We think the answer is Yes.
In fact, in addition to a new product line – I expect to see the company “Pax Labs” sold or acquired via M&A in the next 3-5 years. I will go into that in another article later. For now, here is a big list of reasons why I think we will see a new Pax (4?) portable vaporizer, a new Pax Era for extracts, and more in a new lineup in 2022…
Firstly, the next iteration from Pax Labs may not end up being named the “PAX 4”. Pax Labs is critically eager always to be compared to the “Apple of Vaporizers”. They use the slogan in nearly all PR they release and mimic the packaging and unboxing experience. Where they fall short in that comparison is the actual technology and quality of internal materials, but that is another subject.
If Pax Labs were to follow recent Apple naming conventions, we might see a PAX +, Pax Plus, Pax Mini, Pax Pro, or Pax Pro Max. It all depends on the direction the company takes with the decisions regarding the new features, size, and materials.
Price Drops on all Pax Vaporizer Products
On August 5, 2022, Pax Labs’ official Instagram released a couple of teasers or “soft leaks”.
“Good news: We’ve got some exciting things in store for Fall 2022! Mildly bad news: We’re not ready to spill the seeds just yet.
Good news, again: To make up for the wait, we’re lowering the prices on ALL PAX 3 & 2 devices in the US!”
Officially, for the first time you can now buy a PAX 3 Basic Kit for $160, and a Pax 3 Complete Kit for $200. Pax 2 (which we still think is a fantastic device) is now only $120. These prices were previously only possible by purchasing from other trusted official retailers and by using Pax Discount Codes (which always have, and always will present better than official prices). You can find links to our Pax 2 Review, and Pax 3 review for more information on our opinions of these 2 cannabis vaporizers. At these new low prices, we will certainly have to give them both a rating boost.
Pax Labs officially dropping the prices this much tells us a few things.
- They are experiencing a lag and decline in overall sales volume
- Pax is pricing its existing product lineup more competitively (inline) with other retailers’ prices of their products as well as competitor products in the market.
Pax Labs has long been a rigid retailer in protecting their MAP (minimum advertised price) – and this official MSRP change is an obvious retail signal – something new is coming, and we think it is at a minimum PAX4. Likely also a new Pax Era device as well.
New PAX distribution partnerships across North America
On August 1, 2022, Pax Announced they were dropping their long-time “king of the hill” distribution partner Greenlane, and entering into new agreements with 5 different and new PAX distributors. All 5 of these have smaller footprints, resources, and trained staff.
“We are thrilled to expand our distribution network to better support the growing consumer demand for our products across North America,” stated Steven Jung, COO, PAX Labs. “These wholesale partners were strategically selected based on their extensive reach in both established and new PAX markets, and will enable us to bring our industry-leading devices and the best cannabis experience to more people.”
Our opinions on the distribution move aside, this is a big retail signal. Pax 4 is coming in 2022, and they are setting up a new system to staff, distribute, shelf, sell, and provide customer support.
Pax Labs’ $420 million dollars in equity financing needs answers
Over 3 years ago, PAX raised a record-setting $420 million USD dollars in equity financing. This included both new and existing institutional investors, including New York-based Tiger Global Management and San Francisco-based Tao Capital Partners.
“This financing round allows us to invest in new products and new markets, including international growth in markets like Canada and exploring opportunities in hemp-based CBD extracts,” Pax CEO Bharat Vasan said in a news release.
Just 3 months after that statement, and massive equity financing – PAX CEO Bharat Vasan was fired.
And since then – Over the past 3 years, we have not seen any new updates to the flagship PAX vaporizers. This undoubtedly has the investors anxious to see a return on that enormous investment. The brand desperately needs fresh new retail capital coming in now. Not just to stay competitive in handheld portable herbal vaporizers, but to appease the financial investors that have yet to see the momentum they had hoped for in the sector.
I expect to see a Pax 4 vaporizer announced (with the dreaded pre-order scheme) in early November 2022. And a full Pax 4 launch in Dec 2022 (after Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales). The company will want a big influx of sales for the next couple of years at full retail pricing $250+.
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas Holiday shopping season are coming.
Do Pax products ever go on sale? The answer is yes – but almost exclusively during the holiday shopping seasons, (4/20 7/10 EOY) and the big one is coming quickly. We expect to see MSRP on all current/retiring PAX products drop another 20% for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales events.
Pax is going to want to replace and sell the existing inventory of legacy PAX 2 / PAX 3 products that are currently taking up shelf space in shops and wholesale distribution in order to make staff and shelf space available from top to bottom ready for the about-to-be revealed PAX 4 vaporizer.
A new Pax Era design
For nearly all of the same reasons as I have outlined above, I also fully expect to see a new Pax Era device announced at the same time before the end of 2022.
In February of 2022, Pax revealed the new “Fresh Pressed Live Rosin pods“. These new products are extracted without solvents in hopes of delivering the cleanest concentrate experience. Pitched as the “Raw food” equivalent to cannabis consumption, it is a worthy direction of pursuit. Outside the marketing, those that followed the vape cartridge & popcorn lung epidemic will note that many of the health problems occurred due to the concentrates & extract leaking into the electronic materials of the device itself. COVID-19 only added to worries about respiratory impact, and safety. Any thought leader in this space should consider this a huge opportunity and wake-up call.
In order to continue the PR leadership push into “clean” extract usage, I expect to see an upgraded new Pax Era vaporizer this year. Perhaps with a clean/healthy/whole plant marketing angle including something made partially from recycled materials. Maybe a Pax Era “Earth” 🌎😉.
Now that we have covered a lot of reasons WHY we will see a PAX 4 and a new Pax Era in 2022, Let’s discuss what we would like to see in a Pax 4.
What we hope to see in PAX 4 Vaporizer:
- Better materials should be used in the oven. Take a cue starting with DAVINCI IQ and move away from inexpensive Chinese stainless steel ovens, and use a medical-grade ceramic. It is a better experience and flavor for the user. It may take milliseconds longer to heat, but better build materials have always proved worth it to the end user.
- Better Temperature control. While the Pax 2 and Pax 3 provide you with Low, Medium, and High settings – it is outdated. For those that like to craft their experience better, Temperature control is key. Some people take a few sips and they are done. Others might take a bowl for a journey, or only seek to vaporize medicinal compounds like CBD (at specific low temperatures). Some people just want to set it to 420° and forget it.
- New Games. Cliche yes, but I think some of the most fun in unboxing a new Pax vaporizer has been the easter-egg games hidden in the device and working to unlock them. Such a simple thing adds a touch of whimsy to the purchase that is always welcome.
- Replaceable battery. 😂 I know. It will never happen on a PAX. The industrial design of the product pretty much makes this standard feature found on so many other great devices an impossibility for PAX. It is a real shame. Every power user would love to swap out batteries instead of having to wait for the slow charger to juice up so you can keep going. Buzzkill for sure.
- USB-C charging port. Regarding PAX Battery Buzzkill, the industry demands at minimum a USB-C charging port. The magnetic clip charger was innovative and swag in 2012. But the USB-C era is here, even for Apple products. Unfortunately, users needing to buy new chargers are a cash cow for Pax Labs. I would be shocked if they stopped that income stream of ancillary product sales.
- Better or adjustable airflow. This has long been a gripe among PAX users on Reddit and Vaporizer forums. PAX vaporizers have always been a “tight sipper”.
- Dosing capsules or similar. While the PAX oven design is very easy to load, when out and about using the device socially, stopping to empty and reload the device in your lap is AWKWARD. The ability to preload a dosed capsule or brick to pop in on the go would be a big win for PAX 4. Currently, we rely on 3rd party products for this.
Here is what I do NOT want to see in PAX4:
- I do not want to see any marketing of using PAX 4 for extracts or concentrates. I do not want to see any steel wool “concentrate discs” or anything similar. Vaporizer companies need to stop trying to combine these 2 things. Want extracts in a Pax product? Get a Pax Era. Using an herbal vaporizer for concentrates is a sticky mess that just leaves everyone and everything underwhelmed and disappointed.
Here is a list of what I believe may actually be announced in a Pax 4 vaporizer.
- New PAX 4 colors. Vaporizers as social accessories and IDs work. New colors and finishes should be step one to identifying a PAX 4.
- Slightly updated shape or hand feel. This may be a different external material, different dimensions, shapes, or both.
- Higher mAh battery. Or some iteration of hardware optimization of the 18650 batteries that are currently used in PAX herbal vaporizers. Cheap, easy “upgrade”.
- Updated app. The current app is over 2 years old and not well-liked.
- Bundle kits. Options such as – Bundled with the new Pax Era, or Bundled with accessories and apparel. It’s an inexpensive way to increase margins.
- Partially recycled materials. This is a fantastic marketing angle for a thought leader in cannabis tech out of San Francisco. Even if it is mostly hype, PAX PR LOVES HYPE.
When do you think the PAX 4 and new Pax Era will launch?
What features do you want to see?
What do you hope they avoid?
I’d love to hear your input. What have I forgotten or got wrong?
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Brus Sowe
I still prefer the PAX 2 over the PAX 3. I hope a new PAX 4 has USB-C most of all.
Herbie Sippcott
I would like to see Bluetooth and a find my Pax app. Maybe one that could initiate a beep from the Pax, using the app on a phone. Other controls should also be possible
MC
This is a fantastic feature idea. There have been a couple of times I have been unable to find my Black Pax 3. They’d also be first to market with this feature.