Centaurus box mod: the Lost Vape range explained
Walking into a British vape shop and asking for a Centaurus box mod is a bit like asking for a German car. The name covers an entire lineage, not a single device. Lost Vape has attached it to hardware that shares neither the same circuit, nor the same format, nor the same audience, across more than five years. Three chipset generations sit under that badge today, and UK retailers stock several of them side by side.
Which Centaurus box mod hides behind the name
Centaurus is a family of mods and kits from Lost Vape. The flagship in British listings is the M200, a dual 18650 device rated by the manufacturer at 5 to 200 W, and it is the one most shops lead with on their brand pages.
Alongside it sit the N200, also a dual 18650 at 200 W, the single cell N100, the single cell M100 at 100 W, and a run of all in one devices that are far more modest. The name on its own tells you nothing about the output or the size. The suffix does all the work.
That matters more here than in most markets, because UK stock rotates on availability rather than on release date. A shop can be listing the M200, the N200 and the M100 on the same page, three different electronics platforms presented as one range.
Three chipset generations under one name
This is the blind spot of most comparison articles. Two Centaurus devices five years apart share almost nothing electronically. The alphanumeric suffix is the only reliable clue to the generation, and it is never explained on a product listing.
The line started with the Centaurus DNA 250C, launched by Lost Vape in 2020 with an official Evolv chipset and a 1 to 200 W range. It was a premium stainless steel mod aimed at fine temperature control and deep customisation, and it built the reputation the badge still trades on.
Lost Vape then developed its own circuit, called Quest, which powers the mid range Centaurus devices. The M200 is its showcase, the N100 is quoted as Quest 2.0, and UK listings for the N200 and the M100 also name Quest 2.0. The move was as much commercial as technical, since it freed the brand from a third party chip supplier.
The most recent generation brought Bluetooth. Lost Vape presents the Centaurus BT200 as its first app controlled mod, over Bluetooth 5.1, running a Quest X 3.0 chipset behind a 2.4 inch screen. Seven vaping modes are adjustable from the app, wallpaper included. That is a change in how you use the device rather than a change in what it delivers, since output stays capped at 200 W.
Centaurus M200, the reference of the range
This is the model most British stockists carry, and the one that fixed the image of the family. Its manufacturer figures are published by Lost Vape and can be checked line by line against retailer pages.
| Specification | Manufacturer figure |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 93 x 56.7 x 26 mm |
| Net weight | 152 g, 5 g tolerance |
| Power source | 2 x 18650 cells, not supplied |
| Voltage per cell | 3.0 to 4.2 V |
| Output | 5 to 200 W |
| Materials | Aluminium alloy and stainless steel |
| Charging | Type-C, 5 V 2 A |
| Protections | Short circuit, low cell, overheating |
Two ergonomic details set it apart. A jog dial groups three adjustment functions in one control, and a mechanical switch genuinely cuts the supply, with a start up quoted at one second, which avoids sleep states and pocket firing.
The 26 mm wide chassis takes atomisers up to 25 mm with no overhang, which covers nearly everything on sale. Side panels are interchangeable on both faces. Kits sold here pair the mod with a sub ohm tank filled to the British 2 ml limit, so the tank line on an international spec sheet will not match the box you receive.
Centaurus N200, N100 and M100 on UK shelves
These three frame the M200, one above on features, the others below on format. None of them really replaces it, and British availability often decides the question for you.
The N200 keeps the two external 18650 cells and the 5 to 200 W range, in a polycarbonate body rather than metal, which reviewers here have noted as the main departure from the M200. Retailer listings quote Normal and DIY modes and a Quest 2.0 chip, with the kit tank again at 2 ml.
The N100 aims at the other end. One cell, either 21700 or 18650, 5 to 100 W, a 0.96 inch TFT screen and 53 g without cell or atomiser. Its resistance reading range, given as 0.1 to 3.0 ohm, covers sub ohm builds and tight mouth to lung coils alike. That reading latitude is a more discriminating criterion than headline wattage, as set out in our guide to reading a box mod spec sheet.
The M100 is the single cell metal option, aircraft grade aluminium and stainless steel, 100 W from one 18650, and it tends to be the one British shops recommend to someone who wants the build quality without the bulk.
Battery safety on a dual cell Centaurus box mod
Lost Vape does not supply cells with its mods, so this part is on you, and it is the part worth reading slowly. The method matters far more than any number you might copy from a forum.
Start with the cell datasheet published by the actual manufacturer of the cell, not the wrap it was rebranded under. Two figures carry the weight: the continuous discharge rating and the capacity, and the datasheet will state the temperature and cut off conditions those figures were measured under. Read the conditions, not just the headline.
Compare that rating against what your setup asks for, remembering that on a dual cell mod the two cells sit in series and the same current passes through both. If the demand approaches the published rating, the setup is asking too much of the cells rather than too little of the mod.
Four habits do the rest. Use matched cells, same brand, same model, same age and same state of wear, and keep them as a pair for life. Inspect the wrap before every insertion and rewrap at the first nick, because a torn wrap against a metal chassis is a direct short. Carry loose cells in a plastic case, never in a pocket with keys or coins. Charge on a charger designed for the chemistry and the format, and stop using any cell that has been dropped, has vented, or gets unusually warm.
What the Centaurus name covers beyond mods
The badge is not limited to devices with a separate atomiser, and that is a common ordering mistake. Lost Vape extended it to all in one hardware and to pods.
The range includes the Centaurus ORI 35, a slim device quoted at 15.7 mm thick with 2500 mAh and 35 W maximum, plus the G80 and G80S, two 80 W all in ones on a single 18650, the G80S accepting Boro format tanks.
Someone ordering a Centaurus without stating the suffix can therefore end up with a 35 W device. The line name never identifies the product on its own, which is why UK brand pages list every suffix separately.
Frequently asked questions
Are cells supplied with a Centaurus box mod?
No. Lost Vape states that 18650 and 21700 cells are not included with its mods. On a two cell device they must be identical in brand, model and state of wear, and bought from a retailer that sells genuine cells.
What does DIY mode do on a Centaurus?
It is aimed at rebuildable atomiser users and changes how the circuit delivers power to a hand built coil. It assumes you already know how to work out the resistance and the current your build will draw before you fire it.
Can the look of a Centaurus M200 be customised?
Yes, the side panels swap out on both faces, so you can mix your own colour combinations. Lost Vape also mentions a bare panel version intended for laser engraving in specialist shops.
Is the BT200 app required for the mod to work?
No, the mod runs normally with no connection. The app adds fine profile adjustment and display customisation, it does not gate firing.
How do I spot a counterfeit Centaurus?
Buying from a declared UK stockist remains the only reliable guarantee. Lost Vape has also communicated publicly about a design change to its Centaurus logo, which led some genuine buyers to doubt their own device.
Choosing a Centaurus box mod by suffix, not by name
The M200 stays the default for dual cell use at higher output, the N200 for the same output in a lighter shell, the M100 and N100 for a single cell format, and the BT200 for anyone who wants to manage profiles from a phone. All of them share a comparable architecture and a comparable set of protections.
The point to hold on to is simple. The words Centaurus box mod on their own describe no particular product, since the badge stretches from 35 W to 200 W across three chipset generations.
Check the suffix before ordering, check that the kit tank is quoted at 2 ml for this market, and check that your cells are matched and intact. Those three checks remove most of the disappointment around this range, and the rest is covered in our comparison of Vaporesso box mods and across the wider box mods section.
Editorial content for adult readers only. Vaping products usually contain nicotine, a substance that causes addiction. Not for sale to under-18s in the United Kingdom. This article is not a buying recommendation.
