PAX 1

The oven at the lower end is sealed by a magnetic lid and holds around 0.35 grams of finely ground material. Ploom specifies three settings: 370, 390 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit, equivalent to 188, 199 and 210 °C. According to the manual, the PAX is ready in just 30 seconds; reviews measure 30 to 60 seconds. A motion sensor lowers the temperature as soon as the device is set down and heats back up when picked up again; this preserved the built-in lithium-ion battery. A known issue was the lip sensor, which triggered thermal cut-offs on some devices.

Charging is not done via a cable connected to the device, but on a dock: the PAX is placed mouthpiece-down onto the charging station. Inside the box were the PAX, the charging dock, four screens, a mouthpiece, the oven lid and the manual. The anodized aluminum housing was available in blue, purple and black; the airpath is made from laser-welded stainless steel and the plastic components are food-safe. At launch the PAX retailed for 249.99 US dollars; the ten-year warranty was unusual for a device in this class.

The PAX 2 of 2015 retained the form factor, sealed the housing, replaced the retractable mouthpiece with a flat mouthpiece featuring a lip sensor and heated up faster. The PAX 3 added app control and a concentrate insert in 2016. Anyone buying a PAX 1 today is buying a collector's piece with functional core technology and the well-known cleaning demands. The prices in the comparison come from remaining stock at individual shops; new stock has not been available for years.

• Ploom PAX – Product Manual (Manufacturer)