Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus vs Siglent SDS1202X-E
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Rigol
$549
Siglent
$379
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus | Siglent SDS1202X-E |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 100 MHz | 200 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1 GSa/s | 1 GSa/s |
| Channels | 4 | 2 |
| Memory Depth | 12 Mpts | 14 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 7" |
| Weight | 3.2 kg | 3.3 kg |
| Price | $549 | $379 |
| Rating | 7.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | Yes | No |
| WiFi | No | No |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon · $549 | Buy on Amazon · $379 |
Pros & Cons
Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus
Pros
- 100MHz bandwidth with 4 channels — no bandwidth hack needed
- Built-in 25MHz function generator saves desk space and cost
- Same excellent trigger set as the DS1054Z
- Protocol decoding (SPI, I2C, UART) included
- Proven platform for teaching labs that need scope plus signal generator
Cons
- At ~$549, the DHO924S delivers more for $100 less
- Same dated interface as the DS1054Z — no touchscreen
- No WiFi or CAN/LIN decoding at this price
- The DS1000Z platform is aging compared to the DHO series
Siglent SDS1202X-E
Pros
- 200MHz bandwidth — 4x the stock DS1054Z at nearly the same price
- 14Mpt memory depth is excellent for capturing long waveforms
- Protocol decoding includes CAN and LIN — Rigol charges extra for these
- SPL (Siglent Programming Language) for scripting and automation
- Serial decode is free, not locked behind a paid license
Cons
- Only 2 channels — the fundamental tradeoff versus the DS1054Z
- Interface is less intuitive than Rigol's — steeper learning curve
- Smaller community means fewer tutorials and answered questions online
- No touchscreen — button-heavy navigation
- No function generator
Our Verdicts
Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus
The DS1104Z-S Plus is the DS1054Z with the limitations officially removed: full 100MHz bandwidth and a built-in 25MHz function generator. At ~$549, it's the premium version of a proven platform that has a decade of community support behind it. The problem in 2026 is the Rigol DHO924S — it costs $100 less, has 250MHz bandwidth, a 7-inch IPS touchscreen, WiFi, 50Mpt memory, and is generally a better scope in almost every way. The DS1104Z-S Plus's advantage is its established reliability and the integrated function generator, which the base DHO924S also includes. I'd only choose this over the DHO924S if you're buying for a teaching lab with specific software integration requirements, or if you specifically need the proven DS1000Z platform.
Siglent SDS1202X-E
The Siglent SDS1202X-E is the DS1054Z's biggest competitor, and it wins on raw specs: 200MHz bandwidth, 14Mpt memory, and protocol decoding that includes CAN and LIN without paying for licenses. The catch is you only get 2 channels, and that trade-off matters more than it sounds. When you're debugging SPI with clock, data, and chip-select lines all running, or trying to correlate an analog signal with a digital trigger, you'll wish you had 4 channels. If you work primarily with audio circuits, RF signals, or single-channel measurements, the 200MHz bandwidth is genuinely useful and this scope makes complete sense. For general embedded debugging with multiple signals, I'd take the DS1054Z's 4 channels over the extra bandwidth.