It’s not uncommon for vaporizer brands to release an upgraded model of original vaporizers as technology advances. Typically upgraded models are presented with the original model having a slightly updated look and improved features such as longer battery lives, quicker heat up times, better airflow and minor design changes based on consumer feedback. The Dr. Dabber Switch 2, however, isn’t just a series of upgraded features in a similar package, but a complete redesign of the original Dr. Dabber Switch, so let’s take a look at exactly what’s new and how much it’s changed.

What’s new with the redesign?

The most noticeable change with the Switch 2 vaporizer is the look. Side by side, the original Switch and the Switch 2 look like completely different vaporizers. This might feel jarring to consumers who love the original and are wary about something that looks so different, but the resigned body is actually the answer to a common consumer complaint about the original design. The Switch 2’s alumina ceramic shell has changed to take weight distribution into account. The original Switch had a tendency to be top-heavy, especially with certain glass pieces, which could easily lead to the device accidentally toppling over and a lot of shattered glass. With the new design, The Switch 2 vaporizer is unlikely to topple over from an uneven weight distribution, even with the introduction of different glass pieces. This of course doesn’t mean that it’s indestructible, but when placed, the Switch 2 vaporizer is much more stable and easier to use without the threat of an unexpected fall.

The down side of this design is that there isn’t as much room for variety when it comes to glass attachments. The swappable glass attachments have to be a little more compact than those used with the Switch original, which makes variations in those designs a bit trickier, but in our opinion, that’s a small price to pay for keeping the glass safer.

An upside to the design, which we feel is a very solid counter to that one minor drawback is that the induction cups are now also 3 times larger than the Switch Original’s induction cups, which allows for more surface area for a more even heating of materials, and more room for more material to be loaded in and vaporized. With the consideration that the Dr. Dabber Switch and Switch 2 are both intended to be powerhouse style desktop vaporizers, adding in the potential for an even more potent session is absolutely phenomenal.

Let’s talk about the Switch 2 battery

It's hard to improve upon perfection and the Dr. Dabber Switch Original is nearly perfect as a desktop concentrate vaporizer. The Switch 2, however, does manage to improve the design in a lot of ways. The Switch 2 features a crazy 3,000 mAh  INR internal battery which allows for a massive amount of power which means quicker heat-ups, more temperature options, and a lot more use on a single charge. This battery charges in around 90 minutes, and does feature pass through charging if you need to use it while it’s charging.

Some may prefer the removeable battery of the original, however, we personally found that the replacement battery of the original was expensive and much more difficult to swap out than replaceable batteries in other units. To us, it feels much easier to take advantage of the included 2-year warranty for maintenance rather than to buy and try to replace the removable battery in the original Switch. As well, we believe that the performance that this new internal battery provides heavily outweighs having the option to replace the battery.

Other changes and noteable features of the Switch 2

The Switch 2 vaporizer features 3 dynamic heating modes including ascending, steady, and descending. The ascending heating mode starts at the temperature of your choice and raises the temperature throughout the session. The steady mode starts at the temperature of your choice and maintains that temperature throughout the session. The descending temperature mode will start at the temperature of your choice and will get cooler throughout the session. Each option has a different effect on flavor and vapor production and we recommend trying each one to see which one you like best.

Not only does the Switch 2 have this variety of heating modes and options, but it also features the patented IR senor technology.  Put simply, there is a sensor within the vaporizer which measures the current temperature and adjusts that temperature so that any temperature fluctuations that might occur, including taking draws from the device, are counteracted. The temperature and heat mode that you choose will stay consistent throughout the session. This not only improves the experience, flavor and vapor production, but also helps to conserve material.

The Switch 2 features customizability through the Bluetooth application as well, and we love how many different options there are to personalize the experience with this vaporizer. Set up a session timer from 10 to 90 seconds, choose temperatures between 250-650 degrees Fahrenheit, select one of the heating modes we discussed above, check the battery life, adjust the auto-shutoff timer to up to one hour, share sessions with friends, and even customize the light modes on the device.

If you’re not too keen on using the Bluetooth application like we are, that’s okay too! The Switch 2 vaporizer also features a redesign for controlling the device directly. The original Switch vaporizer featured a singular button for powering the device on or off or for selecting the temperature. This required a certain number of button presses to navigate the menu. The Switch 2 vaporizer now features a more intuitive control panel with a button for turning the device on or off, a home button, a temperature up button, and a temperature down button. This makes using the device directly, without the app, even easier.

Is the Sapphire insert worth it?

The Dr. Dabber Switch 2 Sapphire Insert is made from actual sapphire, which sounds fancy, but it’s even more ingenious than you might expect. Sapphire has incredible heat retention and is chemically inert. What this means is that the sapphire insert retains heat for much longer which results in a more consistent vaporization of materials, and a more even distribution of heat across the surface of the insert for a much smoother draw. This also means that the sapphire will in no way alter the flavor profile of materials for an extremely pure flavor. As well, sapphire is more resistant to build-up than other materials which makes it much easier to clean.

The Switch 2 vaporizer’s sapphire insert is more expensive than the quartz insert, which comes included with the vaporizer. However, this is understandable with the consideration that there is a lot more that goes into manufacturing these inserts than the standard quartz ones. After trying them, however, we do believe that the price difference is worth it for the performance. That’s not to say that the quartz insert performance is lacking, by any means. The Switch 2’s performance is phenomenal regardless of the insert that is used, but rather, we find that pairing the Switch 2 vaporizer with a sapphire insert does provide a uniquely luxurious experience that is worth the cost.

What we think about the Dr. Dabber Switch 2

We love this desktop vaporizer. Both the Dr. Dabber Switch original and The Dr. Dabber Switch 2 are phenomenal options for powerhouse concentrate vaporizers. Which one is the best option for you may come down to personal preferences, but in our opinion, the Switch 2 is an overall improvement on the original design, winning more points for the weight distribution, dynamic heating options, intuitive interface, larger inserts, and overall technical performance. It is our belief that Dr. Dabber nailed the recipe for creating an incredibly robust desktop vaporizer for intense solo sessions or social sessions, and that it’s a fantastic fit for those who prefer that kind of intensity and reliability.