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Zeus Arc S Hub vs Arizer Argo – Portable Showdown
By
Varman Navaratnam
Zeus Arc S Hub vs Arizer Argo – Portable Showdown
October 6, 2023
on
Portable Showdown, Vaporizer Showdowns
Updated: October 6, 2023
In 2017, Arizer released the Arizer Go, or ‘ArGo’, as a response to criticism that their flagship devices, such as the Air 2 and the Solo 2, were not entirely portable. Since then, the demand for convenient and portable vaporizers has only grown bigger.
Flash forward to 2021, where German-based Zeus has released the Zeus Arc S Hub system, an all-in-one system aimed at portability. How do the Xtruder and ArcPod system stack up against Arizer’s portable offering? Find out in this portable vaporizer showdown!
Zeus Arc S Hub vs Arizer Argo
Table of contents
Dr. Clemens Tscheka
I have a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology & Oversee the Quality & Safety of all products that we carry
How it Works
In order to load the ArGo, push down on the mouthpiece guard to expose the Arizer ArGo glass tube. Pull the tube out of the device, and load the bottom section of the glass tube with your herb. To load it back into the device, it’s recommended to turn the device upside down and load the tube with the herb facing up. This helps prevent any spilling of herb that may occur when loading the device. Regardless, loading the device is still a slightly clumsy affair, lacking a system to fill it like the Zeus S Hub.
The Zeus Arc S Hub is a third-generation vaporizer, as it includes the Xtruder herb mill which directly fills the patented ArcPods, so you are ready to pop a pod into your Arc anywhere. The ArGo is a second gen device, as it does not come with a specialized herb mill that fills pods directly included in the package. Simply place an empty ArcPod in the slot located on the inside of the bottom cap, and load the Xtruder with herb. Twist the top until the bottom pops, and you have successfully filled an ArcPod! This can be done ahead of time, eliminating the need to empty and fill your chamber between sessions.
Vapor Quality
The vapor quality of the ArGo certainly meets Arizer’s standard of great flavor and dense cloud production. The glass aroma tube aids in creating a very pure tasting vapor when using the device at lower temperatures. I was able to produce dense clouds when maxing out at 220 degrees celsius, although I found that it didn’t produce those clouds for a few minutes into a session.
The vapor quality of the Zeus Arc S is consistently solid, and even rivals the cloud production of other top devices such as the Utillian 722. This device also has the advantage of a water-pipe adapter, which when paired with the Utillian bubbler will take your Zeus Arc S sessions to the next level with silky smooth draws. Get ready for some serious clouds!
Manufacturing Quality
The Arizer Go is made with a rugged plastic material, intended to make the device more portable. This also helps keep the device light enough to sit comfortably in a pocket. With that said, the build quality is definitely not rugged enough to survive a fall. Users on online forums have posted about glass stems being broken inside the device after being dropped, so something to consider if you plan on using this device for the next few years. The plastic body of the device also got significantly hot in our testing, uncomfortably so where the heating element is. While it cooled relatively quickly, we suggest letting the ArGo cool for a few minutes before putting it in a pocket.
The Zeus Arc S really shines in this category, opting for a slick black stainless steel exterior that feels durable while staying lightweight. It certainly has a better chance of surviving a fall than the ArGo. This material also conducts less heat than the plastic exterior of the ArGo in our experience. For best results with the Xtruder, it is recommended to use dry herb that has been stored at ?58% humidity for the fastest and most consistent grind possible.
Battery Life
The ArGo has an identical battery to that of its larger counterpart, the Air 2. In our testing, the ArGo battery lasts roughly an hour and a half on full charge. It features a replaceable 18650 battery, which wins points if you’re looking to own the device long term. With that said, the ArGo takes longer to get fully up to temp, meaning more battery life will be spent waiting for your herb to cook. The age of the device is also evident in its lack of USB-C charging, providing a micro-USB charging port instead.
The Zeus Arc S features a respectable 3500mAh battery, which lets you get a full day’s worth of sessions without needing a recharge. Unlike the ArGo, this battery is not removable, meaning it cannot be replaced over time. It also only provides micro-USB, although Zeus has stated that they are looking into a USB-C option. Still, for a device this size, the battery life is still impressive on Zeus’s offering.
Temperature Flexibility
The ArGo allows you to operate the device at a wide range of temperatures, from as low as 50 degrees celsius all the way up to 220 degrees celsius at max temperatures. In our testing, it was able to reach that temperature in about one and a half minutes.The menu system on the front of the device makes setting temperatures extremely easy, with the only flaw being that you can’t push and hold buttons to scroll through temperatures faster.
This means you have to repeatedly press the plus or minus button until you get to your desired temperature. The device performs well at lower temperatures, as the glass bowl provides a very pure tasting experience. Issues begin to show at higher temperatures, as the plastic body can get extremely hot when using higher temperatures.
The Zeus Arc S offers three temperature presets out of the box (205°C,| 215°C, and 225°C), and these presets can be adjusted with different firmware to suit your personal preferences via Zeus’s website. The Zeus Arc was also able to get up to max temperature in about one and a half minutes, and performed especially well at those higher temperatures. While there’s less overall temperature flexibility with this device, it still managed to perform well.
Ease of Use
The ArGo is simple to figure out on first use, as the three button menu system makes operation a breeze. Simply hold the Menu and Plus buttons to engage the countdown, and once you see the smiley face you’re good to go! Loading bowls is easy in a controlled environment, but loading herb into the mouthpiece would be difficult under windy circumstances, which creates issues in its self proclaimed portability.
The Zeus Arc S is even easier, with one button needed to operate the device. Simply hold the button to engage the countdown, and the device will vibrate once turned on. It will vibrate again once your device has reached your desired temperature, another handy feature of the S. The ArcPod and Xtruder system also make reloading herb between sessions a breeze, as you can fill several ArcPods with the herbs of your choice and label the boxes with your fave strains before leaving the house. You can also travel with your ArcPods and Zeus Arc S with the Zeus Armor. The level of convenience is similar to that of 510 vape cartridges, while allowing you to choose what goes into your pods.
Final Thoughts
While both devices aim to satisfy users seeking portability, the Zeus Arc S triumphs between the two. The ArGo’s delicate glass stem and overheated body create issues in durability, as well as several inconveniences when taking this device out for the day. Zeus’s offering solves many of these issues by using an alloy body and the ArcPod system, leading to more overall convenience and portability. With that said, the Arizer ArGo does work well if you’re looking for solid flavor, as the glass aroma tubes and temperature flexibility provide a wide range of usage options.
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