Arizer ArGo vs Firefly 2 – Variable Vapor

Both of these have stellar vapor quality. Both feature all-glass vapor paths, high-quality flavor and top notch performance. They do vary quite a bit, however.

The Firefly 2 has hands down the tastiest flavor from any portable I’ve yet to try, period. I’m not sure which witchcraft they use, however, the vapor is incredibly smooth and absolutely delicious! The Firefly 2 excels at extracting all the flavonoids and terpenes from your material, making it highly efficient too. A true flavor chasers device, and excellent for the connoisseurs out there!

This comes at a price beyond the price tag though. The drawing technique and draw resistance hugely affect the experience you’ll get from the Firefly 2. The draw resistance is like drinking through a thick milkshake, and too fast of a draw will leave you with a wispy, unsatisfying hit. It certainly takes some getting used to in order to get satisfying results.

The Firefly 2 also has great compatibility with concentrates, while the ArGo doesn’t offer such function, though sandwiching your concentrated material in between of some dry herb works well in a pinch.

The ArGo, on the other hand, gives you consistent results, regardless of your draw technique. The draw resistance is more like drinking a smoothie through a straw and gives you some strong, cloudy hits. Though not quite on the level as the ArGos bigger brother – the Solo II, it’s pretty impressive nonetheless, especially from such a small package.

They both use convection heating, though the ArGo also uses elements of conduction heating too, making it a hybrid unit. The ArGo is also what you’d consider a session vaporizer while the Firefly 2 is classified as an on-demand vaporizer. For the steep price tag, the Firefly 2 certainly gives you extremely good vapor quality and takes the win for me.

Both of these premium devices are well built. Each has a good ‘heft’ to them, feel great in the hand, and are aesthetically appealing.

The ArGo features an aluminum body with a rubberized coating and a fully glass vapor path/stem. You’re given a solid accessories kit which includes all the standard tools as well as a convenient carrying case. Arizer is renowned for their sturdy build quality and reliable reputation, however, the Firefly 2 offers a little bit more.

The Firefly has a completely gorgeous body, even better feel to the body and genuinely feels like a premium device. Removing the top piece reveals the classy glass vapor path and chamber. The unit itself feels fantastic and staring at the heating element while taking your draw is another cool perk on its own. The included concentrates pad works surprisingly well too!

I wouldn’t feel particularly safe about dropping either of them, and I’d handle them with more care than something like the Crafty. They both contain fragile glass components and should be treated a bit more delicately as a result.

I lend the win to the Firefly 2 as the fit and finish feels higher quality, though it does come at a higher price point.

The Firefly 2 is one of the hardest vaporizers to get the hang of. Getting the proper draw technique has proven to be rather difficult for many, and giving the unit to a complete beginner will certainly take some coaching for them to get half decent results.

Not to mention, the temperature can be adjusted manually on the Arizer itself, while the Firefly only allows you to have 6 preset temperature controls + 1 for concentrates. You can also use the app to dial in whichever setting you like though. The bowl on the Firefly 2 is pretty sensitive to the consistency of your grind as well as pack density. It takes some getting used to in order to get that great vapor quality.

The ArGo works the same way, every time. No guesswork, no special draw techniques, just power it on and inhale. Cleaning is also marginally better as it’s restricted to just the glass stem which needs to be soaked in isopropyl alcohol once in a while. The Firefly cleans well with a cotton swap soaked in iso, or with alcohol wipes like the ZEUS Grime Wipes.

Ease of use and maintenance goes to the ArGo without a semblance of doubt.

As previously mentioned, the Firefly 2 allows you to have 6+1 temperature settings on the unit itself, with a Bluetooth app which lets you set your temperature however you please.

The ArGo, on the other hand, adjusts right from the unit itself and displays on the OLED screen. The ArGo has a range from 128-428°F (53.3-220°C), giving you a solid variety to choose from.

I would almost always pick independent temperature control over presets, however with 6 presets that the Firefly 2 lets you set and a concentrates mode which reaches up to 500°F/260°C and a bottom end of 200°F/93°C, you’re given a pretty solid base to work off of. Do not vaporize dry herb at 500°F as it will combust! That high of a temperature is for concentrates only.

It’s worth mentioning too the Firefly 2 has a heat-up time of around 5-10 seconds max, while the ArGo takes around 45 seconds to get up to speed.

The ability to use concentrates natively with the higher maximum temperature and rapid, on-demand heating gives the victory to the Firefly 2.

If you’d like to see another comparison, check out our recent showdown between the Zeus Arc & DaVinci IQ and to see how these 2 units stack up against the field, be sure to check out our Portable Vaporizer Ranking Chart.