10 Best Portable Handheld Oscilloscopes (2020 Reviews)

A portable oscilloscope, also known as a portable DSO (Digital Storage Oscilloscope), or mini DSO, is a tool used to provide an in-depth analysis of electrical circuits. The best portable oscilloscope will have a bright, easy to read display, an intuitive menu system, and will feature a large memory.

A simple multimeter can provide a surprising amount of information when testing basic electronics, but once things get a little more complicated, a multimeter alone won’t do the trick. The main advantage that an oscilloscope has over a multimeter is its ability to display voltage and current over a period of time (Source).

Where a multimeter might show a clean 5.0 Volts when testing a circuit, testing the same circuit with a portable oscilloscope gives you the ability to ‘zoom in’ and see finer detail. In some cases, you may be able to see signs of instability, such as voltage ripple, that simply won’t show up on a multimeter (Source).

There are many different technical factors to consider when picking out a portable oscilloscope. Before buying one, consider its price, warranty, input impedance, maximum measurement frequency, and memory size. It’s also important to consider its weight, as you will be moving it around a lot.

All of the portable oscilloscopes in this review will enable you to precisely analyze circuits, whether you are an electronics engineer working for a large company, or a hobbyist working on projects at home.

What Is A Good Beginner Oscilloscope?

The SainSmart Mini DSO203 is a battery-powered, portable oscilloscope that’s perfect for both professionals and hobbyists. It includes a USB port, an 8M in-built USB disk, and SD storage. The SainSmart Mini is fitted with a full color 3” display that allows you to make quick assessments.

What is a Portable Handheld Oscilloscope?

An oscilloscope is a device that can be used for a wide variety of professional tasks that require the user to visualize data that isn’t visible. An oscilloscope displays and graphs electrical signals from a variety of possible sources, letting the user convert invisible signals into visible data.

Comparing The Best Portable Handheld Oscilloscopes

1. Siglent Technologies SDS1052DL+ 50 MHz Digital Storage Oscilloscope – Best Overall

The Siglent SDS1034DL oscilloscope is rated one of the best by leading experts in the industry. This may be attributed to the advanced features it offers. For instance, this unit can filter and discard false triggers whenever you are taking measurements. As such, it is renowned for providing accurate readings. Furthermore, it features a 500 MSa/s real-time sampling rate and has a memory depth of 32 Kpts.

Plus, this oscilloscope supports two channels. More than that, it also boasts a 7-inch color TFT, LCD display. Not only does this display offer you an exceptional view of waveforms, but the size and resolution of this screen allow you to take precise measurements as well. Similarly, as it is a modern gadget, the SDS1034DL is designed to support the standard interfaces like RS-232, USB Host, and USB Device. Some of the advanced trigger modes among its features include pulse, video, slope, width, edge, and alternate selectable modes.

2. Rigol DS1054Z Digital Oscilloscope – Great Value for Money

If you are looking for a reliable product by a reputable manufacturer, the Rigol DS1054Z will be a great choice. Among the best features of this gadget is its support for four channels. Thus with this product, you do not have to sacrifice essential features. For instance, the device offers a sampling rate of 1GSa/s and a memory depth of 12 Mpts. Alongside that, the memory on this gadget is upgradable to 24 Mpts as well. Likewise, the unit is equipped with a relatively large 7-inch display and is capable of capturing waveforms at 30.000 wmfs/second.

3. Kuman DSO 138 DIY KIT Open Source – The Best Budget Oscilloscope

This product is particularly produced for the professionals and students who love building things on their own and are good with the soldering iron. Rather than buying a complete unit, you can save a considerable amount of money by building your own handheld oscilloscope using this kit. In this regard, this kit comes with ready to assemble oscilloscope parts.

Some of the parts are pre-soldered to make its assembly a little bit easier. In any case, the product comes with illustrative assembly instructions to help you through. This is a cheap handheld oscilloscope which costs only $25 on average. Therefore, if you love building things and are good at electrical assembly and soldering, it is advisable to consider this option.

4. SainSmart Mini DSO203 Handheld Pocket-Sized Digital Storage Oscilloscope – The Best Oscilloscope for Lightweight & Compact Design

Are you after a compact design with a trendy appeal in your new oscilloscope? Well, the SainSmart Mini DS0203 Digital Storage Oscilloscope is one of the best today. It is packed with all the essential features for minimum usage, and to begin with, it offers a real-time sampling rate of 10 MSa/s. Additionally, this digital oscilloscope comes with a color-touch nano screen with a resolution of 320*240 pixels.

Alongside that, it can record lengths of up to 8K. The DSOS204 boasts of a 1 MHz bandwidth. Thus, with such capabilities, this unit is best suited for educational and minimal engineering applications. One could say this is the best oscilloscope for hobbyists as well.

5. LIUMY Professional Handheld LED Scopemeter Oscilloscope – The Best Portable Handheld Oscilloscope Below $100

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If you are looking for a good value for money, then your preferred portable oscilloscope should be as versatile as the LIUMY Professional Oscilloscope. Though affordable, this unit serves as an oscilloscope as well as a multimeter. Likewise, it comes with rechargeable batteries which makes it one of the best portable oscilloscopes today.

While the product is meant for modest applications, its features make it worth every penny. Its most notable feature is its automatic waveform capture capability. Meanwhile, the 200 Ksps real-time sampling rate, pocket-sized design and LED backlight screen are other features that make this pocket-sized oscilloscope appealing.

6. Owon HDS1021M Digital Handheld Oscilloscope – Most Efficient

If your engineering or technician job involves frequent traveling, then you might need to equip yourself with the right equipment. With the Owon HDS102M, you can rely on portability without adding weight to your belongings. The HDS102M offers you a digital, single-channel oscilloscope that efficiently functions at 20MHz bandwidth.

You will find it suitable for both AC and DC operations raging up to 400 volts at 20amp current max. It also features a bright TFT-LCD display of 3.5 inches that gives you a clear view of the measurements and waveforms on it. Created using safe EN 6010-1:2001 standards, you can expect it to function at 40 MΩ resistance and 100 μF capacitance securely.

7. Quimet DSO138 Pocket Oscilloscope – Great For Beginners

The DSO138 by Quimat is a custom oscilloscope created for portability and efficiency. The device gives you a simple-to-use operation that does not need any preparations. It includes a reliable and simple circuit that is great for beginners for practice. Additionally, it comes with 0 to 200KHz analog bandwidth with the highest sampling rate at 1 MS/s.

On top of that, the record length in this device is of 1024 points. The TFT-LCD display is adequately sized at 2.4 inches. It comes with instructions that are easy to understand. Furthermore, you get a source code with it that lets you customize it as per your own convenience.

8. Allosun Portable Oscilloscope And Multimeter – Most Stylish

Now here is an oscilloscope that features an ergonomic and stylish design. Allosun ensures its customers a robust model, which gives you a vivid waveform visualization through the conveniently-sized screen. Not to mention, the single-channel unit uses a 3.7V Li-battery to power its circuit for giving you a sampling rate of 100 MS/s at a bandwidth of 25MHz.

The Allosun oscilloscope is an accurate device that offers a record length of up to 6000 points. Furthermore, the device includes an active and fast comparator to keep the display stable.

9. Signstek Arm Nano DS202 Mini Oscilloscope – Versatile Design

With the Signstek Nano DS202 oscilloscope, you get a versatile device without compromising with the design. It’s compact with a color TFT-LCD display to see waveforms efficiently. Using it is quite easy as there is only one touch-sensitive button that reads various gestures for operations. You need to double-tap, slide, etc., to make it follow the instructions you give it.

Furthermore, you can store recorded waveforms in its 8M memory chip for keeping track of your data. The DS202 gives you a decent sample rate of 10MHz with 1MHz analog bandwidth.

10. Signstek UT81B UNI-T LCD Oscillometer And Multimeter – High Performance

The UT81B is a premium-quality portable oscillometer with 8MHz bandwidth to support the maximum sampling rate of 40 MS/s. It accurately provides data for tests related to diodes, capacitance, duty cycle, resistance, voltage, and current. Signstek has featured an additional protective layer of insulation over the device for keeping it safe against overloads. The convenient mono LCD screen ensures a decent resolution for the waveforms without any interruptions. Additionally, it has an automatic mode to help you diagnose more efficiently.

Do I Really Need An Oscilloscope?

Oscilloscopes are essential tools for engineers or technicians in the fields of automotive, telecommunications, medicine, and the sciences. They can help you quickly assess electrical signals, specifically distortion, amplitude, frequency, and rise time. Oscilloscopes can be general-purpose but can also be designed for specific functions.

Most Common Issues People Have with Portable Handheld Oscilloscopes

• Poor Battery Life: One of the common mistakes people make with getting a portable oscilloscope is to not consider battery life. You should expect the oscilloscope you purchase to last as long as you need it to. To avoid running into power issues, make sure to find a model with a long battery life that lasts longer than you estimate needing.
• Slow Processing: The speed and type of processing is a feature which many people don’t consider. Also known as sampling rates and modes, certain models are better at processing and projecting your data than others.
• Hard to Read: Getting portable devices of any sort isn’t necessarily the ideal solution. Especially if the device’s portability makes it more difficult to use. If you are too concerned with the portability of an oscilloscope, it is easier to end up with a model that is difficult to read.

Features of the Best Portable Handheld Oscilloscopes

In order to find an oscilloscope which works well with your needs, there are many different variables to consider. The last thing you want to do is purchase the wrong model. In order to help you shorten your research and find the best portable handheld oscilloscope for your needs, here are the features which you should look for:

Efficient Data Collection & Projection

The bandwidth, sampling rates, and modes are important features to consider before you purchase any oscillator. These are what tell you how quickly and accurately your data sets will be recorded and projected. The sampling rate for the device you purchase should be about three times its bandwidth.  A nice model’s bandwidth range will typically be around 50 MHz to 200 MHz and come with a sampling rate of around 500 MSa/s.

Plenty of Channels

If you need your oscilloscope to measure multiple signals at the same time, find a model, which has enough space for you to work with. There are many different portable handheld oscilloscopes which come with more than one channel. Although models with more than one channel are usually a little more expensive, you might need one.

Designed for your Particular Task(s)

Oscilloscopes come in many different styles which are best used for particular tasks. Dual-beam oscilloscopes, as an example, can simultaneously project two different signals on two different screens. Finding the best portable handheld oscilloscope for your needs requires you to consider how and why the device will be used. This will help you find a model that is best suited and designed for your particular jobs.

Portable, Lightweight & a Long Battery Life

Finding an oscilloscope that is portable and lightweight is one of the most important specifications for many people. The best way to handle this is to consider the space have ready and find a model, which won’t turn into a burden. A portable oscilloscope also should weigh less than 10 pounds and have no dimensions which stretch much longer than a 12-inch ruler. Think about how long you will need to use the device, and make sure that battery life will be enough.

Factors to Consider Before Buying

Although portable handheld oscilloscopes are useful devices, choosing the right one is not easy. If you are looking forward to buying the best handheld oscilloscope, here are some of the considerations you should make.

1. Types of Oscilloscopes

The right type of portable oscilloscope will mainly depend on the intended application. Additionally, you should also consider the number of signals you would like to track simultaneously using the gadget. While trying to figure out the best oscilloscope type to buy, it will also help to estimate the amplitude range of the signals you will be measuring. Alongside that, you should try to figure out the ideal oscilloscope display as well.

• Dual Beam Oscilloscopes

Would you like to have a device that can display the waveforms of two different signals at the same time? Most of the gadgets within this category feature a pair of screens where two electric signals can be displayed simultaneously. There are some real-time digital oscilloscopes that are designed to offer you the same functionality.

• Digital vs. Analog Oscilloscopes

Conventional analog oscilloscopes are relatively affordable, but modern digital handheld portable oscilloscopes have more features to offer. For instance, the best digital gadgets are equipped with color screens and feature improved capabilities, simplified controls, larger storage capacities, and faster processing capabilities. However, if you are looking for affordability, analog oscilloscopes will do.

2. Sampling Rate and Modes

Sampling rate and sampling modes are other important considerations you need to make while shopping for these gadgets. For sampling modes, you will have to choose between real-time sampling and equivalent-time sampling (ETS) options. The ETS oscilloscopes reconstruct signals from the single shots it has collected.

Thus, this type of oscilloscope is best suited for recurring signals. Meanwhile, the real-time sampling oscilloscope models are suited for most industrial applications. The sampling rate refers to how fast an oscilloscope can process an electric signal into digital data that you can read from its display. As a guide, the right sampling rate for your preferred unit should be 3 to 5 times its bandwidth.

3. Bandwidth

While choosing the best bandwidth, you should aim at minimizing the loss of amplitude for incoming signals. For best results, it is advisable to go for a bandwidth that is at least twice the frequency of the unit. If you will be primarily using the gadget to measure high-frequency signals or pulses, it is advisable to go for the devices with high bandwidth.

Alternatively, such professionals should buy a digitizer. Should you opt for a device that has a lower bandwidth than needed; the results will be warped, hence useless.

4. Triggering

This is the precipitating event that commences the sequence of measuring an incoming signal. With a good portable handheld oscilloscope, you should be able to distinguish signal events that preceded and followed the main event. Not only does triggering prevent the onboard memory from getting clogged with useless data; but it also allows the device to capture more accurate, useful, and strategic data. For more complex applications, your preferred model should have more than the common trigger options.

5. Resolution

The display is another thing you have to be very careful with. This being the case, the resolution offered by your preferred gadget should allow you to view the displayed waveforms. For small signals, you will need an oscilloscope that has a relatively high resolution. The various high-resolution oscilloscope models are considered to be good at displaying dynamic signals.

6. Channels

Consider the number of signals you want to be displayed when choosing an oscilloscope. One channel is enough to recognize the presence of a signal within the normal range, while two channels are efficient for signal and correlation reading. On the other hand, four channels are perfect for a simultaneous view.

Ready To Buy The Best Portable Handheld Oscilloscope?

The choice of the right portable handheld oscilloscope can be a tricky one. Not only are there many models to choose from, but you also need to get a unit that has the features you need.

Based on the intended application, your preferred models should have the right resolution, triggering features, bandwidth, and sampling rate. Some professionals are looking for a compact oscilloscope that is packed with all the essential features.

In such a case, the Siglent Technologies SDS1052DL would offer a good value for your money. However, if you are a student, you must be looking for a trendy yet compact and pocket-friendly design.

Therefore, the SainSmart Mini DSO203 will be a great choice. This model feels and looks like a conventional tablet device. Regardless of your preferences, the various considerations discussed in this guide will help you choose the right portable handheld oscilloscope.

From monitoring electrical signals, let’s move over to monitoring of angular speed of a chainsaw, with our Reviews of Top Chainsaw Tachometers.