POTV XMAX V4 Pro Vaporizer Review: Better Than the V3 Pro?

V4 Pro Pros & Cons

Vapor quality: Plenty of punch, but flavor falls off

The V4 Pro sports a more robust heater that changes the entire session profile. Dense clouds come easily from slower, softer sips, and really take off the harder you hit it. Flavors are noticeable at lower temperatures but disappear quickly, and things turn south fast as you crank up the heat.

My sessions usually hover around 390°F and above, but my favorite session was down at 350°F. Flavor lasted longer, and while it took a good primer hit to really get going, the clouds ramped up, and the flavor never fell into unpleasant territory. It tasted pretty good for three or four hits, then faded into almost nothing. No taste is better than bad taste.

A slow, extended draw is usually what it took to kick things into gear, and then it was quite responsive. An easy, steady draw of a few seconds was the minimum, and anything more than that yielded better results. The best clouds came from heavier draws.

The worst experience came from the top end of the temp chart. Flavor into the 400s°F was not so forgiving. A really burnt popcorn taste came on quickly and lingered long after there was any vapor left. It could taste like there was still something coming, only to exhale and see nothing. The clouds got decently thick up here, but the drop in flavor was enough to keep me around at the lower temperatures.

While the flavor is rather disappointing, the raw power and punch are enough to keep me interested. The clouds are dense, the exhales hit hard, and you definitely feel what the V4 Pro puts out. It won’t take you on any trips to flavor town, but it makes up for it with punches you feel.

Heats up in under 30 seconds

Heat-up time is respectable at under 30 seconds in Session mode. At 390°F, it consistently took around 22 to 27 seconds in my testing.

On-demand mode was less consistent. I saw heat-up times anywhere from around 13 to over 20 seconds from a fairly cold start, while back-to-back hits could be ready in around 10 seconds with the oven still warm.

Session & On-demand modes: Session wins

Session mode works well on the V4 Pro, but On-demand mode is right on the edge of what I consider quick enough to be useful.

Sometimes it took around 15 seconds to heat up in On-demand mode, which was great, and other times it took over 20 seconds. The catch is that the 30-second timer starts as soon as you press and hold the button.

It’s not awful, but a few times it would heat up, I’d take a hit, exhale nothing because it needed a primer, and then it would time out. I’d have to start it again, wait another 10 seconds or so, and then finally get my first real hit. At that point, just leave the heater on and let me do my thing.

Session mode became my default, even when I just wanted a quick hit. I could turn it on, take what I needed, and shut it off when I was done.

The best On-demand vapes, like the Tinymight 2 and Limelight Frolic, have vapor ready to inhale in under 10 seconds. Maybe I’ve been spoiled, but that’s what I want from an On-demand device.

Adjustable airflow is useful

The V4 Pro gives you more control over the draw than the V3 Pro with its adjustable airflow slider. At its widest setting, it’s only slightly more open than the V3 Pro, so I wouldn’t call this a major airflow improvement. The bigger difference is the added range.

I tried it with the slider at its tightest and still got solid hits. The tighter airflow slowed things down a bit, but a long, steady draw delivered good vapor without having to pull forever. If you're used to smoking roll-your-owns or just prefer a tighter, slower draw, this might come in handy.

All of the incoming air passes through the adjustment slider, so you can also cover and uncover it with your finger during a hit to change the airflow on the fly, similar to the airport on a DynaVap.

Decent oven size: 0.1g to 0.13g

The V4 Pro holds around 0.13g of ground herbs for the best results, which puts it in the same ballpark as the original V3 Pro, Arizer Solos, and Arizer Airs. It’s not quite as large as the DynaVaps, POTV ONE, or POTV Lobo.

It does pretty well with small loads, too. I tried as little as 0.03g to 0.05g and was still able to get solid vapor from it. It took longer, harder draws to get there, but it worked surprisingly well.

Made for dry herbs. What about concentrates?

The V4 Pro is made primarily for dry herbs, but it can handle concentrates with the optional Wax Cup (sold separately).

Solid battery life: 15 sessions per charge at 390°F

The V4 Pro’s battery life is very solid. I ran it through six-minute sessions at 390°F, with 10-minute cooldowns in between, and it completed 15 full sessions before it died, or around 90 minutes of runtime.

Heat-up times stayed consistent throughout the test, too. I saw times between 22 and 27 seconds from a full battery all the way down to nearly empty, with no significant slowdown as the battery drained.

Charging: Slow, but a spare battery helps

A full charge took about 2 hours and 50 minutes in my testing, so the V4 Pro isn’t particularly quick to charge. Thankfully, the battery is removable, and you can vape while it charges.

Here’s the breakdown:

• 20% in about 30 minutes
• 40% in around 1 hour and 5 minutes
• 60% in around 1 hour and 40 minutes
• 80% in around 2 hours and 10 minutes
• 100% in roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes

Controls: Already great, now with a color OLED

The new color OLED is a nice addition. The battery meter changes from green when full, to yellow around halfway, and red when it’s near empty. The set temperature and session timer are white, while the current temperature is yellow. It’s subtle, but the extra color makes everything a little easier to read at a glance.

The controls are unchanged from the V3 Pro because they’re already great. You get three buttons: up, down, and power. No menus to deep-dive.

Triple-click the power button to turn it on, then set an exact temperature between 212°F - 428°F (100°C - 220°C). Press the up and down buttons simultaneously to switch between Session and On-demand modes.

Additional tweaks are easy, too:

• Up + Power: Switch between four and six-minute session timers (Session mode)
• Down + Power: Switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius
• All three buttons: Rotate the screen 180° for upside-down bubbler use

Design: Sturdy and mostly pocketable, just watch the glass

The V4 Pro feels sturdy in the hand thanks to its aluminum shell, but you’ll want to be a little more careful with the glass mouthpiece. It stays attached well during normal use, but a hard enough shake can send it flying.

At 6.68 inches tall and just 5.58 ounces, the V4 Pro is easy enough to carry around. It slips comfortably into a bag or loose pocket, but tighter pockets can be a little uncomfortable.

Dimensions

• Height: 6.68 in / 16.98 cm
• Width: 0.875 in / 2.22 cm
• Depth: 1.0 in / 2.54 cm
• Weight: 5.58 oz / 158g

What's in the box

• 1 x POTV XMAX V4 Pro with POTV logo
• 1 x POTV Dimpled Glass Stem
• 1 x POTV V3/V4 Pro Glass Adapter
• 1 x Samsung 35E 18650 battery (installed)
• 1 x Dosing capsule
• 1 x Cleaning brush
• 1 x USB-C to USB-A cable
• 4 x Alcohol cotton pads
• 3 x Cotton swabs
• 3 x Glass Adapter mesh screens
• 2 x Oven mesh screens
• 1 x Mesh screen removal tool
• 1 x User manual

Complaints: Flavor fades fast, and On-demand feels slow

I touched on both of these earlier, but my two biggest complaints with the V4 Pro are the flavor and its On-demand mode.

Flavor starts out decent at lower temperatures but fades quickly, and higher temperatures can get really unpleasant. On-demand mode works, but the longer heat-up and 30-second timer made Session mode the better choice for me most of the time.

Warranty

The POTV XMAX V4 Pro comes with a one-year warranty. You will need your device’s serial number to be eligible for warranty work, which can be located on a sticker on the bottom of the box (don't throw it away!). As one of the leading retailers of dry herb vapes, vaporizers sold at Planet of the Vapes are also covered by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Quickstart: For the best results

Here’s how to get the most out of your V4 Pro:

1. Fill the oven to the top with ground herbs and give it a light tamp.
2. Start around 350°F for better flavor. Crank it higher for punchier clouds, but expect the flavor to get worse.
3. Set it to Session mode. Press the up and down buttons at the same time to switch between modes.
4. Look at the back of the V4 Pro and make sure the airflow slider is set all the way open.
5. Let it heat up.
6. Take a slow draw for at least five seconds.
7. Dive back in with longer, steady hits. The vapor picks up after the first draw.
8. Stir as needed with the built-in stir tool.
9. Enjoy!

Tips and tricks

Flip the screen: Press all three buttons simultaneously to flip the display orientation while it’s attached to a bubbler.

Feather the airflow: If you want to adjust the airflow during your hit, cover and uncover the airflow slider with your finger instead of adjusting it. Open it up for more fresh air and a freer draw, or cover it to restrict the airflow and build denser vapor.

Take longer draws: The V4 Pro rewards longer, more committed draws. Give it some time and keep pulling for denser, more satisfying vapor.

How to clean the V4 Pro

Cleaning the V4 Pro is pretty straightforward, with most of the work focused on the glass mouthpiece, screens, and oven.

Mouthpiece

1. Remove the glass mouthpiece and take out the dimpled screen.
2. Push the metal screen air tube out from the top of the glass adapter.
3. Soak the metal screen air tube, dimpled screen, and dirty glass parts in rubbing alcohol.
4. Rinse everything thoroughly and let it dry completely.

Clean the oven

1. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wipe down the inside of the oven.
2. Hold the V4 Pro upside down while you clean to keep any liquid from dripping down into the vape.
3. Brush out the oven after each session to prevent buildup and make deep cleanings easier.

Finishing up

1. Make sure all parts are completely dry.
2. Reassemble the glass mouthpiece and screens.
3. With the mouthpiece removed, run a full Session mode cycle at the highest temperature to burn off any remaining residue.
4. Brush out the oven and the glass adapter screen regularly to prevent buildup and cut down on deep cleanings.

Who’s the XMAX V4 Pro for?

The V4 Pro is a good fit for those who prioritize punch over flavor and want more responsive vapor. It’s best for:

• Those who want dense clouds and strong effects
• Anyone who wants responsive vapor without long, drawn-out hits
• V3 Pro users who want more control over their airflow and a punchier hit
• Smokers who think it's not punchy enough, it smacks!

You don’t have to work as hard or take the same long draws required to get the best results from the V3 Pro. Vapor comes on faster and hits harder with less effort.

Who’s the XMAX V4 Pro not for?

The V4 Pro isn’t for everyone, especially if flavor or price is your priority. It may not be the best fit for:

• Anyone who puts flavor first
• Shoppers who want the cheapest option between the V3 Pro and V4 Pro
• V3 Pro owners who are happy with its hit style and performance

The adjustable airflow, screen flip, and color OLED are nice additions, but they aren’t enough on their own to justify the V4 Pro over the V3 Pro. If those features and the more responsive hit don’t matter to you, the cheaper V3 Pro still does many of the same things.

Conclusion: Final thoughts

The V3 Pro already covers a lot of ground, so at first it was a little hard to see exactly where the V4 Pro fits. But after spending some time with it, it started to make a little more sense.

We often say there’s no single best vape for everyone. Everyone wants something a little different, and there’s the right vape for the right person. Good full-convection, on-demand vapes don’t come around often, and most of the better options cost $250 or more. The V4 Pro gives that crowd another solid choice at a more attractive price.

If you want the versatility of the V3 Pro but with a punchier, more responsive hit, the V4 Pro may be exactly the vape that was missing.

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