X MAX Starry Vaporizer Review – Budget Hero Or Judge It Zero ?
The Starry comes with very a cheap price tag, so we always exercise caution when it just seems too good to be true, especially when it comes to devices that have plastics and a heating chamber in close proximity.
Generally speaking, when the dry herb vaporizer price falls below 100$ the units tend to become less popular. It seems that most users, probably due to the high price of the dry herb itself, tend to want to spend more on a better device to enjoy their experience.
Since vaporizers generally do save on herb enough to pay back for themselves rather quickly, we generally recommend to check out the best dry herb vaporizers ranking before making the final purchase decision.
If you are on a budget and are looking for the best 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: X MAX Starry
How it Works
The XMax Starry is a fully conduction vaporizer, meaning heat is delivered directly to your herbs from the hot walls of the ceramic oven. In fact, the design of the Xmas Starry 3 reminds us of a slim downed version of the Utillian 722.
The temperature can be adjusted in one degree increments using the buttons and Screen that are located along its side, and the oven is accessed by removing the top, which is held on by magnets.
Power is delivered via an 18650 battery. The compartment for this is accessed by opening the bottom of the unit.
Temperature Flexibility
The temperature flexibility of the Starry is ok. You can adjust the temperature in one degree increments, similar to the Arizer Air 2, with a range of 212° – 464°F (100° – 240°C).
This range is considerably larger than what most vaporizers offer, although a lot of the included temperatures arent actually good for vaporization. Using the top of the range will run the risk of combusting the herbs, while the lower temperatures wont do anything at all.
That’s why units like the Utillian 421 offer temperature presets that produce different results. The U421 is overall a better option when it comes to overall bang for your buck.
Vapor Quality
The vapor quality leaves a lot to desire. If you stick with low vaping temperatures around 190, the flavor is ok, but as soon as you try to increase the temperature it becomes harsh really fast. The short vapor path doesn’t allow for the vapor to cool down and that is the primary reason for the harsh vapor. The mouthpiece does conduct heat right on the lips and that can also be uncomfortable with longer sessions. For the price it is ok, but generally speaking the vapor quality is certainly below average. It just gets the job done so to say. Visible vapor production is a little below average so it wouldn’t blow you away like with a Utillian 620, that comes with a glass mouth piece.
This is especially true when you get up above 420°F. You get more clouds at these temperatures, but the taste is much worse and it will make you cough a lot.
The risk of combustion is very high as well, especially if you try to take more than a couple draws before stopping. Users who desire high vapor quality without the risk of combustion usually tend to prefer the Zeus Arc GTS vaporizer because it is a 3rd generation vaporizer meaning that it works with special pods instead of with loose herb.
If you like the shape of the Starry but are looking for a unit that offers much better vapor quality, we recommend checking out the Utillian 722, which uses convection heating to increase the quality of vapor over the duration of the session.
Manufacturing Quality
For the price, the manufacturing quality is sub-optimal. The included 18650 battery is rated at 2500mAh and performs well.
The mouthpiece is even made from ceramic zirconia, the same material used in the Davinci IQCs vapor pathway. This vape is ok, what you would expect for the cost, however, we are curious how this device will hold up long term.
One thing we notice with the Starry is that it gets hot during use, especially around the heating chamber, after a 10 minute session the section around the chamber becomes almost too hot to touch. The rest of the unit also heats up during the session as the heat travels and tries to escape.
We also notices that this heat was traveling into the battery bay, which does not seem to be all that well insulated. While the temperature was not so hot that it was alarming, but it is warm enough that it will surely put a little extra strain on the battery during the life of this unit.
The Starry will deliver between an hour and an hour and a half of use with each charge. Expect that to translate to about 6 – 8 sessions with every charge.
For most people, that will be more than enough for a day of vaping, however, it still does not hold a candle to a unit like the Zeus Arc S Hub which offers users similar battery life with much better options to carry. Making the unit much more portable.
Portability
The portability of this unit is fair. Its a decent size as far as holding it in your hand goes. It’s small enough that you can conceal it, yet big enough that you can hold it with a more natural grip.
Its pretty thin as well, making it a good candidate for carrying in your pocket without it being uncomfortable.
Finally, the ability to carry extra batteries and extend the already good battery life is a nice feature because it makes this a good option for long trips away from power sources. That being said, there are many better options to explore when it comes to vaporizers, check out our most portable vaporizers.
Ease of Use
Vaporizers are trending towards being more simplistic, and the XMAX Starry V3 is no exception its straightforward and simple, probably due to the fact that it is a cheaper device. There are three buttons, one to turn it on and two to adjust the temperature.
The top snaps on and off thanks to a well-sized magnet that holds it in place, and the battery door swings open easily so you can remove the battery whenever you want.
Discreetness
This is average when it comes to discretion. I already mentioned that it can be concealed with your hand just like the Litl1, which makes it easy to take discreet draws while you are in public places.
Visible vapor production is also pretty limited at lower temperatures, which further increases the odds that you can use this without attracting attention.
Overall Experience
I am a bit conflicted when it comes to the Starry, for the price it is a pretty decent vaporizer, it offers a digital display and removable battery. However the vapor quality is just average and can be quite harsh above 210C, which may not be good for those who enjoy higher temperature vaping. Also the uncomfortable temperature the device can get during operation makes us question the longevity of the unit as well as the 18650’s you may put into it.
For just a bit more than the Starry we would suggest checking out the Utillian 722 Vaporizer, which offers convection vapor and 5 pre-set temperatures. It is hands down the best convection vaporizer for the price and it also handles concentrate!
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!