Pulsar APX V3 Review

Background

US-based brand Pulsar definitely keeps its fingers on the pulse of the dynamic vaporizer market. Seemingly making anything any everything you need for the perfect cannabis consumption experience. They boast a product list of over 1000 different products – such as water pipes, rolling trays, and of course, vaporizers. They’re the creators of the popular dab-rig Pulsar Rök (review) and of the popular APX family of portables.

The APX line is Pulsar’s sub-brand -all APX devices are priced at under $100. The Pulsar APX V3 is the latest in this line of well-priced devices and is an updated version of the V2. The APX V3 features an LED Screen, 5 temperature settings, haptic feedback, auto-shutoff, and a new “cash” feature that cranks up the oven at max to help you get the most out of your material.

Kit & Accessories

The Pulsar APX V3 comes with a pretty basic kit – as expected for its price point. The kit comes with all you need to get started straight out of the box. 

• Pulsar APX V3
• Replacement mouthpiece insert
• Cleaning brush
• Packing tool
• USB charging cable

Compatibility: The Pulsar APX V3 is only compatible with dry herb. I tested the V3 with THC herb from my local dispensary and CBD herb from In-Hemp.

Design & Features

 The APX V3 has a slim design that looks and feels a little like a holding a lighter. It’s quite comfortable to hold and the power button is well-placed high up on the device, so it’s easy to access. The LED screen and haptic feedback features keep you informed of battery life, temperature, and setting. – which is very useful design feature, especially when you consider that many sub-$100 weed vapes don’t label their preset temperatures as clearly.

At just about four inches tall (w/o the mouthpiece), and with a very slim profile, the APX V3 slips into pockets with ease. You could probably fit two or three in there and you—or anyone else—would barely notice. So, portability is definitely not an issue here.

If what you’re after is something discreet, with a hint of fun – the Pulsar APX V3 is available in a bevy of colors, skins, and finishes.

Mouthpiece

The Pulsar APX V3 is topped with a new heat-resistant silicone mouthpiece which does an excellent job of keeping cool even after successive draws. With the mouthpiece attached, the APX V3 is roughly 5inches tall – still pretty portable.

Battery

The APX V3 has a 1600 mAh battery that lasts for ninety minutes and charges up in ninety minutes. Both those numbers are pretty good for a budget vaporizer. Or any vaporizer really. Once the battery drains – the APX logo will flash before the red and green colors three times, before shutting off.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Pulsar APX V3 pretty low-maintenance vaporizer, which means that cleaning is quick and easy. The included cleaning brush is all that you need to wipe out the chamber once a session is complete.

How to use

1. Remove the mouthpiece to expose the herb chamber, fill it with herb, and then replace the mouthpiece.
2. Press the power button five times to turn on the device.
3. Hold down the power button for three seconds to cycle through the temperature settings and release it once it lands on the setting you want.
4. Once the vaporizer has finished heating, inhale from the mouthpiece.

You can check out a copy of the official user manual right here.

Performance & Vapor Quality

The Pulsar APX V3 has a temperature range of 374°F – 446°F and is split into 5 settings which are indicated by the LED screen on the front of the device. The pre-set temps are: 374°F, 392°F, 410°F, 428°F, and 446°F

The APX V3’s ceramic chamber holds up to 0.5g of well-ground herb (the V2 only held 0.3g) and heats to any of the pre-set temperatures in 30 seconds. A heat-up time that’s pretty impressive for a device of its size.

Cash Mode: This is the boost every user needs towards the end of a session. Cash mode boosts the oven temperature to 446°F for the fullest extraction of your dry herb. The vapor quality does get quite uncomfortable on this level, but it is the end of a session – so you won't exactly have to endure it for too long.

Vapor Quality: On the lower temperature settings, the vapor quality is good, but not exactly amazing, but not terrible either. However, on higher settings, the vapor tends to get hot, harsh, and slightly uncomfortable. That’s because the short mouthpiece is located right above the herb chamber, so the vapor doesn’t have the time to get cool before it hits you.

I definitely recommend that you stick to the lower temperature settings when using the APX V3. Draw resistance is pretty low, so the vaping experience is definitely smooth.

Bottom Line

The Pulsar APX V3 definitely is a bang-for-your-buck device. Priced at $70, it looks, feels, and performs much more than it costs. Its ease of use and portability make it the perfect choice if you’re looking for a good first device or a secondary one.

The word for the V3 is definitely- basic. It’s basic in function, use, and performance. So, if you’re looking for a device with a lot more features and smart functions – I highly recommend checking out the DaVinci IQC (review) or any of the devices on our list of the best dry herb vaporizers of 2024