Rigol DHO804 vs Rigol DHO924S
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Rigol
$439
Rigol
$449
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DHO804 | Rigol DHO924S |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 70 MHz | 250 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1.25 GSa/s | 1.25 GSa/s |
| Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 25 Mpts | 50 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 7" |
| Weight | 3.8 kg | 3.8 kg |
| Price | $439 | $449 |
| Rating | 7.0/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon · $439 | Buy on Amazon · $449 |
Pros & Cons
Rigol DHO804
Pros
- 7-inch IPS touchscreen — same display as the DHO924S
- 25Mpt memory depth is solid for extended capture sessions
- Modern, intuitive interface makes learning easy
- 4 channels with protocol decoding (SPI, I2C, UART)
- WiFi connectivity for remote viewing and data export
Cons
- 70MHz bandwidth is the real compromise — limits this scope's ceiling
- No built-in function generator unlike the DHO924S
- 25Mpts memory is half the DHO924S's 50Mpts
- At $439, the DHO924S adds 250MHz, a function gen, and double the memory for just $10 more
Rigol DHO924S
Pros
- 250MHz bandwidth with 4 channels for under $500 — exceptional value
- 7-inch IPS touchscreen with 1024x600 resolution — sharp and responsive
- 50Mpt memory depth for extended captures
- Built-in function generator and WiFi connectivity included
- Modern phone-like interface has almost no learning curve
- Protocol decoding for SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, and LIN
Cons
- 1.25GSa/s sample rate could be higher given the 250MHz bandwidth
- Newer platform means less community documentation than the DS1054Z
- Some early firmware bugs have been reported — check version before updating
- Fan can be audible in a quiet room
Our Verdicts
Rigol DHO804
The Rigol DHO804 is the entry point to Rigol's DHO platform, offering the same 7-inch IPS touchscreen experience as the DHO924S with 70MHz bandwidth and 25Mpt memory at $439. For Arduino, basic analog work, and learning, 70MHz is genuinely sufficient — most signals you'll encounter stay well under this limit. The honest challenge at this price is the DHO924S: it costs only $10 more but gives you 250MHz bandwidth, 50Mpt memory, and a built-in function generator. At a $10 price gap, it's very hard to recommend the DHO804 over its sibling. Unless you find a significantly better deal on the DHO804 specifically, the extra $10 for the DHO924S is obviously worth it.
Rigol DHO924S
The Rigol DHO924S is the best hobbyist oscilloscope under $500 in 2026, and I say that having used the DS1054Z for years before switching. The 7-inch IPS touchscreen transforms the experience — pinch to zoom, tap to place cursors, swipe to scroll through captures — in a way that button-based scopes simply can't match. Add 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, 50Mpt memory, a function generator, WiFi, and CAN/LIN protocol decoding at $449, and it obsoletes the DS1054Z in every spec column except community documentation and proven long-term reliability. If you're buying a scope in 2026 and can spend $449, this is the one to get. The only reasons to look elsewhere: you need deeper memory (Siglent SDS2104X Plus), you want proven track record over specs (DS1054Z), or you need CAN/LIN included free and can save $30 (Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419).