Apera Instruments PH20 Value pH Meter, Pocket Tester, Waterproof, ±0.1 pH Accuracy, 0-14 pH Range, ±0.5°C Temperature Sensor, Complete kit

This pH meter is more expensive than the no-name pH meter, but imo, it’s well worth the extra money. Very good quality, and with sealed storage cap for water/KCL. The cheaper meters look simple to operate, but without calibration, correct electrode storage, there is no way to be sure the readings are accurate, in which case, you might just well use test strips for more consistent results.One star is taken away, as I think, at this price, Apera should have included a small sample of KCL solution (just like for the PH60). When I received my meter, it had been sitting on the selves for more than 2 years (based on the expiry date on the buffer solutions), so when I started calibrated the meter, the readings were fluctuating badly, I had to order the 3M KCL solution from Amazon again, then rehydrated the electrode overnight, which then solved the problem. This was very inconvenient!The manual even mentions to use KCL solution if the meter has not been used for a long time (e.g. > 1 month). Which is how long most products are stored are the selves. So the KCL solution should really be included.

Much much better than the cheap PH pens that you can get in different colours. Reading is quick and indicated by a smiley face. Comes with two buffer solutions (pre-made) and calibration in straight forward. I gently heated the buffer solution to near 25 degrees to get an accurate calibration but I don’t think it was necessary. Instructions could be better but no issue in understanding them.To take a reading, switch on and dip the pen into the solution, gentle stir and wait for smiley face (appears in about 3-5s) and read the number from the screen, that’s the PH.Clean probe with distilled or deionised water afterwards.I find for reading lower PH values, in my case 6.1, the readings too a little longer to settle, maybe 5-7s. Still not an issue but for that I knocked off 1 star for accuracy.I store the pen with a few drops of tap water to keep the probe from drying out. You can get KCI solution instead and use that to store the pen but it’s mega expensive. Same with the buffer solution. It’s also a shame they don’t supply you with the PH 10 buffer solution. But for my purposes I don’t need an accurate reading much above 7, though it would of been handy.To calibrate press and hold the Cal button and dip into PH 7 solution, gentle stir and let the reading stabilise. Press Cal button again. Clean with distilled water and repeat for PH 4 solution. You are now calibrated.I use deionised water from Halfords £3.50 for 5l, Cheaper and easier to get hold of than distilled water. Personally i dip the pen straight into buffer solution in the bottle making sure probe is cleaned with deionised water and dabbed dry with tissue first.The amount I use the pen and the amount I need to recalibrate means it be silly for me to pour the buffer solution into another bottle and throw away afterwards. A pair of PH buffer solution is extremely overpriced, you may as well get a new pen. For that I knocked of one star.Overall I think you can’t get wrong with this pen and with items like this you really do get what you pay for. Ignore the cheap pens if you want a reliable PH reading. I’ve used the cheap pens and always had doubt whether the reading was correct.

I've had this since 2020 and it has been fabulous with my cosmetic products. Accurate readings, easy to calibrate, always ready when i need it. One thing to keep in mind is the difficulty of cleaning the probe, especially when you test more viscous products. I thoroughly clean mine, at least I thought i did, until recently it has grown mould around some of the casing. Off to get a new one. Apart from that, great value for money, fantastic piece of kit for your lab.

Great tool!Came pre-calibrated and with working batteries.What I loved was the fact that it came with PH 4 and 7 buffer solution (not powder mix) for 1 or 2-point calibration but this tester also supports 3-point calibration with PH 1️0 solution which was not included in this kit.Laminated instruction sheet so you can't accidentally make it soggy with your wet PH meter.Waterproof.A real-time reading that is not jumping all over the place, love it!Worth the extra pounds for German quality instruments

ive always had a kaizen ph meter in the past and i used to think a ph meter is a ph meter i was so very wrong ive had ph problems for years and not even known about it till now this apera ph 20 is absolutely amazing ive put the kaizen in the bin and i should have done it years ago this is why i could not grow anything worth having the ph was a mile out even if i calibrate it first now i have used this one a bit i can see the difference wow thats the difference plants are very healthy and no yellowing or brown bits i thought it was a bit dear at £46 but now i do not now i think it was very cheep if you are thinking about buying one do it you will see what i mean its a different world with one

Nice quality and well made piece of kit, the probe section is replaceable. The model 60 is a lot more complex and for ec/ppm you don't need to spend twice the price (the cheap £10 ones work just as well) I've never been fully confident in the cheap ph models ive had for a while, and im sure with the afor mentioned replaceable probe this will last. I see the company's been about for a while and to get better you need to spend £20-£30 more.