. But if you are someone that prefers a double cell mod for long and intense sessions, then the Mighty vaporizer is also a good option to look into.
These are both built very well, but the Solo 2 is more powerful.
Ease of Use
Using these is extremely similar. While the button setup is different, there isn’t a noticeable difference in the ease of use due to the differences. They both have screens for viewing and selecting a temperature, and they can both scroll in 1 or 10-degree increments. For those that prefer simplicity, the LITL One device is another great device that features a single button and is easy to carry around.
I personally think the Solo 2 is easier to use overall because you don’t have to charge it as often, but other people may prefer the convenience of removable batteries and using extras so you never have to actually charge the device. I’ll call this one a tie.
Portability
This may be surprising, but this is actually a really hard area to judge for Solo 2 vs Air 2. You may assume that the Air 2 wins this by default, but I’m not convinced. The new version of the Solo 2 is smaller than the original Solo, so the differences between these models aren’t as big as it was from the Solo to the Air.
The Air 2 is a little smaller than the Solo 2, but they both still rely on glass stems. Unlike the original Solo, the Solo 2 also includes a shorter stem option and a medium stem option. So while the differences are there in terms of size, they don’t make a difference in portability. You can also utilize PVC tubes to keep your glass aroma tubes safe during traveling.
There’s also the Solo 2’s better default battery life to consider. You could match it with an Arizer Air 2 battery replacement, but that is something extra to carry when dealing with the Air 2. If you are looking for a more narrower cylindrical design that is portable, then check out the Focus V Pro.
For either of these, I think you need a vaporizer case to carry it around, but we will give the slight edge to the Arizer Air 2.
Battery Life
The Solo 2 is a winner in this round of Air 2 vs Solo 2. We could get into a debate about the merits of having or not having a removable battery, but at the end of the day, the Solo 2 has a battery life that is double that of the Air 2. You’d have to carry two 18650s just to match it. The Crafty vaporizer is also a good example of a great vaporizing device that maintains a long battery life without compromising quality.
Discreetness
This is another category where you would assume the Air 2 would win based on previous models of each vaporizer. Once again, I’m not convinced. The size differences are too subtle to really say that one would be less noticeable than the other considering the fact that both are easier to clean with cleaning solutions.
For that matter, I really wouldn’t feel comfortable using either of these in public. The Arizer Air aroma tube sticking out the top isn’t my idea of discreet. But if pushed come to shove I would say the Air 2 can be more easily concealed similar to the Flowermate Slick which is a great third option if you prefer discreetness moreover anything else.
Temperature Flexibility
As far as I can tell, these are identical in terms of temperature flexibility. When I say identical, I actually mean it too. With either one, you can choose the exact temperature you want between 50°C / 122°F and 220°C / 428°F. However, for more temperature flexibility, check out the Utillian 722 vaporizer that features 8 unique temperature settings.
The range is exactly the same. You can also adjust the temperature in 1 or 10-degree increments with either.
SHOWDOWN
The Solo 2 is our winner!
These are both excellent vaporizers, the Solo 2 is just a little better in some important areas.
The first is that it has a more powerful heater. This allows it to heat up faster, and I would assume this has something to do with vapor density too. My guess is it maintains the heat during a draw better, but I don’t know for sure. The airflow is also a bit better.
I also like the battery setup of the Solo 2 a lot better. There’s an argument to be made for removables when you are comparing them at the same capacity, but in this case, the internal option is twice as big. The final winner of this piece
If I had to pick one of these, it would definitely be the Solo 2. I think it is among the very best vaporizers on the market. Don’t forget to pick up an extra Arizer Solo 2 glass aroma tube if you do get one though; the glass might be high quality but that doesn’t mean it’s shatter proof.
If you’d like to see another comparison like the Arizer Solo 2 vs Arizer Air 2, check out our recent showdown between the Firefly 2 vs Arizer Solo 2 and to see how these 2 units stack up against the field, be sure to check out our Portable Vaporizer Ranking Chart.
Alex is a cannabis enthusiast, long time vaporizer lover, writer and filmmaker. He is also a board and video game nerd with a penchant for hosting a weekly board game night. Partygoers have been heard saying things like “is anyone else going to show up?” and “I don’t think I can make it next week”. He strives to make people laugh at every opportunity and sees cannabis as a helpful tool in doing so.
The reviews and ratings are based on personal and decade-plus of industry experience. Such content is based on the opinion of the Editor/Author. They are solely provided as a basis for research and should be used only as guidance. We encourage thorough research by all visitors to attain the most objective viewpoint before purchasing.
