The PAX 4, sold by PAX as the PAX FOUR, edges the Mighty+ 8.9 to 8.7 overall, a narrow lead built on pocket size and one-button simplicity. The Mighty+ makes the better vapor and runs more than twice as many sessions per charge. Buy the PAX 4 to carry every day, and the Mighty+ for longer sessions and denser clouds.
Key differences
- Size: the PAX 4 weighs 125 g and stands 107.5 mm tall. The Mighty+ weighs 242 g at 140 mm.
- Price: a $250 US list price for the PAX 4, $399 for the Mighty+.
- Temperature: four intensity-based heat modes on the PAX 4. Exact 1°C control and a display on the Mighty+.
- Battery: PAX rates the PAX 4 for up to 5 sessions. Our Mighty+ review got 11.
- Loading: the Mighty+ takes dosing capsules. The PAX 4 loads loose cannabis only.
- Warranty: 2 years on both, plus a third year when you register (4 weeks for Storz & Bickel, 30 days for PAX).
Vapor quality: the Mighty+ pulls ahead
This is the Mighty+'s biggest lead, 9.2 to 8.4. Its hybrid heater pairs a ceramic-coated oven with heated intake air, and it extracted evenly with no stirring in our testing. The first draw after the ready buzz is full and dense. A long cooling path keeps vapor cooler than the setting suggests, and the draw stays open and easy.
The PAX 4 is a big step up from earlier PAX models, but it still trails. At the lower modes it is a sipper, with light vapor and clean terpenes. Modes 3 and 4 bring denser clouds with real weight behind them. The draw stays fairly tight in every mode, and there is no airflow adjustment. Our heating methods explainer covers why hybrid designs differ so much.
Portability: the PAX 4 disappears in a pocket
The PAX 4 scores 9.8 for portability, against 7.5 for the Mighty+. It all but vanishes in a closed hand, and it slips into a front jeans pocket. The Mighty+ fits a jacket or cargo pants, but it's more comfortable in a bag or on a table. Both are built well, scoring 9.5 for the Mighty+ and 9.2 for the PAX 4.
Heat-up is not a deciding factor here. PAX quotes 55 to 70 seconds for the PAX 4. Storz & Bickel quotes about a minute to 180°C for the Mighty+.
Ease of use: two simple vapes, two styles
The PAX 4 leads on ease of use, 9.5 to 9.0. One button cycles power and heat modes, LED petals show your mode and battery, and a haptic buzz tells you it's ready. You never see a number. Instead, the petals glow purple, green, yellow or orange for modes 1 to 4, from discreet sips up to maximum density. Quick-press to cycle, then wait 3 seconds or shake the vape to lock a mode in. Start a fresh bowl in purple or green for flavor, and step up as the vapor thins.
The Mighty+ uses two arrow buttons and a screen showing current and target temperature. SuperBoost adds 15°C with a double-tap or 30°C with a triple-tap for 90 seconds, which is handy at the end of a bowl. Dosing capsules make reloads mess-free and every dose the same, as our dosing capsules guide explains.
Battery and charging
The Mighty+ is the vape for long days. Our review got 11 sessions per charge from its two built-in 3300 mAh cells, 60 to 90 minutes of total runtime depending on temperature. With a 15 V/3 A USB-C PD charger, it also runs while plugged in. Storz & Bickel's optional Supercharger reaches 80% in about 40 minutes.
PAX rates the PAX 4's 2800 mAh battery for up to 5 sessions or 50 minutes of run time. A full USB-C charge takes about 90 minutes, and there is no pass-through charging. That covers a moderate day, while heavy users will want to top up by evening.
Loading and cleaning
The PAX 4's funnel-shaped 0.3 g oven likes a medium-fine grind and a light, even tamp, not a tight pack. Switch it off, let it cool for about 10 minutes, then tap the spent cannabis out. A proper clean every 3 to 5 sessions keeps the flavor clean and the airflow open.
The Mighty+ oven also holds 0.3 g. Fill it to the rim without compressing, or drop in a pre-filled dosing capsule. Brush the chamber after each session, and clean the cooling unit whenever you see residue, never later than a week. Our cleaning guide has the full soak-and-brush routine.
Which should you buy?
- Pocket carry and stealth: the PAX 4, at 125 g.
- Denser vapor and longer sessions: the Mighty+, our vapor quality pick of the two.
- Exact temperatures: the Mighty+, with 1°C steps on a screen.
- Tighter budgets: the PAX 4, which costs $149 less.
- Consistent doses: the Mighty+, thanks to dosing capsules.
Both sit on our best portable vaporizers list, so either is a safe buy for its style.
