Keysight EDUX1052A vs Rigol DS1054Z
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Keysight
$479
Rigol
$349
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Keysight EDUX1052A | Rigol DS1054Z |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 50 MHz | 50 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1 GSa/s | 1 GSa/s |
| Channels | 2 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 1 Mpts | 12 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 7" |
| Weight | 3 kg | 3.2 kg |
| Price | $479 | $349 |
| Rating | 5.0/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | No | Yes |
| Function Gen | No | No |
| WiFi | No | No |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon · $479 | Buy on Amazon · $349 |
Pros & Cons
Keysight EDUX1052A
Pros
- Keysight brand name carries genuine weight in professional and educational settings
- Excellent build quality and probe quality — designed for daily institutional use
- Good for educational labs with Keysight's courseware integration
- Measurement accuracy you can genuinely trust
Cons
- Only 50MHz and 2 channels for ~$479 — objectively poor value
- No protocol decoding unless you pay for the upgrade option
- Only 1Mpt memory depth — shallower than budget alternatives
- The DS1054Z gives you 4 channels and better specs for $130 less
- No path to growth — the platform has limited upgrade options
Rigol DS1054Z
Pros
- 4 channels at a mid-range price — still rare and genuinely valuable
- 12Mpt memory depth is excellent for long capture sessions
- Massive community: tutorials, hacks, and forum answers everywhere you look
- Well-documented bandwidth hack unlocks 100MHz — free upgrade
- Trigger types rival scopes twice the price
- Protocol decoding (SPI, I2C, UART) included at no extra cost
Cons
- 50MHz stock bandwidth is limiting for faster SPI clocks and RF work
- Interface feels dated compared to the newer Rigol DHO series
- No touchscreen — menu navigation requires physical button presses
- Fan is audible in quiet environments
- The DHO924S has overtaken it on almost every spec at a similar price
Our Verdicts
Keysight EDUX1052A
The Keysight EDUX1052A exists for one reason: the Keysight brand name, and in some contexts that name justifies the premium. In university labs, professional environments, and anywhere that an audit or institutional requirement specifies Keysight, this scope carries weight that Rigol and Siglent simply don't. The scope itself is well-built and accurate — measurements you can trust without second-guessing. But 50MHz, 2 channels, and 1Mpt memory for $479 is genuinely hard to defend on pure value. A DS1054Z gives you more of everything for $130 less. Buy this only if your employer is paying, your school requires it, or you specifically need Keysight's educational courseware integration — those are real justifications. For pure hobbyist use, you'd be paying 35% more for a brand name.
Rigol DS1054Z
The Rigol DS1054Z is the default recommendation in every electronics forum for a reason — it earned that reputation over a decade of consistent performance. Four channels, 12Mpt memory, comprehensive protocol decoding, and an absurd number of trigger types for ~$349 is a package that nothing in this price range matched for years. The 50MHz bandwidth is the only real limitation, and the well-documented hack to unlock 100MHz makes even that a manageable concern. Yes, the newer Rigol DHO924S has better specs in nearly every category — but the DS1054Z has something no spec sheet can quantify: years of solved problems, answered questions, and tutorials from the EEVblog and r/AskElectronics communities. If you're buying your first serious oscilloscope and want to minimize frustration, this is still a great choice. If you can stretch to $449, the DHO924S is the better buy in 2026.