Flagship Diagnostic Platform Showdown: Topdon Phoenix MAX Vs. Snap-on ZEUS. Best Bang For Your Buck?

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-----I assume no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. I recommend safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond my control, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not myself.-----

[PoliticallyIncorrectMechanic]

Thank you so much for doing this. I was almost about to buy a used Zeus for 6500 when someone told me about the Topdon. Never heard of it before. Amazing to get everything you do for 3800 with a scope!

[feeneysauto]

I own a repair shop I have a snapon tritan d10 it was around 5500 bucks its not a bad scanner and the guided tests is nice because you can scope a sensor super fast and it tells you specs and where to backprobe the sensors so you dont need tojump on ur service manual. However what is SUPER frusterating is when I have a car with a misfire like this infinity recently and the snap on scanner has no misfire data but I grab my AUTEL TPMS Tablet I paid like 500 bucks for and it has misfire data. I have had a few cars that the snapon didnt have bi-directional control of something or didnt have a test but my autel tpms tablet did. Were talking about aftermarket scanners ur never gonna get everything I get that I just dont like how expensive snap on is and having to pull out a 500 buck tablet to check a misfire on a car like an infinity that it should do

[warrentinsley]

Your scan tool cost more than my Subaru 😮😮

[MichaelDelToro]

good point on the information of how the snapon tool can walk you thru most diangnosis of your sensors on vehicles.

[lovetolearn]

A lot of people hate on snap-on, especially the scanner. I own all 3 brands, same top don the ultra from autel and the snap on verus edge. The verus edge is my go to. It's easier to navigate understand pids the scope is my second favorite other then the pico. On top of that built in to the tool you have trouble shooter and component test. Yes I can look it up but it takes more time.

[DragonBlue]

Great review! Snapy has been pushing an upgrade of my "obsolete" Modis Ultra. The Snap-On Zeus Plus, with trade-in of my Modis Ultra ($2000) and $1600 instant rebate, is $9k. Unfortunately, this is still a bit rich for my blood -especially with Snap-On's interest rate. It does start way faster than the older Zeus. Matco has let me test drive their Maximus 4.0 (Launch) for a few weeks. It has some quirks, is rather big and bulky, but is easy to use. "If" I went with something the size of the Launch or TopDon, I'd just get a laptop carry case.

[_Epictetus_]

I have been looking and for the price you can't beat topdon. Thanks man 👍

[darknature]

Well damn, topdon wants to make their next scanner on a 42 inch flat screen.

[oldguy]

I'm 90% retired after 40+ years in the trade. Unless you specialize in just one make and use a factory scan tool with current updates and a subscription to down load updates, it's impossible to own just one scan tool.

I own three different scan tools; SO Solus Ultra (now considered "vintage", a no name "pro consumer" level tool and, yes, a Vintage OTC Genisys with updates to 2013.

Each scan tool has its good/bad points; believe it or not, the Genisys can connect with older vehicle (prior to 2000) which other units have trouble with.

The costs of equipment today is going up faster than the government CPI, which is another reason I chose to retire (more or less). The costs of continuous updates runs from 350 to 1200 USD yearly for each scan tool not to mention that in many cases a scan tool becomes obsolete between 5 - 8 years.

SO is imho, a great tool for US makes + Toyota & Honda, weak everywhere else. So, you need another scan tool for the Asian makes and/or European stuff.

My question to you is, why not purchase a Pico 4 channel scope rather than use the SO unit?

[darknature]

Man I was gonna get a launch x431 but all the positive topdon reviews got me thinking twice

[bullnukeoldman]

i purchased a Topdon Phoenix Plus (the $800 model) and am extremely happy with it. I probably does 85% to 90% of the functions of the Phoenix Elite, enough for this home mechanic. I am pretty impressed with it. A Topdon Max is pretty nice but overkill in my situation...

[juniormeghji]

I just replaced two of my shop scanners with topdon scanners. So majority of the scanners in my shop are now topdon besides my dedicated scanner I use for indepth programming for coding, deleting dpf, egr and addblue etc. Bang for the buck the topdon is probably the best scanner on the market. For majority of what most shops are going to use the scanner for, the topdon is going to take care of all your needs.

[migueljimenez]

Topdon and matco and other scanners have or are provided their software is from launch 🚀

[supermotos]

That is amazing after spending $10, 000 they insult you by charging another $450 for the dock. Brilliant.

[OhhState]

There is no way I could work on modern cars. I just changed the spark plugs in my 2018 Outback and while the hardest part was a stuck bolt on the battery tray, I made the decision that as soon as I don’t need a reliable car to get me tj work and back I’m buying a 67 Chevy pickup and I’m never going to have to shove my hands down in an engine and cut them all up ever again. All the electronic components I simply don’t need. No scan tool needed for a 67 Chevy. 😂

[shanestrains]

My old Solus Edge is pretty fast, but it doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the Zeus. It really depends on the car, some cars my snappy seems to talk better with than my topdon and vice versa

[GreatGrandmasterWang]

Ahh yes I’m watching gadgets that I can never afford

[bas]

As for the dongle, the Snappy is Bluetooth and the Topdon WiFi/BT. The Topdon J3425 had more capabilities being a J3425 device and transmits data to the scan tool via WiFi much faster. Bluetooth is a big negative regardless of size having a slower transmission rate. Same as the Throttle 3, communicates with the scan tool via WiFi.

[MKE_Mike]

And here I thought I was doing ok with my $12 Bluetooth OBDII code reader and the Torque Pro app on my phone.😂

[FORDTECH]

It’s funny when you said that you’re pushing 40 that you enjoy the bigger screen, because I think the same thing to myself lol 😅