PAX Plus vs PAX 3: What's the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

The PAX 3 was PAX's flagship vaporizer for years, and the PAX Plus was built to replace it. From the outside, they look like twins. Inside, they take very different approaches to your session.

In this comparison, we break down the differences in heat settings, battery life, cleaning and features. Both models have since been discontinued, so we'll also show you how they compare to the current PAX lineup and which one to buy today.

Quick Comparison

What they have in common: The PAX Plus and PAX 3 share the same shape, size and oven. Both work with dry herb and concentrates, both heat up fast, and both have haptic feedback and a 10-year warranty.

Where they differ: The PAX Plus uses four preset Experience Modes and nothing else, with no app. The PAX 3 has four preset temperatures, plus a smartphone app that unlocks exact temperature control, the Experience Modes and extra settings.

You'd have a hard time telling them apart without reading the label.

• PAX Plus: 9.8 x 3.2 x 2.2 cm, about 91g
• PAX 3: 9.8 x 3.2 x 2.2 cm, about 95g

Both are ultra-pocketable, with the classic PAX aluminum body and petal LEDs.

Oven Size

Both have the same conduction oven, holding about 0.3 to 0.5g of ground herb. Both work with a half-pack oven lid to cut the oven down for smaller sessions.

The main difference is the oven screen, which we'll cover in the cleaning section below.

This is where the two really differ.

PAX 3: Preset Temperatures

Out of the box, the PAX 3 has four fixed temperature settings:

• 1 petal: 360°F / 182°C
• 2 petals: 380°F / 193°C
• 3 petals: 400°F / 204°C
• 4 petals: 420°F / 216°C

With the PAX app, you can change each setting to any exact temperature and access the four Experience Modes.

PAX Plus: Experience Modes Only

The PAX Plus skips exact temperatures and uses four Experience Modes instead. Each one follows its own heat "journey" through the session:

• Stealth Mode (1 petal): Starts at about 360°F with dimmed lights and minimal vapor.
• Efficiency Mode (2 petals): Starts light and finishes strong for a slow, relaxed session.
• Flavor Mode (3 petals): Focused on taste with solid vapor.
• Boost Mode (4 petals): Higher heat for maximum vapor, and best for concentrates.

The PAX 3 App

The PAX 3's Bluetooth app gives you:

• All four Experience Modes
• Exact temperature control in single-degree steps
• Device lock
• Custom light and haptic settings

Apple removed vaporizer apps from the App Store in 2019, so iPhone users need PAX's browser-based workaround. The PAX Plus doesn't use an app at all, which many people see as a plus for simplicity.

Vapor Quality

Both produce rich, flavorful vapor that tapers off as the session goes on. They just get there differently.

PAX Plus: Each Experience Mode shifts the temperature through the session, so flavor and cloud production change depending on the mode you choose. Flavor Mode stays tasty throughout, while Boost Mode starts hot and finishes with the thickest vapor.

PAX 3: The fixed temperatures give you more predictable results. The first two settings are softer and more flavorful, while the last two are warm and thick from the start.

Features Side by Side

• Haptic feedback: Both vibrate when turning on, when ready and when turning off.
• Shake to check battery: Both. Petals show your remaining charge.
• Shake to confirm your setting: Both.
• Standby mode: Both go into standby after about 30 seconds without a draw to save your herb.
• Smartphone app: PAX 3 only.

Heat Up Time and Battery

Heat up: Both are ready in about 30 to 40 seconds.

Battery life: The PAX 3 lasts a bit longer, at about 90 minutes of use per charge, compared to about 75 minutes for the PAX Plus. The Plus's changing temperatures use a little more power.

Charge time: The PAX 3 charges faster, in about 1.5 hours. The PAX Plus takes about 2 to 3 hours.

Cleaning: The PAX Plus Is Easier

The PAX Plus has an updated 3D oven screen with a raised edge, so you can press along the edge to pop it out for cleaning or replacement.

The PAX 3's screen is completely flat, which makes it hard to remove from the oven, especially when it's sticky. Usually, you have to remove the mouthpiece and push the screen out through the vapor path. It's a small change, but it makes a big difference over time.

Warranty

Both the PAX Plus and PAX 3 come with a 10-year limited warranty.

PAX Plus Pros

• Ultra-pocketable
• Fast heat up
• Thick, punchy vapor
• Simple preset Experience Modes
• Easier to clean
• Large oven
• 10-year warranty

PAX 3 Pros

• Ultra-pocketable
• Fast heat up
• Dense, high-quality vapor
• Smartphone app for exact temperatures
• Longer battery life and faster charging
• Large oven
• 10-year warranty

How They Compare to Today's PAX Lineup

Both the PAX Plus and PAX 3 have been discontinued. If you're shopping now, here's how they stack up against the current models:

PAX 4 vs PAX 3: The PAX 4 is the modern replacement for the PAX 3. It keeps the classic PAX shape but adds a hybrid conduction and convection heater for stronger vapor, a redesigned oven and USB-C charging. It's dry herb only and doesn't need an app.

PAX Flow vs PAX Plus and PAX 3: The PAX Flow is the most powerful PAX yet. It uses hybrid heating, has much more open airflow and adds a Bong Mode for water pipes. It's a little larger than the Plus and PAX 3, but delivers far bigger clouds. Read our PAX Flow review.

PAX Mini vs PAX 3: The current PAX Mini is slightly smaller than the PAX 3, with four heat modes, a 0.5g oven with a half lid and a 22-second heat up. It's the simplest, most compact PAX available. See our PAX Plus vs PAX Mini comparison for more.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose the PAX 3 if you like more control. It's the "manual transmission" of PAX vaporizers, with exact temperatures, a longer battery and custom settings through the app.

Choose the PAX Plus if you want a streamlined experience. Its Experience Modes do the work for you, and the easier-to-clean oven screen is a real upgrade.

Buying new today? Since both are discontinued, we recommend the PAX 4 for the classic PAX feel with stronger vapor, the PAX Mini for the most compact option, or the PAX Flow for maximum performance.

Still using a PAX 3 or PAX Plus? Keep it running with the PAX Charging Tray, PAX Grip Sleeve and PAX Multi-Tool, and browse all PAX parts and accessories. For a deeper look at the Plus, read our PAX Plus review, or compare every model in our PAX vaporizer comparisons.

Review Written By: Riley H

Riley H is the owner and founder of Canadian Vaporizers. He started working in the vaporizer industry at 19 and has spent more than 10 years running online vaporizer and cannabis accessory stores. In that time, he has personally tested almost every vaporizer on the market, from pocket-sized pens to full desktop units.

Riley is a daily cannabis user who uses it to stay focused and motivated, not to slow down. That hands-on, everyday experience shapes every review he writes. He knows what matters when you're actually using a device day after day: how it hits, how long the battery lasts, how easy it is to clean and whether it's worth the money. His goal is to give Canadians honest, straightforward advice so they can choose the right vaporizer the first time.

Our reviews and ratings are based on personal testing and over a decade of industry experience. They reflect the opinion of the author and are meant as a helpful starting point for your research. We encourage every reader to compare options before making a purchase.