Arizer Air 2 Review
Arizer has brought the Air portable dry herb vaporizer into the 21st century with digital temperature and session controls, USB charging, and improved battery life all without the need for an app. Combined with the hybrid convection-conduction heating that Arizer has mastered over the years, the CAD$216.99 Arizer Air 2 produces some seriously tasty vapor.
No vape is perfect, and the Arizer Air 2 takes over a minute to heat up, but the updates bring it in line with what we now expect from modern portable vapes and finds room to improve on one of our favorite portable vaporizers.
Table of contents
- When did Arizer Air 2 release?
- Is the Arizer Air 2 good?
- Tasty, cool vapor
- Wide open airflow
- Hybrid heating for efficiency
- Modest battery upgrade
- Swappable battery keep the party going
- Full temperature control w/ perfectly updated interface
- Requires extra pieces
- Whats in the box
- Sturdy & subdued design
Arizer Air 2 Vaporizer
C$159.95 Regular price: C$289.99
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When did Arizer Air 2 release?
The original Arizer Air released in 2014, and the follow up, the Arizer Air 2, came out in 2017. The Air 2 added full digital temperature control and a host of custom features, and kept that signature Arizer vapor.
Is the Arizer Air 2 good?
For $150, the Air 2 vaporizer is a solid choice. It has full digital temperature control, a bunch of custom features, a removable battery, and glass stems for remarkable taste. For the same price, the Air 2 is not as portable as the PAX 2, but the vapor is tastier.
Tasty, cool vapor
Flavorful, cool vapor was a trademark of the original Arizer Air, and the Air II doesn’t mess with the recipe too much. A combination of glass, ceramic, and stainless steel make up the vapor path, so there are no off flavors or sections that won’t clean properly and could change the taste from lingering buildup. As a result, the Air 2 produces clean, tasty vapor using both conduction and convection heating that highlights your herbs’ flavors, an experience the better airflow enhances.
Wide open airflow
When released the original Air’s restrictive airflow undercut its potential, so Arizer addressed this head-on with the Air 2. The more powerful heating element lets you draw harder while maintaining your set temperature. An open airpath matched with the recessed “heat jets” help evenly distribute heat around the oven, giving you smooth, easy draws that rival the Mighty and Crafty vaporizers.
Hybrid heating for efficiency
The Air 2 blends conduction and convection heating creating a clean, tasty and efficient vaping experience. The glass stem heats up at the bottom, delivering heat through the oven consistently, while the warm air moving through the materials reaches every nook and cranny inside -- no stirring needed. The more powerful heating element in the Arizer Air II loosens the bottleneck and lets you easily draw tasty clouds quickly or take slow flavorful sips.
Modest battery upgrade
When the Arizer Solo 2 debuted with 50% more battery life compared to the original, it set the expectation bar high for the Air 2. While it doesn’t quite stand up to the same standard, the new Arizer Air adds an extra 15 or 20 minutes to the original’s 60-minute vaping ability. That brings the total vape time up to 75 or 80 minutes, enough for a 7 or 8 ten minute sessions. It isn’t quite as groundbreaking as the Solo 2, but it’s a noticeable improvement and very solid battery life for a vape running off a single 18650.
Swappable batteries keep the party going
One of our favorite features of the Air 2 are the swappable 18650 batteries. If an hour and change of vaping is not quite enough, you can always pick up a wall charger and bring along a couple extra batteries when on the road.
And having a replaceable battery ensures that you'll never be stuck with an expensive paperweight. Rechargeable batteries have battery lives that shorten over time and can eventually die. So if you ever have an issue with your battery, it's as easy as buying a new one. You can't do this with vaporizers that have a non-replaceable battery.
Full temperature control w/ perfectly updated interface
Gone are the days of guessing which light’s color means what, as the Air 2 has adopted full digital temperature control with easy to use buttons, and an informative OLED display. The small screen shows temperature, which runs from 122° F to 428° F, in one or ten-degree increments, battery life, as well as letting you set the auto-shutoff timer, reminder tone volume, display brightness, and length of the button press to turn it on. It’s a simple solution and one that needs no app or learning curve.
Portability
The Air II’s cylindrical shape matches its predecessor exactly, save a different beveled edge on the back, and fits easily into a pocket, or into the included “cool dad” approved belt clip, which can also hold extra packed stems. You’ll need at least one glass stem alongside the unit, which means carrying multiple pieces around. It’s great for home use and while it is very portable, carrying a separate stem isn't as pocket-friendly as a portable with an integrated mouthpiece.
What's In The BoxArizer Air 2
18650 Battery
USB Charger
70mm Glass Stem
70mm Glass Stem w/ Tip
Silicone Stem Caps
Stirring Tool
Screens
Belt-Clip Carrying Case
Owner's Manual
Glass DIsh
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Sturdy & subdued design
The updated controls take up a slightly different footprint but are in roughly the same spot, and the charging port is still in the back but is now USB Micro-B instead of DC. The Air II is available in carbon black or mystic blue, both subdued, discrete colors. The anodized aluminum shell is light, yet sturdy, so with the battery installed, it feels solid, without being overly weighty.
Size specsHeight 4.88 in / 12.4 cm
Diameter 1.13 in / 2.9 cm
Weight 4.1 oz / 116 g
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A minute + to heat up
For all the improvements, heat up time continues to lag behind. The updated Air reaches 390° F in 78 seconds, just 7 seconds faster than the original version. If you really want to cook, the original Arizer Air hits its 410° F maximum temperature in 115 seconds, while the Air II hits 428° F, its maximum temperature, in just 100 seconds. So the Air 2 works well for laid-back sessions but doesn't heat up fast enough for the one-and-done on-demand users.
Two year warranty
Like many portable vapes at the price point, the Arizer Air II includes a two-year warranty. It covers any workmanship issues or defects, while a lifetime warranty covers the heating element specifically. The swappable batteries also mean the life of the vape extends well past the natural lifetime of any one battery.
The Air 2, and any other product purchased from Planet of the Vapes is covered by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Easy to clean
As long as you fully empty the oven after each use, make sure not to overfill the stems and make sure to keep your loose herbs out of the oven, the Air 2 doesn’t require much in the way of serious cleaning. The stems take the brunt of the buildup and are easy enough to clean with an ISO soak followed by a warm water rinse. Regular, light cleaning goes a long way with the Air 2 and will keep that vapor tasty and airpath wide open.
Easy to load
Although the Air stems only hold about .15 grams, they make up for it with exceptionally easy loading. You can grind, rip or even try whole herbs, for different but always smooth, tasty sessions. It’s even easier if you carry an extra, pre-loaded stem, so you can have it ready to go after you finish the first one.
Works right the first time
In the age of flashing lights and Bluetooth apps, there are plenty of people looking for something that’s just easy to use, and for good reason. The Arizer Air II packs in just what it needs to function, giving you the right amount of options to make sure everything runs the way you like. It pairs that up with tasty vapor that takes no special effort or techniques to draw, making this a straightforward, easy to use vape right out of the box.
Arizer Air vs Air 2
The Air 2’s front-facing controls with individual buttons and a temperature display take the guesswork out of vaping, while USB charging and improved battery life keep the party going longer. And the more open airflow of the Air 2 is a plus as well. Design-wise, the two vapes look almost identical, with a slightly revised rear bezel on the newer Air II. And you'll be getting the same tasty vapor from both the Air and Air 2.
Who is the Air 2 for?
Anyone who is looking for tasty vapor, no-frills usage, and swappable batteries at a reasonable price will be very satisfied with the Air II. A minute and change heat up time is hardly a death blow to an otherwise excellent vape, but it’s better for leisurely sessions, rather than a quick, on-demand tap. Swappable batteries, tasty vapor, and great controls set it apart from its competitors, and the open airflow is one of the best on the market and a solid upgrade from the original.
Who is the Air 2 not for?
With the Air II’s detachable glass stems, it isn’t the most convenient on-the-go vape and isn't my 1st choice if I'm trying to be discrete. The easy to load stem holds just .15 grams, which is on the small side, so heavy users could easily take down several in a single session. It takes over a minute to heat up, which makes it a tough sell if you just like a quick hit or two at a concert or heading into a movie. If you already own an original Arizer Air and don’t mind the restricted airflow or pre-set heating temperatures, it may not be worth the upgrade.
Final thoughts
The Air 2 directly addresses the original Arizer Air’s shortcomings, noticeably improving the vaping experience. Exceptional vapor quality with easy to use digital controls as well as the ability to swap out batteries make it a clear choice for many vaporists.