Top 10 Engine Scanners
for June 2023

The Foxwell NT301 scanner is a sturdy and durable device with a screen that's large enough to see your OBD2 data clearly. The scanner's controls are simple, and the device reads OBD2 and OBD1 codes, which is important because most scanners only read OBD2 codes. The scanner's battery life is 18 months, and the scanner's 16-pin DLC cord is long enough to reach most vehicles, including the Jeep Cherokee we tested it on. The scanner has 8 LED lights that indicate the status of your car's OBD2, and these LED lights are bright enough to read in low light. The scanner analyzes your car's sensors, as well as its ECU (engine control unit), and the device can store up to 50,000 readings in an SD card. The scanner's data can be streamed live to your computer, and the device also stores a 2.8 million number of codes. The NT301 scanner can also connect to a printer and print out your car's OBD2 codes. The scanner's software is intuitive, and the device displays data in the form of graphs. The scanner is pricey, but it's one of the best OBD2 scanners we tested, and it earns our Editors' Choice for OBD2 scanners.

The OM126P scan tool is an easy-to-use, affordable car diagnostic tool. It has a wide range of vehicle coverage, including newer imports. It's well built, features a large, bright screen, and provides a clear, detailed report when scanning trouble codes. The scan tool is designed primarily for reading codes, but it also can erase them, display engine data, and reset monitors. The scan tool is compact and lightweight, making it easy to take with you when you travel. It ships with a 6-foot USB cable for charging, a 2. 4-inch TFT color LCD screen, a silicone keypad, a 9V battery, and a carrying case. The scan tool works on all cars manufactured after 1996 using OBD II protocols, including Toyota, Ford, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Porsche. When scanning trouble codes, the scan tool prints out a detailed report, including the cause of the problem, the symptons, and the solution. The scan tool can read and erase trouble codes, turn off the MIL (check your car engine), and reset the monitor. The scan tool works with iOS, Android, and Windows devices.

The Foxwell NT201 is a relatively affordable code reader, and it performs well for its price point. Its 10-mode functionality includes codes, monitors freeze frames, reads live data streams, performs bank and cylinder misfire diagnosis, and performs O2 sensor and EVAP tests. The scanner can also read and erase codes, and it retrieves pending codes, as well as I/M readiness. It has an easy-to-read 2.4" color LCD screen, and it's rechargeable via a USB port. The scanner is compact and portable, and it has a backlit screen, so you can use it at night. The NT201 does a fairly good job of detecting misfires, though it's a little lacking in performance. It can't diagnose misfires beyond cylinders 1 and 2, and it doesn't crawl the misfire meter to determine which cylinders are misfired, both of which the Foxwell F220 can do. The NT201's poor resolution makes it difficult to diagnose misfires and O2 sensor errors, and it often took several tries to get it right. Also, the NT201's O2 sensor test requires users to manually turn off the engine, so it can only test one cylinder at a time. The NT201 is easy enough to use, but some of its features are missing, and it's not as advanced as its more expensive competitive products.

Our previous pick, the Launch Creader CR123, was one of our favorite handheld diagnostic scanners, and it continues to be a solid choice. But the Launch CRP123 scanner is an improvement on its predecessor. The display is brighter and sharper, and the navigation through the menus is simpler. The CRP123 also includes a built-in printer, so you can easily print any data from your car. (The CR123 had a removable printer, so you had to buy a separate cable and printer to use it.) The CRP123 also has more diagnostic modes than the CR123, and it has a more advanced on-board monitoring system, which we'll explain in greater detail below. The CRP123's onboard monitoring system is especially useful, because it lets you view data in real time or get a snapshot of the data as it changes over time. For example, you could view a vehicle's speed, RPMs, coolant temperature, and fuel level in real time. The CRP123 can read and clear ABS, SRS, and transmission codes, and it can also diagnose engine trouble codes. However, it can't read and reset engine light codes. Plus, it can only read and reset OBD2 codes. The CRP123's monitoring features are a big improvement over the CR123, but the lack of an engine light code reader and reset capability is disappointing. The CRP123 scanner performs well overall, but it's more suited for technician and shop owners than it is for DIYers.

The LAUNCH 123X is a powerful, professional OBD2 scanner with best-in-class features. It's easy to use, and it's packed with features. The 5-inch touchscreen is responsive, easy to read, and easy to navigate. The LAUNCH 123X can diagnose all four systems, can clear codes, and it offers live data streams for all four systems. Our only complaint is the 5-inch screen is relatively small, and it's challenging to read text on it. The LAUNCH 123X's built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to update and to add new vehicles to the database. The LAUNCH 123X doesn't offer as many features as some of our other top picks, but it scans all four systems, and it's easy to use, so it's a great choice for most amateur mechanics. The LAUNCH 123X is a good value, too, and it's more affordable than many professional-grade scanners.

The NEXAS NL101 is a reasonably priced OBD2 scanner that covers a wide range of car makes and models. It reads and clears codes, displays a message when diagnostic trouble codes are detected, and displays an on-board monitor test. The NL101's color screen is easy to read, and its two buttons are large enough for users of all sizes. The NAXAS NL101 is much faster than other scanners we tested, and it's easy to use. However, the NL101's battery test and on-board monitor test are somewhat limited. The NAXAS NL101 is a good basic tool for auto repair shops, but it's somewhat expensive for car owners. If you only need basic OBD2 functions, the AL03C or AL04C are more economical options, and both have more features than the NL101.

No car owner is immune to a warning light or error code. Without the right scanner, diagnosing your car's problems can be time-consuming and frustrating. The Launch CRP123E is the fastest, easiest, and most affordable way to diagnose and troubleshoot your car. It's accurate, fast, and easy to use. It's small enough to fit in your hand, yet large enough to accommodate most car dashboards and gauges. We used it to diagnose, clear, and erase OBD1 and OBD2 error codes and warning lights for a variety of cars, including VW, Ford, and Toyota. The CRP123E also detects and reads airbag warning lights and VIN numbers, and connects to your car's onboard computer system to display real-time data. There are 20 diagnostic modes, including ABS, SRS, and transmission, and the CRP123E's multi-color display makes it easy to see exactly what's wrong. The CRP123E has a 5-inch, 800 x 480-pixel touchscreen display with Wi-Fi connectivity. The scanner's free app (available for iOS and Android) allows you to store, view, and share diagnostics data, as well as update the scanner's software. You can also use the scanner's WiFi function to send diagnostic information to your smartphone. The CRP123E is an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool. It's perfect for home- and garage-based mechanics, and anyone who wants the peace of mind that comes from knowing their car is in good hands.

The Crp123 OBD2 scanner is a rugged, inexpensive scanner that easily performs basic OBD2 functions. It comes with a lot of software, including a free OBD2 scan tool app, and it's simple to operate. The CRP123 scanner can read and clear codes, perform emission tests, read and reset ECUs, read and reset ABS sensors, perform evaporative system and O2 sensor tests, read and clear ABS fault codes, and perform trip and fuel economy data logging, as well as perform other functions. The scanner can read and clear data from most Asian, European, and US vehicles, and it can perform emission tests on vehicles made after 1996. The CR123 scanner is rugged enough to withstand rain, heavy vibrations, and extreme temperatures. The scanner's software is extremely easy to use, and it doesn't take long to learn how to perform basic functions. The CR123 scanner also includes a free OBD2 app, but the app's interface isn't as intuitive as the scanner's, and it limits you to performing a few functions. There are a few limitations with the software, too. For example, you can't clear codes with the app, and you can only perform basic emissions tests, which don't allow you to test eClutch, throttle body, or mass airflow sensors. The CR123 scanner also doesn't offer the data logging capabilities that some other scanners do, and you can't view live data streams.

The CRP123X is the best OBD2 scanner you can buy. Whether you just want to check car health or diagnose your own car, the CRP123X will help you get it done quickly. The CRP123X is the 3rd generations of Launch's OBD2 scanner line. It has all the features of our previous top picks, the Launch LC-18 and LC-20, and adds several helpful features, including live data display and graph merging. Its most distinguishing feature, however, is AUTO VIN. The CRP123X can identify car make, model, and year information to shorten the vehicle navigation process. What's more, the CRP123X can look up vehicle-specific data online and download the latest software via Wi-Fi, so you can keep using the latest features and bug fixes. The CRP123X's Wi-Fi update process is simple, and because it's done over the air, you don't have to type in any codes. The CRP123X is also one of the most affordable OBD2 scanners on the market, with a list price of just $99.99. The Launch LC-18 and LC-20 were less expensive, but the CRP123X is easier to use (especially for inexperienced users) and has more features. The CRP123X is much more portable than the LC-18 and LC-20, too, thanks to the included carrying case and battery. The LC-18 and LC-20 are more powerful than the CRP123X, but are a bit larger, heavier, and more expensive.

The LAUNCH CRP123E is a feature-rich, reliable code reader and scanner. The black box is small (2.5" x 1.5" x 0.9") and relatively quiet, and it's capable of diagnosing a wide array of problems. We found it worked well on cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as light-duty trucks, trailers, and motor homes. The LAUNCH CRP123E supports ABS, SRS, and engine diagnosis. It also offers a VIN check, a service reminder that reminds you when your vehicle is due for maintenance, a history report that records all your data, and real-time monitoring of your vehicle's battery voltage. The CRP123E has Bluetooth capability, so you can connect it to your phone, tablet, or laptop wirelessly. You can also connect it to your computer via USB, or connect it to a vehicle's diagnostic port. The CRP123E's user interface is intuitive and easy to understand, and it's designed with a large, easy-to-read screen. The CRP123E comes with a one-year warranty and lifetime free updates, and it's backed by LAUNCH's excellent customer service.