Dr. Dabber makes some of the best e-rigs around. Their highly-rated Switch e-rig offers a powerful dabbing experience alongside a fun light show, but it’s large and not very travel-friendly. Their Boost Evo on the other hand, is much more compact, so it was a welcome addition to their lineup when it was released.
The new Dr. Dabber XS is even more compact and affordable than both the Switch and the Boost Evo – but it doesn’t offer all of the same bells and whistles of its bigger siblings. It is, however, a truly portable e-rig that doesn’t sacrifice anything important despite its petite size.
Design
Similar to the Dr. Dabber Boost Evo and Switch, the power button on the XS illuminates to indicate the battery status. However, the glowing lights have been removed from the body of the XS which makes sense as they unnecessarily drain juice from the battery and don’t add much to the functionality of the device. This has also helped keep the price down for the XS.
The grip pads on the Dr. Dabber XS feel nice to the touch and have been designed with enhanced ergonomics in mind. Haptic feedback is also stronger than we’d expect out of such a small device.
We very much appreciate that the glass carb cap comes with an included tether strap to keep it attached to the glass bubbler. The quartz atomizer has a built-in temperature sensor and automatic preheat feature that screws into the heating chamber very smoothly and only needs to be finger-tight, so be careful not to cross-thread.
Measuring just 6.47″ in height, 1.82″ in diameter, and weighing 9.4 oz, we love the small and discreet design of the Dr. Dabber XS because it makes it easy to take anywhere from camping and music festivals to hiking or just relaxing on the beach.
The included flexible funnel makes filling up the bubbler with water a breeze, even on the go. Unfortunately, the one thing we found to be missing is a carrying case which would make it much easier to bring along the Dr Dabber XS with you when on the go.
Battery
When it comes to charging, the Dr. Dabber XS is speedy thanks to its USB-C connection. A complete charge only takes about an hour and although Dr. Dabber says a full charge can provide up to 35 sessions, we’ve been getting up to 20 sessions from a full battery which is very respectable.
Thankfully the device has pass-through charging which allows us to enjoy using the vape while it’s charging because who really has time to wait around these days.
Another bonus is that the XS automatically turns off after 5 mins which helps immensely with conserving battery life.
Vaping Performance
With four different temperature settings ranging from 475° to 675°, you are able to enjoy a unique vaping experience simply based on the heat strength. While we prefer lower temperatures for more flavorful hits, sometimes we get a hankering for massive clouds which is when we crank the temperature up to 11.
Each session lasts 20 seconds which is plenty of time to get a few great hits of tasty vapor and be on your merry way.
For the best experience with the Dr. Dabber XS we recommend taking slow, long pulls while simultaneously covering the air intake hole on the carb cap.
We like how the quartz heating chamber atomizer starts to get seasoned and requires less herbal concentrates to get more vapor production after using the XS for a while.
Cleaning
We like to keep the Dr. Dabber XS nice and tidy by cleaning it out with a cotton swab after each session. We find that this helps to keep every hit tasting super fresh.
We appreciate being able to remove the atomizer completely from the unit to clean up any spilled oils or residue from around the heating chamber and connection port. We were able to easily clear out the water in the bubbler by removing it from the XS and giving a quick, strong blow through it to push the water out.
Pro tip: keep the carb cap and seal closed when you blow the water out of the bubbler, it acts like a faucet that empties the water down from the bubbler.
Dr. Dabber XS vs Boost Evo vs Switch
The Dr. Dabber XS makes for an excellent starter dabbing rig, but it can also serve as a great traveling rig for connoisseurs. However, if you want to take things up to the next level, and are looking for stronger more powerful hits, we recommend the Dr. Dabber Boost Evo ($300) over the XS. And if you are looking for a top-shelf experience, that doesn’t have to be very portable, the Dr. Dabber Switch ($375) is where it’s at.
When it comes down to the nitty gritty, no matter which one you choose, all three of these Dr. Dabber devices will take you to new heights.
Verdict
The Dr. Dabber XS is so easy to use and enjoy that a total newbie can pick it up and start using it right away, yet it’s powerful enough to satisfy even the most discerning concentrate aficionados. Plus, it’s affordable price point means that you really can’t go wrong.
Pricing
The Dr. Dabber XS retails for and is available directly from Dr. Dabber.