I have a pax3 that is starting to show it's age. The battery is not holding it's charge that well and I'm sure the tech has improved a lot over the years. I was looking at a crafty or mighty+ but wanted to see if there was something else comparable for a little cheaper. I would like to keep it under 300, but can spend some more if it's worth it.
What kind of user would you consider yourself? Do you prefer longer sessions or quick extractions?
Portables have come a long way and there are multiple types of heating methodology. Some are faster or slower than others but offer smoother hits or larger chambers, etc.
If you're a discord user there's the EntExchange, if nothing else that might get you started on what's common- https://discord.com/invite/jtyKTaDZ
Definitely smoother hits. Most of the time I just use it once a day before bed and would rather it be a calming experience instead of something high temp.
Portable would be best or something that was pretty small. Currently we don't have a lot of space available. Something that could be kept in an end table drawer and easy to set up/ put away
It sounds like you could use just about any modern portable and be satisfied.
I see you mentioned POTV devices in some other replies. Those are generally known to punch above their price point, offering excellent price to performance options. The Lobo is basically a value priced Crafty/Mighty+, with some options that even the name brand doesn't offer, like swappable batteries. I think you'd be quite happy with one.
If you'd rather go for more "premium" options the Crafty+ would also be a great choice, but some people find S&B heating to cause a tickle in the throat (the "Bickel tickle") they don't like. The Firewood and Angus lines are also well regarded and widely used.