⚠️Attention! The XMAX V3 is no longer in our inventory. However, the good news is that we've got something even better for you - the latest POTV XMAX Starry V4. Check it out now!.
Read the ReviewShop POTV XMAX Starry V4
The XMAX Starry might change what you expect to get on a budget. Swappable battery, full digital control, 25 second heat up time and 80 minutes of battery life tucked into a solidly built, ultra pocketable portable vape.
With good vapor and an intuitive control the Starry is an easy recommendation for a newbie or a seasoned vaporist looking for a new toy.
Table of contents
What is an XMAX Starry?
The XMAX Starry is a dry herb vaporizer that’s a safe intro into the vaping space for under $100. It’s similar to the PAX 2, but with better controls. If you buy one from planetofthevapes.com it also comes with a free gift card.
Good vapor quality
XMAX has been making quality introductory level vaporizers for a while now and this one doesn’t disappoint by delivering tasty vapor on the lower temperatures and giving way to clouds at about 390° F and up.
The Starry goes all the way to 464° F, which is higher than most vapes, but still doesn’t combust so if you want to take your herbs to the upper limit you can.
Being a full conduction vape, even with a very comfortable draw resistance, you will probably find yourself sipping the Starry for the best taste and clouds.
Solid build
Build quality is where the Starry really stands out! Reach into a bag full of vapes for under $150 and you will pull out something big or a piece of plastic almost every time.
The Starry’s size, anodized aluminum shell, ceramic oven and magnetic lid with a ceramic zirconia mouthpiece will leave you thinking you picked up a vape twice the price.
XMAX added a couple nice little touches as well, like a mouthpiece that magnetically sticks to the side so you won’t lose it and a beveled edged oven for clean and easy loading.
Removable battery with a long life
We love swappable batteries because not only can you keep the vapor flowing with a spare, but you don’t end up with a new paper weight if you happen to have a battery fail a year or two down the road.
We got about 80 minutes of run time off the 18650 battery supplied with the Starry, which is respectable even if you weren't able to swap them out. Well done!
Features you need
Simplicity seems to be the theme with the Starry with just three buttons to control everything from the power and full temperature controls to session timers and temperature scales.
If you're tired of 5 clicks to turn your vapes on and off, you’ll love the three second button press the Starry uses.
I have become fond of being able to change the session timer from 5 to 10 minutes. Turns out I prefer to cut a 10 minute session short instead of restarting after 5 minutes, but I didn’t know that until I was given the option. Thanks!
Can you use XMAX Starry while charging?
The POTV Starry does not have pass through charging, even if it looks like it does. If you turn the heater on while it’s charging, it will stop charging the battery and power the heater during the session instead. This is not recommended by the manufacturer.
Small size, comfortable feel
The Starry is a smidgen taller and wider than the PAX 3 with a similar oval shape, but with flat sides that feel great in the hand and pocket. See that...I’m already comparing it to vapes more than twice its price.
I always know when I like the feel of a portable vape when I find myself fiddling with it while using it, and I can’t stop playing with the Starry.
(both versions of the Starry pictured above are the same size)
Size SpecificationsHeight 4.3 in / 11 cm
Width 1.37 in / 3.5 cm Depth 0.94 in / 2.4 cm Weight 4.2 oz / 120 g |
Quick heat-up time
The Starry heats up quickly like we expect from a new portable these days. My unit got to 390° F in 25 seconds and to 464° F in 35 seconds, which is plenty fast enough to be ready for a quick session on the go.
The Starry doesn’t vibrate or beep at you when it is at temperature, which you really don’t need when it heats up this fast. A bit of built in stealth...shhhh...
Warranty
The Starry vaporizer has a 1 year warranty when purchased from Planet of the Vapes and, as with everything we sell, you are also covered by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Special edition XMAX x POTV
We're big fans of the Starry and with that we teamed up with XMAX to release our special edition black on black edition! What's different? -- just the looks. We decided to ditch the painted on Starry logo and instead engrave both the XMAX and Planet of the Vapes logo. The stealthier look matched with the custom packaging feels a bit more our style.
Who makes the XMAX Starry?
The XMAX Starry vaporizer is manufactured in China by XMAX. It is available worldwide under the XMAX brand, and in North America under the POTV label, through planetofthevapes.com.
What's in the box?Starry Vaporizer
5A 2500mAh 18650 Battery Packing Tool Cleaning Brush USB Charging Cable Tweezers Mouthpiece Screens Oven Chamber Screens Instructions |
Cleaning & maintenance
Cleaning is pretty straightforward and as simple as you could hope for with the Starry and, you won't have to do it as often if you brush off the oven and mouthpiece while they're still warm, after each use.
Cleaning can be taken care of by swabbing the oven, and soaking screens and mouthpiece in ISO.
Expectations
The Starry will leave you feeling like you got a great deal! The build quality is unmatched at this size and price point and it gets even better with the ceramic zirconia mouthpiece, magnetic lid and removable battery.
It performs as well as any other conduction vape I’ve tried for less than $150, so it should satisfy anyone not hunting for the vapor performance of a hybrid heating vape like the Arizer Air or with a big bowl like the Boundless CF.
Who's the Starry for?
The Starry is perfect for anyone wanting an affordable, pocketable, quick-heating portable vape that’s not made of plastic. The anodized aluminum shell gives a quality feel to this budget conscious vape that we are excited about.
It performs well, has all the important features like a removable battery and full digital temperature control, and is probably going to be a hit even if you’ve already got other vapes.
Some early adopters are already reporting shelving their more expensive vapes because this one just hits all the right points. Don’t be fooled by the low price tag!
Who's the Starry not for?
If you’re looking for the flavor of a convection or hybrid heating vape, then the Starry’s full conduction heating won’t be for you. And if you’re looking for the cheapest portable vape that actually works, that can be had with some other popular models like the Boundless CFC, Focus Pro, Flowermate V5.0S or the XMAX V2 Pro.
Final thoughts
By now you should be able to tell that I really like the Starry. In general, I’m only this impressed with one or two new vapes or manufacturers a year, and this is the first 2017 release to really do it for me.
In 2016 we saw a lot of good, high end portables released that set a whole lot of new technical standards, like the DaVinci IQ and the PAX 3. The Starry has a similar build quality but without all the bells and whistles or the high price tags. I’ll be recommending this one a lot! Still on the fence? Check out our Best Dry Herb Vaporizer Guide to find out which vape best suites you.
