For someone who just wants to dip a toe in the water first, mini rosin presses present a good starting point. These presses are the cheapest on the market, so a considerable investment isn’t required at all. There are a few to choose from: Dulytek DM800, Rosin Tech Go 2, and Ju1ceBox Handheld press.

Let’s first define a mini press. For us, it is a press that is lightweight (10 lbs or less) and compact in size. From a technical perspective, all these presses are manually operated, meaning there is no pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism incorporated, saving space and minimizing size. In order to use these, expect to apply some amount of manual force when operating these machines..

Let’s start with Ju1ceBox handheld rosin press.

As you can see, it is essentially a small hand clamp with teeny tiny heating plates and a pre-set temperature that cannot be adjusted. Although the manufacturer claims that you can squeeze with 300 lbs pressure, take it with a grain of salt. The suggested amount to press is up to 2 grams, but we wouldn’t recommend pressing more than one gram at a time with this device. If you do purchase it, we suggest pressing kief instead of flower and not using filter bags at all. Overall, this is a truly small press, one that can fit in a large pocket, but, performance wise, it is close to a hair straightener. The technical specs for the Ju1cebox handheld press:

Pressure	300 lbs
Plate size	1 x 1.5 inch
Temperature	250 °F
Capacity	up to 2 grams
Price	$99.99
Reviews	3.71 out of 5 (35 total)
Weight	1.25 lb

The second press on the list is Rosin Tech’s Go 2, the updated version of the original Go model, that can generate up to 700 lb of pressure and features 2 by 2.25 inch heating plates. The press has an interesting mechanical solution for closing the plates by rotating a steel cylinder with an off center axis.

The machine is equipped with a digital controller that allows you to adjust temperature and set up the timer. This device weighs around 10 pounds and is compact enough for travel. Although the manufacturer states that the press is stable, with the amount of force required to close the plates, the press keeps moving, and you have to hold it in place when opening or closing. With a price tag of $299, it is a good starting point press, but we think you can get a better deal.

Pressure	700 lbs
Plate size	2 x 2.25 inch
Temperature	up to 415 °F
Capacity	up to 2 grams
Price	$299.00
Reviews	5 out of 5 (5 total)
Weight	9.5 lbs

Now, let’s examine the Dulytek DM800 model. We believe this is the winner since it is more powerful than the Go 2 (you can press more at once), has larger plates (cmon, you need that surface!), weighs the same as the Go 2 but has more stability with its wider base. It is equipped with a clean looking digital controls that allow you to change temperature for both plates, set up your timer and temperature scale.

Despite the previous version of this press lacking consistency in plate alignment, this has now been rectified, and the plates perfectly align, allowing for high powered pressing at a unbeatable price point. Overall, considering all factors, the DM800 blows its competition out of the water.

Pressure	1500 lbs
Plate size	2.5 x 3 inch
Temperature	up to 356 °F
Capacity	up to 3 grams
Price	$189.00
Reviews	4.8 out of 5 (45 total)
Weight	10 lbs

Here is the final comparison of three compact presses currently available on the market:

Model	Ju1ceBox Handheld	Rosin Tech Go 2	Dulytek DM800
Pressure	300 lbs	700 lbs	1500 lbs
Plate size	1 x 1.5 inch	2 x 2.25 inch	2.5 x 3 inch
Temperature	250 °F	up to 415 °F	up to 356 °F
Capacity	up to 2 grams	up to 2 grams	up to 3 grams
Price	$99.99	$299	$189.00
Reviews	3.71 out of 5 (35 total)	5 out of 5 (5 total)	4.8 out of 5 (45 total)
Weight	1.25 lb	9.5 lbs	10 lbs