The Arizer Solo is one of the most beloved vaporizers of all time. The amount of people who have relied on it as their first and sometimes only vaporizer is likely higher than any other unit on the market, and it’s popularity continues over 6 years after it was first released. There are plenty of units out there that are higher powered with newer features, but few have ever challenged it on overall popularity.
Things are about to get interesting, though because Arizer has just introduced the Solo’s younger brother to the market, the Arizer Solo 2 vaporizer. The Solo 2 has a lot to live up to, and it will have to be pretty impressive to steal the spotlight from the OG Solo. I expect to have a hard time deciding the winner in this showdown between Arizer Solo vs Arizer Solo 2. This is sibling rivalry at it’s finest, and today we’re going to find out which is the better vaporizer…
For years, the Arizer Solo was the undisputed champion when it came to vapor quality at an affordable price point. To this day, the Solo is still known as one of the best units to get if you are looking for good vapor quality from a portable vaporizer.
The overall design is simple, and the glass stem helps make sure that the flavour isn’t altered when en route to your mouth. While the long stem makes the unit slightly less portable, it also allows the vapor temperature to cool, further increasing the quality over most portables.
The design for the Arizer Solo 2 is remarkably similar to the original Solo, especially when it comes to the vapor pathway. The heating chamber is largely the same, and vapor pathway is still comprised of a long glass stem.
A quick glance may lead you to assume that the vapor will be roughly equivalent, which would be great considering the achievements of the original. Amazingly, the Solo 2 is actually better. There are two big things that contribute to this assessment.
First, the Arizer Solo II offers temperature control down to the exact degree, which is something the original did not. Second, the draw resistance and airflow is better.
Both units put out great vapor, but the Solo 2 is slightly better.
Manufacturing Quality
This is another area where the original Solo’s really shine. They are built like tanks and are comparable to the Mighty vaporizer but cheaper. While the glass stems are easy to break if you drop it or aren’t careful, they can easily be replaced for cheap. The actual base of the unit is seemingly invincible.
I know a lot of people with Solos, and I’m pretty sure they’re all still on their first one. Most of them have had them for 3+ years, which is a long time as far as portable vaporizers are concerned.
The Solo 2hasn’t been out long enough to comment on its long term durability, but a visual inspection suggests it’s made with the same overall quality standards.
Like I mentioned above, the new one looks a lot like the original, but Arizer did make some very nice upgrades. The digital screen and precise temperature control are obvious improvements, and the battery was upgraded as well.
Once again, they’re both extremely well-built, but the Arizer 2 wins thanks to the upgrades.
Ease of Use
The original Solo only has two buttons and is pretty simple to use. Using it is as easy as holding both buttons to turn on, then adjusting the temperature level up or down using the buttons individually.
You have to set your temperature every time you turn it on, but that only takes a second or two. That’s basically all there is to it.
The Solo 2 is also very easy to use. There are more settings to navigate, but the digital screen makes doing so straightforward.
Users that are looking for an even easier option tend to prefer devices like the Utillian 722 Vaporizer that has a single button operation.
Neither one of these units is hard to use by any stretch of the imagination, but the visual feedback of the Solo 2 gives it the edge.
Portability
Here’s an area where the Solo is outshined by competitors like the Zeus Arc GTS Hub. While it is a fantastic device, it’s not the most portable unit in the world. It’s relatively bulky and would be awkward to carry in your pocket. However, by purchasing the air & solo stem cap pack allows for prepacking of the aroma tubes to ensure maximum convenience and discretion while vaping on the go.
You really can’t carry it with the glass stem attached, which means you either have to pack it right before you use it or get stem caps which are sold separately. These problems are alleviated by a carrying case, but that still puts it behind a lot of smaller portables.
The Solo 2 is smaller, and definitely wins in this category. It’s no where near as bulky, and it comes with a shorter stem option in the box. With that being said, it’s still not going to be the most convenient option as far as vaporizers go.
Arizer does include a hip belt carrying case with the Solo 2, but this doesn’t seem like something people will actually use.
Battery Life
This is an easy category to compare. They both have built in batteries, but the Solo 2’s battery is bigger.You can expect to get up to 2 hours of continuous use out of the OG Solo, while the Solo 2 will deliver up to 3 hours. Even the top tier rivals like the Davinci IQC do not come anywhere close to the battery life both these units offer which makes them highly desirable vaporizer by both the beginners and seasoned vets.
Even if a few quality-of-life accessories such as the Arizer Solo charging dock are only compatible with the original Solo, the Solo 2 wins this one, and the upgrade is especially nice considering the fact that the overall unit is significantly smaller.
Discreetness
Due to it’s size, the original Solo was never considered a very discreet unit. When people try to keep using it hidden while in public, they’ve typically had to do something clever to cover the outside. The most famous is putting the Solo in a cup and sucking on the stem like it is a straw.
The Solo 2 isn’t very discreet either. It’s slightly smaller and comes with a smaller stem option, but it’s still obviously not designed with discretion in mind. The screen may also attract a bit of attention, even though it can be dimmed.
This one’s a toss up. If you really need a discreet portable and this is the most important feature of your future vaporizer something similar to the Davinci Miqro, you probably don’t want either of these. If we had to choose we would give the slight edge to the Solo 2 because it is marginally smaller and comes with a shorter tube.
Temperature Flexibility
The Solo comes with 7 temperature settings. These range from 50C to 210C. This range provides enough flexibility that pretty much everyone who uses it is able to find a level that they like.
The Solo also makes it very easy to change the temperature while using it, which is what popularized the habit of increasing the temperature as the session goes on. All you have to do is hit the up arrow once to move up a temperature level.
The Solo 2 features temperature control down to the exact degree. The range is also increase to 50C to 220C. These two factors make the Solo 2 the obvious winner in this category.
Some users that prefer quick hits on the go usually tend to like devices like the Fire 2 Plus with heat time of just 5 seconds, unlike the Solos that has the heat times of 3 minutes for the older brother and 30 seconds for the younger.
SHOWDOWN
The Solo 2 has outshined its older brother for sure. It’s the better vaporizer, and there really isn’t much to debate on that front. Arizer made a bunch of great improvements on an already fantastic design, so we’d expect the Solo 2 to become a user favorite for years to come.
While the original Solo may have been upstaged by the newer version, it’s still a great unit. If you don’t have the money for the new one, the Solo still represents some of the best vapor you can get for the money. Considering it’s been proven over the better part of a decade, it’s also an extremely safe bet.
You really can’t go wrong with either of these. We can fully support buying either Arizer vape. If you have the money and want to buy Solo 2 in Canada or simply need a replacement Arizer Solo tube then get one now from our online stores. If you don’t, get the original Arizer Solo. You’ll be happy either way.
Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin’! 😉
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.
