Arizer Air 2 vs Arizer Air Max – Is Bigger Better?

Dr. Clemens Tscheka

I have a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology & Oversee the Quality & Safety of all products that we carry

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How It Works

The Arizer Air 2 and Air Max include the same set of buttons: menu, plus, and minus. The Air Max has moved all of these buttons to the sides instead of having them all on the front like the Arizer Air 2. This makes the two-button countdown startup a lot easier, and a lot more intuitive than it is on the Arizer Air 2. 

The screens are both tiny, and basically the same on both devices. The menu systems are identical, and leave something to be desired. I wish Arizer would’ve included the 5 button interface and full menu system that’s included on the Solo 2. But with a screen this small, I can see how that wouldn’t be possible.

Temperature Flexibility

The Arizer Arizer Air 2 and Air Max both get up to a spicy 220 degrees celsius, and both get up to temperature in about one and a half minutes, with the Air Max getting there slightly quicker in my experience. Both devices pack big dense hits when you max out the temperature to 220 celsius. 

The PVC mouthpiece and steel oven on both devices create a really pure flavor when taking advantage of lower temperatures. Overall, both devices provide great results when using a wide range of temperatures.

Vapor Quality

The vapor quality of both are very similar, as both use similar conduction-based heating elements to cook your botanical. The Arizer Air 2 and Air Max both get up to a spicy 220 degrees celsius, and both get up to temp in about one and a half minutes, with the Air Max getting there slightly quicker in my experience. 

Both devices pack big dense hits when you max out the temperature to 220 celsius. The bigger bowl in the Air Max creates slightly bigger and longer sessions, although in my experience using both they’re surprisingly comparable. And those hits become bigger and denser once you take advantage of that water pipe adapter, something to keep in mind if you are a glassware connoisseur.

So as far as vapor quality is concerned, I’m giving it to the Air Max for the bigger bowl and quicker heat up time. With that said, the Arizer Air 2 definitely put up an admirable fight in this regard. I’m talking about Muhammed Ali fighting Joe Frazier, not Mike Tyson fighting your grandma. 

Manufacturing Quality

We have a very similar design between the two with the Air Max being slightly bigger. The build quality is good all around, with the edge going to the Air Max as it’s noticeably heftier and slightly taller.

Both Vaporizers include a PVC mouthpiece and aroma dish, but the Air Max also includes a water pipe adapter out of the box. Each stempiece holds anywhere from 0.1 to 0.25 grams of botanical. Simply grind it up, scoop it, and pack it to secure it. The glass stem piece included with the Air Max is slightly bigger, meaning you can pack more herb into your bowl per session. This also means that Arizer Air 2 users who upgrade to the Air Max won’t be able to use all of their stems interchangeably, something worth considering if you were looking to upgrade. The use of PVC helps contribute to the really pure taste you get from these devices. It also means that if you want to take this device around a lot, you’re going to need some kind of carrying case, like the provided PVC Carrying tube, or the Zeus Armor case. This does knock points off of portability for both devices, considering how much you run the risk of potentially breaking the stem. 

If you’re looking for a device that you’d like to commute with or take on a night out, I’d recommend something like the Zeus Arc GTS Hub instead. The Arcpod system saves you from a lot of the hassle you’ll get with both Arizer Devices. 

Battery Life

The battery on the Arizer Air 2 is a 3000mah battery, while the Air Max is a step up with a 5750mAh battery. The Arizer Air 2 can run continuously for about an hour and a half at the max temperature, while the Air Max can run for a whopping 2 and a half hours continuously. In my experience, both devices’ batteries last for about two days with occasional usage. 

 The Arizer Air Max vaporizer also wins points for providing fast-charging USB-C, as opposed to the Arizer Air 2 which uses a more outdated micro USB. This is where the age of the Arizer Air 2, which was released in 2017, really starts to show. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, I like both of these devices but I’d have to give the edge to the Air Max. While the performance between the two is relatively similar, the higher capacity battery, USB C charging, and bigger bowl make the extra dollars worth it in the long run. With the build quality feeling significantly heftier than the Arizer Air 2, the extra money is well spent considering these devices still go for about half of what the Mighty Plus does. And when paired with a water pipe, it can produce clouds that rival some of Arizer’s desktop models.

Looking for something that’s even more portable that you want to use continuously throughout the day? Well, I’d try something like the Zeus Arc GTS or even the Utillian 722 if you want a stronger kick of clouds.