The PAX 4 is the better PAX, scoring 8.9 overall against 7.9 for the PAX Plus. Its hybrid heater makes noticeably denser vapor, and it leads every category we score. The PAX Plus still makes sense if you want a smaller body, a 10-year warranty or concentrate support, all for $100 less.
Key differences
- Price: $250 US list price for the PAX 4, $150 for the PAX Plus.
- Heating: hybrid in the PAX 4, which PAX rates at up to 50% more vapor than earlier models. Pure conduction in the Plus.
- Size: the Plus is 98 × 31 × 22 mm and 93 g. The PAX 4 is 107.5 × 36 × 26.7 mm and 125 g.
- Charging: USB-C on the PAX 4, a proprietary magnetic puck on the Plus.
- Heat-up: PAX quotes 55 to 70 seconds for the PAX 4 and 22 to 30 for the Plus.
- Battery: up to 5 sessions per charge on the PAX 4, about 10 on the Plus.
- Oven: about 0.3 g on the PAX 4, 0.35 g on the Plus.
- Warranty: 10 years limited on the Plus, 2 years on the PAX 4 (3 if you register within 30 days).
- Concentrates: the Plus takes an optional insert. The PAX 4 is for cannabis flower only.
Vapor quality: the PAX 4's clear win
The PAX 4 scores 8.4 for vapor quality against 7.0, the widest gap between these two. At the lower heat modes it's a sipper, with individual terpenes coming through cleanly. Push to mode 3 or 4 and the clouds get real weight behind each hit.
The Plus heats through its steel oven walls alone, so it needs a tight pack to perform. We saw uneven browning near the center of the load, a common conduction quirk, and fast pulls gave us noticeably thinner vapor. Our heating methods explainer covers why hybrid heaters extract more evenly.
The draw feels similar on both, fairly tight and built for PAX's slow sipping style. Neither has adjustable airflow, and neither gives you exact temperatures, only four preset modes.
| Mode | PAX 4 | PAX Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purple, minimal vapor | Stealth (purple) |
| 2 | Green, conserves material | Efficiency (teal) |
| 3 | Yellow, fuller flavor | Flavor (yellow) |
| 4 | Orange, maximum vapor | Boost (red) |
Battery and charging
PAX rates the PAX 4 at up to 5 sessions or 50 minutes per charge. Our PAX Plus review got about 10 sessions, and PAX rates it at over two hours of use. The older model runs longer between charges, and it carries the bigger cell, 3300 mAh against 2800 mAh.
Charging favors the PAX 4, which fills over USB-C in about 90 minutes. The Plus needs about 2.5 hours on its magnetic puck, and you can't vape on either while it charges. Neither battery is user-replaceable, and normal battery wear falls outside both warranties.
Size, build and warranty
Both use anodized aluminum bodies and slip into a front pocket. The PAX 4 still scores higher for portability (9.8 vs 9.5) and build (9.2 vs 8.5), because its extra size buys a cleaner oven and USB-C without losing pocket carry. The Plus is the smaller vape, about 10 mm shorter and 32 g lighter.
Black PAX 4 held upright in one hand, fingers wrapped around its slim aluminum body
The warranty is the Plus's trump card. PAX backs it for 10 years on units from authorized sellers, against 2 years on the PAX 4, or 3 with registration. The PAX 4 counters with a redesigned funnel-shaped oven that makes loading cleaner and tapping out spent cannabis easier.
PAX's quick-start guide puts the PAX 4's heat-up at 55 to 70 seconds, while the Plus heats in about 22 to 30 seconds from cold. That's a small daily trade for the PAX 4's denser vapor.
Should PAX Plus owners upgrade?
Upgrade if you want denser vapor and USB-C and don't use the concentrate insert. If you rely on the insert, the 10-year warranty or 10 sessions a charge, keep your Plus.
Which should you buy?
- Flavor and vapor first: the PAX 4, for hybrid heating and an 8.4 vapor score.
- PAX 2, 3 or Plus upgraders: the PAX 4, for denser vapor and USB-C charging.
- Budget buyers: the PAX Plus, which lists at $100 less, or the PAX Mini 2 at the same $150 US list price.
- Occasional concentrate users: the PAX Plus, with its concentrate insert.
- Long-term owners: the PAX Plus, for its 10-year limited warranty.
The PAX 4 carries the brand in our best portable vaporizers ranking. PAX's other hybrid gets its own PAX 4 vs PAX Flow comparison if you want a bigger oven.
