Home / Blog / Dab Pen vs. Electric Dab Rig
TL;DR
A dab pen vaporizes cannabis concentrates using a battery-powered coil — compact, portable, and straightforward. An electric dab rig does the same thing with better temperature control and a more consistent, flavorful hit. If you want a pocketable device for on-the-go use, a dab pen works. If you're at home and want the best flavor from your concentrates, an electric dab rig — like the O.pen Sesh — is the better choice. Here's how they compare.
A dab pen (also called a wax pen) is a portable, battery-powered vaporizer designed specifically for cannabis concentrates. Instead of a pre-filled cartridge, you load a small amount of concentrate — wax, shatter, crumble, or budder — directly onto a heated coil or ceramic atomizer. When you press the button, the coil heats up, vaporizes the concentrate, and you inhale through the mouthpiece.
Dab pens are slim, discreet, and typically run between $20–$80. They're designed for simplicity and portability — one device, one task, no water, no setup. The tradeoff is limited temperature control and no filtration, which can result in harsher, hotter vapor compared to a full rig setup.
The O.pen Sesh with its modular attachments — including a 510-thread adapter for use with standard vape cartridges.
An electric dab rig (e-rig) replaces the butane torch and glass rig of traditional dabbing with a self-contained, battery-powered device. The key difference over a dab pen: an e-rig includes a glass chamber (sometimes with water) that cools and filters the vapor before it reaches you — delivering smoother, more flavorful hits than a standard pen.
The O.pen Sesh is a 510-thread compatible e-rig that takes this further: in addition to concentrates, it accepts standard 510-thread cannabis cartridges via an included adapter, making it one of the most versatile devices in its category. Precise temperature control means you can run low-temp sessions for full terpene flavor, or higher temps for bigger vapor production.
The right choice depends on where and how you use it. Here's how the two formats compare across the factors that matter most:
The answer comes down to two things: where you use it and how much the quality of your hit matters to you.
You want something pocketable for on-the-go use. You primarily use wax or shatter. You want a lower upfront cost. Discretion and portability are the priority.
You're mostly at home and want the best experience from your concentrates. You use live resin or rosin. You want filtration, precise temp control, and a device that also handles 510-thread cartridges.
One thing worth noting: the O.pen Sesh bridges both use cases. Its 510-thread adapter means it works as both a concentrate rig and a standard vape pen battery — so you're not locked into one format. If you want one device that handles both THC cartridges from a licensed dispensary and wax or rosin sessions at home, the Sesh is the only device in this lineup that does both.
For cartridge-only use, explore O.pen's full range of 510-thread batteries — from the entry-level 1.0 Auto-Draw to the variable voltage 2.0.
Precise temperature control. Glass filtration. 510-thread compatible. Backed by a lifetime warranty.
Shop the O.pen Sesh →A dab pen is a portable, battery-powered vaporizer for cannabis concentrates like wax, shatter, and crumble. It uses a heated coil or ceramic atomizer to vaporize the concentrate. Dab pens are compact, affordable, and designed for on-the-go use.
None — they're the same thing. "Dab pen" and "wax pen" are used interchangeably to describe a portable battery-powered vaporizer for cannabis concentrates. Both terms refer to devices that vaporize wax, shatter, or similar extracts using a heated coil or ceramic atomizer.
An electric dab rig (e-rig) is a battery-powered vaporizer for concentrates that includes a glass chamber for filtration and cooling. Unlike a dab pen, an e-rig delivers smoother, more flavorful vapor and typically offers precise temperature control. The O.pen Sesh is an e-rig that also accepts 510-thread cannabis cartridges.
For home sessions and concentrate quality, yes. An electric dab rig delivers better temperature control, cooler vapor through the glass chamber, and more consistent results — especially with premium extracts like live resin or rosin. A dab pen wins on portability and price. If you're mostly at home and care about flavor, the e-rig is the better choice.
Yes. The O.pen Sesh includes a 510-thread adapter, making it compatible with standard 510-thread cannabis cartridges from any licensed dispensary — in addition to loose concentrates. This makes it one of the most versatile devices in the category.
Most dab pens and e-rigs work with wax, shatter, crumble, and rosin. Premium e-rigs with precise temperature control — like the O.pen Sesh — are particularly well-suited for live resin and rosin, where low-temp sessions preserve delicate terpene flavor.
over $50
for non-working 510-batteries
limited lifetime warranty
