The Crafty+ and XMax V3 Pro tie on our scores at 8.2 overall. Pick the Crafty+ for smoother, more consistent vapor, a bigger 0.25 g oven and a tougher build. Pick the V3 Pro for its $99 price, a swappable battery and temperature control on the vape itself.
Key differences
- Price: $279 US list price for the Crafty+, $99 for the V3 Pro.
- Heating: Storz & Bickel hybrid heating vs mostly convection.
- Chamber: about 0.25 g in the Crafty+ vs about 0.15 to 0.2 g in the V3 Pro.
- Heat-up: about 60 seconds vs 10 seconds to 180°C.
- Battery: a sealed 2800 mAh cell good for about 5 sessions vs a replaceable 18650 good for about 7.
- Controls: three presets plus a web app on the Crafty+. An OLED screen with 1°C steps on the V3 Pro.
- Modes: the Crafty+ runs sessions only. The V3 Pro adds an on-demand mode.
- Warranty: two years vs one year.
Vapor and flavor
The Crafty+ leads on vapor, 8.2 to 7.5, because its hybrid heater extracts evenly without stirring. Its cooling unit keeps vapor smooth, and even at 210°C it arrives cooler than most portables this size manage. The draw is low and open, closer to breathing through a wide straw than a tight tube. The trade is patience: it takes about 60 seconds to reach 180°C, while the V3 Pro is ready in about 10.
The V3 Pro tastes cleaner than its price suggests, with terpene-forward hits that hold up deep into a session. Its short vapor path is the catch, since hits above 200°C arrive noticeably warm. Its smaller chamber runs out sooner, so plan on reloading more often. A mid-session stir also helps, because cannabis near the chamber floor extracts first. Our convection vs conduction guide explains why the two heaters behave differently.
Controls and daily use
Ease of use ties at 8.5, but the two get there differently. The Crafty+ is a one-button vape with no learning curve and presets at 180°C, 195°C and 210°C. For anything in between, you open S&B's web app in a Bluetooth browser, which feels clunkier than a native app.
The V3 Pro puts everything on its screen: set temperature, actual temperature, battery and session timer. It runs from 100°C to 220°C in 1°C steps. On-demand mode heats only while you hold the button, so you can take a hit now and another later. Both vapes take dosing capsules, which makes reloading on the go quick and clean.
Battery and charging
Batteries are the V3 Pro's clearest practical win: pop the magnetic door, swap in a fresh 18650 and keep going. In our testing the V3 Pro ran about 7 sessions per charge, the Crafty+ about 5, or 3 to 4 at 210°C. The Crafty+ recharges fully over USB-C in about 120 minutes. The V3 Pro charges slowly from empty, so a spare cell is the faster fix. Spare cells are cheap, while the Crafty+ cell is sealed and a worn battery goes back to S&B service. Neither vape has pass-through charging, so plan to charge between sessions.
Build, size and value
Build quality is the Crafty+'s biggest lead, 8.5 to 6.5, and its PEEK body stays comfortable to hold after back-to-back sessions. The V3 Pro's aluminum shell feels solid, but its buttons rattle slightly, and the magnetic battery door and mouthpiece can pop off in a pocket.
They carry differently too, with the Crafty+ short and stubby at 135 g and 110 mm tall. The V3 Pro is tall and slim at 105 g and 150 mm, which edges it ahead on portability, 9.0 to 8.8.
Value is where the V3 Pro runs away, 9.5 to 7.0, since it costs $180 less and still delivers convection flavor and two modes. Storz & Bickel is also phasing the Crafty+ out, though warranty support continues for new units.
If the V3 Pro is your pick, look at the XMax V4 Pro first: for $10 more at US list price it adds adjustable airflow and a glass mouthpiece, and scores 8.9.
Which should you buy?
- First-time buyers on a budget: the V3 Pro.
- Anyone who wants smooth vapor with zero fuss: the Crafty+.
- All-day users away from an outlet: the V3 Pro, with a couple of charged spare cells.
- Bigger bowls or sharing a session: the Crafty+, whose 0.25 g oven holds more than the V3 Pro's chamber of about 0.15 to 0.2 g.
- Buyers who value build quality: the Crafty+.
- Occasional concentrate users: the V3 Pro, which includes a wax cup.
Shopping on price? Our best budget vaporizers ranking covers more picks, with the newer XMax V4 Pro in the top spot.
