Pulsar APX 2 Vape Dry Herb Vaporizer Review – Improved?

Updated: October 6, 2023

Any good company is constantly looking to improve its products. They listen to consumers, test out their products, building off what works and what could be improved when vaporizing cannabis. Pulsar recently released a new version of their popular APX Herb Vaporizer, which has been rebranded to the APX V2 Vape. This update features faster heat-up time, more precise temperature control, and, best of all, an LED screen that displays the temperature and battery life.

However, Pulsar did remove the attachment for concentrates, but maybe this only left more room to improve the cannabis features. Little in both size and cost, we wondered how the Pulsar APX 2 Vape’s new updates would vamp up its rank amongst similar vaporizers, like the Utillian 420. Also if this is your first vaporizer be sure to check out our Vaporizer Buyers Guide.

If you are on a budget and are looking for the best herb vaporizer for the price, check out our list of what we think are the Best Budget Vaporizers on the market today, a great way to start your vaporizer journey.

Review: Pulsar APX 2 Vape Dry Herb Vaporizer

Pulsar APX vaporizer review main

Pulsar APX vaporizer heating coils

How it Works

One great thing about the Pulsar APX 2 Vape is how easy it is to use. It has a simple build with minimal parts, making it a great vaporizers for first-time users or those looking for low tech tools. To pack your vaporizer, first remove the ergonomically-improved mouthpiece. Load your flower into the chamber, making sure not to pack too tightly, and replace the mouthpiece.

Press the power button five times to turn on the vaporizer. To change between its 5 temperature settings, hold the button for 3 seconds to begin cycling through and release to choose your setting on the LED screen. To hit the pen, hold down the power button and inhale through the mouthpiece. You can also change the temperature settings while vaping, which is a great feature when searching for your desired temp.

Pulsar APX vaporizer colors

Pulsar APX vaporizer power button

Temperature Flexibility

Like the Utillian 421, the updated Pulsar Apx Vape Dry Herb Vaporizer comes with 5 temperature settings, beginning at 180°C and increasing by 10° up to 220°C. While we appreciate the wide range of temperatures offered by the APX 2. We find the first 3 temp settings a little underwhelming and only really got visible vapor at around 210°C – 220°C.

Also, the fact that we had to circle through temperatures by holding down the button rather than maneuver them with one simple press took a while to get used to. It’s frustrating to mess up, miss your desired temp, and have to wait for the LEDs to cycle through again.

Pulsar APX vaporizer mouth piece

Vapor Quality

For what it’s worth, the Pulsar Apx Vape has slightly below average vapor quality which is to be expected for the price. But let’s face it: if you’re looking to make some clouds, we would suggest going with something more like the Utillian 722. We weren’t expecting anything crazy from the vaporizer considering what we paid, but we still feel like it could offer something more. The Utillian 420 is at a similar price point but includes a glass mouthpiece which preserves the flavour much better, not to mention the Utillian 420’s temperatures are better calibrated and produce better vapor.

 

 

The APX 2 Vape features what Pulsar calls an “improved silicone cooling system,” though vapor doesn’t have much time to cool down at all. Unlike the Firefly 2 plus, which places your cannabis chamber at the opposite end of the vaporizer from the mouthpiece, the APX V2 Dry Herb Vaporizer is packed right underneath the mouthpiece. This results in hits that are sometimes too hot, this can be a bit frustrating because you get better vapor at higher temperatures but have to suffer with harsher vapor and hot spots on your lips.

The silicone-lined mouthpiece also gets really sticky really fast, which affects the flavour of the vapor as you inhale. It’s also pretty tricky to clean unlike units with a glass mouthpiece, which is a major downfall to the vaporizer’s performance.

Pulsar APX vaporizer front display

Manufacturing Quality

The APX 2 has not made a ton of improvements over the original version and it still feels a bit cheap in your hands. Though we’re not crazy about the cleanliness of the silicone-lined mouthpiece, it does beat the original stainless screen, although the stainless screen was easier to clean. The new mouthpiece shape feels more natural in your mouth but airflow remains on the restricted side.

The new LED screen user interface is an improvement over the previous version but we still wish the unit had a proper digital display like the one that can be found on the Arizer Solo ii. Though temperature selection can still be irritating at first, it’s also made easier (and definitely more readable).

As we mentioned, we definitely think Pulsar paid attention to customer reviews when redesigning their APX 2 Dry Herb vaporizer. It still has just one button, which was a fan-favorite for its ease of use, but the button is now rubber rather than metal. It’s a small change, but a simple one that results in a better feel and a more confident user since you can more easily hear the button being pressed.

Pulsar APX vaporizer exploded

The vaporizer also comes in 9 different colors, ranging from black to rainbow tye-dye, so there’s sure to be a style that you like on the market. Users usually tend to prefer the Zeus Arc GTS Hub for its exceptional manufacturing quality featuring a gold plated vapor path.

Pulsar APX vaporizer with usb cableBattery Life

Pulsar really didn’t change anything about the battery, sticking with the standard 1600 mAh lithium battery. Charge time is around 90 minutes which will last around 30 – 45 minutes of use. This is not the greatest battery life but considering that the unit is only 4 inches tall, it’s not a bad usage time.

However, if you’re in the market for something that lasts you the whole day, we suggest checking out the Zeus Arc S Hub.

Pulsar APX vaporizer in armor case

Portability

One of the most appealing features of the APX 2 Vape is how portable it is just like the Davinci Miqro. At just four inches, it’s only a little bigger than your standard lighter.

It’s easy to take with you on almost any occasion, and the wide range of color choices allows you to show some of your personality off in the vaporizer.

Grab a vaporizer case like the Zeus Armor and you are ready for a solid night out.

Pulsar APX Vaporizer Tank

Ease of Use

There’s one button on the side, an LED screen displaying two different colored icons (temperature and battery level), and a mouthpiece on top. In the world of technologically-advanced vaporizers, the Pulsar APX 2 Vape really doesn’t get much simpler than this.

We had some trouble cleaning the silicone-lined mouthpiece, but we appreciate that Pulsar includes both a cleaning tool and an extra mouthpiece. The chamber is made of ceramic similar to the Focus V Pro, which is easy to maintain.

Pulsar APX vaporizer in hand

Discreetness

Fitting in the palm of your hand, it’s hard not to be discreet with the APX 2 Vape. Unlike some vaporizers like the Solo 2, it fits anywhere, it’s easy to carry around, and, if you clean it regularly, odor won’t stick to it. We suggest vaping at low temperatures to avoid more pungent vapor clouds, though.

Pulsar APX vaporizer full kitOverall Experience

If you read our older Pulsar vape review, you’d know that the OG APX had some glaring issues. Pulsar has done a nice job with this face lift addressing some of the issues we had with the original APX 2, it does still feel cheap overall and we don’t love the silicone mouthpiece and airpath but it does the job.

The updates to this vaporizer are noticeable, but may not be worth it for users who already own the original APX 2. And first-time buyers would be advised to check out the Utillian  420 or our Solo 2 review, both of which offer a coveted glass mouthpiece for optimal flavour and a true digital display to monitor temperature settings and battery life.

For those looking for a dry herb vaporizer with the same form factor and portability that the APX 2 offers, consider checking out our DaVinci Miqro review.

We’ve also made some recent changes for this year’s best portable vaporizer rankings so you should definitely check that out if you’re looking for the latest scoop on what to get right now!

If you are looking to buy the Pulsar APX 2 in Canada then don’t forget to grab one from our store. If you have questions about our Pulsar APX 2 Vaporizer review or just want to let us know what you think, feel free to drop us a comment below! Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin’!

Score 6.1 Above Average
  • 6.1
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About Author
Avatar for Alex Karakatsanis

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.