Arizer XQ2 vs Volcano Hybrid

With the recent release of the Arizer XQ2 Vaporizer, many people have been wondering how it compares to the king – The Volcano Hybrid.  Desktop vaporizers that utilize bags or whips are well known for their vapor quality from the first hit to the last and as an upgrade over the Extreme Q, the XQ2 has some features that boost session customization and enjoyability. Does it compare to the Volcano, though? Read on to find out more as well as a comparison of key features and vapor quality.

Kit Comparison

Accessories are important aspects of desktop vaporizers as they’ll allow for more session customization. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two kits:

How do desktop vaporizers work?

Unlike portable vaporizers, desktop vapes are made exclusively to be used at home with a wall plug-in chord. Like portables though, there is still a mouthpiece (whips/balloons), a heating chamber, and a power source. With time, desktop vaporizer designs have been simplified with the additions of digital screens, remotes, and mobile apps as opposed to heat dials on older models. The Volcano Hybrid makes use of both a full digital display and mobile app control, while the XQ2 uses a display screen and intuitive remote.

There are no switches or knobs on the Hybrid, because it’s operated entirely via the touch screen. While the controls are certainly user-friendly, there could be a slight learning curve – especially if you’ve never used a desktop vaporizer. It’s pretty easy to understand after the first few sessions or with the app, though. Both vaporizers have a lot of session customization as well, and we’ll get into that later in the review.

Volcano Hybrid vs Arizer XQ2 Ease of Use

With both vaporizers, you’ll have to fill the chamber before use. The Volcano uses a 0.5g filling chamber that will be placed above the heating element. When you’re not hitting from the whip, you’ll want to either turn the vape off or remove the chamber so that you don’t waste any product. The XQ2 has a similar ‘connoisseur bowl’ size of 0.5g, but instead is made of glass and included with a ‘tuff rubber grip’ to place on the top end to reduce heat while handling. The connoisseur bowl can also be placed upside down for cooler sessions with the herb being further away from the heat source for better terpene profile hits. Both vapes will be very easy to use and understand thanks to the XQ2’s remote, or the Hybrid’s digital control – You’ll be able to see all relevant information, and even beginners will have no problem picking either device up.

XQ2 vs Volcano Heating Comparison

The XQ2’s redesigned ‘connoisseur bowl’ is closer to the heat source than on the original EQ. This means it will have more vapor extraction. With a convection temperature range of 50° C – 260° C / 122° F – 500° F, you’ll be able to get very big clouds effortlessly. It will take about 3-4 minutes of heating for optimal hits, and you will have full temperature control with either the remote or user interface. With a ceramic heating rod, the heating system on the XQ2 will appear much smaller at face value compared to the Hybrid’s but despite this, it will be able to deliver deceptively large hits. One of the nice things is that the longer your session goes, the more conduction heating you’ll get as the glass chamber gets very hot. This works well with the lowered glass connoisseur bowl on the XQ2. By having your dry herb closer to the chamber in conjunction with the almost ‘hybrid’ heating, you’re going to see a lot of vapor out of this affordable desktop unit. If you’re more interested in convection heating, you might opt to use the ‘flavor chamber’ with the bowl being farther from the heat. By doing this, you’ll be getting some of the best flavor available on the market today. One of the nice things about the remote is that you’ll be able to adjust the temperature in single increments, and also be able to choose between three-session presets that you can program through the user interface.

The Volcano Hybrid uses hybrid heating with a patented helix hot-air system to ensure excellent airflow to your dry herb. With a precise temperature range of 40°C all the way up to 230°C, it will only take about 90 seconds to reach decent temperatures, or about 3 minutes for a good pre-heat to ensure vapor quality. One of the nice things about the Hybrid is the fact that it does not require a preheat when using it with the balloon accessory. In as little as 45 seconds, the chamber will be ready to go. If you’re using the whip, the first few pulls will be weaker even with a fan assist, but it will still be a much faster go-time compared to the XQ2.

Volcano Hybrid Heating Element

One of the biggest differences between the Classic Volcano and the Hybrid is the upgrade to full hybrid heating. By using conduction and convection, there will be a lot more THC extraction. As a desktop vaporizer, there is a lot more power access for the vape, and because of this, the Volcano Hybrid is well known by vaping connoisseurs for the richness of the clouds that it produces. Unlike the XQ2, the heating element is built for conduction and convection, not solely relying on hot air. You’ll also have access to a Bluetooth iPhone or browser application that will allow for session customization and activation from afar. Once you set it up by using the serial # on the box of the Hybrid (hang on to the box!), you’ll be able to turn the power on or off, adjust temperatures, and set bag workflows. The workflow feature is somewhat similar to the XQ2’s programmable session pre-sets but is really made for easy bag filling. You can tweak this any way you’d like to fill between one or three balloons. One popular way of filling a balloon that you can program for a high-quality balloon on the workflow setting is as such:

1. Heat 350
2. Pump 5 sec
3. Heat 370
4. Hold 5 sec
5. Pump 10 sec
6. Heat 400
7. Hold 3 sec
8. Pump 10 sec
9. Heat 425
10. Pump 10 sec

If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry! The standard way of heating with a normal fan and heat setting will work just fine.

What’s the difference between the Volcano and XQ2 chambers?

One of the key things to note is that the Volcano’s bowl sits right on top of the heating element compared to the raised glass bowl on the XQ2. As we mentioned, with the actual conduction of the chamber it’s sitting right on, this means your dry herb will be heated much faster. The bowl will get hot eventually as noted by the inclusion of the Tuff rubber grips, but this will be after three minutes at the earliest. You’ll also want to be using a coarse grind on the XQ2 to maximize the hot air able to pass through the chamber. On the Hybrid, you’ll be able to use any kind of grind you want because of the metal screens. Another thing to know is that the conduction on the Volcano means that you should be ready to have your session as soon as you have it turned on and heating as THC extraction will begin almost immediately. With the whip attachment, it is slightly pressed on and off of the chamber compared to the easily swappable XQ2 connoisseur glass bowl bowl and frosted glass for the whip.

This comparison comes down to preference. The fast heating chamber of the Volcano, or the utility of the XQ2 glass.

Arizer XQ2 vs Volcano Hybrid Balloon Comparison

Off the bat, the Volcano kit comes with three balloons compared to the XQ2’s two. Although the XQ2 has greatly improved upon their balloon system from the original EQ with the inclusion of a cap, it is simply not on the same level of the Hybrid’s design. Similar to a Gatorade bottle, the Hybrid’s balloon will only release air when your mouth breaks the seal with gentle pressure. One of the good things about the XQ2 balloon system is that the mouthpiece functions as a 10mm male bong adapter which you can use on any 10mm female bong attachment for super smooth hits.

For the Volcano Hybrid, the balloon assembly will be slightly easier as all you’ll have to do is screw on the filling chamber, place the valve balloon onto the filling chamber, and then unscrew and detach the filling chamber from the balloon and then place the mouthpiece into the valve balloon slot.

The XQ2 is slightly less beginner-friendly as you’ll have to insert the glass mouthpiece through the bag connector, and then gather the open end of the balloon and insert it through the large opening in the threaded base until there is enough material to fold evenly back past the base threads. Although the air tightness is improved on this system compared to the Extreme Q’s, it is still behind the Hybrid’s balloon kit.

XQ2 vs Hybrid Volcano Vapor Quality

The XQ2 uses a built-in air filter and the glass screen in the connoisseur bowl to filter out finely ground cannabis, unlike the disposable metal screens like on the Hybrid. Despite the XQ2 having much better vapor quality than the EQ, the Hybrid is still superior. For being less than half the price of the Hybrid, the XQ2 put up a good fight though. If you were to fill the balloon on a lower heat and fan setting, the XQ2 shoots well above its batting average and will have noticeably more vapor density compared to the EQ. However, this will take much longer than on the Volcano due to needing a five-minute preheat compared to the Volcano being instantly ready. With hybrid heating and custom bag settings on the workflow app, the Hybrid is definitely the winner in this category.

With the Arizer pre-heating recommendation, you can choose to inhale earlier, but you’ll just have to pull harder and will get less vapor. As the XQ2 uses a glass bowl chamber versus the threaded for the Volcano’s, you’ll more easily be able leave the vaporizer on and just place the chamber back on whenever you’re ready to resume a session. Some people on the Extreme Q model leave their device on 24/7 for easily accessible sessions, but that isn’t exactly quite recommended!

There is a reason that the design of the Volcano has become iconic since its release twenty years ago, the vapor quality is unmatched. If you choose to do a slow fill on a balloon, prepare to be seriously blown away right into a nap time. Regardless if you choose a slow or fast fill though, the vapor quality is always going to be top-notch. As mentioned, it will be ready to fill a balloon almost immediately after it reaches temperature compared to the preheating period on the XQ2.

XQ2 Connoisseur bowls with attached Tuff Rubber grips for easier handling

Design Review: XQ2 vs Volcano Hybrid

The Arizer XQ2 has made great improvements to its design over the EQ. With a matte black finish and LED light strip, it is much more modern and sleek sitting on a shelf unlike the outdated appliance look of the EQ. In this sense, it’s very similar in design to the Volcano’s newly released matte black onyx design. The kit has a lot of different use options for its price point including a whip, bag, two bowls, and rubber grips. It is only 6.5 inches tall and 6 inches at the base and weighs just over a pound, meaning it’s very easy to take room to room or for cleaning. The only knock is that the all-glass accessories are very fragile and will have to be carried with caution or prevent any shattering, especially since they won’t be covered under warranty.

The Volcano on the other hand is highly aesthetic thanks to the engineers at Storz and Bickel. You’ll have the option of either the metal finish or the new matte black onyx.  It is 8 inches tall, and 7 inches wide at the base. Due to the heavier-duty hardware and metal finish, it weighs six pounds, but it is still not difficult to move around. The Volcano accessories are also less fragile and you won’t have to worry about them heating up like the glass bowls will.

Key Features: Arizer XQ2 vs Volcano Hybrid

The LED lights are a very visually appealing upgrade on the XQ2. There are two modes of light options; In the Spectrum Mode, the colors will change every two seconds for a very colorful experience. In dynamic mode, the unique colors will display information at a glance:

• Heating – Pulses from Yellow to Orange
• Reach Set Temperature – Blinks Green twice
• Stable Temperature – Pulses Orange continuously
• Fan Operation – Pulses Purple
• Cooling – Pulses Cyan
• Cooling with Fan – Pulses Blue

With the handy remote, you’ll also be able to adjust the temperature, fan settings, or lights on the fly.

Three of the main features of the Volcano Hybrid are the chamber-locking, helix heating, and the application. The application will allow you to customize three-session pre-sets for temperature and fan settings, as well as adjust the temperature from afar. All you’ll need is the serial number on the bottom of your box, so hold on to that until you get the app up and running. With the helix heating technology on the Volcano, pre-heating times are best in class. Lastly, the chamber-locking feature makes hitting with a whip much more convenient for sharing or for parties. You’ll be able to thread on the chamber and whip and be able to lift the vaporizer easily.

Accessories – Volcano Hybrid vs. Arizer XQ2

Although there is a huge variety of accessories included in the XQ2, there is a lot of moving glass parts and clunkiness involved. Medicinal users may not appreciate this, as these glass pieces are very fragile and are easy to break if dropped. Luckily the tuff bowl grips will help with durability and handling when the bowls are hot, but overall, they will still be prone to shattering. When you aren’t using the XQ2 for vaporizing, you’ll have the option of using it as an aromatherapy device! For this use, simply add your favorite rinds such as orange peels or scented flower petals to the included glass dish. With this option, you’re able to add a great scent to any environment!

One of the nice things included in the Volcano Hybrid kit is the liquid mesh pad for concentrates. As the XQ2 only comes with the dome and flat screens, you’ll have to try the sandwich method with dry herb, but this won’t be as effective. Both kits come with an included air filter that really boosts their vapor quality over portable devices. You’ll also be able to purchase dosing capsules, chamber reducers, and chamber filling aids separately for even better sessions with the Hybrid as well. For the XQ2, there aren’t too many Arizer manufacturer accessories, but the DDave third-party mods are very popular. You’ll still be able to use the whips with bongs for creative hits though. The balloon mouthpieces are also 10mm males, which means you can use them in 10mm female joint bongs for super cool hits through a Universal 10mm Bubbler for example.

Price Comparison – Who should buy which vape?

The Arizer XQ2 vaporizer is much more affordable than the Volcano Hybrid Vaporizer, but the Volcano still remains the king of vapor quality and production. However, the XQ2 holds its own and with a wide range of accessories, those who are new to desktop vaporizers or looking to upgrade from their EQ or portable vaporizers will love the sessions they’ll be able to get from it. If you don’t mind spending some extra time filling balloons on a lower fan setting, the XQ2 will be able to fill milky bags just like the Volcano.

Although the Arizer XQ2 is a noticeable upgrade over the Extreme Q, and is one of the few new releases of a desktop vaporizer in the past few years, it still lags slightly behind the Hybrid’s heating and vapor quality. There is a noticeable price difference though, and beginners and connoisseurs alike will appreciate the LED light system and remote control, as well as the improved connoisseur and flavor bowl options.

If you’re still looking for more information, check out the individual reviews!

• Volcano Hybrid Review 
• Arizer XQ2 Review 
• Arizer XQ2 vs Extreme Q Review