Welcome to High Tech, iDigitalTimes’ cannabis-focused gadgetry review column. Click here to check out some of our older coverage or scroll down to get our impressions of the new K-Vape Micro-DX vaporizer.
With so many new devices flooding the market, it’s becoming difficult for manufacturers to justify premium price tags on portable vaporizers. But the K-Vape Micro-DX, the latest in a growing line from KandyPens, is a $200 vaporizer you won’t regret purchasing once the novelty is gone.
At a glance, the Micro-DX resembles the litany of other portable vaporizers on the market. The device is painted black from the mouthpiece down to the charging port on the bottom. A matte black shell makes the K-Vape Micro-DX blend in with other gadgetry, a plus for those who prefer something semi-discrete, and has a blue LED behind the power and temperature buttons that make it easy to use when light is scarce.
Given its size, the Micro-DX probably won't pass as an e-cigarette or nicotine "rig" with knowledgeable observers. Its shell is molded into the same bell-like shape we’ve seen from other portable vaporizers with larger-than-average ovens, this one hidden behind a removal mouthpiece. And the quality of the vapor means anyone with a functioning nose will likely have some idea what you’re up to if they find themselves downwind. But the pocket-sized vaporizer has proven to be an ideal companion when gaming, hanging out with friends and anywhere else vaping is preferable to smoking.
The real selling point for the K-Vape Micro-DX, or at least the feature that separates it from the pack, is the presence of a small digital display on the front of the device. The tiny screen makes it easy to keep tabs on the Micro-DX's current oven setting, internal temperature and remaining charge on the battery. While not groundbreaking from a technological standpoint, the ability to communicate temperature data also means users can be given direct control over the internal temperature of the K-Vape Micro-DX down to the degree.
That control makes it easy to get hits from the K-Vape Micro-DX that you’d expect from much larger devices. KandyPens’ latest toy won’t fill a bag, but I can say the Micro-DX delivered vapor that tasted every bit as good as what I’ve come to expect from the V-Tower I keep on my desk. And it far exceeded anything I’ve experienced from comparably-priced devices. So my complaints are pretty limited.
My biggest issue with the K-Vape Micro-DX is the short duration of its internal battery. Three to four hours of power might be enough to get some users through a couple of days but it would’ve been nice to get 6+ hours of vaping out of the K-Vape Micro-DX on a single charge. Then again, the Micro-DX charges via a standard mini-USB cable and those are everywhere. So maybe I’m just being nitpicky.
It also would’ve been nice to see KandyPens support the use of concentrates, waxes and/or oils with the K-Vape Micro-DX. To be fair, the vaporizer’s digital display probably ate up some of the space needed to install a modular oven system. But there’s really no arguing that the slightly cheaper V2 Pro Series 7 offers more functionality for less money.
All things considered, if spending $200 on a vaporizer doesn’t feel like a stretch, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a K-Vape Micro-DX purchase. For many cannabis users, access to concentrates is still rare – if they’re available at all – and portable vaporizers that offer such precise control over the temperature of the oven are just as hard to find. Whether you’re a cost-conscious consumer looking to extend the life of each bowl, or just someone willing to spend a few bucks on a top notch loose-leaf vaporizer, the K-Vape Micro-DX is about as good as you’re going to get for $200.
Full Disclosure: The K-Vape Micro-DX portable vaporizer used for this review was provided by a KandyPens representative; however, the manufacturer was not given any sort of editorial oversight/privileges.
Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes.com and follow Scott on Twitter for more cannabis-related gadget reviews throughout the remainder of 2015 and for however long the industry continues to churn out new/interesting gadgets in the years to come.
