Rigol DS1054Z vs Siglent SDS2104X Plus
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Rigol
$349
Siglent
$1099
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DS1054Z | Siglent SDS2104X Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 50 MHz | 100 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1 GSa/s | 2 GSa/s |
| Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 12 Mpts | 200 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 10.1" |
| Weight | 3.2 kg | 4.5 kg |
| Price | $349 | $1099 |
| Rating | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | No | Yes |
| WiFi | No | No |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon · $349 | Buy on Amazon · $1,099 |
Pros & Cons
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
Siglent SDS2104X Plus
Pros
- 200Mpt memory depth is exceptional — capture minutes of data at full sample rate
- 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen is genuinely gorgeous to work with
- 2GSa/s sample rate handles fast signals better than 1GSa/s scopes
- Comprehensive protocol decoding including FlexRay, I2S, and MIL-STD-1553
- Built-in 25MHz AWG function generator
- Feels like a professional instrument — because it is one
Cons
- At ~$1,099, it's at the top of hobbyist budgets
- 100MHz bandwidth is surprisingly low for this price tier
- Large and heavy — needs permanent bench space
- Overkill for casual Arduino projects or simple bench work
Our Verdicts
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.
Siglent SDS2104X Plus
The Siglent SDS2104X Plus is a professional-grade scope that happens to be affordable enough for serious hobbyists, and using it for a long debugging session makes the price feel justified. The 200Mpt memory depth is the headline — you can capture minutes of data at full sample rate, then scroll back and zoom into any moment without re-triggering. The 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen is excellent. The comprehensive protocol decoding (including FlexRay and I2S) makes it the right tool for serious automotive or audio embedded work. The surprise is that all this comes with only 100MHz bandwidth — you're paying for depth, features, and build quality, not raw frequency response. At $1,099, this is a serious investment. It only makes sense if you do electronics work regularly enough to amortize that cost, and if you want an instrument you genuinely won't outgrow.