KZ's long overdue X-Max V2 Pro retrospective review
Disclaimer: A while ago (2015), I beta-tested the pre-production version of the X-Max V2 Pro thanks to other FC members. While I didn't pay for my unit, I have no vested interest in this company nor have I been compensated in any other way. I don't have any blog or website to generate revenue and I'm not making my living out of vape reviews.
I never published my full review of this vape in the end, and time has passed since! I'm clearly barely never using it nowadays, as I have better performing alternatives. That being said, this vaporizer does have quite a few qualities and is simple enough to be a good candidate for a first product purchase or a gift, to help someone quit combustion for instance.
It's by no means a device for an advanced "connoisseur" vaporist, taste is pretty poor, vapor path too short to provide adequate cooling. But it produces average vapor quantity with little effort, has usable temperature settings and is easy to use.
I'll try to compare it to two other pen-style vapes: the Herbstick Eco (middle) and the FlowerMate VT1.0 (right)
The good
- Relatively cheap (but if you can get the Storm instead, you'll get better customer service and hopefully a higher standard of quality control, plus the peace of mind of being sure you are not getting a counterfeit clone, otherwise the real manufacturer is TopGreen)
- Replaceable battery, supports any 18650 Li-Ion flat-top cell having at least 15A continuous discharge (probably works with 10A cells but better have some safety margin)
- Medium good vapor production, in terms of quantity
- Not too bad looking, simple design, sober
- Easy to use, although the click sequence might be harder to understand for a novice user (especially when the damn button doesn't register clicks properly, I find the Herbstick Eco easier)
- Stealthy, doesn't attract attention, looks like a fat e-cigar
- USB charging
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Aluminum shell, light
- Ceramic oven
- Air path looks relatively isolated (but I didn't dismantle my unit to verify)
- My unit had absolutely no factory smell but contrary to some pictures posted earlier it doesn't appear to have the polyimide insulation tape around the heater, which is well known to be responsible for the "robot fart" smell of these Chinese vapes (both the VT1.0 and Herbstick Eco required a lot of burn-ins)
The meh
- Heat-up time is average with stock cell, improves when using better cells
- Stock cell was rather crap in mine, but I read it improved since (to be verified)
- LEDs are a bit small and sometimes hard to see, I prefer the Herbstick Eco single multi-color LED
- The color progression of the LEDs vs temperature is backwards (red is lowest setting etc) but works for battery gauge display (red is lowest charge)
- The top section of the unit above the heater is plastic (it's metal in the Herbstick Eco and VT1.0)
- Temperature settings are ok, although I wish the first one was slightly lower but no big deal, the two last ones are too hot for my liking
The bad
- The taste is pretty poor, becomes bland after a couple of hits
- Vapor path is way too short to provide any form of cooling
- Stock silicone mouthpiece is pretty bad, definitely make sure to get the glass one
- The bottom part has not enough venting holes, especially with the positive of the cell (where it vents from) facing upwards away from the holes, as demonstrated by the e-cig community, this is a real hazard and can create a pipe-bomb if the cell was to vent (if you hear the device hiss, don't hesitate a single second and throw it away!)
- Device gets pretty hot during operation, try to keep the sessions under 15 minutes continuous or less if you use the highest temperature settings, otherwise it's not good for your battery cell longevity
