Short answer:
- Vessel Core: the slim, pen-style battery. Pick it if you want the smallest, lightest option.
- Vessel Compass: a pocket-shaped battery the cartridge drops into. It has more than twice the Core's battery capacity and protects the cart.
- Vessel Compass Rise: the upgraded Compass. It's all metal and stands upright, and it adds a fifth, lower 1.9V setting plus a preheat mode. Pick it if you use thick oils such as live resin or rosin, or want the most control.
All three are 510-thread cartridge batteries with button firing and USB-C charging. Below we compare battery size, voltage settings and LED colors, cartridge fit, controls and which cases fit which battery. Every spec comes from Vessel's own product pages and help center, and we list sources at the end.
Vessel Core vs Compass vs Compass Rise at a glance
| Core | Compass | Compass Rise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Slim pen | Pocket device, drop-in cartridge | Pocket device, drop-in cartridge |
| Battery | 260mAh | 550mAh | 550mAh |
| Voltage settings | 4 (2.4–3.6V) | 4 (2.4–3.6V) | 5 (1.9–3.6V) |
| Preheat | No | No | Yes, 8 seconds |
| Firing | Button | Button | Button |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C (45–60 min from empty, per Vessel) |
| Cartridge fit | Wide 510 crown for carts of all diameters | Most 510 carts; threaded, not magnetic | 510 carts up to 11.5mm wide; 1g recommended |
| Body | Anodized aluminum | Aluminum back with a plastic face plate | 100% anodized aluminum |
| Size | 3.3" long × 0.55" wide | 2.625" × 1.625" × 0.75" | 2.51" × 1.61" × 0.74" |
| Weight | 23 g | 66–70 g (Vessel lists both) | 100 g |
| Stands upright | — | No | Yes |
| Case that fits | Rover Case | Scout Case | Hub Case |
| Vessel list price | $35 | $45 | $69 |
Specs from Vessel's product pages and help center, checked October 23, 2026. List prices are Vessel's at the time of writing. See each product page for our current price.
The differences that actually matter
Battery capacity
The Compass and Compass Rise both use a 550mAh battery, more than double the Core's 260mAh. Real-world battery life depends on your voltage setting and how long you draw, so Vessel doesn't promise a number of hits. As a rule, the Compass models go longer between charges, and the Core trades capacity for its pen size.
Voltage settings and preheat
The Core and Compass share the same four settings: 2.4V, 2.8V, 3.2V and 3.6V. The Compass Rise adds a fifth, lower 1.9V setting. Vessel says it "assists with thicker oil viscosities." The Rise is also the only one of the three with a preheat mode, which warms the cartridge for 8 seconds to loosen thick oil before your first draw. Vessel confirms preheat is exclusive to the Rise, not the original Compass.
Pen versus drop-in design
The Core is a classic slim pen: the cartridge screws onto the top and stays exposed. The Compass and Rise are flat, pocket-shaped devices. The cartridge screws in and sits inside a protected chamber, and a swivel lets you line up the mouthpiece. That design protects the cartridge in a pocket or bag. The Rise is also flat-bottomed, so it can stand upright on a table.
Cartridge compatibility
All three use standard 510 threading. The Core has a wide 510 crown that Vessel says accommodates cartridges of all diameters. On the Rise, Vessel specifies a maximum cartridge width of 11.5mm and recommends 1g carts. If your cartridge is unusually wide or long, it may not drop into the Compass chamber. In that case the Core is the more forgiving fit.
Build and weight
The Rise is entirely anodized aluminum. The original Compass pairs an aluminum back with a plastic face plate. That's why the Rise weighs about 100 g against roughly 66–70 g for the Compass, at almost the same size. The Core is the lightest by far at 23 g.
Which Vessel battery should you buy?
- Smallest and most discreet: Core. It's pen-sized at 23 g and comes in the most colors.
- Your carts are wide or oddly shaped: Core. Its wide crown fits carts of all diameters.
- Longer battery life and a protected cart: Compass.
- Live resin, rosin or other thick oils: Compass Rise. It's the only one with 1.9V and preheat.
- You want it to stand on a desk or nightstand: Compass Rise.
- You already own a Scout Case: stick with the Compass. The Scout doesn't fit the Rise.
Vessel voltage settings and LED colors
Vessel's help center lists these LED colors for each setting:
| Setting | LED color | Available on | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preheat | Blue (8 seconds) | Rise only | Loosening thick oil before the first draw |
| 1.9V | Blue | Rise only | Thicker oils; lowest-temperature starting point |
| 2.4V | Green | All three | Starting point on the Core and Compass; flavor-focused |
| 2.8V | Cyan | All three | Middle ground for many carts |
| 3.2V | Yellow | All three | Bigger draws |
| 3.6V | Magenta | All three | Highest output; most likely to taste burnt |
Some third-party reviews list different colors for the Rise. We use Vessel's own help-center colors here.
What voltage should you use?
Vessel's advice is to start on the lowest setting and work up. CCELL, which makes many of the cartridges people pair with these batteries, also recommends its lower setting for high-terpene extracts such as live resin and rosin. A practical approach:
- Start on the lowest setting your battery offers: 1.9V on the Rise, 2.4V on the Core and Compass.
- If vapor is thin, step up one setting at a time.
- If it tastes harsh or burnt, step back down. Higher voltage gives bigger clouds but heats the oil more, which can burn off flavor.
Every cartridge is different, and your cart maker's recommendation should take priority.
How to use a Vessel battery
- Turn on or off: click the button five times quickly. This works on all three.
- Change voltage: click three times to cycle through the settings. The LED shows the color of the current setting.
- Take a draw: hold the button while you inhale. None of the three is draw-activated.
- Preheat (Rise only): Vessel's product-page answers say to click twice to start the 8-second preheat (the LED shows blue). Its older Compass FAQ describes preheat starting automatically when you power on. If two clicks don't start preheat on your unit, it likely runs at power-on instead.
- Memory: the Compass and Rise remember your last voltage setting.
- Auto-off: Vessel says the Compass turns itself off after 15 minutes of inactivity.
New to cartridge batteries? Our guide to what a vaporizer is explains how 510 batteries differ from dry herb and desktop devices.
Cases that fit each Vessel battery
Cases are model-specific, and this is the most common mix-up:
- Scout Case: designed for the Compass. Holds one Compass and two cartridges. Not compatible with the Compass Rise.
- Hub Case: designed for the Compass Rise.
- Rover Case: the case Vessel lists for the Core. It holds two batteries and two cartridges.
Browse every Vessel battery, pipe and case in our Vessel collection.
What about the Vessel Compass Pro?
Vessel added a Compass Pro in September 2026. It also has a 550mAh battery and 1.9–3.2V settings, plus an opt-in 1.6V preheat and what Vessel calls "Dynamic Voltage." It stands upright and works with the Hub Case. Vessel hasn't said it replaces the Compass or the Rise, and Bake Buds doesn't stock the Pro right now. If you want the most voltage range available today, including the 3.6V top setting the Pro drops, the Compass Rise still covers 1.9–3.6V.
Vessel battery FAQ
Is the Compass Rise worth it over the original Compass?
It is if you use thick oils or want more control. The Rise adds the 1.9V setting, preheat, an all-metal body and the ability to stand upright. If your carts work well at 2.4V or higher and you already own a Scout Case, the original Compass is the better value.
Is the Vessel Compass magnetic?
No. The Compass and Rise use standard 510 threading. The cartridge screws in before you drop it into the chamber.
Are Vessel batteries button or draw-activated?
Button-activated. Hold the button while you inhale.
What color is the lowest setting on the Compass Rise?
Blue, at 1.9V, according to Vessel's help center. Green is 2.4V, cyan is 2.8V, yellow is 3.2V and magenta is 3.6V.
How long does the Compass Rise take to charge?
Vessel says 45 to 60 minutes from empty over USB-C.
Will a Compass case fit the Compass Rise?
No. The Scout Case is not compatible with the Rise. Use the Hub Case instead.
Does the Vessel Core have preheat?
The standard Core doesn't. It has four voltage settings, 2.4–3.6V. Only a limited ColdFire collaboration edition of the Core added a preheat mode.
Sources and disclosure
Bake Buds sells the Vessel products linked above. Specifications, LED colors, controls and case compatibility come from Vessel's Core, Compass and Compass Rise product pages, its Compass FAQ and its help center. Low-voltage guidance for high-terpene extracts comes from CCELL. All sources were checked October 23, 2026. This guide summarizes manufacturer information and doesn't describe hands-on testing. For adults 21+ where legal.
