These two devices sit at genuinely different points in the market — $549 against $235 — so this isn't a question of which is better in the abstract. It's a question of what you're optimizing for.
A note on the lineup first: if you've been researching Focus V for a while, you may be looking for the Carta 2. Focus V officially discontinued it after July 2025 as part of a patent settlement, and the Carta Sport is the current model in that slot. Existing Carta 2 units are still supported with warranty and replacement parts, and Carta glass tops remain cross-compatible with the Sport. Focus V has also announced a Carta 3, though it has slipped past its original window with no confirmed launch date.
Spec Comparison
| DaVinci EQ (Jacuzzi Collection) | Focus V Carta Sport | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 | $235 |
| Chamber material | Quartz crucible, all-quartz vapor path | Ceramic-coated quartz bowl |
| Heating | Replaceable quartz heater | Intelli-Core 3D (bottom + side) |
| Controls | Full-color on-device touchscreen | Single-button, no screen |
| App required? | No — every feature on-device | V Browser app for precision control |
| Temperature | 450–650°F precision, plus 4 customizable Smart Paths | 5 LED presets, 480–565°F |
| Battery | Dual 3000mAh, ~50 hits/charge | 2700mAh, ~50 sessions/charge |
| Water filtration | 60ml Jacuzzi Bubbler (borosilicate) | Removable CARTA Connect airpath |
| Replaceable parts | Crucible and heater both swappable | Intelli-Core atomizer swappable |
Temperature Control: Continuous vs. Presets
Chamber Material: Coated vs. Solid
Both devices use quartz in the bowl, but not in the same way — and the difference is what drives the flavor argument.
Where the Carta Sport Wins
Price, decisively. At $235 it's less than half the EQ. If budget is the binding constraint, that ends the conversation honestly — the Sport is a well-regarded device and the price gap is not a rounding error.
Simplicity. The Sport deliberately strips out the OLED screen the Carta 2 had in favor of a single-button interface with LED-color presets. If you don't want to think about your device — pick a color, hit the button — that's a real design virtue, not a compromise.
Portability. The Sport is built travel-first. The EQ is portable in the sense that it ships with a travel case, but at 520g and 114 × 98 × 56mm it's a substantially larger object.
Maintenance access. The removable CARTA Connect silicone airpath is a genuinely smart cleaning feature.
Where the EQ Wins
Chamber material. The Sport's bowl is ceramic-coated quartz; the EQ's vapor path is quartz throughout, from crucible to mouthpiece. A ceramic coating still presents a surface that accumulates residue over time, which is what produces the background flavor note ceramic chambers develop. Non-porous quartz doesn't retain that. If flavor neutrality over hundreds of sessions is your priority, this is the whole ballgame — and it's the reason the EQ exists.
Temperature range and precision. The EQ runs 450–650°F as a continuous precision range, plus four Smart Paths you can rename and retune. The Sport gives five fixed LED presets spanning 480–565°F — a narrower window with less granularity. Fine for most sessions; limiting if you chase specific terpene expression or want high-temp output.
No app dependency. Everything on the EQ runs through the on-device touchscreen — temperature, Smart Paths, session length, themes. The Sport routes precision control through the V Browser app. If you'd rather not pair a phone to your rig, that's a meaningful difference in daily use.
Water volume. The 60ml Jacuzzi Bubbler holds substantially more water than a compact airpath, which translates directly into more vapor cooling before inhalation.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Carta Sport if you want a capable e-rig at a mainstream price, you value pocketability and one-button simplicity, and you're comfortable with a ceramic-coated chamber and app-based fine control.
Buy the EQ if flavor purity is the reason you're shopping at all, you want a continuous temperature range rather than presets, you'd rather control the device on the device, and you're willing to pay roughly double for an all-quartz vapor path with individually replaceable components.
One technique note if you come to the EQ from a ceramic device: quartz rewards a larger load and a slower, steadier pull. That's a habit carryover from ceramic rigs, not device complexity — the touchscreen itself is simple. Our guide to getting the best hits from the EQ covers it.
Related Reading
- Best E-Rig by Budget 2026: Which Electric Dab Rig Is Actually Worth It?
- DaVinci EQ vs Puffco Peak Pro: Full Comparison
- Best E-Rig for Flavor: Why Quartz Beats Ceramic
- How to Clean an E-Rig (and Prevent Chazzing)
FAQ
Is the Carta 2 still worth buying instead?
It was well-regarded and remains supported under warranty with available parts, but Focus V discontinued it after July 2025 and no longer sells it directly. Remaining stock is third-party or secondhand, with no guarantee on condition. The Sport is the supported current path.
Is the EQ worth more than double the Carta Sport?
That depends entirely on whether chamber material matters to you. If you can't taste the difference between ceramic and quartz — or don't care to — the value case for the Sport is strong. If flavor neutrality is why you're upgrading at all, ceramic is the thing you'd be paying to avoid.
Are accessories cross-compatible between them?
No. These are separate ecosystems. Carta glass tops work across the Carta 2 and Carta Sport; EQ accessories work across the EQ Jacuzzi Collection and EQ Skyrise Limited Edition.
Does either require an app?
The Carta Sport uses the V Browser app for precision temperature and lighting control. The EQ requires no app for any function.