G-Pen Nova Review: A Dab Pen From the Stars

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by Thanush Poulsen

Updated: December 9, 2020

G-Pen Nova desktop

Review Score: 96/100

Price Range:
$34.95-$44.80
Heat Up Time:
20 Seconds
Battery Capacity:
300 mAh
Voltage:
3.2 V, 3.6 V, 4.1 V
Chamber Constraction:
Ceramic
Works with:
  • Wax icon
  • Oil icon

Pros

  • Small, compact form factor
  • Easy-to-use
  • Three voltage levels

Cons

  • Low-quality vapor production
  • Short battery life

Starting Price: $ 34.95

The G-Pen Nova is a dab pen vaporizer from Grenco Science. The Nova is the first all-concentrates vaporizer released by the herb vaporizer company after the success of their Pro and Elite vaporizers. The Nova is a slim, hand-held pen with a removable mouthpiece and a 510-threaded cell that is compatible with 510-tanks and cartridges.

The vaporizer has a soft-to-touch, rubberized silicone exterior that makes for an improved and comfortable grip. The Nova is also an all-concentrates vape pen so it has no herb compatibility. The Nova takes USB charging and gives vapers three different voltage levels to change-up their vaping experience.

A Closer Look at the G-Pen Nova

The G-Pen Nova follows the user-friendly design of other Grenco Science products. The brand eschews things like OLED and precision temperature control (save the Elite, which had a reduced-size OLED and precision temperature control) and opts for single-button function with preset temperatures.

G-Pen Nova desktop

The Nova, which stands at around 100mm (4”) is very portable and pocket-friendly. It is among the most compact pen devices out right now. The Nova has a very simple user-interface as well as it uses only a single firing/control button. The Nova consists of three pieces, namely, the mouthpiece, the atomizer, and the battery.

The battery has a single power button and has 510-threading for compatibility with other tanks or cartridges. There is a USB charging port on the base of the battery for users to recharge the 300mAh internal battery.

The battery has three power levels each marked with a different color:

  • 3.2V (Blue),
  • 3.6V (Green),
  • 4.1V (Red).

Users can also take advantage of the preheat function installed onto the battery. They need only press the button two times to start the preheating process, which works well with solid concentrates. The silicone mouthpiece is removable and has a tiny, ceramic dab stirring/loading tool underneath it.

What’s in the Box?

Buyers of the G-Pen Nova can expect the following in their kits. The unit is easy-to-use and has a little tool built-into its mouthpiece so it has an innovative design.

G Pen Nova kit

  • One x G-Pen Nova
  • One x G-Pen Atomizer
  • One x Micro USB charging cable
  • User manual

The Look and Feel of the Nova

The vaporizer’s design is simple and straightforward. It has only a single operating button and a top-loading chamber that users can easily load with the material.

The entire pen is coated with a silicone surface giving it a sleek, minimalist look while also keeping away the heat transfer. The silicone coating also makes the vape harder to stain or attract dust and is easily cleanable.

G Pen Nova

The all-ceramic heating chamber sits under the mouthpiece, with the entire body being removable from the battery. The battery uses 510-threading and it works well with any compatible tank or cartridge. The cell also has a USB port on its base so users can charge the 300mAh battery.

Vaping Time

With only an internal 300mAh battery, users should not expect a long battery life from the Nova. A single charge might be able to power through an hour or less of continuous vaping sessions. Low to moderate usage could also yield a slightly longer battery life, but not by much, especially if users set the highest possible voltage on the battery.

G Pen Nova

Users can play around with the voltage settings or the preheat mode to find what level offers the best vapor quality, while not sacrificing battery life. With a low battery capacity, however, the Nova can get to vaping again in under an hour of charging from a completely depleted battery.

Power Settings

The Nova carries three voltage settings for different vaping experiences. Choose from either 3.2V, 3.6, 4.1V, which are all marked by different colored LED indicators.

Changing the voltage levels is as easy as pressing the central firing button three times fast, like with other Grenco Science products.

G Pen Nova pod

As it is a concentrates pen, the device does not have a heat-up time. Rather it fires when the power button is pressed or when the appropriate voltage is applied. It does take some time — only a few seconds — to recalibrate if users switch power levels, but it is negligible.

  • For a smoother, less harsh vapor quality, users can set the device for the two lower temperatures.
  • For thick, flavorful hits, however, the highest voltage is more appropriate, even though it will drain the battery quicker.

Using the Nova

The user experience with the Nova should be nothing but straightforward.

  1. The mouthpiece is removable and needs only to be pressed back into place when removed. There is a tiny ceramic loading/stirring/cleaning tool attached to the base of the device that can help with keeping the tank clean and efficient.
  2. With the mouthpiece removed, the atomizer attached and the chamber exposed, users can load material with the tool.
  3. The chamber is not so wide and will not take more than a pea-sized portion of wax or concentrate. Overloading the chamber could clog the mouthpiece and lead to leaking material.
  4. Once the chamber is filled to a user’s satisfaction, they can reattach the mouthpiece, and turn the battery on with five clicks of the button.
  5. They could then either select their heating level by pressing the button three times fast or engage the preheat mode with two fast clicks.

The Nova is an on-demand device so users need to press the firing button to produce vapor.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The trade-off of being a slim, portable, and compact concentrates pen is that things can get real messy, real fast.

G Pen Nova

The loading chamber has a small diameter and even the smallest amount of material will lead to build-up and a clogged vapor path if not properly cleaned or maintained. Users should give the mouthpiece a soak in isopropyl alcohol to get rid of the residue.

The chamber could also use the same treatment but with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to get rid of the reclaim. A burn-off works well: engage the heating element without any material inside and then scraping off the melted wax with the ceramic tool. The ceramic tool might need a good soak in alcohol once in a while as well.

Vape Time

For a durable, on-the-go concentrates pen, the G-Pen Nova performs admirably. The vaporizer pen is very simple to use and its portability is unmatched.

The problems with the device come from its small chamber and constant need for cleaning and maintenance.

The battery also does not last for a long time, but with the quick charging, it is not a huge trade-off.

The device has a soft texture making it comfortable to use and hold, while the surface stays clean from dust, grease, and other residues.

The Competition

PuffCo Plus

The PuffCo Plus is another sleek, compact dab pen with a removable mouthpiece, and a coil-less, all-ceramic chamber. The Plus has a smooth, metal finish with a single operating button on its front as well as a USB charging port on the battery.

PuffCo Plus

Users need to attach a USB charger to the cell to then insert it into a USB port. The battery has a limited capacity similar to the Nova. It also features three voltage levels with the same range, 3.6V to 4.2V. It also features a Sesh mode for a preheat of close to twelve seconds of continuous vaping.

KandyPens Slim

The Slim is a pen device that supports oil and e-liquids. The device pairs a small, plastic 0.5ml tank with a 510-threaded cell. The battery has a capacity of 180mAh, which is much less than the Nova.

KandyPens Slim

The Slim also works on direct voltage so it has no adjustable voltage settings. The coil inside the tank is silica and works well with nicotine salt e-liquids or liquid concentrates. Users can attach a special USB charger to the battery to recharge it.

G-Pen Nova Vaporizer Specifications

Battery: 300 mAh
Heat Up Time: 20 Seconds
Voltage Settings: 3.2 V, 3.6 V, 4.1 V
Heating Chamber Contruction: Ceramic
Charger: USB

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Small, compact form factor
  • Easy-to-use
  • Three voltage levels
  • Soft, ergonomic grip
  • Fast charging time

Cons

  • Low-quality vapor production
  • Short battery life
  • A lot of cleaning and maintenance

G-Pen Nova Review: A Dab Pen That’s Going Places

The G-Pen Nova is a compact, easy-to-use dab wax vaporizer pen for beginners. The pen-style form factor makes it ideal for on-the-go vaping, but users might want something with a little more kick for home-use.

The Nova is not a high-performing device. It has one purpose, which is to vape dabs and concentrates in a compact form.

The design is not unlike many other dab vape pens, with removable mouthpieces and top-loading, all-ceramic chambers. The atomizer does not have a coil, but a flat-ceramic dish that heats up slowly, compared to coil/rod atomizers.

The vapor quality from these types of devices is more for light and casual vapers, but it is still good enough to please even the most experienced vapers.

Have you used the G-Pen Nova? Have you ever used other Grenco Science products? Let us know in the comments section below.

Published: June 27, 2020Updated: December 9, 2020
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Thanush Poulsen

Being a regular Sweden student, I discovered innovative ways of living healthier. And with my very first e-cigarette, I’ve got obsessed with all things digital. So vaping collided my interests in electronics, science, and health. I enjoy bringing people into the world of vaping through my reviews, guides, and best-of lists.


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