PAX 4 Review: Hybrid Heating, Shake Motion and a 2800mAh Battery in a 125g Body
The PAX 4 is the choice if you want a more powerful PAX than the Mini 2: hybrid heating, four heat modes from 190 °C to 220 °C, shake-motion controls, a 2800mAh battery and USB-C charging in a 125 g body. PAX itself calls the PAX 4 its most powerful dry herb vaporizer. Its limits are a slower heat-up than the Flow (55 to 70 seconds on our listing) and a 0.3 g oven.
Our product page lists the device as “Pax Four”; PAX markets it as PAX FOUR, and this review calls it the PAX 4. The figures below come from our PAX 4 product page and from PAX's own help pages, not from lab testing. For wider PAX advice, see our PAX Labs guides.
- The PAX 4 at a glance
- Hybrid heating and heat-up
- Four heat modes and shake motion
- 2800mAh battery and USB-C charging
- Oven, airflow and screens
- Cleaning and care
- Built-in high-temperature shutoff
- Quick answers
- Who it suits
1. The PAX 4 at a Glance
| Feature | PAX 4 |
|---|---|
| Price | See the product page for current pricing |
| Heating | Hybrid (conduction and convection) |
| Heat modes | 4 modes: 190, 200, 210 and 220 °C |
| Heat-up | About 55 to 70 seconds |
| Battery | Built-in 2800 mAh |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Oven | 0.3 g |
| Size and weight | 4.2 x 1.4 x 1 in, 125 g |
| Feedback | Haptic feedback when ready |
| Finishes | Greenstone and Onyx |
The box on our listing holds the PAX 4, a flat and a raised mouthpiece, a multi-tool, three oven screens, a wire brush and a USB-C charging cable.
2. Hybrid Heating and Heat-Up
The PAX 4 combines conduction, where the oven walls heat the herbs directly, with convection, where hot air passes through them. PAX says the PAX 4's heater produces up to 50% more vapor than its PAX 2, PAX 3, PAX Plus, PAX Mini and PAX Flow devices, which is a manufacturer comparison and not something we have measured.
The price of that heater is time. Our listing gives a heat-up of about 55 to 70 seconds, which is longer than the roughly 35 seconds listed for the Flow. Wait for the haptic buzz that tells you it has reached temperature.
3. Four Heat Modes and Shake Motion
The four modes are, per our listing, Petal 1 at 190 °C for lighter vapor, then Petal 2 at 200 °C, Petal 3 at 210 °C and Petal 4 at 220 °C, which gives the most vapor. Per PAX's guide, you quick-press the power button to move between the modes, then wait three seconds or shake the device to confirm. PAX suggests trying a lower mode first and stepping up through a session, and notes that higher modes use more battery.
That is where the shake comes in. A shake confirms your choice, and when the device is on, a shake also shows the battery level on the petals. Our listing calls this Shake Motion control, and it saves you from pressing and waiting. If you are unsure where to start, begin with Petal 1 and work up.
4. 2800mAh Battery and USB-C Charging
The listing gives a built-in 2800 mAh battery and a USB-C cable in the box. PAX's PAX 4 help page says a full charge takes about 90 minutes and lasts around 50 minutes of use, or up to five sessions, with the figure varying by heat mode and how you use it. That compares with roughly 30 minutes of use that PAX gives for the Flow. Each lit petal represents 25% when you check the battery, and a blinking red LED at the top left means it needs charging.
5. Oven, Airflow and Screens
In our product photos the 0.3 g oven loads from the base. PAX says the oven was redesigned with a lid for more airflow and an easier load, and its tips for the PAX 4 are to use fresh material, grind to a medium-fine consistency and tamp lightly until the oven is full, which is around 0.3 g. Swapping between the flat and raised mouthpieces changes airflow, and PAX recommends giving the device time between draws.
PAX also points out that vapor quality and quantity depend largely on the moisture content of the material, so very dry herbs give you less to work with, however good the heater is. How you pack the oven, how you grind and how you draw all matter as well. Start slowly and adjust one thing at a time so you can tell what made the difference.
If the draw feels tight, our PAX airflow guide covers grind, packing and screens. PAX says its 3D oven screen is compatible with the PAX 4, and our 3D oven filter screens are listed for it, so you can keep spares on hand beyond the three in the box. Our article on the PAX 3D oven screen versus the regular screen explains the difference.
6. Cleaning and Care
PAX recommends cleaning the oven screen along with the whole device every handful of oven loads. To remove the 3D screen, let the device cool, take off the oven lid and press on either end of the screen with the multi-tool. Alternatively, take off the mouthpiece and slide the wire brush through the vapor pathway to release the screen. The box includes both tools. Our PAX oven cleaning and screen replacement guide explains when to clean and when to replace. Replacement 3D screens come in packs of 10 or 20, and the listing gives them as stainless steel.
7. The Built-In High-Temperature Shutoff
PAX says the PAX 4 turns itself off if it reaches sustained high temperatures, and resumes normal use once it has cooled. If all four LEDs pulse orange or red and the device shuts off, PAX advises letting it cool for 30 minutes before switching it on again, and trying a lower heat mode, shorter sessions and switching it off sooner. PAX also advises waiting about ten minutes before cleaning, because the oven and screen may be hot.
8. Quick Answers
How do I check the battery? Shake the PAX 4 while it is on. Each solid petal represents 25% charge.
How do I reset it? With the device on, press and hold the power button for seven seconds. All the petals blink white five times when the reset is complete.
Is it compatible with PAX 4 replacement parts? Our listing says it is fully compatible with PAX Four replacement parts. Always confirm the model on a part’s listing before you order, because PAX parts differ between models.
9. Who It Suits
The PAX 4 suits you if you want hybrid heating, a larger battery than the Mini 2 and a bit more control than a single preset. See the product page for current pricing. Consider the others if you want the quickest heat-up, in which case the Flow is listed at about 35 seconds, or the largest chamber, in which case the Mini 2 can hold up to 500 mg with its standard lid. For the full picture on those two, read our PAX Flow review and our PAX Mini 2 review.
Final Thoughts
The PAX 4 is a balanced PAX: hybrid heating, four modes from 190 °C to 220 °C, a 2800 mAh battery and USB-C charging. Expect a longer wait at heat-up than the Flow, and treat the PAX figures on vapor and run time as manufacturer claims. Keep a pack of spare screens and brush out the oven regularly. Our PAX accessories and replacement parts collection has the parts you need.
