Review Summary
I find the Pax 4 to be the most compelling vaporizer in the current lineup because it blends the iconic aluminum shell design of the Mini with the advanced hybrid heating system found in the Flow. Retailing for $250, this flagship model introduces a funnel-shaped chamber opening for cleaner loading and finally replaces the proprietary magnetic charger with a standard USB-C port. The hybrid system utilizes both conduction and convection, which requires a fluffier 0.25g pack rather than the dense 0.4g pack used in older generations, resulting in much more even extraction and fully brown “cashed” material without the green spots typical of previous models. In terms of performance, the vapor quality is practically identical to the more expensive Flow, though the Four actually manages heat better and does not get as uncomfortably hot to the touch. While the narrow vapor path still requires regular cleaning to maintain low draw resistance, the improved airflow and battery life make this the best device Pax has ever released. It remains my top choice for a portable dry herb vaporizer when leaving the house due to its superior size-to-performance.
- • #3 on Best overall
✓ Pros
- Hybrid heating ensures even and efficient extraction.
- Standard USB-C port allows for universal charging.
- Funnel chamber design prevents spills during loading.
- Internal architecture manages heat better than the Flow.
- Smart sensors automate standby and temperature modes.
✗ Cons
- Narrow vapor path requires very frequent cleaning.
- Metal exterior can still become hot during use.
Pricing Info ⓘ
Comparison
Pax Four
|
Pax Flow
|
Pax Mini 2
|
Go SRT
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score (1-5) |
4.7 Current Review |
- |
4.7 |
4.5 |
| Brand | Pax | Pax | Pax | Arizer |
| Retail Price |
$250.00 |
$350.00 |
$150.00 |
$319.00 |
| Release Date | March 2026 | August 2025 | September 2025 | March 2026 |
| Compatible With | Dry Herb | Dry Herb | Dry Herb | Dry Herb |
| Heating Method | Hybrid | Hybrid | Conduction | 80% Convection / 20% Conduction |
| Vaping Style | Session | Session | Session | Session + On-demand |
| Body Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Mouthpiece Material | Silicone | Silicone | Silicone | Glass |
| Heat Up Time | 40 Seconds | 40 Seconds | 30 Seconds | 10 Seconds |
| Precise Temp Control | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Temperature Range | 4 Levels | 4 Levels | 122-428°F | |
| Oven Capacity | 0.25 | 0.25-0.5 | 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Oven Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Glass Compatible | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Battery Type | Internal | Internal | Internal | Internal |
| Battery Capacity | 2000mAh | |||
| Sessions Per Charge | 6-9 | 9-12 | 8 - 10 | 4-6 |
| Charge Time | 1-2 Hours | 2-3 Hours | 1-2 Hours | 1-2 Hours |
| Charger Type | USB-C | USB-C | Proprietary | USB-C |
| Passthrough Charging | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Display Type | LED | LED | LED Indicators | OLED |
| Smartphone App | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware Updates | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Session Mode | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Adjustable Airflow | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 4 Years | 1 Year | 2 Years |
Video Review
Background
The Pax Four (aka Pax 4) is the company's latest flagship model, that takes some design elements from the “older” generation of Pax devices like the Pax Mini, and some elements from the new generation like the Pax Flow and combines them into what seems to be the most compelling vaporizer in their lineup.
I’ve completed around 50 sessions with it, and in this review I’ll go over its design, heating system, performance, and compare it to the Mini and the Flow, so you can get a sense of which one is right for your needs.
Pax Four retails for $250 directly from pax.com or you can use my coupon VG10 for 10% off at VGEAR and Vape-Smart.
Design
As far as the design- it’s a PAX. It keeps the same iconic shape, with an Aluminum shell and the four petals in the front. It’s the same size as the Flow, but has a little less rounded shape.
The kit comes with two silicone mouthpiece options- the default “flat”- which has a little slit to inhale from, or the raised- which may feel more natural for some.
The bottom has the oven lid, and unlike previous generations that you had to push one of the sides of the lid to get it to open, now the sides of the lid extend all the way to the sides for easier opening.
Chamber
The chamber stayed the same size as previous generations, but the heating method has changed. I’ll get to that in a sec. The added a funnel shape to the opening of the chamber, instead of the straight “shelf” in the Mini or Plus. It makes loading a lot cleaner.
The chamber is made from stainless steel, and it has little screens at the bottom that can be pushed out with the included brush. Now we can see the entire airpath which is a narrow channel that runs up all the way to the mouthpiece. You’re super familiar with this if you’ve owned any generation Pax.
But while this looks very similar to the oven of the Mini or Plus, the Four has an “under the hood” improvement when it comes to the heating method. Like Flow, the Four uses a hybrid system of convection and conduction to improve the extraction and achieve the same performance as the more expensive Flow.
Conduction vs Convection
Conduction means that heat transfers by contact. Obviously, this means that the material closest to the walls of the chamber which are the heat source- is going to get a lot more heat that the center of the chamber for example. Conduction requires a “tight pack” to work properly.
Convection means that the air that’s flowing into the chamber has been preheated, and it extracts vapor as it travels through the material. This creates a lot more “even” extraction with heat distributed more evenly throughout the material in the chamber. And for the air to pass through properly, Convection requires a “fluffier” pack.
Hybrid means– both. The walls of the chamber get hot, but also the air entering the chamber is preheated and helps with the extraction. The Venty uses hybrid, the Solo 3 uses hybrid, and the Flow uses hybrid. So these work best with a “fluffier” pack where the chamber is full but not densely packed.
This also means that despite having the same oven size, the Four can fit a little less material as it can’t be packed as tight. Around 0.25gr works best, vs. around 0.4 on the Mini or Plus for example.
Usage
To use the Pax long press on the button, it shows the battery level and starts heating up. One click will toggle through the four temperature levels, then I shake to confirm. Shaking it during a session will show the current battery, and each status is communicated with the pedal and with haptic feedback.
The Pax is super smart, it has everything from lip sensors to an accelerometer that puts the device on stand by if it’s not being used, and activates it once I grab it.
Performance
As far as performance and vapor quality, the Four is practically identical to the more expensive Flow. The hybrid heating system fixes the biggest issue with previous generations- extraction evenness and efficiency. The cashed material is fully brown with less “green spots” than the Mini or Plus.
Also the airflow has been improved, the battery life is much better, and finally- the Four uses a USB-C charger instead of the proprietary magnetic charger of the Mini, Plus and all previous generations.
The vapor quality is very good, there is something in the short and direct airpath that’s very satisfying for use. But, as with all small devices- the vapor can get warm towards the end of the session as the buddy heats up and there is nowhere for the heat to dissipate.
The body of the Four does get hot but not as hit as the Flow which is almost impossible to touch sometimes. So I’m happy to see that it has been improved, this is the biggest issue with the Flow in my opinion. Either way, Pax sells silicone sleeves to help with this issue and keep your fingers away from the hot body.
Pax Four VS. Mini & Flow
So I think I pretty much outlined most of the differences between these, it mainly comes down to the size and the heating method. Also, the Flow has an “open” airpath, so this lid can pop out to allow access to the airpath, where the Four has it as a narrow channel.
Drawbacks
The two main drawbacks of the Four, are the same across the entire Pax lineup-
First, they get hot. I think the Four is actually the best, then the Mini, and then the Flow, which gets super hot.
And second, the narrow vapor path requires a good amount of cleaning. If it’s getting restricted, even by a tiny particle or a little residue, the drop in draw resistance is felt immediately.
Bottom Line
The Four is the best Pax ever. It won’t make reddit haters convert and start praising it, but if you’ve owned any generation Pax and liked it, the Four is better in every way. It has the same performance and vapor quality of the more expensive Flow, it gets less hot, and the hybrid heating system gets more consistent results and allows to “clear” a bowl a lot faster than previous models.
To me, Pax always represented the best size to performance ratio in the industry. And this Four is no different. It’s the first device I reach for when I leave the house, and easily one of the best small-form dry herb vaporizers available.