Cartisan Pro Pen NEO 400 Review: Best Budget LCD Battery Under $15?

Overview

LCD screens on cheap 510 batteries? That used to be a fantasy. Budget batteries gave you LED indicators and three voltages if you were lucky. The Cartisan Pro Pen NEO 400 changes that with a full-color display, five voltage settings, and USB-C charging. All for $12.50.

The NEO 400 is the smaller sibling in Cartisan's NEO lineup. Same display, same features, just more pocketable. The catch? A 400mAh battery that might not last all day.

I used it daily for a week with multiple cartridge types. It's a solid value, but it does have limits.

Design & Build Quality

Standard pen shape, but the centered LCD display makes it look less generic than most budget batteries.

Form Factor

At 0.75" x 2" x 5.12", this thing slips into pockets without any fuss. It feels natural to hold, and the length is about what you'd expect from a pen battery. Nothing groundbreaking here. The pen form factor just works.

The LCD Display

The screen is the main selling point. It's a full-color LCD on the front, and unlike basic OLED text displays, you get an actual visual interface:

• Current voltage setting with clear numerical display
• Battery level indicator
• Charging status when connected to power

The display lights up when you're using it or changing settings, then dims to save battery. Bright enough to see outside, not so bright it blinds you at night.

Materials and Construction

Plastic body. Expected at $12.50. The matte finish resists fingerprints pretty well, and the build quality is better than I expected. No rattling, the button clicks with a satisfying response, and cartridges screw on tight.

Available Colors

Comes in Blue, Green, Purple, Black, and Rainbow. The Rainbow version has an iridescent coating that shifts colors depending on the light. Adds a bit of fun to a cheap battery.

Features

Five Voltage Settings

The NEO 400 offers five preset voltage levels:

Voltage	Best For	Experience
2.1V	Thin oils, live resin	Maximum flavor, minimal vapor
2.5V	Standard cartridges	Balanced flavor and vapor
2.9V	Most cartridges	Good vapor production
3.3V	Thick oils	Increased output
3.7V	Very thick distillates	Maximum vapor

Five levels beats the usual three on budget batteries. You can actually dial in different cartridge types. The 2.1V floor is great for live resin and high-terpene carts where you want to taste the flavor, not burn it.

Triple-click to cycle through voltages. The screen shows exactly what you're at. No more memorizing LED color codes.

Preheat Function

Double-click for preheat. It warms the cartridge for a few seconds, loosening thick oils that get sluggish in cold weather. Helpful for distillate carts that clog or flow slowly.

USB-C Charging

Most cheap batteries still use Micro-USB. The NEO 400 has USB-C. Same cable as your phone, faster charging, and it works the first time you plug it in without flipping the cable around. The 400mAh battery goes from empty to full in 30-45 minutes.

Button Controls

• 5 clicks - Power on/off
• 3 clicks - Cycle voltage settings
• 2 clicks - Activate preheat
• Hold button - Fire/draw

Standard control scheme. If you've used any button battery before, you already know how this works.

Performance

Vapor Quality

I tested six different cartridges, from thin CBD oils to thick THC distillates. Consistent performance across the board.

Lower voltages (2.1V-2.5V) give you cool hits with lots of flavor. Terpene-heavy carts really shine here. You won't get massive clouds, but that's not the point.

At 2.9V, you get the best balance for daily use. Good flavor, solid vapor production, works with most carts.

Turn it up to 3.3V-3.7V for thick distillates that need more heat. You'll get bigger clouds but less flavor. Standard trade-off.

Button Response

The button fires instantly. No lag. Cartridges heat up fast at every voltage. No auto-draw here, so you're holding the button for every hit. Some people like the control. Others find it annoying.

Battery Life: The Trade-Off

Here's the downside. The 400mAh battery is small by today's standards.

• Light users (15-20 puffs/day): 1-2 days between charges
• Moderate users (30-40 puffs/day): Daily charging
• Heavy users (50+ puffs/day): Multiple charges per day

USB-C fast charging helps. Plug it in for 15 minutes and you get a decent boost. Full charges take under an hour. But if you need all-day battery, look at the NEO 650. It has 650mAh and only costs $1 more.

Real-World Usage

This battery works best when you can charge it regularly. Keep it on your desk, nightstand, or as a backup device. The small size and display make it perfect for evening sessions when you want voltage control without carrying something bulky.

Taking it out all day without a charger? The battery will remind you of its limits. Plan ahead.

Who Should Buy This

The NEO 400 makes sense if you:

• Want an LCD display without spending $30+
• Like having five voltage options instead of the usual three
• Can charge regularly at home, work, or in your car
• Prefer pen-style batteries over chunky box mods
• Need a backup when your main battery is dead

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Skip it if you:

• Need all-day battery without charging breaks (get the NEO 650)
• Want auto-draw for hands-free hits
• Care about premium materials like metal construction
• Use cartridges a lot and hate thinking about battery life

The Bottom Line

The Cartisan Pro Pen NEO 400 does what it claims. LCD display at a price that doesn't make sense. Five voltages. USB-C. These are real features, not marketing fluff. At $12.50, you're getting stuff that costs $30-40 elsewhere.

The trade-off is obvious: that 400mAh battery needs regular charging. This isn't an all-day device. It's a feature-packed pen for people who can plug it in when needed. Accept that, and it's a great value.

Want more battery? Spend the extra dollar on the NEO 650. Otherwise, the NEO 400 proves cheap doesn't have to mean basic.

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