The Zeus Arc is an ultra portable cloud pumping machine that features a 3500 mah battery, a gold heat path, and a built-in tool. The Utillian 722 is a convection based vapour ripping portable device with refined airflow, 30 second heat up time, and tasty vapour. These two devices are both in my go to roster and I recommend them all the time. Ive been getting the question a lot lately of which one is better. So were going to dive in and tackle the differences and help you make an informed decision!
The Utillian 722 has a wide open airflow and convection heating – two things that I absolutely love in a vapourizer. Both of these things contribute to excellent, tasty, free flowing vapour and a seriously unbelievable amount of clouds – okay fine, its believable, but its a lot. The 722 has 4 temperature settings that help you customize the type of session you want. The bottom two are great for flavour and the top two are excellent for cloud production. Plus, that fifth temperature, the top temperature of 225C, helps you get the most extraction out of your herbs.
The Zeus Arc has an all gold vapour path and offers a unique conduction flavour profile that has the ability to melt your face off. Your herbs are cooked evenly, with a stir helping to make sure youve extracted fully. The airflow is wide open, and if youd like to open it up even further, you can remove the flow sink screen at the bottom of the chamber. But right away at the lowest temperature, youre producing a decent amount of visible vapour. The heatsink in the mouthpiece allows the vapour path to be as long as possible and cools the vapour down really well before it hits your lips – even at the highest temperature, the hits are smooth. Another thing the Zeus Arc gets props for is the ability to use the Utillian bubbler with the waterpipe adapter for water filtration which even the U722 cant do.
This ones tough, I think both excel in their category – Im going to call it a tie.
Manufacturing Quality
The build quality of the Arc is impeccable, with a hard coat anodized aluminum shell and its sleek, black finish it certainly looks pretty and can withstand a drop or two. It feels nice in the hand and fits completely into a closed fist. The built in stir tool is a nice touch, and even more awesome in my opinion is the built-in scoop in the top of the device that makes loading super easy. The all gold vapour path is nothing to scoff at either – the taste is great and the fact that they managed to make the vapour path so long for cool hits cant be discounted.
The Utillian 722 is also manufactured well, its sprayed aluminum finish on the gunmetal grey model (my favourite) looks sleek and again can stand up to drops. The convection heating chamber is well built, and the whole thing is stylish. The mouthpiece, as mentioned before, is wide open and the magnetic mouthpiece makes loading super easy. I also like that Utillian has clearly thought about cleaning, with the fact that you really only have to worry about the screen in the mouthpiece.
Both devices are well built, charge via a microUSB port at the bottom, and can stand up to a couple drops. Im gonna say this one is a tie as well.
Ease of Use
Both devices are simple to use, with one button for your convenience. The Arc features a built in stir tool and that loading top for easy loading, but thats matched by the Utillian 722s magnetic mouthpiece.
The Arc is a little harder to clean, but Zeus has included all the tools you need to clean it in the box. But either way, with both devices, you can take them right out of the box and use them without having to spend too much time reading the instruction manual.
This one is also a tie.
Portability
The Utillian 722 is a portable device. It fits in your hand, has a sturdy shell, and the 2300 mah battery will last you a night out or two. It fits into a pocket or bag, and with that swivel mouthpiece you wont worry about breaking it any time soon.
The Zeus Arc is among the best in the portable category, with a 3500 mah battery, a tiny profile that fits in your hand easily, and again, Im going to mention the built-in stir tool and easy loading top that make repacking your device on the go a breezy experience.
The Arc edges out the 722 in this category.
Battery Life
The Arc features a 3500mah battery in case you havent heard me say it enough. It will last you up to 90 minutes of continuous use, which realistically can last you more than a day even if youre hauling down your bowls like Ice Road Truckers haul whatever it is they haul to wherever it is they go – Ive never watched the show.
The Utillian 722 features a respectable 2300mah battery that will last you 60 minutes of continuous use – not bad at all, but certainly outmatched by the Arcs.
This one goes to the Arc.
Temperature Flexibility
The Arc has 3 temperature settings – right out of the box they are 205, 215, and 225, which are excellent for extraction.
You can also customize your settings with the desktop app for the Arc – my personal favourite is the Balanced with Iceborn version, which changes the temperatures to 185, 205 and 225 – you still have that top temperature for full extraction, but the flavour off the lowest temperature is even better.
The Utillian 722 has 4 preset temperatures, 180, 190, 200, 210C which provide an excellent spread for flavour and cloud production. The top temperature of 225C can be accessed by holding the button down just to squeeze every last drop out of your bowl.
I think this ones a tie as well.
SHOWDOWN
So there you have it – the Zeus Arc and Utillian 722 are pretty similar in a broad sense – theyll both give you tasty vapour, they both have the ability to pump out clouds with the best of them, and they are both built very well. The Arc edges out the 722 in 3 categories – portability, discreetness, and battery life, which makes sense.
Id say if you take the majority of your sessions on the go, definitely go for the Arc. If youre mostly an at home user, then it becomes more of a debate. That convection flavour of the Utillian 722 is a plus, but on the flip side the gold vapour path definitely keeps the Arc nice and flavourful as well.
The last thing to consider is the price – the Utillian 722 is about two thirds of the price of the Arc. So youve got a tough decision ahead of you. I hope this helped!
Still can’t make up your mind? Check out our closer and more in-depth Utillian 722 review to see what makes this device tick and know if its the right fit for you!
Also keep in mind that Zeus has launched a new version of the Zeus Arc that includes many QOL updates and more.
Alex is a herb enthusiast, long time vaporizer lover, writer and filmmaker. He is also a board and video game nerd with a penchant for hosting a weekly board game night. Partygoers have been heard saying things like “is anyone else going to show up?” and “I don’t think I can make it next week”. He strives to make people laugh at every opportunity and sees herbs as a helpful tool in doing so.
The reviews and ratings are based on personal and decade-plus of industry experience. Such content is based on the opinion of the Editor/Author. They are solely provided as a basis for research and should be used only as guidance. We encourage thorough research by all visitors to attain the most objective viewpoint before purchasing.