Pax Mini Review

 Background

Pax has kept the same iconic and functional design (and the same oven size) since the release of the original Pax in 2012. 

Recently, they released the Pax Mini, which is the first significant design change they made, maybe ever. 

I've been using the Pax Plus (review | visit store) as my daily driver since its release, and to be completely honest, I was quick to dismiss the Mini. My thought was- why would I want to use a trimmed-down version with fewer features? The answer is simple. The oven size. 

In this review, we'll unbox, look at the design and features of the Mini, load & use it, talk about performance, and compare it to the Pax Plus, which I have a separate review for. 

The Mini retails for $125 directly from Pax, or you can buy from vape-smart and use coupon code TVG10 for 10% off. 

The kit comes with

Pax Mini vaporizer unit, two mouthpieces- flat & raised, replacement 3D screens, and a magnetic charger. 

Design & Features

The Mini is the same exact diameter and thickness as the Pax Plus (and the Pax 3), but it is slightly shorter. 

Just like the rest of the PAX lineup, it has a soft matte finish that feels much like an Apple product, and there are no visible buttons to interfere with its minimalistic design. 

The front has four petal-shaped LEDs, and the back has a magnetic charging connector. 

Mouthpiece options:

The mouthpiece is on top, and as I mentioned, you get a choice of two different mouthpieces to win the kit. 

The flat mouthpiece is flush with the top of the device and has a slit to inhale through. The raised mouthpiece s. a little more convenient to use, in my opinion, but the flat mouthpiece offers better performance.

The draw is a little more restricted with the flat mouthpiece, which reduces the speed at which the air flows through the oven. This lets more heat build-up in the oven, which improves extraction and vapor production. 

Smaller oven

The oven is at the bottom and is covered with a magnetic lid. It is made from stainless steel and can fit .25 of a gram.

And this is the biggest difference between the Pax Mini and the Plus. The Plus can fit up to .5 gram, which is a lot for most people. Yes, there is the half oven kit, but if you are a solo user, you will use it most of the time. So the Mini solves that problem and reduces the oven size to a quarter gram which is the same as most portables, such as the Moighy+, DaVinci IQ, or any of the Arizers. They are all around the same capacity.

Pack tight

Pax is a conduction vaporizer, meaning that heat is transferred through contact. So it is important to pack the oven tightly so that if you wiggle the device, nothing falls out. 

Usage & Interface

The Mini only has one heating profile, and one click on the mouthpiece will turn it on and start heating up. The heat-up lasts around 20 seconds and is indicated with a Purple wavy X. I'll turn Green and vibrate once ready to vape. 

One underrated feature of this vape is its standby mode. If you lay the vape on the table between inhales, it will enter standby mode, which is indicated by a Blue wavy X. The device will turn down the heat to preserve battery power and flower. 

Moving the vape or starting to inhale will exit standby mode and heat back up to vaping temperature.

That means you can stretch sessions longer and take your time. The vape adapts to your vaping style.

Performance & vapor quality:

If you read any of my Pax reviews, you know I'm a fan of the vapor quality. Pax is as good as convection gets. Even if you don't even use a grinder and just stuff whole flower in the oven, it still gets maximal extraction and will get you high af. 

Pax was always a premium product, and I'm so happy to see that they lowered the entry price to $150 with this release, or even less if you use the coupon code below. 

Pax Mini VS. Pax Plus:

• The oven size, as I mentioned, is the biggest one, in my opinion. 
• Then the Mini is slightly shorter. It is the same width and diameter, but the unit is just a tiny bit shorter. I wouldn't say that this makes a big difference in terms of how portable this vape is. The vapes have the same footprint, and a few millimeters don't make such a big difference. 
• The plus is compatible with concentrates, but the Mini isn't. This isn't a big deal for me because I don't mix my use of flower and concentrate on the same device. I have a separate vape pen for concentrates, as I think you should too. It will keep your dry herb vape cleaner. I linked some of my favorite dab pens below. 
• Then the Mini has only one heat setting vs. four on the Plus. I think it's comparable to the third setting on the Plus, which is the one I use 99% of the time anyway. 

I think these are all the major differences. Everything else is the same. The mouthpieces, oven lids, and charging accessories are compatible between the devices. Both devices also have the same smart features, such as standby mode and haptic feedback.

Bottom Line

So the bottom line is the Mini is a trimmed-down version of the Pax Plus, and it keeps only the essential features, but it comes at a lower price. The oven size has been reduced and is now more suitable for the average user, which is great news if you are trying to make your flower stretch.

I think this is the Pax for the masses. It beings Pax performance with the cheapest price tag we've seen from the brand ever. If you were sitting on the sidelines, the Pax Mini might be the reason to jump in the game.