The XMax V4 Pro wins clearly, 8.9 against 8.2 for the Crafty+ (Crafty Plus). It leads on vapor and value, and at $109 against $279 US list price it costs well under half as much. Even against a discounted Crafty+ it's still the cheaper buy. Choose the Crafty+ if you want smooth, cool vapor from a short, one-button pocket vape with Storz & Bickel build quality.
Key differences
- Heating: full convection on the V4 Pro against hybrid heating on the Crafty+.
- Heat-up: about 10 seconds on the V4 Pro against about 60 on the Crafty+.
- Temperature control: the V4 Pro sets 100°C to 220°C in 1°C steps on the vape. The Crafty+ has three button presets and needs S&B's web app for 1°C steps.
- Airflow: 3-position adjustable on the V4 Pro, fixed and open on the Crafty+.
- Modes: the V4 Pro offers session and on-demand heating. The Crafty+ is session only.
- Battery: a swappable 2550 mAh 18650 good for about 12 sessions in the V4 Pro, a sealed 2800 mAh cell good for about 5 in the Crafty+.
- Concentrates: the V4 Pro takes occasional wax with the XMax wax cup (sold separately). The Crafty+ is built for cannabis flower.
- Warranty: two years from Storz & Bickel against 12 months on the V4 Pro's electronic base.
- Price: $109 against $279 at US list price.
Vapor and flavor
The V4 Pro scores 9.2 for vapor against 8.2, with hot air passing through the load instead of cooking it on the oven walls. Through the glass mouthpiece, we tasted clean, detailed terpenes and no plastic. The catch is heat: vapor runs warm through the straight glass, so we switch to a water pipe above about 205°C. The mouthpiece drops straight into a 14 mm joint.
The Crafty+ answers with comfort, since its cooling unit keeps vapor smooth and cool even at the 210°C top preset. Clouds come out fluffy, and the draw feels like breathing through a wide straw. That makes it easy to hand to a friend who has never vaped.
Controls and session style
Both score 8.5 for ease of use, for different reasons. The Crafty+ is one button: hold it to heat, feel the buzz, then draw. Presets sit at 180°C, 195°C and 210°C. For finer control, S&B's web app runs in Chrome on Android or Bluefy on iPhone. The Crafty+ remembers your settings, so the phone can stay away. A first-timer gets good vapor from it with no instructions.
The V4 Pro puts everything on the vape: three buttons, a color OLED screen and 3-position airflow. Session mode runs 4 or 6 minutes, and on-demand mode heats while you hold power, up to 30 seconds per press. That suits single hits, though the window can cut a slow draw short, so press again and keep going. The V4 Pro tops out at 220°C, a limit if you like to finish bowls hotter.
Battery and charging
The sealed 2800 mAh cell is the Crafty+'s weak spot in our review. A charge gives about 5 sessions, closer to 3 or 4 at 210°C. It won't heat while plugged in, a full charge takes about 120 minutes (80% in about 80), and a worn cell goes back to S&B service.
The V4 Pro's 18650 swaps through the bottom lid in seconds. XMax rates it at about 12 six-minute sessions at 220°C. A full charge takes about three hours on a 5 V/1 A plug, so a charged spare earns its place.
Size, build and value
Both score 8.8 for portability, but the Crafty+ is short and stubby, and its swivel mouthpiece tucks flush for a jeans pocket. The V4 Pro is tall and slim at 157.78 mm, with glass on top, so pick a pocket where it won't take knocks.
The Crafty+ has the better build, 8.5 against 7.8. Its PEEK shell stays cool through back-to-back sessions, and the airflow slider on our V4 Pro had a little play. Value swings hard the other way, 9.5 against 7.0. S&B is also phasing the Crafty+ out, so buy one soon if it's your pick.
Which should you buy?
- Most vape for the money: the V4 Pro.
- Water pipe owners: the V4 Pro, with its 14 mm glass mouthpiece.
- Single hits through the day: the V4 Pro in on-demand mode.
- Long days out: the V4 Pro plus a charged spare 18650.
- The odd wax session: the V4 Pro with its wax cup.
- Zero learning curve: the Crafty+, with one button and no settings to learn.
- Cool vapor with no water: the Crafty+ and its cooling unit.
