DaVinci ARTIQ Review: A Better Way To Vape 510 Carts

Most cheap 510 batteries are basically a stick with a battery inside. I’ve used and tested a bazillion of them over the years. Most work fine and are about as bare bones as you can get: screw on your cartridge, press a button and that’s your lot.

The DaVinci ARTIQ runs with this simplicity, and then just makes it way, way better. And the net result, like all good products that kind of take you by surprise, is that once you’ve used it you can’t really understand how or why it didn’t exist beforehand.

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It’s not just a shell for the cart, either. There’s way more to it than that:

• Your cartridge sits inside the body
• there’s an extended cooling path between the cart and your mouth
• and you get draw activation with vibration feedback
• and it doesn’t cost much either

Cartridges aren’t cheap, and having a glass tank sticking out of a skinny battery feels like asking for trouble when you’re carrying it around., especially on heavier nights out, when you’re hiking or even when you’re around the house (if you’re clumsy like me).

But the ARTIQ also has a couple of limitations you need to know about before spending your money, and we’ll get to these in a minute.

Why Buy The DaVinci ARTIQ?

The enclosed cartridge is the main reason I’d consider it. This is the device’s whole deal, the reason it exists. And to be honest, it’s a great little USP because the way I usually use carts and the carts I’ve used, well… they suck from a design and usability perspective.

With the ARTIQ, the cartridge is completely hidden inside an aluminium shell. It looks like a mini DaVinci IQ3 from the outside. Granted, it’s not quite as premium feeling as that vaporizer, but it looks similar which is to say it’s a smart-looking device.

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That makes the whole setup less obvious which means it’s awesome for stealth vaping on the go. It also puts a protective layer around the cart. I wouldn’t treat it as indestructible, but I much prefer this arrangement for something that lives in a pocket or bag.

Getting a cartridge installed is straightforward:

1. Remove the outer shell.
2. Screw the magnetic collar onto your cartridge.
3. Drop the cartridge into the battery.
4. Replace the shell.

The collar is an extra little part to keep track of, but it means you can lift the cartridge out without unscrewing it from the device every time.

Just remember that a 510 connection doesn’t guarantee a cartridge will fit. The cart needs to work with the enclosure and airflow system too.

Here’s what you get.

Feature	DaVinci ARTIQ
Compatible material	Oil in compatible 510 cartridges
Cartridge connection	Magnetic collar attached to the cartridge’s 510 thread
Cartridge position	Fully enclosed
Voltage settings	2.8V, 3.2V and 3.6V
Activation	Automatic draw activation
Preheat	Yes
Battery	760mAh internal cell
Charging	USB-C
Charging time	Approximately 90 minutes
Use while charging	Yes
Feedback	LED indicator and vibration
App	None
Warranty	One year
Price	$59.99

The ARTIQ sends vapour through an extended internal airpath before it reaches the mouthpiece.

That pathway uses 316 stainless steel. The extra distance and contact with the material give the vapour an opportunity to cool before you inhale it.

There’s no refrigeration unit or powered cooling system inside. It’s a longer route through the device, so it does make a difference but it isn’t a proper cooling system like you’d find inside a high-end portable vaporizer like the IQ3.

The headline claim is up to 90% cooler vapour, and that’s quite a claim. It’s also impossible to test because you’d have to benchmark it against every single 510 cart on the market, and I ain’t got time for that.

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What matters is whether the draw feels comfortable with your cartridge and preferred setting, and in my use of the device it is perfectly fine, nice and cool, meaning not too hot and not too cool, so whatever’s going on it does work, especially if you’re used to standard 510 cart setups.

For me, the stronger buying argument is the complete package: protected cartridge, discreet body and an airpath designed to take some heat out of the vapor.

The only slight issue I have with the ARTIQ relate to its voltage settings, which are pretty limited. I’d ideally like more control.

You get three normal vaping settings:

Setting	Voltage
Low	2.8V
Medium	3.2V
High	3.6V

Simple enough. But there’s a fairly obvious limitation here: If your cartridge works best below 2.8V, the ARTIQ can’t give you that setting.

That matters if you prefer a gentler draw or have a cartridge with a lower recommended operating voltage.

The lower-voltage preheat function doesn’t solve this either because preheating and selecting a normal vaping voltage are separate functions.

I’d like to see a lower starting point and smaller adjustment steps.

Three presets keep things simple, but being able to make a small change is useful when you’re trying to get a particular cartridge working exactly how you like it.

Also, these are voltage settings, not precise temperature settings. The actual temperature depends on the cartridge’s heater, resistance and how it’s used.

• The cartridge still does most of the work on flavour.
• The ARTIQ powers your cartridge and changes the route the vapour takes to your mouth.
• The oil, wick and heating element are still inside the cart.

Basically, if your cart sucks, it sucks and the ARTIQ cannot really do anything about it. For me, the ARTIQ’s appeal is how it packages and powers the cartridge.

The voltage limitation comes into play here too again. Cooling the vapour after it leaves the cart doesn’t give you the same control as reducing power at the heater.

• If your preferred cartridge runs nicely at 2.8V, great.
• If you normally use it below that, I’d put voltage flexibility ahead of the ARTIQ’s cooling system.

Something like the Yocan Ziva Pro, with its 1.8–4.2V range, gives you more room to adjust. That’s the sort of difference I’d pay attention to when comparing batteries.

The controls are refreshingly straightforward

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There’s no app to install or Bluetooth connection to sort out.

Everything runs through one button:

• Five clicks: Turn it on or off.
• Three clicks: Change the voltage.
• Two clicks: Start preheating.
• One click: Check the battery level.
• Hold while inhaling: Clear the remaining vapour from the airpath.

Once it’s switched on, normal vaping uses draw activation. Inhale through the mouthpiece and the device activates.

The vibration feedback lets you know it has registered the draw. That’s a useful touch when the cartridge is hidden and you can’t see what’s happening inside.

I also like the idea of the clearing function. Holding the button while inhaling stops the cartridge from firing, allowing you to draw the remaining vapour out of the internal pathway.

It’s a small feature, but it makes sense with this design.

Battery capacity is decent. The internal cell is my reservation.

The ARTIQ uses a 760mAh battery and charges through USB-C in approximately 90 minutes. You can also use it while it’s charging.

There’s an estimated figure of around 500 draws, but I wouldn’t use that as a reliable measure of battery life. I haven’t had any issues with battery life. I tend to charge it in the morning and take it with me. I’ll toot on it throughout the day and I’ve yet to hit any issues with it running out of juice.

If you’re going to blast it again in the evening, I’d suggest a top-up in the late afternoon.

Draw length, voltage, cartridge resistance and preheat use all affect how quickly you get through a charge. A quick puff and a long pull clearly aren’t the same thing.

The part I’m less keen on is the internal battery.

One of my favourite things about the IQ3 is being able to swap the cell. It gives you an easy way to deal with an empty battery today and a worn-out battery later.

The ARTIQ doesn’t have that user-replaceable battery system.

At roughly $60, that’s a different buying decision from a $300 dry herb vaporizer. Even so, I’d still prefer a replaceable cell.

Cleaning is part of owning it.

The extended pathway gives residue more places to collect than a basic battery where you inhale directly from the cartridge.

Keep the mouthpiece, seals, airpath and cartridge-contact area clean. This isn’t rocket-science, but just as is the case with electric dab rigs, both desktop and portable, you do need to run a fairly consistant maintainance and cleaning regime.

• A cotton swab or pipe cleaner with isopropyl alcohol is the recommended approach for the relevant surfaces.
• Don’t submerge the device or silicone parts, and let everything dry fully before using it again.
• The magnetic connection also needs attention.
• Residue around the cartridge base or connector can interfere with electrical contact.

If the ARTIQ vibrates and flashes red without producing vapour, it may be indicating a connection problem. Check that the collar is properly attached, the cartridge is seated correctly and the contact area is clean.

A draw that becomes more restricted is another reason to stop and check the pathway.

I wouldn’t buy this expecting zero maintenance. The enclosed design brings benefits, but it adds parts that need looking after.

Also, before you use ANY cart in it make sure it is compatible. If you’re new to carts, and you’re looking to buy your first few, always check cartridge compatibility before ordering.

• The ARTIQ works with compatible bottom-airflow 510 cartridges, including many standard 0.5g and 1g formats.
• Oversized cartridges can be a problem.
• So can carts with an unsuitable airflow arrangement.

My advice is to check the exact cartridge you already use. Don’t rely on “510 compatible” as a promise that everything will fit.

I’d also check the contents of the specific kit you’re buying. A 10mm water-tool adapter is available, but don’t assume it comes in every package. The same goes for the bubbler, which is a separate purchase.

Would I buy the DaVinci ARTIQ?

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I use a lot of carts, always have done, mainly because one of my good buddies owns a 420 shop near me. I like them, but I hate the way you have to use them, so the ARTIQ, for me, at least, is a brilliant solution that makes using carts a much more pleasant experience.

I’ve also lost count of the amount of carts I’ve bust by dropping them. Again, the protection and coverage you get from the ARTIQ pretty much solves this.

Add in the fact that once it’s set up, it doesn’t look anything like a typical 510 cart vape and you’re covered for stealth too.

Those are its strongest features.

• The cart is enclosed,
• the operation is straightforward,
• and the cooling path gives the design another practical purpose.

The voltage range is a slight wrinkle for it, but it’s not a deal-breaker for me. It just means I have to make sure my carts work well at 2.8V, and given the benefits the ARTIQ brings with how it works that’s a trade-off I’m willing to make.