Not sure if anyone out there is comparing this with the Pax, so I figured I would give my thoughts since I have both.
A bit of background-- Pax was my first vape, got it about a year ago now. It's been used daily since then (until now that its been replaced by this PN Pro and the Ascent).
1. Both are super easy to use. But I gotta break up "easy to use" into different sections. First off, ease of loading. I find the Pax easier to load... Just dump a buncha herb into the oven and use the oven lid to pack it tight. Packing a PN Pro bullet isn't the same. Much harder to do while driving. It requires an extra tool that isn't part of the device in order to pack. Not to mention carrying around another pre-packed bullet without it spilling isn't easy.
Second on the "ease of use" list is ease of vaping. The draw on the PN Pro is much better than the Pax. So much better. With the herb heating up right below the mouthpiece, the PN Pro vapor is nice and warm when it hits the mouth. The temp buttons are SUPER easy to use, compared to having to remove the mouthpiece on the Pax in order to change temps.
Last on the "ease of use" is cleaning and maintenance. Here the PN Pro really sets itself apart from the Pax. Cleaning is simple. And because it is so easy to clean, there is no real maintenance needed... completely opposite of the Pax (which I've had to send back to Ploom 3x, and still suffer from stuck mouthpieces, temp light stuck, etc). The ease of use for the Pax can be VERY hard if the Pax isn't 100% clean and happy. This is the #1 reason why I was looking for a new vape.
2. Taste. The first three hits on the Pax (especially on the low Green temp setting) are great. The rest of the hits, not so much. The PN Pro is better, still on Temp 1, keeping the good taste longer than just 3 hits... but it still falls short on taste at higher temps. Just not as burnt-popcorny as the Pax.
3. Efficiency seems to be close to the same on both. 1 bullet holds about the same as a Pax oven. I can get 2-3 sessions on 1 bullet, and could get about the same from the Pax. One big difference is you have to STIR the Pax to get the most out of an oven... but never with the PN Pro. It cooks perfectly even throughout.
4. Size and durability... They're about the same size, but the Pax being a little smaller. I haven't dropped my PN Pro yet, and hope to never do so, but I have dropped the Pax a couple of times and it has held up to the abuse well. It's a lot lighter than the Pax, making me think a drop on concrete would damage it... but that remains to be seen.
5. Heat. The whole Pax gets hot after a while, even on a low temp. I much prefer the feel of the PN Pro, which gets warm near the top by the bullet, but certainly not too hot to hold (which has happened with the Pax several times), and I usually grip it around the temp buttons anyway, which don't even get a little warm.
6. Battery life. I'm not one to go without charging for a while, but my wife took the Pax on a girl's trip and didn't bring a charger. She lasted 3 or 4 days, with just nightly use on the Pax. Don't know if the PN Pro could do the same. But I like the plugin charger for the PN Pro better than the Pax stand... plus you can use the PN Pro while its charging... no can do on the Pax.
7. I wasn't excited about the 8-minute shutoff, but now that I've seen it in action, it's no biggie. I find that I get more medicated in 8 minutes with this PN Pro vape than 8 mins with the Pax or the Ascent. That being said, I usually find myself turning the PN Pro back on for another 8 minutes at a higher temp setting. The Pax goes into standby mode sometimes DURING a long 30-second draw, which is much more annoying than the 8-min shutoff.
I did not buy the WT when I ordered, but now due to the sale, I might. My problem with it is that I mainly vape in 2 scenarios-- in the car during travel, and lying down on the couch/bed. I know the WT would be nice, but it may not fit in with my vaping habits.
Because the maintenance and cleanliness of the PN Pro are so MUCH better than the Pax, the PN Pro becomes so much easier to use and completely hassle-free. It's stealthy, portable as hell, works like a champ, and versatile enough to make those who want to use oils or a WT very happy. So far, I'm incredibly happy with this PN Pro. The wife has claimed the Ascent (she's a flavor chaser and loves the easy draw). And the Pax now sits in a drawer, only to be used for emergencies from now on.
)
