XMax V3 Pro Review – Portable yet Polarizing
XVape has been making waves as of late with their release of the XMax V3 Pro. This particular unit has been updated to the USB-C charging standard and also features an isolated airpath. Sporting a slim aluminum frame that somehow packs in a convection heating chamber inside, the XMax V3 Pro is already ticking off the right boxes so far. But does it have what it takes to finish strong? Thats what were here to find out!
XMax V3 Pro Review
How it Works
With the dimensions of the XMax V3 Pro measuring out to a meager 230 x 180x x 50mm and weighing in at only 275 grams, its roughly the size of your average hard-hitting wax pen. The back of the unit houses a replaceable 18650 battery, while the front features a compact OLED screen and 3 buttons dedicated to firing up the vaporizer and adjusting temp controls and settings. Higher temperatures are generally more efficient at vaporizing dry herbs. As a result, using a device like the Tronian Milatron which has a 240°C max temperature, will help save you money.
The packaging isn’t anything fancy. Out of the box you get the bare essentials: a standard USB-C charging cable, a single wax cup for vaporizing concentrate, a loading tool, and some swabs for cleaning the chamber.
Temperature Flexibility
The XMax V3 Pro supports full temperature control, with a range of 100° C 220° C; it seems to be in league with the feature set of more expensive vaporizers such as the Utillian 722 or the Zeus Arc S. While the XMax V3 Pro ramps up in temperature relatively quickly (just under 10 seconds), weve found that the temperatures to be a bit jumpy or inconsistent, especially when compared to whats displayed on the OLED screen.
We dont really recommend setting the XMax V3 Pro anywhere close to its upper-temperature range as it has difficulty maintaining the desired temps. Thankfully when setting it to a more reasonable 185° C, weve found that it does a way better job of staying true to the set temperature.
Vapor Quality
Despite its isolated air path and convection chamber, our experience with the XMax V3 Pro has been inconsistent at best. Some sessions provided us with great tasting, albeit limited vapor. The airflow is heavily restricted as well and is a far cry from vaporizers such as the Zeus Arc GTS, with their relatively free-flowing airflow that manages to pump out a good amount of clouds consistently.
One feature we particularly liked, however is having the option to switch between a session mode and an on-demand mode, something thats not often seen in convection vaporizers. While the session time cant be fully customized unlike some higher-end vaporizers, cycling the XMax V3 Pro between 4 and 6 minutes seems like a fair compromise given its budget-friendly price point.
Manufacturing Quality
The overall aesthetic of the XMax V3 Pro is very utilitarian. This thing is not designed to be pretty or eye-catching at all which can be a pro or a con depending on what youre after. The build quality is average however with an aluminum alloy chassis which helps give the device a comfortable handfeel that feels almost too smooth to the touch.
Nothing about the XMax V3 Pro screams premium though, which is especially evident the moment we put our lips on the cheap-feeling and awkwardly sized mouthpiece. We believe a device this compact could have benefitted from a longer glass mouthpiece like the one found on the Utillian 620. Another caveat is the battery cover on the rear of the vaporizer, which feels flimsy and doesn’t do a good job of instilling confidence that its there to stay.
On the other hand, the OLED screen is average. Despite its small size, its very bright and crisp which make it easy to read even with the right lighting conditions. The user interface displayed on the screen is neat and uncluttered, with the temperature setting easily viewed at a moment’s notice.
Battery Life
One of our favorite points in favor of the XMax V3 Pro is its replaceable 18650 battery. Unfortunately, it seems that XVape doesn’t take full advantage of this, as the included battery isn’t that impressive, clocking in at only 2600mAh instead of the 3000 to 3500mAh range weve gotten accustomed to with higher specced devices.
Dont get us wrong, the stock battery is by no means terrible and manages to last for the good part of a day with moderate use. For more frequent sessions, however, it fails to keep up, which is why its USB-C charging port seems mandatory.
Portability
As far as convection vaporizers go, the XMax V3 Pro is one of the smallest weve reviewed so far, making it an ideal option for those that desire portability above all else and don’t want to use a wax or oil pen to get their vape on. The slim and sleek profile of the housing makes it easy to pocket quickly while also providing an average amount of grip when held in hand.
For those who want to take things to another level, we heavily recommend buying a spare 18650 battery or two and a separate 2-bay charger. This greatly extends the overall session time of the XMax V3 Pro as its quick and simple to change 18650 cells on the fly. Just make sure to pick up something quality, such as a Sony, Samsung, or LG battery cell (avoid the fakes!)
Ease of Use
3 quick presses on the power button is all thats required to turn the XMax V3 Pro on and off. Coupling that with the 2 dedicated + and – buttons make this vaporizer one of the more straightforward options on the market. The OLED screen relays information clear enough so even absolute beginners won’t have much trouble figuring the ins and outs of the XMax V3 Pro.
One thing we found less appealing about the XMax V3 Pro is it’s extremely small chamber size which holds a sad 0.15 grams of herb. Given the device’s small size and quick temperature ramp-up, it’s clear that they had to compromise its overall design.
A fully loaded chamber does manage to provide enough vapor for a single session, but the XMax V3 Pro is far from the best option for those looking for extended sessions or sharing with friends, as we expect reloading the thing frequently will turn out to be a chore in the long run. A great option for those looking for a device in the same price range that can provide quality vapor while displaying simple mechanics is the Tronian Milatron.
Discreetness
The practical shape and styling of the XMax V3 Pro make it ok for those looking for discreetness when using this device in public. The black and satin finish of the aluminum exterior doesn’t draw too much attention to itself. The vapor output is minimal as well, so you wont be turning heads with the amount of clouds generated by the XMax V3 Pro.
Discreetness is definity an important feature many connoisseurs look for when purchasing a vaporizer; keep in mind that, as opposed to smoking, all vaporizers produce less odor overall.
Overall Experience
The XMax V3 Pro has some decent features, like its OLED screen, a replaceable battery, and USB-C charging port. While impressive on paper, the full temperature control is something we feel isn’t something that the XMax V3 Pro can take advantage of, given its janky power delivery.
Regarding budget options, the XMax V3 Pro is average and still has a long way to go before we consider it one of the best. The chamber size needs to be doubled at the very least, not to mention the finicky battery door and mouthpiece altogether detract from what could be a stellar and easy-to-approach dry herb experience on the cheap.