IMAG Plus Ceramic Review
Disclaimer: I purchased this device directly from the manufacturer, http://www.imagvape.com/, with my own money. I paid $119 USD. I was not paid to do this review in any way.
Overall Vapor Quality - 8/10
I enjoy the vapor that the IMAG Plus Ceramic produces. It can produce big clouds, has a decent flavor, and a fairly quick start up time from cold. The material vaped is evenly browned without the need to stir the load during a session.
Vapor Flavor - 7/10
The flavor of the first 3 or so hits is excellent. After that, the flavor drops off and levels out to a nice, pleasant tone. Towards the end of the session, around the 8th to 10th hit, the flavor begins get that burnt popcorn flavor. I was happy ending the session at this point with the material having a even medium to dark brown. A session would last me about 10 big draws over the course of two auto off cycles (3 minutes each cycle). I'm sure I could get a few more draws from the load if I wanted to, but at this point I had gotten to where I wanted to be. One load is about 0.1 grams of material ground a medium coarseness.
Temperature (in mouth) - 5/10
The vapor path travels through a very short plastic mouth piece and therefore does not have much time to cool down. The vapor is warm, though not unpleasantly so. If you've used a Magic Flight Launch Box before, I would say its about the same temperature in the mouth as the vapor the MFLB produces. Could be better, but it doesn't ruin the experience for me. I'm sure it could be adapted to be used with a water tool with a little silicon tubing if desired (though I have not personally tried this).
Temperature Control - 4 /10
The device has 3 preset temperature settings written in the manual as "Green" (374F or 190C) / "Blue" (410F or 210C) / "Red" (446F / 230C). I personally measured each setting with my instant read electronic thermometer and did not get temperatures as high as suggested in the manual. My readings were "Green" (343F or 172C) / "Blue" (361F or 182C) / "Red" (384F / 195C) approximately. These readings were done without material in the chamber, and unfortunately with the mouthpiece off (as my thermometer would not fit into the chamber with it on). This may help to explain the large difference between what the manufacturer says the temperature is and what I measured in my device. Ultimately, for me personally, this is a knock against the device. Preferred vaporization temperature is very personal and everyone has their own "best" temperature that works for what they want to achieve. Better control over a devices temperature, in my opinion, opens a device up to a wider range of customers. Having a 4th higher temperature I think would be helpful or having the actual temperature match closer to what was advertised would be a good change for the next iteration of this vaporizer. Ultimately, having exact by degree control is the best possible option, but understandably that can be tricky to do on such a small form factor at this price point.
Cold Start Time - 30 seconds
Session Length - 3 minutes (including warm-up time)
Build Quality - 9/10
The IMAG Plus Ceramic feels good in the hand. It has a soft touch coating on the device, giving it a premium feel. It is heavy in the hand (138.2 grams), which is something I personally like. It feels like it could withstand a drop without breaking. The only part that might break in such a situation is the mouthpiece, and a spare is included in the box. Draw isn't too restrictive, the mouthpiece does not have any filters in it, and the screen is removable with large holes for a good vapor flow. The packaging is nice, though nothing too remarkable. The device comes with a cleaning tool, an extra mouth piece, an extra screen, a pair of tweezers, and a packing tool. All of these tools can be stored in the included mini fabric bag that is included. Time will tell how the coating holds up on the device, but so far I am impressed with the build quality of the device. Although I have not experienced this yet, some users have had problems with the on/off button. I will be sure to follow up on this review should anything arise with my device.
Stealth - 10/10
This device does not look any different from a e-cig style vape, which are quite popular in the city I live in. I was able to use the device in public without drawing any attention to myself or getting looks from passers by. You milage may vary, depending on your location, but this device does not stand out as a cannabis specific device if that is a concern for you. Smell wise, I did not notice any lingering odor a few minutes after a session while using the lowest temperature. I would expect the smell to increase as the temperature does. If you are using this device outdoors or near a window, I doubt smell would be an issue. Again, this is subjective, as some people are much more sensitive to the odor than others.
Portability / Battery Life - 8/10
Being a pen style vaporizer, the device is very portable. I've had no problems using it around town as well as around my house. I was able to use the device all day without running out of battery, though extremely heavy users may have a different experience. Luckily, the device charges over micro USB and external batteries can be found cheaply online if you're worried about running out of juice over a weekend. Recharge time was about 3 hours, though personally I just plug it in at night. I was able to throw the vaporizer in a small carrying case (which came with my Antlion Mod Mic) I happen to have, which is about the size of a large glasses case. It would be nice if there was a carrying case specifically designed for the vaporizer to increase its portability, but it shouldn't be hard to find a generic case that will fit the device if you want one.
Easy of Use - 8/10
The IMAG Plus Ceramic is very simple to use. Load the device, press the only button on the device 3 times, wait for the chamber to reach temperature, and inhale. Just being able to inhale without worrying about having to "control" the temperature, like on the MFLB or Firefly, is very user friendly. I was able to hand the device to friends without having to explain how to use it, which isn't the case with some other portables. My only complaint would be the loading process. It would be nice if a small funnel or better tool was included to make loading easier.
Conclusion
I would recommend this vaporizer if you are looking for a pen style vape. Its portability, ease of use, stealth, and good vapor production makes this an enjoyable device to use while you are out as well as around the house. My biggest knocks against the device are the sort auto-off timer, running at 3 minutes total including warm up, and the inaccurate temperature ratings (at least in my non scientific testing).
Note: feel free to use my rating images, you can find all of them here - https://imgur.com/wzb18mg,hwG5E68,v...lxA,qfxXLcP,D0c3f4M,itQ79fA,F6FjauU,JM30WeG#0