Focus V Carta 1 vs Carta 2: What Changed?

The original Focus V Carta, often called the Carta 1 or Carta OG, was one of the first portable e-rigs to really catch on. The Carta 2 followed with a bigger atomizer, a screen and a lot more features.

Both have since been discontinued, but plenty of people still own one or are shopping used. Here's how they compare, and what we'd recommend buying today.

The Carta 2 was a big upgrade in most ways: a larger atomizer, faster heat up, an HD screen, app control and wireless charging. The trade-off was battery. The Carta 1 used swappable batteries and lasted longer per charge.

If you're buying new today, neither is still made. The Focus V Carta Sport is the current Carta, and it fixes the Carta 2's biggest weakness with a much bigger battery.

Carta 1 vs Carta 2 Specs

• Works with: Both handle dry herb and concentrates.
• Battery: The Carta 1 uses two swappable 18350 batteries (1,200mAh each). The Carta 2 has a built-in 2,000mAh battery.
• Battery life: About 45 sessions on the Carta 1 vs about 25 on the Carta 2.
• Charging: The Carta 1 charges over USB-C in about 2 hours. The Carta 2 charges over USB-C or Qi wireless in about 90 minutes.
• Pass-through charging: Both.
• Heat up: About 10 seconds on the Carta 1 vs about 5 seconds on the Carta 2.
• Temperature control: The Carta 1 has four presets (500°F, 630°F, 770°F and 842°F). The Carta 2 offers precise control from 365°F to 635°F.
• Atomizer size: 10mm on the Carta 1 vs 14mm on the Carta 2.

Design and Build

The Carta 1 has a simple three-part design: the base, the glass bubbler and a quartz or titanium bucket. It's solid and well made, but the look is pretty dated, and it's not the most comfortable to hold.

The Carta 2 feels like a real upgrade in your hand. The base is wrapped in grippy silicone with contoured finger holds, so it's easier to pick up and hit. It also added an HD display, three-button controls and LED lights on the base and under the glass.

One nice detail: Carta 1 glass fits the Carta 2, so a broken bubbler didn't mean starting over.

The Atomizer Upgrade

If the Carta 2 had only changed one thing, the atomizer would have been worth it on its own.

The Carta 1 used simple bucket-style atomizers. The Carta 2 introduced the Intelli-Core atomizer, which heats 360° around the bowl for much more even vaporization. That means fewer hot and cold spots, less scorching and easier cleaning.

The bowl also grew from 10mm to 14mm, so you can load much bigger dabs. The carb cap is built in instead of being a small glass piece tethered to the atomizer. And while the Carta 1's sessions ran up to three minutes, the Carta 2 caps out at 60 seconds, which tells you how much faster it produces vapor.

Good news for Carta 2 owners: Intelli-Core atomizers are still available. The Intelli-Core Atomizer for Oil and Intelli-Core Max Atomizer both fit the Carta 2.

Vapor Quality

At low temperatures, both taste great. At higher temperatures, the Carta 2 extracts much faster and fills the bubbler with thick, milky vapor. You lose a bit more flavour at the top end compared to the Carta 1, and those big hits can be harsh, so shorter pulls help.

The Carta 2 also has a small insert in the carb cap that lets you adjust how tight the draw feels.

Flower and Concentrates

Both devices can switch between oil mode and flower mode. With the atomizer screwed in tightly, they default to oil mode. Loosen it slightly to switch to flower mode. The Carta 2's screen makes it much easier to see which mode you're in.

For flower, use a very fine grind and pack it down firmly for even heating. Keep in mind that both are built mainly for concentrates, so flower performance is more of a bonus.

Battery: Swappable vs Wireless

This is where the Carta 1 holds its own.

The Carta 1's two swappable 18350 batteries give you more total power, and you can carry spares for long days out. The Carta 2's single 2,000mAh battery is built in and gets fewer sessions per charge.

What the Carta 2 offers instead is convenience. It charges faster, supports Qi wireless charging and works while plugged in. If it lives on your desk, you'll barely notice the smaller battery.

Ease of Use

The Carta 1 uses one button and colour-coded lights. It's simple, but you're often guessing what setting you're on.

The Carta 2's screen and app take away the guesswork. You can set exact temperatures, session times and lighting, and see everything at a glance. The downside is that the button combinations take some learning. We'd recommend reading the manual or just using the app.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Both bubblers clean easily with isopropyl alcohol. For the atomizer, wipe it down with a cotton swab after each session so residue doesn't bake onto the ceramic glaze and affect the taste.

On the Carta 2, you can fully unscrew the atomizer and pop it out for a deeper soak, but most people won't need to often.

Warranty

Both came with a 1-year Focus V warranty.

What Should You Buy Today?

Both the Carta 1 and Carta 2 have been discontinued, so if you're buying new, the Focus V Carta Sport is the way to go. It keeps the Intelli-Core atomizer and Carta glass compatibility from the Carta 2, adds a much bigger 2,700mAh battery (up to 50 dabs per charge) and has a removable airpath that makes cleaning far easier.

Read our Carta 2 vs Carta Sport comparison for the full breakdown, or see how it stacks up against Puffco in our Carta Sport vs Puffco Peak Pro 3DXL comparison.

Want something smaller? The Focus V Aeris is a portable dab rig that uses the same Intelli-Core atomizers. Browse the full Focus V lineup or all electric dab rigs.

Review Written By: Riley H

Riley H is the owner and founder of Canadian Vaporizers. He started working in the vaporizer industry at 19 and has spent more than 10 years running online vaporizer and cannabis accessory stores. In that time, he has personally tested almost every vaporizer on the market, from pocket-sized pens to full desktop units.

Riley is a daily cannabis user who uses it to stay focused and motivated, not to slow down. That hands-on, everyday experience shapes every review he writes. He knows what matters when you're actually using a device day after day: how it hits, how long the battery lasts, how easy it is to clean and whether it's worth the money. His goal is to give Canadians honest, straightforward advice so they can choose the right vaporizer the first time.

Our reviews and ratings are based on personal testing and over a decade of industry experience. They reflect the opinion of the author and are meant as a helpful starting point for your research. We encourage every reader to compare options before making a purchase.