DaVinci IQ3 Review

Overview

DaVinci just released the IQ3 dry herb vaporizer, and in this review, I'll go over its features, interface, how it compares to the IQ2, and its performance and vapor quality.

The IQ3 retails for $300, and I have a discount code (VGMAXOFF) for 10% off directly from DaVinci. I also have discount codes for PAX, S&B, and Arizer Vaporizers; check them out here if you're considering any of these. 

Design

The IQ3 has a lot of latches and moving parts, which may seem overwhelming at first. The easiest way to understand how this vape works is to disassemble it completely.

The top has the mouthpiece, which pops out. The battery, which is under a latch. And the vapor path, which can be pulled out with a pick tool tucked under the body.

The body itself is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and feels very solid and sturdy. The latches are firm, and the magnets are strong. 

The IQ has a USB-C charging port in the back, The power and plus/minus buttons are on the side, and the front has the iconic light grid.  

Zirconia pearl

DaVinci's signature zirconia pearl has a few purposes: 

• First, it sits on a silicone thread and can be adjusted to reduce the oven capacity by around a quarter, from 0.7gr to around 0.5gr. 
• Second, it packs the oven tightly when the latch is closed. Since the IQ3 is a conduction vape, a tight oven works best as it allows for a more efficient heat transfer. More on that shortly.
• And finally, the pearl absorbs heat and radiates it into the herb, creating a more even extraction, especially right here, at the top of the chamber, which typically doesn't get any heat. 

Airflow control: The bottom latch has an airflow dial that lets you restrict or open the airflow and control the draw resistance. Air comes through these holes into the chamber.

Huge Chamber: Fits around half to three-quarters of a gram, which is a lot. For comparison, the Venty fits 0.25 gr, the Solo 3 fits 0.2 with the regular stem or 0.5 with the large stem, and the Pax fits 0.5 gr. 

The large capacity can be a con if you're trying to save on herbs, but it is a pro if you'd like to get maximal effects and potency. 

Airpath

DaVinci uses a clean air path, which is made only from glass and zirconia, free of contaminants. All these dark gray pieces are zirconia: the pearl, the funnel at the top of the oven, the vapor path, and also both mouthpieces. 

So air comes through, passes through the hot oven, extracts the herb, and then passes through the little holes at the bottom. 

The vapor goes upwards, into the “cool core” zirconia airpath. This part has a “core” that can be pulled out. So air comes in from the bottom hole, travels up this vortex-looking element, and into the mouthpiece. The goal is to cool down the vapor so it's more comfortable to inhale. 

The kit also includes a cover for this chamber, so if you'd like to remove the “core” and keep the vapor path hollow or maybe store something in there, you can easily do that. 

Usage & interface

Once the herb is loaded, you can click the power button five times to unlock. The IQ will show the battery level and automatically start heating up. 

By default, the IQ3 is set on “smart paths” mode, gradually increasing the temperature during the 8-minute session. There are four smart paths, as indicated by the LED grid. 

To check the current temp, you click the power button once. The grid will show the temp for a couple of seconds and then go back to the smart paths display.

To enter “precise temp” mode, I'll click the up or down button while on “temp check.” This mode allows you to set a precise temp and keep it throughout the session.

Holding the power button at any point will enter boost mode, which bumps the temperature to the maximum 430°F for as long as it's pressed. Note that when you let go of the button, the vape enters standby mode and will lower the heat. To activate heat again, you'll have to press and hold again. I'm assuming that this Boost mode is DaVinci's attempt to allow an “on-demand” style with the IQ3. 

The IQ3 has a draw sensor that lights up as you inhale, and the LED grid will actually show you the intensity of your inhalation. 

Best temp setting

As far as my recommended temperature, I usually use “smart path” #3, which starts at 390°F and ends at 410°F. Or I can manually set it to around 400-410°F. It's a little higher than I usually go. With the Venty, I set around 390, with the Solo 3 around 380, but it seems like the IQ runs a little “colder” than these, so I use a slightly higher temp. 

I typically get around 3 hits that are super flavorful but with very little visible vapor, then 3 more hits with denser vapor, and then 3-5 more dense hits as the flavor slowly degrades, and I get less and less vapor.  

IQ3 vs. IQ2 

• Size: the IQ3 looks like an IQ2 that took steroids and went to the gym a lot. It's bigger. Everything about it is bigger. Wider, taller, thicker. I think one of the biggest issues with the IQ was that it got so freaking hot, which is an issue that all small vapes share. There is nowhere for the heat to disperse. Large vapes such as the Venty or Solo 3 do not have this problem. And I'm assuming that's what DaVinci is trying to fix with this larger body. And it does work. The unit gets less hot than the IQ2. 
• Airflow: the IQ3 has more holes in the divider between the oven and the vapor path, which results in a much better airflow.
• More robust battery: the IQ2 uses an 18650 battery, which is 30-year-old technology. The new IQ uses a 21700 which uses new technology that offers up to twice the power of the 18650. 21700 Cells are being used by EVs, high-performance power banks, etc. I got around 90 minutes of use time on the IQ3, vs 60 minutes with the IQ2. 
• Larger chamber: the chamber size increased from 0.5 to 0.7, but keep in mind that DaVinci sells “oven spacers” that reduce the capacity, and using a dosing capsule also significantly reduces the capacity. 
• Improved components: The chrome funnel under the bottom latch has been replaced with zirconia, and I can also see that the chamber's material has been replaced. I think from Ceramic to glass-lined zirconia, but I'm not 100% on that one. Maybe I'll tear one down later on to explore the materials. I've already torn down a Venty, Tinymight 2, and a Solo 3. I'll link these videos below. 
• Vapor path: This cylinder that sits in the vapor path used to be called the “flavor chamber” with the IQ2 and is now called the “cool core” with the IQ3, but essentially, it's just the vapor path. With the old IQ it was just a hollow compartment. The IQ3 adds this center component, which is made from zirconia as well and is supposed to cool the vapor as it spirals upwards toward the mouthpiece. Is it a game-changer? No. But this, together with the larger body, produces cooler, tastier vapor.

What could have been better.

1. The interface. An intuitive interface means that you “naturally” know how to use it, even without reading the instructions. This is not the case here. The switch between “smart paths” mode to “precision mode” to “boost mode”is not intuitive. Sure, it's easy once you get it, but it should have been simpler to use, in my opinion. 
2. The IQ is a relatively complex unit in terms of engineering; it has latches at the top and bottom with a lot of moving parts. That's a lot of friction points where something may go wrong. I must say, though, that the latches feel very solid. Plus, I had zero issues with my previous models. So the built quality is great, yet I wish there were fewer moving parts. 

Vapor Quality

As far as vapor quality- it's sooo good with the IQ3. There are two main reasons for that- 

1. Clean vapor path- the IQ3 doesn't use any plastic or PEEK in the vapor path; it uses only natural materials such as glass and zirconia, which is a type of Ceramic. In contrast, the Venty and the Solo 3 use a lot of PEEK in the airpath, as seen in my teardown videos. 
2. The second reason for the amazing flavor is its HUGE chamber. When you pack 0.7gr into a vape, there is a lot of flavor to be extracted. Larger oven = more flavor and more potency. 

AVB

Looking at the AVB here, you see that it is mostly brown and crunchy. It has very few green particles, and that's the herb that sits all the way on top, as it gets the least amount of heat. But the IQ has a surprising extraction for a conduction vape. 

For comparison, this is what the PAX AVB looks like after use. The herb that is closest to the walls of the chamber gets a little too black, in my opinion. This doesn't happen with the DaVinci. There is no black, and the flower is all brown, with a little green, depending on how far you push it with the temperature level and session duration. 

Bottom line

So bottom line, is the IQ3 worth buying? Well, it depends. If you owned any IQ in the past and liked it, you will love this new version. It has better performance, battery life, and it gets less hot. If you care about vapor purity, this is one of the only portables that keeps things pure and clean. 

If you're looking to save herb, this may not be the best option. Also, if you're looking for a simple device with a straightforward build and easy cleaning, there may be better options out there.  

But overall, DaVinci packs a punch, and it remains one of the top portables available today, especially when it comes to flavor and potency. 

Tips for best use

Here are a few more tips to help you get the most out of your IQ-

1. Change to the straw mouthpiece. Sure, that is subjective, so at least try it and see which one you like more. As I mentioned, it is the straw-style one. 
2. Clean after each use. Get yourself a pack of these glob mops and clean the chamber immediately after each use. Remove any cashed herb and loose particles before they have a chance to stick. 
3. Buy a small herb spoon. This makes loading so much cleaner and easier.
4. While the DaVinci IQ3 is a dual-use vaporizer, meaning it's also compatible with concentrates, I strongly recommend against it. Using concentrates in a dry herb vape will get it dirty quickly and reduce longevity. Buy yourself a wax pen and use your dry herb vape exclusively with flowers. I linked my favorite concentrate vaporizers below.