The XMax V4 Pro is the best budget vaporizer we have tested, and it tops our best budget vaporizers list. It's also the budget pick in our best portable vaporizers ranking. It builds on the XMax V3 Pro 8.2 and adds 3-position adjustable airflow, a color OLED screen, and a glass mouthpiece. It keeps the swappable 18650 battery and the session and on-demand modes that made the original a hit.
We scored it 8.9 overall, with 9.2 for vapor quality and a standout 9.5 for value. Those two scores tell the story: this vape tastes great and overdelivers for what you pay. Build quality (7.8) is its weakest score, and the 220°C ceiling is its main performance limit. Two quirks round out the picture: the vapor runs warm through the straight glass mouthpiece, and the 30-second on-demand window can cut a slow draw short.
What's in the Box
XMax includes the essentials without filler. Inside you'll find the V4 Pro, a USB-C charging cable, one dosing capsule, four screens, a cleaning tool and brush, cotton swabs, alcohol prep pads, and the user manual. The wax cup for concentrates is sold separately.
Everything in the box: the V4 Pro, USB-C cable, dosing capsule, four screens, cleaning tools, swabs, prep pads and manual.
The glass mouthpiece doubles as a water pipe adapter with a built-in 14 mm connection. That saves you from buying a separate WPA.
Design and build: aluminum body and glass mouthpiece
The V4 Pro uses an aluminum alloy shell measuring 157.78 x 26.7 x 23.8 mm and weighing around 120 g. It's tall and slim rather than stubby. The glass mouthpiece sticks out the top, so pick a pocket where it won't take knocks.
Tall and slim, with the glass mouthpiece standing proud of the body.
The glass mouthpiece is a clear step up from the V3 Pro's standard plastic tip with its ceramic insert. It pops out for cleaning and drops straight into a water pipe. XMax builds the chamber, filter and airflow box from stainless steel, and the mouthpiece pairs glass with ABS plastic parts. A color OLED display shows your set and current temperature, battery level, and session timer. Press all three buttons together to flip the screen for left-handed use.
Build quality scored 7.8, the V4 Pro's weakest category. The airflow slider works well but had a little play on our unit. For a budget portable, the aluminum shell feels sturdier in hand than the plastic bodies common at this price.
Full convection heater with single-degree control
The V4 Pro uses full convection heating, passing hot air through your cannabis rather than cooking it against the oven walls. Our guide to this convection approach explains how it differs from conduction. In our sessions, a loosely packed bowl delivered clean, detailed terpene flavor.
XMax says the V4 Pro is usually ready in about 10 seconds and never takes more than 20. The control system spans 100°C to 220°C in single-degree steps, putting precise tuning at your fingertips without needing a companion app.
The stainless steel oven with the mouthpiece off.
The stainless steel oven holds about 0.15 to 0.2 g. Use a medium-fine grind and fill loosely to just below the rim, so hot air can move through the whole load.
Pure convection and the glass mouthpiece keep flavor clean. Drawing through the glass, we tasted cannabis rather than plastic or electronics. The trade-off is heat: the vapor runs warm through the straight glass mouthpiece, and a water pipe cools it down.
Airflow settings: which position to use
The 3-position adjustable airflow is the V4 Pro's headline feature. It sets draw resistance from restricted to mid to fully open. We liked it most with the airflow open, which gives an easy, airy pull. Close it down if you prefer a tighter, cigar-style draw. Whatever the setting, take slow, steady pulls, which is also what XMax recommends; our draw technique guide explains why. For us, adjustable airflow is the single biggest improvement over the predecessor.
The airflow slider sits above the USB-C port.
Best XMax V4 Pro temperature settings
These are the settings we'd start with. Treat them as starting points and adjust to your cannabis and your taste. Our temperature guide explains what each range brings out.
| Setting | What you get | Airflow to pair with it |
|---|---|---|
| 175°C | Light, flavorful wisps with the brightest terpene taste | Mid, with slow draws |
| 190°C | Fuller vapor that still tastes clean, a good all-round start | Open |
| 205°C | Thicker vapor and a toastier taste | Open, through a water pipe if you have one |
| 220°C | The densest clouds the V4 Pro makes, for finishing a bowl | Open, through a water pipe |
Start a fresh bowl low and step up by about 10°C each time the vapor thins. You get the lighter terpenes first, then pull out what's left as you climb. XMax gives the same advice: start low and work up.
Above about 205°C, we switch to water. The vapor runs warm through the straight glass mouthpiece, and a 14 mm water pipe cools each pull with no adapter needed. Our guide to using a vaporizer with a bong covers the setup.
The 220°C ceiling is the V4 Pro's biggest performance constraint. If you like to push the end of a bowl hotter than that, you'll feel the cap. For the 175°C to 210°C sweet spot where most of us vape, it has all the range you need.
XMax V4 Pro battery life and the swappable 18650
The V4 Pro runs on a removable 18650 cell, with a 2550 mAh one in the box. XMax's figure is about 12 sessions per charge, based on six-minute sessions at 220°C. The cell swaps in seconds through the bottom lid; just match the polarity markings. The manual calls for XMax's original battery, so buy spares from XMax or your retailer and carry them in a battery case. Our vaporizer battery guide covers how to get more from every charge.
Charging runs through a USB-C port tucked just below the airflow slider. XMax puts a full charge at about three hours on a 5 V/1 A plug, or four to five hours on a 5 V/0.5 A one, and recommends more than six hours for the very first charge. Use a plain 5 V/1 A plug: XMax says the V4 Pro stops charging on a charger rated above 5 V/2 A. We unplug it before vaping rather than using it on the cable.
The airflow slider and USB-C port share one side of the aluminum shell.
Three hours on the cable is why the swappable cell matters. Heavier users can drop in a charged spare and keep going instead of waiting.
How to use the XMax V4 Pro: modes, buttons and loading
The V4 Pro offers two operating modes. Session mode heats continuously for 4 or 6 minutes depending on your setting, and the countdown starts once the oven reaches your set temperature. On-demand mode heats while you hold the power button, for up to 30 seconds per press. That lets you take a quick hit without committing to a full session. The 30-second window can cut a slow draw short; when it does, press again and keep drawing. Left idle in on-demand mode, the V4 Pro drops to standby after 30 seconds and switches off after another two minutes, per XMax.
Controls are simple. Three clicks turn it on or off, and pressing up and down together switches modes. Hold power and up for two seconds to pick a 4 or 6 minute session, or power and down to swap between Celsius and Fahrenheit. New to vaping? Our guide on how to use a vaporizer walks through a first session.
Loading is straightforward: remove the glass mouthpiece, fill the oven loosely, and put the mouthpiece back. Don't pack it tight, because XMax warns that overloading causes uneven heating and can block the filter and mouthpiece. Dosing capsules make it even cleaner. Pre-load a few before heading out and swap between sessions in seconds with zero mess or sticky fingers.
A loaded oven, with a filled dosing capsule ready for the next session.
The glass mouthpiece fits directly into 14 mm water pipe joints without a separate adapter, so the same vape covers home sessions through glass.
Cleaning and care
Cleaning is simple. Switch it off and let it cool for at least 30 minutes, as the manual asks, then brush out the stainless steel oven. Every 10 to 15 sessions, take the mouthpiece apart and soak the glass and metal pieces in isopropyl alcohol for 10 to 20 minutes. Wash the silicone parts in soap and water, and let everything dry fully. Our guide on how to clean a vaporizer covers screens and deep cleans in more detail. Dosing capsules keep the oven cleaner and stretch the intervals between deep cleans. XMax covers the electronic base with a 12-month limited warranty, while the battery, mouthpiece and other detachable parts sit outside it.
The V4 Pro also handles concentrates with the XMax wax cup, sold separately, filled about halfway. Skip the regular perforated capsule for wax, and never put oil or liquid in the oven. Set a higher temperature, 200°C to 220°C, and draw slowly. It works for occasional concentrate sessions, though a dedicated wax pen is the better tool for regular use.
XMax V4 Pro vs V3 Pro, POTV Lobo, Fury 3 and Rogue 2
Here's how the V4 Pro lines up against the portables buyers most often weigh it against.
| Vaporizer | Our score | Heating | Swappable battery | Weight | US list price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XMax V4 Pro | 8.9 | Convection | Yes, 18650 | 120 g | $109 |
| XMax V3 Pro | 8.2 | Convection | Yes, 18650 | 105 g | $99 |
| POTV Lobo | 8.6 | Hybrid | Yes, 18650 | 150 g | $159 |
| Fury 3 | 8.8 | Hybrid | No, built-in | 159 g | $119 |
| Healthy Rips Rogue 2 | 8.8 | Hybrid | No, built-in | 190 g | $139 |
| Tinymight 2 | 8.7 | Convection | Yes, 18650 | 186 g | $349 |
If flavor matters more than price, the Tinymight 2 8.7 scores 9.6 for vapor quality against the V4 Pro's 9.2, at more than three times the US list price.
XMax V4 Pro vs XMax V3 Pro
The XMax V3 Pro made its name with full convection and a swappable 18650 battery, and it already offers session and on-demand modes. The V4 Pro keeps all of that and adds 3-position adjustable airflow (vs fixed) and a color OLED display. It also swaps the plastic tip with its ceramic insert for a glass mouthpiece with a built-in 14 mm connection.
Both vapes share the same battery platform. The upgrade centers on airflow control, the screen, and the glass mouthpiece. Our V4 Pro vs V3 Pro comparison puts the two spec sheets side by side.
The V4 Pro (left) and V3 Pro side by side, both mid-session.
For new buyers, the V4 Pro is the clear pick. V3 Pro owners with a working unit can hold off unless adjustable airflow and a glass mouthpiece solve a real frustration.
XMax V4 Pro vs POTV Lobo
The POTV Lobo 8.6 is a hybrid portable at higher pricing. It uses a titanium chamber and a removable 18650, and weighs 150 g without its glass (156 g with the standard dimpled stem).
The Lobo suits you if you want hybrid heating and a range of matching glass accessories. The V4 Pro suits you if you want pure convection, adjustable airflow, and a glass mouthpiece in the box for less money. Our Lobo vs V4 Pro comparison puts the two spec sheets side by side.
XMax V4 Pro vs Fury 3
The Fury 3 8.8 is a budget hybrid at 159 g. It uses a titanium chamber and a built-in 2300 mAh battery that you can't swap.
The V4 Pro holds advantages in battery flexibility (swappable 18650 vs sealed cell) and airflow adjustability. The Fury 3 counters with a wider accessory lineup, including glass bubblers made for it. It also lets you vape while plugged in once its battery is above 20%.
XMax V4 Pro vs Healthy Rips Rogue 2
The Healthy Rips Rogue 2 8.8 is the closest rival on our scores, 8.8 overall against the V4 Pro's 8.9. It's a convection-led hybrid with a sealed 3000 mAh battery, weighs 190 g, and runs on the cable once its battery is above 20%. It beats the V4 Pro on build quality (8.5 vs 7.8) and portability (9.2 vs 8.8).
The V4 Pro wins on vapor quality (9.2 vs 9.0) and value (9.5 vs 8.4), and it adds adjustable airflow and a swappable cell for $30 less at US list price. Pick the Rogue 2 if you want a sturdier, more pocketable body you can use while it charges. Pick the V4 Pro for flavor, airflow control and a spare battery in your pocket.
Is the XMax V4 Pro worth it?
For most buyers on a budget, yes. First-time buyers stepping beyond entry-level get full convection, adjustable airflow, and a glass mouthpiece at a budget price. Still figuring out what a vaporizer actually does? This is the sweet spot between "cheapest option available" and "serious performance." It's worth a look next to pricier mid-range picks like the XLUX Roffu 8.3 and Arizer Air Max 8.0 .
The V4 Pro beside two pricier mid-range picks, the XLUX Roffu and Arizer Air Max.
Budget-conscious daily users who want reliable sessions without battery anxiety get a swappable 18650 battery. Carry a charged spare cell and you skip the wait.
Water pipe owners get a glass mouthpiece that drops straight into a 14 mm joint, so one vape covers sessions through glass at home and a slim carry for the day.
Skip it if:
- You vape above 220°C. The V4 Pro stops there.
- You want cool vapor straight from the mouthpiece, with no water pipe.
- You want big bowls for group sessions. The chamber holds about 0.15 to 0.2 g, so you repack often.
- You want an app for presets or firmware updates. There isn't one.
- You want the most pocketable vape. The PAX 4 8.9 is shorter and scores 9.8 for portability.
Final Verdict
The XMax V4 Pro is our top budget pick. It builds meaningfully on the V3 Pro with adjustable airflow, a color screen, and a glass mouthpiece. It keeps the swappable 18650 and the two heating modes that budget buyers love. The 220°C ceiling is a real limit for high-temp users, and the vapor runs warm without a water pipe, but pure convection, adjustable airflow, and a swappable battery make this a lot of vape for the money. If a pricier hybrid is also on your list, our Crafty+ vs XMax V4 Pro comparison puts the two side by side.
Mid-session outdoors, with the timer and temperature on the color screen.
