Update: The GPEN Elite 2 is out now, and they have discontinued the original Elite. Check out my GPEN Elite 2 vaporizer review for more info.
I also have an up-to-date dry herb vaporizer buying guide. Hit me up with any questions
Unlike all my other G Pen units up to this point, the G Pen Elite vaporizer is the first ORIGINAL product to come out of Grenco Science and I have to admit it is better than I was expecting.
The first feature I like about the Elite is the LED display with a fully adjustable temperature spectrum. It’s precise, easy to read, and easy to operate.
The next feature that stands out is the quick heat up time. We’re talking 20-30 seconds to reach 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The short vapor path definitely creates some warmer vapor and the mouthpiece gets pretty warm as well.
But for the size and features, the new G-Pen Elite is very competitive next to models like the CFX, Arizer Air, and the Summit+.
The G Pen Elite is currently rated 8.9/10 due to its abundant features at a cheap price. You can pick the G Pen Elite up directly from Grenco Science for around 80 bucks. Check out my full G Pen Elite review below.
Table of Contents
G-Pen Elite Design and Accessories
The Elite fits nicely in the hands, the LED screen is easy to read, and the unit is extremely light. With the G Pen Elite, you also get 1 G Grinder Card, 1 G Pen tool, 1 Cleaning Brush, and 1 USB charging cable.
Size and Portability
The G Pen Elite comes in at about 88 grams, stands about 4 1/2 inches tall, 1 ½ inch wide, and about an inch deep. It’s not a perfect circle which is nice because it adds some grooves to hold on to the unit better.
Overall I would say the Elite is one of the smallest portable vaporizers currently on the market, right up there with the Pax Mini (read review). Its small size makes it super easy to pocket or stash in a small purse/handbag.
The quick heat-up time makes for quick sessions, and the unit is designed to heat up faster and cool down faster to help conserve herbs.
I recommend taking a few more draws from the unit after you turn it off to help cool down the unit/herbs even further before you throw it back in your pocket.
Now, this vape does smell if you leave the herbs in the chamber like other conduction units with good-sized bowls, but it’s not bad if you empty the chamber after.
Heating
The Elite uses a 360-degree ceramic heating element that is able to provide very quick and even heating throughout the entire chamber. Grenco Science claims that the unit is convection but it’s most definitely conduction with a minor amount of convection going on.
The entire ceramic chamber is heated so it will be heating the herbs from all sides while the herb is in constant contact with the heat. Now, this isn’t a terrible thing, but the vapor quality does suffer from it.
Elite Temperature Info
The Elite uses a full temp spectrum and can easily be changed/adjusted with an on vape LED display and two buttons just to the right of the screen.
- The buttons work nicely and don’t feel cheap.
- The LED display is very sharp with no blemishes or pixel issues.
The full temp spectrum runs from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 428F (93C – 220C) I believe they are also coming out with a model similar to the Elite but made exclusively for concentrates. So be on the lookout for that and I will try to get my hands on one as soon as possible.
The unit seems to run a little hot especially with the short vapor path, so my preferred temps are around 350-375, and then bump it up a bit more towards the end of the session.
Vapor Path
The vapor path is extremely short on the Elite, and that’s the biggest downfall of the unit. That and the fact that the Elite will need a couple of rounds of burn-offs* to get rid of the new vape manufacturer’s taste/smell.
That’s the big thing I like about units like the Pax, IQ, or the Crafty+/Mighty+. You never have to do burn-offs with these units to get a fully clean/neutral taste before use. While this is a bit of a pain, it’s not the end of the world and the smell/taste associated with the manufacturing process will go away quickly.
*Burn-offs: Heating the unit up while empty and puffing on it like a cigar, so you are drawing air through the unit but not inhaling it.
Chamber Size
So the G Pen Elite chamber is large. We’re talking up to .4 grams can be loaded into the Elite with an average grind and I was able to get about .5 grams in with the MFLB Finishing Grinder.
You definitely don’t need to put that much in the chamber for every session and I’ve found that the Elite does surprisingly well with varying load sizes. You can load as little as .1 grams and still get a good even vape of your herbs without having to stir or mix.
How-To Use
Overall pretty simple, just click the power button 5 times to turn it on (5 times again to turn it off). Once the unit is powered on, it will show you the default temp that you have it set to. The Elite will remember your last setting.
The unit does NOT automatically begin heating on power-up so just hold down the power button for a second to start the heater. You can change temps on the fly by pressing the two buttons (up or down) to the right of the display.
The Elite does have an Auto-Shutoff timer which will automatically shut the unit off after 40 seconds if you don’t turn the heater on and the unit will completely shut off after 5 minutes from the initial heating start. Just press the power button 5 times to turn it back on if the unit shuts off on you.
Loading Techniques
After quite a bit of testing, the G pen Elite seems to work pretty well with all sorts of packing techniques and dry herb types. My preferred method would be to use the MFLB Finishing Grinder, load the chamber fairly full and pack it down a bit. Rip the entire thing while watching the new season of Trailer Park Boys and if you prefer to use smaller amounts you can.
You can also turn the unit off mid-session and finish the bowl later. But like other conduction units, it is more efficient and tastes better when you finish the session in one sitting. The vapor quality definitely diminishes as the herb cools down/sits in the chamber.
The Elite is a bit cumbersome to load on the go but just lightly tapping on the side gets the herb to drop down into the chamber. Packing down isn’t needed but you will get a bit denser vapor with a light to medium pack.
Battery life and Charging Info
So far I’m pretty impressed with the battery life, especially for the size. I can generally get between 3-6 fully packed chambers depending on what temps I use and how long I nurse the bowl.
The Elite is charged via USB, the batteries are NOT replaceable, and on average the G Pen Elite takes about 2-3 hours to fully charge a completely dead battery. This also depends on where you charge it (Use a 2amp charging block or external battery for fastest charging).
Cleaning and Maintenance
The cleaning with the Elite has been pretty simple with the screen in the mouthpiece taking the most time/attention. So far it hasn’t been an issue and the good news is that the silicone cover over the mouthpiece is removable. You can just drop the mouthpiece in some ISO for a while then rinse it out with some warm water. I will continue to test out the mouthpiece screen and report back if I have any issues, but so far so good.
I know that Grenco Science isn’t exactly known for the quality in their (rebranded) products. I have the other Grenco Dry herb products like the G Pro (which is actually a titan-1) and I didn’t care for any of them. Due to this I was really not expecting much from the Elite, but I’m impressed. It is nice they have FINALLY created a unique portable vaporizer that I can recommend.
Warranty Info
The G Pen Elite comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty which is below market average but nothing so far has indicated it won’t stay reliable.
G Pen Elite Comparisons
The $119 price of the Elite puts it in a competitive market. The big thing that the Elite has above most of the portables in this price range is the on vape LED display and full temp spectrum. Most of the other vapes have a few set heat settings to change from but you don’t have complete control.
Pax Mini
The Elite is smaller, lighter, and has more features. You will only get 4 temperatures, no LED display, and longer heat up with the Pax 2. You will have to clean the Elite less often, and it takes less time to clean.
The Pax Mini is also priced a bit higher at $125. However, the Pax Mini is one of the most durable and reliable portable vaporizers that I’ve ever used. It has a proven track record and backed by a good warranty.
The vapor quality is also much better with the Pax Mini. So even though the Pax 2 is $30 more, I think it’s definitely worth it. Check out my Pax Mini review for more info.
Boundless CF
The Boundless CF Vaporizer is larger than the Elite, and you lose the fully adjustable temperature control and you also lose the digital display, however, you gain better-tasting vapor that is both cooler and more dense/potent.
You also gain a slightly faster heat-up time and longer overall battery life. More info in my Boundless CF vaporizer review.
XMAX Starry 4
I like using the Pax Mini and the CF more than the Xmax POTV Starry 4, but the Starry 4 comes in at only $99 bucks, and it’s feature-packed. You get fully adjustable temps, you get replaceable batteries, and you get the digital display.
So if you are looking for maximum features at a minimum price you will probably want the Starry 4. Check out my POTV XMAX Starry 4 review for more info.
G Pen Elite Review Summary
Overall the G Pen Elite has surprised me with some solid features and an extremely portable design. The full temp spectrum and LED display are really impressive for the size and price of this device.
I was very skeptical at first. Even emailed the company multiple times to guarantee that this was an original design since they have previously been known for re-branding generic units as their own.
I recommend the G Pen Elite if you are looking for a solid vape but don’t want to break the bank. However, the Pax Mini, CF, and Starry 4 are all worth considering.
The GPEN Elite Thanks for checking out my G Pen Elite review and let me know if you have any questions below in the comments.
