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Arizer XQ2 Review – Arizing to the Top
By
Alex Karakatsanis
Arizer XQ2 Review – Arizing to the Top
March 26, 2024
on
Desktop Vaporizer Reviews, Reviews
Updated: March 26, 2024
It’s been a hot minute but we’ve finally got our hands on the long-awaited Arizer XQ2, Arizer’s follow up to the hugely popular and successful Extreme Q desktop vaporizer. The Arizer XQ introduces some apparent changes to the overall design although truth be told we’re a bit more curious to potential upgrades under the hood that could impact overall performance. Arizer has established a healthy following thanks to their steady release of high quality, easy to use, and affordable dry herb vaporizers and we’re definitely hopeful that the Arizer XQ2 follows suit. But enough talk, let’s dig into the meat of this device and see how it performs down below!
Review: Arizer XQ2
Table of contents
How it Works
How it WorksProbably one of the biggest improvements that jumps straight out at us with the Arizer XQ2 is the introduction of a dedicated fan speed control that allows you to toggle between fan speeds easily. The dedicated fan speed control also allows for pre-heating of the bowl which we find helps in producing a much more consistent vapor throughout the session.
An LED strip has also been added to the base of the Arizer Extreme Q2 which aside from providing some sweet eye candy, also does a great job of indicating the current status of the vaporizer. For example, the LED strip pulses between yellow and orange during heat-up and pulses blue while cooling down. While the feature is simple on paper, the Arizer XQ2 does it a bit better than your average vaporizer thanks to the fact that it offers more than your basic 3 status indicators which has seemingly become the norm for this type of feature.
The Spectrum mode on the other hand, forgoes the functionality of the LED strip and instead gives you a neat-looking light show for those that are into that sort of thing. For those that prefer a more barebones approach to their sessions, the LED indicator strip can also be completely disabled.
Temperature Flexibility
Temperature FlexibilityConsidering that the Extreme Q could already reach a max vaping temperature of 260 degrees Celsius, there isn’t much headroom for the new Arizer XQ2 to improve on in terms of temperature flexibility.
Just like it’s predecessor, the Arizer Extreme Q2 sports full precise temperature control which can be directly configured via the updated onboard LED screen. The Arizer XQ2 kit also comes with a redesigned remote control for easy dialing in of temps at a distance as well as allowing you to turn the vaporizer on and off without being within arm’s reach of the vaporizer.
Vapor Quality
Vapor QualityThe redesigned herb bowl, otherwise now known as the connoisseur bowl that comes with the Arizer XQ2 positions your dry herb slightly closer to the heating element. This allows for an overall more efficient and fuller extraction of dry herb which is something the Extreme Q had some difficulty with especially when compared to other more established vaporizers such as the Mighty or Volcano.
Unlike the Volcano though, the Arizer XQ2 doesn’t make use of any disposable metal screens for filtering dry herb particulate and instead incorporates the filter straight into the glass connoisseur bowl which does enable easier clean up when required.
All in all, the vapor quality produced by the Arizer Extreme Q2 is a slightly denser and more potent than the Extreme Q. The fan speed settings also play a large factor in this so your mileage may vary. The Volcano still manages to outperform the Arizer XQ2 (albeit marginally this time around) although not to the extent that you would think that the XQ2 is only half the price of the Volcano Classic.
In terms of heat up times, the Arizer XQ2 manages to hit its target temperature within 1-2 minutes of starting it up, depending on your preferred vaping temperature. Those who prefer to vape using the bag can expect the bag to fully fill up with vapor within 2-4 minutes depending on the selected fan speed.
Manufacturing Quality
Manufacturing QualityThe outer shell of the Arizer XQ2 got a slick redesign which makes it more befitting of a vaporizer produced in the current decade. The biggest change however comes with the improved LED screen which is a big step up to the blue-tinted retro-styled LCD screen used by the old Extreme Q.
Not only is the screen on the Arizer XQ2 brighter and more legible, the revamped user interface removes unnecessary clutter and gives you a more direct view of the vaporizer’s current and target temperatures for a more accessible vaping experience.
The accessories included with the Arizer XQ2 are also another main highlight as most, if not all of them are redesigned for better accessibility. For starters, the whip attachment can now swivel a full 360 degrees which makes the Arizer XQ2 even more suitable for sharing compared to the Extreme Q. The fit of the glass connectors has also been improved and achieving a proper seal when setting up the Arizer XQ2 is easier than it ever was before.
Discreetness
DiscreetnessThe overall footprint of the Arizer XQ2 is smaller than most popular competitors such as the Volcano Classic, making it an ideal desktop vaporizer for those with limited space. The sleek black exterior of the Arizer XQ2 does not differ much from the average run of the mill aromatherapy diffuser. This makes it a suitable solution for potential connoisseurs who’d like to own a desktop vaporizer but would prefer to keep their recreational or medicinal vaporizing on the downlow.
Overall Experience
Overall ExperienceThe Arizer XQ2 is a definite upgrade over the popular Extreme Q which has been a popular budget option within the realm of desktop vaporizers for the longest time. While final vapor quality of the Arizer XQ2 still falls slightly short when compared to top dogs such as the Volcano Classic, quite frankly it’s a small price to pay given the huge difference in price between the two.
At the end of the day, the Arizer XQ2 is one of the best budget options for those looking to get into the world of desktop vaporizers. Even long-time owners and fans of the older Extreme Q can potentially get value out of upgrading to the Arizer XQ2 thanks to it’s improved vapor quality and more accessible interface.
Score
Great
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