DaVinci IQ Review — A Dry Herb Vape That Brings The Heat

What’s going on vapers? Today, I’m bringing you a review on a portable dry herb vaporizer, the DaVinci IQ. This is the third device released by DaVinci, and it’s definitely their most sleek and sophisticated vape thus far. The IQ brings a full range of precision temperature control up to 220°C / 430°F, a full ceramic zirconia vapor pathway for optimal flavor, as well as a new “Smart Paths” mode that raises your temperature slowly over the course of a session.

The IQ has a lot of components and features that come together to make for a superb portable dry herb vaporizer, and I’m loving it. If you want a device to take out with you but still want power, flavor, and a full set of features, this is where you’ll get the most out of the IQ.

So what’s the low-down on this device? In this DaVinci IQ review I’m going to break it all down, starting with the box contents:

This device was sent to us for the purpose of this review. This does not in any way affect our opinion or ratings of the device.

DaVinci IQ Review — A Dry Herb Vape That Brings The Heat

What’s In The Box

• 1 x DaVinci IQ Vaporizer
• 1 x 18650 Rechargeable Battery
• 1 x Carrying Can
• 1 x Keychain Tool
• 1 x Extended Mouthpiece
• 1 x Chimney Brush
• 1 x Micro-USB Cable
• Alcohol Wipes
• Owners Manual & Warranty Information

The DaVinci IQ comes in a very nice quality box covered by a sleeve. The printing is raised and soft-touch, and there’s a picture of the IQ printed on the sleeve as well. The box itself is secured magnetically and opens up like a book to reveal the IQ inside. Underneath the IQ are three accessory boxes, as well as the owners manual and warranty information.

You can definitely tell that DaVinci put a lot of time and effort into the packaging to ensure that it matched the price-point & quality of the device. When you’re opening the box up, it feels like you’re opening something high-end.

The accessory boxes hold a few useful goodies. You get a carrying can for your herb, a keychain stirring tool, a 10mm extended mouthpiece, a chimney brush, some alcohol wipes, and a USB charging cable.

Specifications

• Weight: 145 Grams
• Dry Herb Vaporizer
• Conduction Heating
• Max. Temp: 220°C / 430°F
• Ceramic Zirconia Vapor Pathway
• Uses a Single 18650 Battery

Design & Build Quality

In terms of design, the IQ is certainly one of the nicest looking vaporizers available. Its sleek curves and brushed aluminum paint job give it a look that is clean and modern, while still remaining comfortable to hold and use. It’s a look that really sets the IQ apart from other portable dry herb vapes; most which don’t even look like they’re from this century!

You can get the IQ in a few different colors: black, gunmetal, or blue. The blue color that I received for this review is particularly nice, and the paint has held up really well over my (not-so) gentle testing. I’ve been bringing this baby everywhere and it’s been constantly in and out of pockets and bags, but I’ve had no scratches, paint chipping, or flaking whatsoever. Thumbs up to DaVinci here.

One thing to note is that because of the metal body, the IQ can get very hot during extended vaping sessions. This is by far the biggest con of the device, but it’s one that is easy to understand. When you’re dealing with a device made of metal that can heat up to 430°F — it’s probably going to get hot.

On the IQ all of the components are very well-made and fit together like they should: smoothly and snugly. The hinges and doors open and close smoothly, and are magnetic for additional security. In general, the IQ feels very solid and sturdy.

Size

One of the first things I noticed about the IQ was it’s super small size. Standing roughly 3.5 inches tall and 1.6 inches wide, the IQ is among the smallest dry herb vaporizers. And with a depth of just under an inch and a weight of around 140 grams, it makes the perfect device for a daily driver. The curved front and back of the device fit nicely into the palm of your hand, and it’s super comfortable to hold and use.

Portability

Taking the IQ out on the go is a non-issue. Heck, it’s practically taking it into its natural habitat! While you do have to be a little careful with the extended mouthpiece, there’s otherwise no problem with portability. Its small size makes it easy to just slip into a pocket or bag, and it doesn’t add much weight to your person at all.

In addition, the IQ uses replaceable 18650 batteries. By purchasing a couple of spares, you can save yourself from having to recharge while you’re out. Just make sure to get yourself a battery carrying case.

Mouthpieces

The IQ comes with two mouthpieces. Both are made of ceramic zirconia and this serves a dual purpose: keeping the vapor cool, as well as pure for excellent flavor. Ceramic zirconia is also incredibly easy to clean and this makes removing the residue from the IQ much less troublesome when compared to some other vaporizers.

The first mouthpiece that you get is flat for more stealthy and discreet use. It’s also much easier to carry the IQ in your pocket with the flat mouthpiece.

You also get an extended mouthpiece with the IQ, and this is the one that I’ve preferred using. The extra inch on the extended mouthpiece gives the vapor a little more room to cool down, and I found that this made for a more pleasurable vapor.

This mouthpiece also allows you to water cool your vapor by using the IQ with a 10mm to 14mm adapter and a water pipe. I’m an especially big fan of this method, and I would highly recommend giving it a try!

Regardless of which mouthpiece I used, I found the ceramic zirconia helped to keep the vapor much cleaner and cooler than I was used to, and this only contributed to the great experience I had with the IQ.

Heating Chamber

The oven of the IQ is made of ceramic zirconia which is the same material as the mouthpieces, flavor chamber, and pearl. You can pack quite a bit of herb in the oven, up to around a half-a-gram, so it’s perfect for larger sessions. I found that I got the best results with the IQ when I packed the chamber nearly to the brim.

For smaller doses, you have to option of extending the ceramic zirconia pearl farther into the oven; simply unscrew the pearl counter-clockwise to extend it. This helps by reducing the oven size and also helps to more evenly distribute heat to your herbs. You can reduce your oven size by around 30% with the pearl, but for smaller doses using glass spacers is recommended. This will ensure optimal vaporization of all the goodies in your herb.

Because the IQ is a conduction vaporizer, it works best if you finely grind your herbs. You’ll want to tightly pack the oven, but not too tight. Give it a few good tamps down, and you’re set to go.

It takes around 45 seconds for the IQ to heat up. And while this isn’t the fastest heat up time out there, it’s still not bad by any means. And once it was warmed up, it stayed there; even outdoors in cold temperatures.

Flavor Chamber

A unique and interesting feature of the IQ is its ceramic zirconia flavor chamber. This flavor chamber serves as the vapor pathway between the oven and your mouthpiece and can be filled with dry herbs of your choosing to enhance the flavor of your vapor. Any herbs you load into the flavor chamber will heat up enough to flavor your vapor, but will not heat up enough to vaporize. This also has the added bonus of coating your buds with some of your vaporized compounds, resulting in more potent herbs that you can vape later.

I left a few buds in the chamber for around 10 sessions. After removing them, they were slightly browned and had a much stronger scent. I ground them back up and vaped them again, and boy was it great.

While I did have some fun using it, it’s not something I found myself using all of the time. Because of the extra cleaning and how much it reduced the airflow, I found myself leaving the chamber empty most of the time. In any case, it’s certainly an interesting feature.   

Vapor Pathway

The IQ has certainly got one of the cleanest vapor pathways among portable dry herb vaporizers, no questions asked. All of the components of the vapor pathway are made of ceramic zirconia: the mouthpieces, the flavor chamber, the oven, and the pearl. There’s absolutely nothing to contaminate the flavor or purity of your vapor, and I could definitely taste the difference when using it.

The all-ceramic zirconia components also help to keep the vapor cool, even when I had it set to the maximum temperature of 430°F.

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Accessories

You get a few goodies included with the IQ, and I’ve been making good use of them in my sessions.

Carrying Can: This carrying can attaches to your keychain, and is perfect for carrying around a couple of bowl reloads. Just toss in some herb, and store it away for later.

Keychain Stirring Tool: This handy little guy is perfect for stirring the oven in between sessions. I didn’t find the need to stir too often, but it was great for when I did.

Chimney Brush: Perhaps the most important accessory that you get. This brush is essential for cleaning out the IQ, and ensuring that it remains in tip top shape. I give my oven a good brushing immediately after each session. It makes it easier to clean when the material is still hot, and helps to keep the device running problem-free.

How To Use The DaVinci IQ

One thing I noted about the DaVinci IQ is just how simple and straightforward it is to operate. There are three buttons for controls, an awesome LED display, and three different modes to vape with. It even has vibration feedback for when you reach your set temperature.

Controls

There are only three buttons on the device, all located on the right side: one power button, and two adjustment buttons. To turn the DaVinci IQ on or off, click the fire button five times.

The device will initially start up in Smart Path mode. To change to Precision mode, press the fire button once and then either adjustment button. To change back to Smart Paths, press the fire button once.

The display can be dimmed by clicking the power and down adjustment buttons together once. To adjust back to full brightness, click the power and up adjustment buttons together once.

To toggle between Fahrenheit and Celsius, click all three buttons together once.

To check your battery, click the up and down adjustment buttons together once.

LED Display

Talk about fancy! The IQ has a 51 LED display, arranged in a grid that runs vertically down the center of the device. This screen will display your full temperature in Precision mode, and will show you the device temperature as it heats up.

Precision Mode

The IQ is capable of a full temperature range up to 230°C / 430°F. With Precision mode, you can choose your exact temperature in 1° increments. I found myself using Precision Mode the most, as I like to vaporize certain compounds depending on my mood.

Smart Paths

There are four smart heating paths on the IQ. These paths slowly raise your temperature 20°F over the course of a ten minute session and are great for releasing a wide temperature range of compounds. Each Smart Path is indicated by a 3 x 3 LED grid, with the bottom grid being Smart Path 1.

• Smart Path 1: 350°F – 370°F
• Smart Path 2: 370°F – 390°F
• Smart Path 3: 390°F – 410°F
• Smart Path 4: 410°F – 430°F

I found myself using paths 1 and 2 for the start of my sessions during the day, while I used paths 3 and 4 in the evening while trying to unwind and relax. The paths save you the hassle of having to manually adjust your temperature every few draws, and instead keep the vapor steady. With the Smart Paths and a properly packed bowl, I had no issues leaving smaller bowls unstirred.

Boost Mode

By holding the power button, you can activate Boost Mode. This raises the temperature for as long as you hold the button. Once you let go, the IQ will enter standby mode and rapidly cool itself down.

I didn’t use Boost Mode too much myself, but I can see it being useful for solo vaping at lower temperatures. I was already vaping more towards the temperature limits and I like releasing specific compounds, so I preferred to just use the Smart Paths or adjust my temperature manually.

DAVINCI APP

While the IQ can be controlled entirely with the buttons on the device itself, you can also use the DaVinci app on your smartphone for more fine-grained control. The app gives you full control of the device through Bluetooth, and allows you to visualize your temperature curve

In the settings, you’re able to turn vibrations on or off. You can also dim the display, or switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Perhaps most useful though, is the ability to customize your Smart Paths. With the app, you’re able to change both the length and the temperature of your paths. This is super neat, as I was able to change the path to a shorter session and increase the temperature more rapidly. This suited me better than the standard smart paths, and it’s extremely useful to be able to do so.

Vapor Quality

The IQ produces some very tasty and pure vapor; something that I noticed immediately while using it for the first time. Because of the ceramic zirconia components, there was nothing to interfere with the flavor of my herbs.

For a conduction vaporizer, the fresh, unadulterated vapor that I got from the IQ is hard to beat. With all things considered, it might just be the best portable conduction vape available. Vapor density is great, and the flavor is top-notch.

Over long sessions, I didn’t find the need to stir the oven. The heating capabilities of the IQ are very good, and manage to evenly brown and vaporize your herb as long as you give it enough time. For shorter sessions, it’s highly recommended to stir your bowl when you’re about halfway through your session.

I found the IQ performed best when I packed the oven to capacity. The conduction heating and ceramic zirconia oven evenly heated my herbs without a hitch. But for smaller amounts, the glass spacers work like a dream.

The ceramic zirconia mouthpieces really help to keep the vapor cool. But if you’re like me and like your vapor to be as cool as possible, you can use a 10mm to 14mm water adapter to water cool the IQ through a water pipe. This completely levels up your dry herb vaping experience by providing bigger and cooler draws. For me, it was love at first try.

Airflow

The DaVinci IQ gives a fair bit of draw resistance, and requires some effort to pull. It’s not too much resistance, but it’s also not a light or airy draw by any means. For a more restricted draw, fully packing the oven and loading the flavor chamber with some unground buds will help. Overall, the draw on the IQ could be a tad bit looser. But it’s not a big issue at all, and is something that I can live with.  

Battery Life

The battery life of the IQ has been pretty stellar, and I’m quite impressed with the usage time that you can get out of this device. It comes with one 3500mAh 18650 battery, and I was averaging anywhere from 50-70 minutes of usage time on a full charge. This is about five to seven, 10 minute sessions. For a portable device, I found the usage time to be very reasonable. Plus because the battery is a removable 18650, you can buy a few replacements and have little to no downtime vaping.

When you do have to recharge, it’s not going to be super quick if you use the device. It took me three to three and a half hours to fully recharge a dead battery inside the IQ. So instead, I used my external battery charger for subsequent charging. This charges the battery up in about 2 hours or less; around half the time.

Cleaning & Maintenance

The IQ has more removable parts than most portable vapes and thus it requires more cleaning to stay functioning in tip-top shape. It’s highly recommended to dump out your oven after each session, and carefully brush the remaining material out.

Every few weeks, it’s recommended to do a deep clean on the device. This requires removing all of the parts that can be removed from the IQ, and giving them a bath in some isopropyl alcohol. I would recommend doing this with the pearl, mouthpieces, and flavor chamber. Afterwords, rinse with warm water and allow the pieces to dry completely before reassembling.

Warranty

I thought I would mention the warranty, as I think it’s pretty important to consider when buying an expensive electronic device of any sort.

DaVinci offers a ten (10) year manufacturer’s warranty for the IQ that warrants against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use, effective from the date of retail purchase.

This doesn’t cover user damage, or failure to properly maintain your device. So take care of your IQ, and DaVinci will take care of you.

Final Verdict

So what’s the final verdict on the DaVinci IQ? Overall, I’ve been very impressed with it’s vapor quality and performance. For a dry herb vaporizer to perform this well was very surprising to me, let alone a portable one at that. The ceramic zirconia vapor path is unlike anything I’ve tried and really helps to keep the vapor cool.

The amount of options that you have in terms of modes and mouthpieces make the vaping experience extremely customizable. Plus, you have the option of using the DaVinci app on your smartphone for easier, more fine-tuned control. I really enjoyed using the Smart Paths for long sessions, and I think those looking for a dependable long-session vape will really like the IQ, too.

The battery life is certainly impressive, and allows you upwards of an hour of use per charge. And if you pick up a couple of extras, you’re set for long trips; without having to recharge.

If you’re in search of a new dry herb vaporizer, I would highly recommend giving the IQ a try. It’s sleek, portable, dependable, and delivers incredible vapor quality. I think I’ve just found my new daily driver.

Until next time — Stay Versed!

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