Cartisan Inspector Review: Sherlock-Style 510 Battery with LCD Tech

Overview

Most 510 batteries look the same. Sleek pen shape, basic LED indicator, maybe three voltage settings. The Cartisan Inspector throws that playbook out. This Sherlock-style pipe battery looks like something a Victorian detective would use to contemplate a case. Except it's packed with an LCD display, puff counter, and the widest voltage range I've seen on a cartridge battery.

At $45, it slots in between budget pen batteries and premium competitors like the Vessel Pipe. And it offers more features than both. The question isn't whether it's unique. The question is whether those tech features actually improve the vaping experience.

After 10 days of testing, I found the Inspector to be a contradiction. It's loaded with useful features but weighed down (literally) by practical compromises that keep it from being an everyday carry.

Design & Build Quality

The Inspector's Sherlock pipe silhouette sets it apart from everything else in the 510 battery market. The curved body flows into an extended stem, creating a profile you can spot from across the room. Cartisan leans into the detective theme with the naming, and the design backs it up.

Form Factor

At 5.3 inches long with a 3.4-inch height and 1.58-inch width, the Inspector demands attention. You won't forget you're holding it. The curved shape fits naturally in your palm, and your index finger lands on the side button without searching for it. The stem angle positions the mouthpiece comfortably. No awkward head tilts.

Materials and Construction

Here's where expectations meet reality. The Inspector's body is plastic, not metal. That affects both the feel and how durable it seems. The finish is smooth with a soft-touch coating that resists fingerprints, but it doesn't have that premium metal weight in your hand. And at 227 grams (half a pound), the weight comes from the battery and internal components, not premium materials.

The construction is solid for plastic. No creaks or flex during normal handling. But I'd be more careful with drops than I would with an aluminum device.

The LED Bowl Light

One nice touch: the bowl area has an LED that lights up during use, mimicking the glow of lit tobacco. It's purely aesthetic but adds to the experience. During evening sessions, it creates a satisfying visual that sells the vintage fantasy.

The LCD Display Advantage

The Inspector's best feature is its digital display. You rarely see this at $45. Located on the body, the LCD screen gives you information that basic LED indicators can't match.

What the Display Shows

• Current Voltage - See exactly which setting you're using, not just a color guess
• Battery Percentage - Actual percentage remaining, not a vague three-bar indicator
• Puff Counter - Track your session usage over time

Why This Matters

With traditional batteries, you click through voltage settings and try to remember which LED color means what. The Inspector kills that guesswork. When I switch from a thin live resin cart to a thick distillate, I dial in the exact voltage I want and confirm it on screen.

The puff counter is more useful than it sounds. Track daily consumption, monitor how fast you're going through a cartridge, or just satisfy curiosity about your habits. It's one of those features you don't know you want until you have it.

Features Deep Dive

Voltage Range: 1.8V to 4.2V

The Inspector has the widest voltage range I've tested on a cartridge battery. Most competitors cap at 3.6V or 4.0V on the high end, and few go below 2.4V on the low end.

Voltage	Best For	Experience
1.8V - 2.2V	Ultra-thin oils, flavor chasers	Whisper-quiet hits, maximum terpene preservation
2.4V - 2.8V	Standard cartridges, daily use	Balanced flavor and vapor
3.0V - 3.4V	Medium-thick oils	Increased vapor with good flavor
3.6V - 4.2V	Thick distillates, cloud seekers	Maximum vapor production

That 1.8V floor matters for live resin and high-quality carts where you want to preserve terpenes. Many batteries can't go this low.

Dual Activation

The Inspector supports both button and auto-draw activation. Use whichever suits your preference:

• Button activation provides precise control over each hit and prevents accidental firing
• Auto-draw offers convenience when you don't want to hold a button

Having both means the Inspector adapts to how you like to vape instead of forcing one method.

Preheat Function

Double-click the power button for a 1.5-second preheat cycle. This warms thick oils to improve flow and vapor production. Useful in cooler weather or with high-viscosity cartridges that clog easily.

Passthrough Charging

Unlike many batteries that lock out while charging, the Inspector supports passthrough use. Plug in the USB-C cable and keep vaping. Good for extended sessions when you don't want to wait for a full charge.

Performance

Vapor Quality

Across dozens of cartridges, from thin CBD oils to thick THC distillates, the Inspector delivered consistent, smooth vapor. The wide voltage range means you can dial in almost any cartridge type.

At lower voltages (1.8V-2.4V), hits are cool and flavorful with minimal harshness. Terpenes come through clearly. These settings work best for premium cartridges.

Mid-range voltages (2.8V-3.4V) offer the best balance for daily use. Solid vapor production without sacrificing too much flavor.

At max voltage (4.0V-4.2V), vapor density jumps up. Flavor takes a backseat to clouds, but thick distillates that struggle at lower settings finally perform right.

Auto-Draw Response

The auto-draw sensor is responsive without being too sensitive. It fires on intentional draws but doesn't false trigger from movement or wind. Some batteries have finicky auto-draw. The Inspector's works well.

Battery Life

The 650mAh capacity is generous for a 510 battery. In practice, expect:

• Light users (10-15 puffs/day): 3-4 days between charges
• Moderate users (25-35 puffs/day): 2 days between charges
• Heavy users (50+ puffs/day): Daily charging

The LCD battery percentage display kills the guesswork. No more dead batteries catching you off guard mid-session.

Hidden Cartridge Design

One functional benefit of the pipe form factor: your cartridge hides inside the stem instead of sticking out. The threading sits inside the body, with the cart concealed behind the mouthpiece area.

This gives you some actual discretion:

• From a distance, it looks like an unusual pipe rather than an obvious vape
• Cartridges stay protected from bumps and drops
• The aesthetic stays cohesive no matter what cart you're using

Most cartridges up to 2G capacity fit properly. Standard-diameter carts sit flush and look like they belong.

The Weight Question

At 227 grams, the Inspector weighs more than most smartphones. This is the single biggest practical problem with the device.

For context:

• A typical pen battery weighs 20-40 grams
• The Vessel Pipe weighs 58 grams
• The Inspector weighs 227 grams

That weight makes pocket carry impractical. It pulls on fabric, creates obvious bulges, and announces its presence. The Inspector works best at home or carried in a bag.

The weight does have one upside: stability. Set it down and it stays put. The heft also adds to the "smoking a real pipe" feel, if that's part of the appeal for you.

Comparisons

vs. Vessel Pipe ($65)

Both go for the pipe aesthetic, but they take different approaches:

Feature	Cartisan Inspector	Vessel Pipe
Price	$45	$65
Battery	650mAh	300mAh
Voltage Range	1.8V - 4.2V	2.4V - 3.6V
Display	LCD (digital)	LED indicator
Activation	Button + Auto-draw	Button only
Preheat	Yes	No
Puff Counter	Yes	No
Weight	227g	58g
Materials	Plastic	Metal
Warranty	30 days	6 months

The Inspector wins on features and price. The Vessel Pipe wins on build quality and portability. Pick based on what matters more to you.

vs. Standard Pen Batteries ($15-25)

Basic pen batteries give you simplicity and portability but skip the LCD display, wide voltage range, and dual activation. If you just need basic functionality, a $20 pen does the job. If you want more control and a unique look, the Inspector justifies the extra cost.

vs. Yocan UNI Pro 2.0 (~$35)

The UNI Pro offers similar features (wide voltage range, preheat, display) in a more portable box mod form factor. It's lighter, fits in pockets, and adjusts to different cartridge widths. The Inspector trades portability for the distinctive pipe design and conversation factor.

Who Should Buy This

The Inspector makes sense if you:

• Want something that looks different and stands apart from generic batteries
• Value the LCD display for precise voltage and puff tracking
• Mostly vape at home where weight and size don't matter
• Like the pipe smoking vibe translated to modern vaping
• Need wide voltage flexibility for different cartridge types

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Skip the Inspector if you:

• Need portability for pocket carry or discreet public use
• Care about build quality and want metal construction
• Want longer warranty coverage (competitors offer 90 days to 6 months)
• Prefer something simple over feature-packed

The Bottom Line

The Cartisan Inspector does something different in a category full of sameness. The LCD display, puff counter, and 1.8V-4.2V voltage range aren't gimmicks. They're useful features that make vaping better. And the Sherlock design is executed well enough to be charming rather than cheap.

But there are tradeoffs. The plastic construction and 227g weight undercut the premium positioning, and the 30-day warranty feels short for a $45 device. The Inspector works best as a home-use conversation piece, not an everyday carry.

If you've grown bored with identical pen batteries and want something that sparks interest while performing well, the Inspector delivers. Just don't expect to slip it in your pocket.

Looking for more Cartisan products? Visit our Cartisan brand page for the full lineup.

Related: Cartisan Inspector Manual