Dr Dabber Stella Wax Pen Review – Hey, Stella!
Dr Dabber has had some ups and downs in their long tenure in the vaporizing world. Their latest endeavor is the Dr Dabber Stella – a sleek wax pen that could go either way. Were going to dive right in and break it down for you, read on to learn more!
If youre new to wax vaporizers, there’s a lot to explore. While many opt for traditional devices, the Vapor Cup offers a distinct experience, letting you sip vapor as easily as drinking water. Still, if you’re keen on traditional pen-style units, make sure you check our article on the Best Wax Pens for this year. Additionally, our guide on how to buy a wax pen is packed with information to help you determine what best suits your vaping preferences!
Review: Dr Dabber Stella Review
How it Works – Using the Dr. Dabber Stella
As with any device, we highly recommend charging it fully before your first use. Next, remove the magnetic mouthpiece. Then, load your favorite concentrate into the chamber with the dab tool on the inside of the mouthpiece. 5 taps will turn the device on, and 3 will change between voltages.
Once you have selected your preferred voltage, press and hold the fire button to start heating your wax. You can also double-tap the fire button to activate preheat mode, which will heat up the device to 460F for 15 seconds. Then pick your temperature, inhale and enjoy!
Temperature Flexibility – What temperature’s does the Stella offer?
The Dr. Dabber Stella has 3 different voltage settings to work with – green is 550F, cyan (blue) is 630F, and orange is 775F. For all intents and purposes, these voltage settings get the job done.
I like the spread, and I especially like that preheat function – 15 seconds of 460F to heat up any of your thicker or more solid concentrates. If you want a wax pen with 4, wider ranged temperatures, check out the Utillian 2.
Vapor Quality – Less Vapor, More Flavor
The Dr Dabber Stella has cyclone airflow that allows for a solid amount of free-flowing air to come through the bowl, creating a wide-open draw.
I found the vapor to be flavorful, especially on the lower 2 settings, and not a huge drop off in flavor on the third set.
The biggest thing about the Stella that I want to mention is the Temperature Coefficient Resistance battery. This allows the battery to adjust the voltage based on the coils temperature. In plainer terms, it will prevent dry hits and keep the Dr Dabber Stella atomizer from burning your concentrate. The reason this feature is great is that this device does not have water filtration as you would find on the Utillian 8, which helps with cooling down hits.
The Dr Dabber Stella has a high-quality ceramic coil that vaporizes more efficiently and heats up faster than your average ceramic coil. I would highly recommend taking advantage of the preheat function, as it brings your concentration up to a base level to take full advantage of the entire hit.
The vapor is certainly not harsh, even on the highest setting, however, the mouthpiece does get very hot after a handful of long draws. Not the worst thing in the world, but certainly something to take note of.
The flavor is great on the device, the cloud production can be good, but I would say closer to average in terms of cloud size. I was underwhelmed by the number of clouds, surely, but I can certainly taste all of the terms of my concentrate – especially, like I said, in the lower two settings.
If you want a high-powered massive cloud-pumping machine, be sure to take a look at the Utillian 5.
Manufacturing Quality – How well is the Dr. Dabber Stella made?
The Stella is straight forward in design and function. It looks very similar to a lot of devices on the market, with the lights on the logo and bottom somewhat unique. I really like the look of the lights – the LEDs are clear and bright, and I like the touch on the bottom of the device, as it just looks smart.
The all black stainless steel shell is tough and sturdy and will stand up to a couple of drops. I think in terms of look and feel the Stella knocks it out of the park. It has that trademark Dr. Dabber mouthpiece, and I like that the mouthpiece has that magnetic connection to easily slip it off. The battery is a 510 threaded connection that will work well with most carts.
All in all, the look and feel are premium for a budget-conscious device, but I would suggest taking a look at the Tronian Tautron if youre looking for a dedicated 510 thread battery.
Battery Life – Is 600mah enough?
Dr. Dabber Stella has a 600 mah internal battery that will last you a good amount of time before needing a recharge. However cheaper devices like the Tronian Gammatron offer 800 mah of battery stock. For those that don’t mind the larger form factor, something like the Evolve Plus XL with it’s much larger 1400mAh battery is another solid portable option.
The USB-C port, located on the side of the device, allows for fast charging and pass-through charging, which means it can be used while charging.
That Temperature Coefficient Resistance battery we touched on before is an excellent addition to the device and I would certainly like to see it become a standard across the board.
Portability – Have pen will travel
The Stella is definitely portable, due to the size and sturdiness. The battery leaves something to be desired at 600mah, but the fast and pass-through charging offsets this (as long as youre bringing a battery pack along for your night out).
It is more portable than a device like the Yocan Evolve Plus, but the battery life is almost half.
Ease of Use – How easy is the Dr. Dabber Stella to use?
The Dr. Dabber Stella is super easy to use – 5 taps to turn it on, 3 to change temperature, 2 to activate that preheat function, simple as. Its a great, straightforward device that can be cleaned easily, as the bucket style bowl makes for easy cleaning and the mouthpiece comes apart into 2 pieces.
As with all devices and especially dab pens, keep it clean on the regular and you will be very happy with the performance. If you need further help, make sure to check out our guide on how to clean a dab pen to keep it in tip top shape.
Discreetness – Concealing the Dr. Dabber Stella
The Dr. Dabber Stella is all black and vaguely reminds me of an e-cigarette.
I feel like it would be pretty low key to hitting out in public, especially if you keep it on the lower two settings and keep the clouds to a minimum.
Overall Experience – Is the Dr. Dabber Stella worth it?
The Dr. Dabber Stella is a sturdy, well-built device with a lot of flavors. I like the TCR battery, USB-C charging, and the LED lights on the bottom of the device.
The cloud production leaves something to be desired and the 600mah battery is less than stellar. For a bit less, the Utillian 2 offers a similar experience with better battery life.
Overall, however, it is a solid device that is a good introduction to the wide world of wax.
If you already happen to have a glass rig on hand and are looking to forgo the manual torch, a device like the G Pen Connect might be worth looking into. Alternatively, the new Utillian Glass Bubbler is compatible and an excellent companion to this portable device.
Looking to take your wax game to the next level? Electric dab rigs just might be what you’re looking for. We’ve got a whole list of them sorted, ranked, and reviewed for your viewing pleasure!
If you have questions about our 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.