G Pen Elite II Review – Another Extraneous Entry

Grenco Science’s line up of G Pens are a bit of hit and miss depending on the device in question. The first G Pen Elite for example didn’t really wow us. The same could be said of the GPen Dash. With the release of the G Pen Elite II, we’re excited to see if this sequel improves upon the original. Like most of the handheld vaporizers in the G Pen lineup, the G Pen Elite II was designed for ease of use, an extensive feature set, and performance in mind. Let’s see if it lives up to it’s name this time.

Review: G Pen Elite II

Table of contents

1. How it Works
2. Temperature Flexibility
3. Vapor Quality
4. Manufacturing Quality
5. Battery Life
6. Portability
7. Ease of Use
8. Discreetness
9. Overall Experience

G Pen Elite II

Rating:

85%

34  REVIEWS

USD 129.99

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How it Works

The G Pen Elite II operates via a full color digital display navigated by three push buttons. The power button turns on the device when held for 3 seconds while the auxiliary + and – controls adjust the desired temperature. The G Pen Elite II comes bundled with a packing tool that’s neatly tucked away at the base of the vaporizer and can be used when loading dry herb into the relatively large chamber that can accommodate up to 0.5 grams of dry  herb..

Two presses on the power button then starts the heating cycle with the haptic feedback feature letting you know once the desired temperature has been reached. The G Pen Elite II has an auto-shutoff timer set to 5 minutes. Alternatively holding the power button again for another 3 seconds powers down the vaporizer.

Temperature Flexibility

Aside from sporting full precision temperature control, the digital display and auxiliary controls allow for adjusting other minute settings. Options such as screen brightness, switching between a Celsius or Fahrenheit display, and vibration strength are accessed by rapidly pressing down on the power button 5 times.

Just like the first G Pen Elite, the G Pen Elite II offers a wide range of temperatures to help you vaporize dry herb. With a minimum temperature of 93C all the way up to maximum heat setting of 221C, the G Pen Elite II doesn’t pull any punches in this department, allowing the user to either vaporize low and slow for maximum flavor, or dial it all the way up to to increase vapor and dry herb extraction.

Vapor Quality

 The G Pen Elite II utilizes a ceramic heating chamber which finds itself situated just below the mouthpiece. Unfortunately, this results in hot and harsh vapor.  This shows when using the device at the higher temperature ranges or for extended periods of time. We definitely recommend a water cooling rig for this vaporizer although we’re not certain if there are compatible options out there given the non-standard shape of the mouthpiece.

Otherwise, the G Pen Elite II does manage to output some tasty clouds for a brief duration. That goes all out the window though as the temperature of the unit itself creeps up. Vapor production takes a free fall into being harsh and unpleasant when used for extended sessions. Flavor chasers are well advised to go with something like the Arizer Go.

Manufacturing Quality

The G Pen Elite II maintains the ergonomic and hand-friendly shape from its previous iteration. This was one of the strong points of the original Elite so we’re glad to see that it’s still made its way onto the Elite II. It’s sad to see however, that the G Pen Elite II also stuck with the black glossy finish which looks cheap especially after it’s done attracting all your grubby fingerprints just after a single use.

In terms of consistency between sessions and overall robustness, the G Pen Elite does its job. The device heats up very quickly in just 30 seconds. It’s also proven to maintain its temperature throughout a session.

Battery Life

Curiously so, the battery of the G Pen Elite II gets a small downgrade this time around. The overall capacity of the G Pen Elite II has been lowered from the 2200mAh of the original Elite. We’re willing to look past the small-ish 2100mAh battery as the G Pen Elite II now sports USB C charging. You can expect to charge the G Pen Elite II in just as little as 90 minutes when charging from empty.

The 2100mAh is sufficient for light to moderate use on a daily basis. Heavier users might find themselves reaching for the charger however well before the day is over. Thankfully charging the device is easy enough thanks to its improved charging port.

Portability

Most if not all G Pen devices come with the benefit of being packaged in a discreet black carrying case. These also function well as a hemp case for transporting your dry herb without attracting unwanted attention via smells.

The G Pen Elite II is compact enough to fit in most pockets. Just like it’s predecessor, the lack of glass components allow for worry-free travel with the device. Power users that tend to go hard on their sessions are well recommended to bring along a power bank for a full day’s worth of use out of this vaporizer.

Ease of Use

The straightforward control scheme and crisp color display leaves no room for questions. The G Pen Elite II is as easy as it comes when in use. The passthrough charging feature has also made its way here which is a nice quality of life bonus for when using and charging the device simultaneously. The large chamber is a breeze to clean with a few alcohol swabs. Thankfully, there aren’t any odd nooks or crannies for stray dry herb or residue to get stuck in.

Discreetness

The G Pen Elite II might not be the most compact dry herb vaporizer available. That doesn’t mean it’s difficult to palm and pocket however. The ergonomic shape coupled with the sleek black finish adds a stealthy flair to the overall package. The carrying case that comes included with the kit also ensures that the G Pen Elite II travels safely and discreetly.

Overall Experience

While the G Pen Elite II works well as a standalone vaporizer, it’s hard to see value in this kit. It barely improves upon the weaknesses of the first G Pen Elite. Not to mention it’s also priced higher than the original Elite II.

Aside from the upgrade to USB-C and it’s compact and ergonomic shape, the G Pen Elite II isn’t the most compelling option available now. The battery is weak by most standards these days and overall vapor production isn’t anything worth writing home about. The robust design of the G Pen Elite II, while another one of it’s strong points, simply isn’t worth the money given the options available in the market now.