Portable Oscilloscopes List (cheap)

[chemary]

I want to add an affordable portable oscilloscope to my test gear and I have spend some time reading posts on EEVBlog and watching reviews on YouTube and other sources, as information is quite spread and the variety of models is important I wanted to start a thread with an aggregate of some of the available information.
Information is not very complete and I got them from product specifications, that as many of you have tested sometimes is not true (Exaggerated bandwidths).
I just wanted the oscilloscope functionality so I haven't put much effort on gathering DMM or Signal Generator specifications.
The prices are orientative, most of them from Banggood, maybe they can be found cheaper on Aliexpress.
Last columns on the list are for popularity, I understand that products with long discussions on this forum and more reviews are more popular.



Direct access to most relevant discussion topic about each oscilloscope:

OWON HDS200	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/owon-hds-200-handheld-oscilloscope-w-builtin-dmmawg
Hantek 2C42/2C72/2D42/2D72	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hantek-2c422c722d422d72
FNIRSI DPOX180H	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-toy()-scope-fnirsi-dpox180h-claimed-180mhz500msps-(may-2023)
FNIRSI 1013D	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fnirsi-1013d-100mhz-tablet-oscilloscope
FNIRSI 2C23T	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-handheld-scopemultimeter-fnirsi-2c23t-2ch-10mhz50msps-(november-2023)
FNIRSI 5012H	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/reverse-engineering-fnirsi-5012h
FNIRSI 1C15	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fnirsi-1c15-handheld-scope
ZEEWEII DSO3D12	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/another-dsodmm-zeeweii-dso3d12-claimed-120mhz250msps
ZEEWEII DSO2512G	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-2ch-pocket-dsosg-sigpeak-dso2512g
ZEEWEII DSO1511G	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/dso1511e-review
ZEEWEII DSO154 PRO	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-toy()-scope-dso154pro-1ch-claimed-40mss
MUSTOOL MDS120M	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/cheap-portable-scopes-mustool-mds120m-vs-yeapook-ads5012h
ZOTEK ZT-702S/ZT-703S	https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-zoyi-multimeteroscilloscopes-zt-70xs-up-to-50mhz250msps-(nov-2022)

The link to Google Docs is here, you can download and edit it
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BopqOXi_Ma-n5vy--xQyMtJ3LI1DaQ2Is7zV8jPbhKY/edit?usp=sharing

[Veteran68]

Just a suggestion, but since you're including what I'd consider the less capable Mustool MT8200 series, you might as well include the Zoyi ZT-702S too.

[tautech]

Define affordable please.

No Siglent or Micsig models in your list.

[The Soulman]

Define affordable please.

No Siglent or Micsig models in your list.

The same price-range as the scopes mentioned? 

[csuhi17]

HDS2202/S is 1 + 1 GSa/s
for the others, it is divided by channel.

[rf-loop]

Define affordable please.

No Siglent or Micsig models in your list.

They,  Siglent, Micsig, Rigol  and other good and safety caring and responsible manufactures products don't belong in the list of toys and cheap junk that also have lies and scams about technical information. 
So. imho, these are better to keep away from this kind of lists.

[Aldo22]

Two inexpensive devices are missing:

Zeeweii DSO1511E / DSO1511G

SCO_2_10M

[Mechatrommer]

Define affordable please.
No Siglent or Micsig models in your list.

They,  Siglent, Micsig, Rigol  and other good and safety caring and responsible manufactures products don't belong in the list of toys and cheap junk that also have lies and scams about technical information. 
So. imho, these are better to keep away from this kind of lists.

the OWON HDS2102S i own is not cheap junk that lies about spec, what are you smoking? we can guess affordable is somewhere $200 or cheaper. siglent portable i just browsed is $400+ tautech is thanking you for brand butt lifting... cheers

[Aldo22]

the OWON HDS2102S i own is not cheap junk that lies about spec,

Yes, but it doesn't really fit in this list either.
It slipped in there because the HDS242 is there for <$150.
Imo you should limit this list to around $150.
Above that, another price/performance class begins that I would no longer call toy or gadget (not saying these "toys" are useless or have no reason to exist).
Tautech is right: "Please define affordable."

[chemary]

Thanks for your suggestions, I added ZOTEK ZT-702S and Zeeweii DSO1511G, for SCO_2_10M I prefer not to include as there is no much information and is unbranded.
As you speculate my initial intention was to cut a little below USD $200, OWON HDS2102 is on the limit and the new OWON HDS2202 is way above and only included to reflect that there is a successor on this model line.

[Aldo22]

SCO_2_10M I prefer not to include as there is no much information and is unbranded.

But it belongs on this list as the cheapest 2-channel pocket-oscilloscope.
There is actually enough information in the forum thread.
Or what is missing?

It is true that there is no brand specified, but others such as Mustool or Zeeweii are also offered under a wide variety of brands.
The model name is actually enough to recognize it.
For brand, you can simply write "no name" or something like that.

[Mechatrommer]

the OWON HDS2102S i own is not cheap junk that lies about spec,

Yes, but it doesn't really fit in this list either.
It slipped in there because the HDS242 is there for <$150.
Imo you should limit this list to around $150.

either way HDS242 is based on same hw/design as HDS2102S, they are not cheap lying junk...

Tautech is right: "Please define affordable."

without government intervention about the definition, it will stay subjective... student may limit affordable as $50, businessmen may afford to buy $400+ or even much more to $10K range.. so lets wait what OP want to define, we could get a hint from the list he provided already. ymmv.

[Aldo22]

either way HDS242 is based on same hw/design as HDS2102S, they are not cheap lying junk...

No, the Owons are not cheap, lying junk, but "honest" 250/125 MSa/s do not work miracles either, above all they are not really "cheap".
HDS272S costs $175, which gets you two DSO2512Gs, lying or not.

without government intervention about the definition, it will stay subjective... student may limit affordable as $50, businessmen may afford to buy $400+ or even much more to $10K range.. so lets wait what OP want to define, we could get a hint from the list he provided already. ymmv.

Chemary wrote:

As you speculate my initial intention was to cut a little below USD $200, OWON HDS2102 is on the limit and the new OWON HDS2202 is way above and only included to reflect that there is a successor on this model line.

For me, the limit would be $150.

[rf-loop]

Define affordable please.
No Siglent or Micsig models in your list.

They,  Siglent, Micsig, Rigol  and other good and safety caring and responsible manufactures products don't belong in the list of toys and cheap junk that also have lies and scams about technical information. 
So. imho, these are better to keep away from this kind of lists.

the OWON HDS2102S i own is not cheap junk that lies about spec, what are you smoking? we can guess affordable is somewhere $200 or cheaper. siglent portable i just browsed is $400+ tautech is thanking you for brand butt lifting... cheers

opps... I was bit careless
Yep,  very exception, there really was one cherry in the mix. . 

[RAPo]

The long awaited Zotek 703S 2channel+multimeter just appeared on Aliexpress. It Eu89 so fits in your list.

[BrokenYugo]

On the bottom dollar end I think DSO154pro is worth looking at. 18MHz, 40MS/s, single channel, ~35USD (regular price) delivered with probe and battery.

[chemary]

The reason DSO154pro was not included is because it doesn't even have a proper case and feels like a DIY kit, but is true the specs are quite good for the price.
Many people use this portable oscilloscopes to work with mains voltage, they all will work with 10x probe, but not all will survive if you accidentally connect them in 1x mode, I suspect the top ones can deal with it but for the cheapest I first wanted to be sure which is the max rating of the oscilloscope input. I think all this ones will release magic smoke if something above 40V is connected to the input:

• ZEEWEII DSO154pro
• FNIRSI DSO-TC3
• SCO_2_10M
• FNIRSI DSO152

[rsjsouza]

Interesting list. Following...

[Mechatrommer]

either way HDS242 is based on same hw/design as HDS2102S, they are not cheap lying junk...

No, the Owons are not cheap, lying junk, but "honest" 250/125 MSa/s do not work miracles either, above all they are not really "cheap".
HDS272S costs $175, which gets you two DSO2512Gs, lying or not.

you get what you pay for... if you ask me, i prefer one honest guy than 2 dishonest guys, even if they are cheaper. if you look around carefully, you are not comparing apple to apple, you may regret it one day... ymmv..

Interesting list. Following...

OP should also state "actual" spec such as sampling rate from real people reviewing them in order to make the list usefull. ymmv.

[chemary]

OP should also state "actual" spec such as sampling rate from real people reviewing them in order to make the list usefull. ymmv.

I agree, is something I wanted to do. For real bandwidth some oscilloscope descriptions indicate the rise time, but probably this value is as trustworthy as the bandwidth. Maybe I can incorporate at which frequency signal is attenuated 3dB that is something many reviewers test in their videos. You think this is enough?
For real sampling rate I see Dave has checked in some reviews the real sampling rate with 1 and 2 channels pocking directly at the ADC chip, but this information is more difficult to find for all products.
Any help to collect those values will be appreciated.

[uargo]

With all due respect, I think that everything on that list are toys, not oscilloscopes, perhaps the only one that is saved is the owon or the hantek and even so they are very basic models from brands that are on the limit of professional.

[Veteran68]

With all due respect, I think that everything on that list are toys, not oscilloscopes, perhaps the only one that is saved is the owon or the hantek and even so they are very basic models from brands that are on the limit of professional.

Most all of them are real oscilloscopes. Let's not be an elitist or a snob.

Sometimes this is all someone can afford or justify, and they have their place. If they can display the waveform and give you the information you're looking for, then they've served their purpose. I have more than one "toy" oscilloscope in my collection, and they've all come in handy. There's no reason you can't have a $50 scope alongside your $500 or $5000 scope.

[Aldo22]

With all due respect, I think that everything on that list are toys, not oscilloscopes,

How do you define that? How can you recognize a "toyscope"?
Is it a macho thing like: "Anything below a Porsche is not a car" or is there a clear definition?

And no, the fact that the marketing department gives somewhat optimistic specifications is not an indication.
The automotive industry also does this in a completely different price segment. 

[NE666]

Sometimes this is all someone can afford or justify, and they have their place.

^^ That.

Please let's not use these types of thread only to crush the aspirations of the next generation of experimenters and engineers.  If you can afford better, good for you.  I remember the first advertisement for a "real" scope I ever saw, the Philips PM3055.  I drooled over that thing, whilst building on wooden breadboards with screw cups.  It was 20 years before I could afford to buy anything in the contemporaneous similar class.

As long as these devices can deliver an education experience for the purchaser without exposing them to unnecessary harm, that's just fine in my opinion.

[rsjsouza]

With all due respect, I think that everything on that list are toys, not oscilloscopes, perhaps the only one that is saved is the owon or the hantek and even so they are very basic models from brands that are on the limit of professional.

Most all of them are real oscilloscopes. Let's not be an elitist or a snob.

Sometimes this is all someone can afford or justify, and they have their place. If they can display the waveform and give you the information you're looking for, then they've served their purpose. I have more than one "toy" oscilloscope in my collection, and they've all come in handy. There's no reason you can't have a $50 scope alongside your $500 or $5000 scope.

Indeed it has its place. I have other oscilloscopes (some portable even) but the form factor and above average mechanical robustness of the ZT-702S are making me use this guy instead of my DMMs when going to the field. The extra "waveform visualizator" is very convenient to have and debug simple DC power rails deviations, inverter outputs, etc.

In my home country (Brazil) the import taxes are so incredibly high that such types of equipment are greatly appreciated and allow many to start on this field of electronics (mostly repair and audio) by saving their lunch money. Otherwise, brands such as Rigol or Siglent are completely unaffordable for the casual hobbyist.