Worth saying up front: these aren't really competing for the same buyer. The Proxy is a modular, pocket-scale concentrate device at $250. The EQ is a $549 all-quartz system built around flavor and session control. If you're weighing them against each other, you're probably deciding what kind of device you want more than which device is better.
Here's the honest breakdown.
Spec Comparison
| DaVinci EQ (Jacuzzi Collection) | Puffco Proxy (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 | $250 |
| Chamber material | Quartz crucible, all-quartz vapor path | Ceramic 3D Chamber |
| Heating | Replaceable quartz heater | 3D Chamber, bottom + side heating |
| Controls | Full-color on-device touchscreen | Single button, 4 LED presets |
| App required? | No — every feature on-device | Puffco Connect app for full control |
| Temperature | 450–650°F precision + 4 Smart Paths | 4 presets (Low/Med/High/Peak) + Boost Mode |
| Battery | Dual 3000mAh, ~50 hits/charge | 1,680mAh, ~15 dabs/charge |
| Charge time | ~2–3 hrs, passthrough | ~2 hrs, passthrough |
| Water filtration | 60ml Jacuzzi Bubbler | Modular glass (varies by piece) |
| Form factor | 114 × 98 × 56mm, 520g | Compact modular base + glass |
| Replaceable parts | Crucible and heater both swappable | Chamber swappable |
The Battery Gap
This is the single biggest practical difference between the two devices, and it's not close.
Two Different Device Classes
Plotted against each other, the trade becomes obvious — the Proxy buys portability with capacity, and the EQ does the reverse.
Where the Proxy Wins
Price and portability, clearly. At $250 it's well under half the EQ, and it's genuinely pocketable in a way the EQ isn't. The EQ travels — it ships with a smell-resistant case — but it's a 520g device you set down and use, not one you slip into a jacket.
The glass ecosystem. This is the Proxy's real differentiator and it's a strong one. The modular base pairs with a wide range of glass, and Puffco kept the 2026 refresh backward-compatible with all existing Proxy glass. Nothing in the EQ line offers that. (Note: the chamber is not cross-compatible between old and new Proxy — only the glass.)
Discretion. Small, quiet, quick. The EQ is not a discreet device.
Waterless flexibility. Puffco's mid-2026 CORE accessory lets the Proxy run dry, inhaling directly from the chamber. The EQ is built around water filtration.
Where the EQ Wins
Battery, by a wide margin. Roughly 50 hits per charge on dual 3000mAh cells versus about 15 dabs on the Proxy's 1,680mAh. If you dab more than a couple of times a day, the Proxy is a device you charge constantly and the EQ isn't.
Chamber material. The Proxy's 3D Chamber is ceramic. Ceramic heats fast and evenly — the 3D design heating both walls and bottom is genuinely good engineering — but ceramic is porous, so it accumulates residue and develops a background flavor signature over time. The EQ's quartz path doesn't. This is the core trade.
Temperature granularity. The EQ gives you any temperature from 450–650°F plus four retunable Smart Paths. The Proxy gives four presets plus Boost Mode, with finer control available through the app.
On-device control, no phone. The Proxy's four presets work standalone, but full control — session time, vapor intensity, custom temps, lighting — lives in the Puffco Connect app. The EQ puts all of it on a full-color touchscreen with no app or Wi-Fi.
Water volume. 60ml is a lot of water contact. Proxy cooling depends on which glass you pair it with.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Proxy if you want portability and discretion first, you like the idea of swapping glass, you dab in shorter sessions, and $250 versus $549 is the deciding factor.
Buy the EQ if you're a daily concentrate user who's tired of charging, flavor neutrality over hundreds of sessions is what you're paying for, and you want continuous temperature control on the device itself rather than through a phone.
If you're specifically weighing the EQ against Puffco's flagship rather than the Proxy, see our EQ vs Puffco Peak Pro comparison — that's the closer fight on price and positioning.
Related Reading
- Best E-Rig by Budget 2026: Which Electric Dab Rig Is Actually Worth It?
- DaVinci EQ vs Focus V Carta Sport: Which E-Rig Fits You?
- Best E-Rig for Flavor: Why Quartz Beats Ceramic
- How to Clean an E-Rig (and Prevent Chazzing)
FAQ
Is the Proxy an e-rig or a dab pen?
It sits between the two — a modular concentrate device with a proper heated chamber and glass filtration, but built at a scale closer to a pen than a desktop rig. Reviewers describe it both ways.
Why is the battery gap so large?
The Proxy's compact form factor limits cell capacity to 1,680mAh. The EQ carries two 3000mAh cells and is a much larger device. Running either at higher temperatures reduces the per-charge count further.
Can I use EQ glass on a Proxy, or vice versa?
No — completely separate ecosystems and connections.
Does the Proxy need the app?
Not for basic use; the four LED presets work standalone. Custom temperatures, session timing, vapor intensity, and lighting require the Puffco Connect app. The EQ requires no app for any feature.
Which is easier to clean?
Both benefit from the same habit: wipe the chamber while warm after each session. Puffco specifies 90%+ isopropyl alcohol only. The EQ's crucible and heater are individually replaceable when they reach end of life. See our e-rig cleaning guide.