Looking for a portable, electronic vaporizer (e-rig) for your concentrates? The XVape Vista Mini 2 is simple to use, fun to watch, and easy on the eyes and wallet. The price is so low, you might be tempted to write it off without much thought, but don’t. Once you realize the price isn’t a mistake, you’ll be shocked at the performance and unique features that come with it.
The XVape Vista Mini 2 in Black. Also available in Silver.
XVAPE Vista Mini 2 review: A ridiculous value
The Vista Mini 2 has a retail price of $159. That’s not a typo. It’s almost half the price of the Puffco Peak, after a Peak price drop. And the Vista Mini 2* is a nice vape! It’s got a solid base construction, a glass bubbler with a removable mouthpiece, and a durable quartz atomizer. Add in features you can’t find elsewhere, like a see-through carb cap and wireless charging, and the price makes even less sense. This thing could very well disrupt the portable e-rig market.
*If you haven’t heard of the original Vista Mini, you’re not alone. It came out a couple years ago with a similar form factor and price, but the hits weren’t there. Don’t worry - you didn’t miss anything.
Good hits
The hits from the Vista Mini 2 are respectable, but not top shelf. Most of the shortcomings are due to the non-directional carb cap, but we’ll dive into that later. The vape heats up in just six seconds, and runs for another 35, unless you turn it off sooner. The lower power settings (there are four of them) can get overwhelmed with a strong draw, while the higher settings can take it.
I spent most of my time on the lower two settings, White and Green, and used a long and slow draw to get some tasty, satisfying rips. I could pull harder and faster on Blue to get bigger clouds, but the taste started to fade. I prefer low temp hits, for taste and health reasons, and stayed away from the highest Red power setting.
Stylish and small
The portable e-rig scene is getting crowded, but the Vista Mini 2 is more attractive than anything since the Peak, and is by far the smallest. It sits less than six inches tall with the mouthpiece attached, with a base less than two inches in diameter. While the other portable e-rigs to come out since the Peak have been cheaper imitations, the Vista Mini 2 paves its own road with a smaller, sleek look. The atomizer is on the top, instead of the side, with a clear carb cap that puts the vapor on full display. This is not another “me too” product.
The XVape Vista Mini 2 is the smallest portable e-rig yet, and is easy to carry around.
Fun to use
The Vista Mini 2 isn’t going to replace anyone’s torch and banger rig, but it’s a lot of fun to use. The carb cap stays put, and I can load up and walk around the house without worrying about it falling off. The Vista Mini 2’s glass mouthpiece is removable, so you can use any 14mm stem you want. I regularly use a small whip so I can watch the vapor cascade over the atomizer. It’s fun to play with the draw speed and look through the carb cap at the vapor dancing on command. Wireless charging is the icing on the cake.
The water chamber lights up with the power setting color.
New Carb Cap approach
The carb cap is see-through glass and attaches to a silicone grommet on top. It doesn’t accidentally fall off, and puts on a great vapor show, but it has its shortcomings. Since it attaches with a tight seal, it doesn’t spin, ruling out a directional carb cap (a directional carb cap blows oil out of the corners, for thicker vapor and better efficiency) out of the box. The results from the Vista Mini 2 are what you’d expect if you’ve vaporized concentrates before - wispier hits and pooling in the corners of the atomizer. Smaller doses on higher temperatures deliver thicker, more efficient hits, but I stayed on the lower temperatures and lived with the pooling.
The Carb Cap sits tightly on the top grommet, and doesn’t fall off. Look here to see the vapor show during a hit!
Good battery life + wireless charging = WIN
XVape marketing claims a 30 minute runtime from a full charge, but we got less than that. Using the second of four temperatures (Green), our battery test produced 26 sessions from a full charge, which is good for this product class. A full recharge on our wireless charger took less than three hours.
Wireless charging is a game changer for a portable e-rig. How many times have I reached for one only to find the battery was dead?! That frustration is over. My Vista Mini 2 is always on the charger and ready for a full night. This feature is one I didn’t know I needed until I started using it, and it’s one of the main reasons I reach for this e-rig more than others. If you’re not used to wireless charging, be prepared to tinker a bit. It’s not a perfect technology, but it’s worth it.
Atomizer built to last
Most portable e-rigs use a ceramic heater that’s prone to breaks, and can cost as much as $40 each time around. The Vista Mini 2 has a rock solid atomizer with a quartz bucket, and kanthal wire heater that’s separate from the vapor path. This atomizer is pressure-fit and doesn’t come apart. I resisted the solid-state design at first. I soon fell in love, however, after the heater on my other e-rig broke, and the Vista Mini 2 kept going like the Energizer bunny.
The atomizer doesn’t come apart. You can easily replace the whole thing, instead of rebuilding it.
Nice package
XVape didn’t skimp on the case or accessories, despite the price. The Vista Mini 2 comes with a zippered, padded travel case, and a full starter kit of accessories. You get the usuals, like cotton swabs, alcohol wipes, extra o-rings and gasket, a concentrate tool and charge cable. There’s also a plastic buckle to hold the glass mouthpiece in place and, not that you’ll need it soon, an extra atomizer!
Travel case with accessories. The atomizers in this picture are not the ones included with the Vista Mini 2.
Puffco Peak vs XVAPE Vista Mini 2: A quick comparison
The Puffco Peak hits harder with better temperature control, so it’s better for bigger loads and bigger hits, especially on the lower temps. If you’re looking for big hits, you need to strongly consider the extra cost of the Peak.
The XVape Vista Mini 2 is smaller, almost half the price, more fun to watch, has a stay-put carb cap, and wireless charging. It should satisfy the occasional to average user, while winning them over with all the extra features.
Cleaning & maintenance
We’ll have a full Cleaning & Maintenance Guide on our blog soon. To get started, get in the habit of wiping out the bottom of the atomizer with a cotton swab before the oils start to burn. This will spare you some deep cleanings. Clean the carb cap with a simple alcohol wipe to keep that vapor display in full view!
Regular maintenance is easy. Wipe down the atomizer after use, and the carb cap when it gets cloudy.
Quick tips
While you wait for our full Tips & Tricks blog post, try long, slow draws that play with the vapor cascading over the atomizer. It’s fun to watch, and will help you find that perfect hit. If you’re done with your session before it times out, push the button once to turn off the heater.
Each session on the Vista Mini 2 is 35 seconds long after the vibration. The heat continues to rise throughout the session if you aren’t hitting it. Each time you pause your hit during a session, the temperature will rise, and the vapor will be thicker and less tasty when you continue your hit. There’s a dance here, so change how long you pause, and how hard you pull, to find your favorite hit.
Who’s the Vista Mini 2 for?
Most people. The average user will love this thing. The hits are more than good enough, and the size and features are endearing. While other e-rigs frustrate with a dead battery when you reach for them, this one is always ready with wireless charging in play. It’s the best bang for your buck in a portable e-rig, by far, with that crazy low $159 price point.
Even after some use, the Vista Mini 2 looks great sitting out in the open.
Who’s the Vista Mini 2 not for?
If you vape all day, or want massive hits when you do, you can find better options. The Vista Mini 2’s carb cap limits the potency of every hit, even though it is fun to watch. Lower temp hits will be on the lighter side until someone develops a directional carb cap for this vape.
Our take
For most people, this is the e-rig to get. The hits will satisfy, the feature list is outstanding, and the price is ridiculous. I’ve been patiently waiting for an e-rig to break through the $200 price barrier, and XVape shattered it at $159. It’s not perfect, and if you’re looking for the finest hit available, look elsewhere. But it has features no other e-rig has, and at this price, it could be a lot worse and still be a great value. I said this about the Sai, and I’ll say it here too - The Vista Mini 2 is one of those rare times when you can spend less money and get a better product.
