Best Oscilloscopes Under $500 in 2026

Below $400, you're making real compromises on bandwidth, display, or channel count. Above $500, you're into premium territory where the improvements are real but incremental. In the $400-$500 range in 2026, you can get 4-channel oscilloscopes with 100-250MHz bandwidth, IPS touchscreens, deep memory, protocol decoding, and WiFi connectivity. These are genuinely professional-grade instruments at prices that would have been unthinkable five years ago. The Rigol DHO924S disrupted this tier significantly when it launched. At $449, it offers specs that used to cost $700-$800. If you're shopping in this range, that one scope defines the conversation.

In the under-$500 category, the Rigol DHO924S is not a close competition. 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, a 7-inch IPS touchscreen, 50Mpt memory, built-in function generator, WiFi, and protocol decoding (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, LIN) for $449. I've been using one as my primary bench scope, and the touchscreen alone changes how you work. Pinch to zoom into a signal, tap to set trigger level, swipe through captured data. The interface is intuitive in a way that older button-based scopes never are. The 250MHz bandwidth is real headroom — you're unlikely to hit this ceiling on hobbyist work. The 50Mpt memory means you can capture extended serial transactions without losing resolution. The function generator handles basic signal injection without needing a separate instrument. If you're shopping under $500, start here. Only deviate if you have a specific reason.

The Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419 undercuts the DHO924S by $30 and includes CAN and LIN protocol decoding without license fees — Rigol charges extra for CAN on the DHO924S. If you're doing automotive embedded work, vehicle diagnostic projects, or CAN bus debugging, the SDS1104X-U is the more cost-effective path. On pure specs, the DHO924S wins: 250MHz vs 100MHz bandwidth, 7-inch IPS touchscreen vs 7-inch non-touch display. But if CAN/LIN decoding saves you $50-100 in Rigol license fees, the SDS1104X-U delivers excellent value for automotive-focused work.

The Siglent SDS1204X-E offers 200MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, and CAN/LIN decoding for $775. At current prices, it's no longer in the under-$500 conversation — it sits $326 above the DHO924S. The SDS1204X-E was the benchmark 4-channel scope under $500 for several years before the DHO924S appeared and prices shifted. In 2026, it's hard to recommend at $775: the DHO924S has more bandwidth (250 vs 200MHz), a better display (7-inch IPS touchscreen vs 7-inch non-touch), and costs $326 less. The SDS1204X-E's advantages are its mature software platform and Siglent's consistent firmware update history — but those don't justify the significant price premium over the DHO924S for most buyers.

The Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus at $549 is technically over the $500 limit, but worth a mention for comparison. It offers 100MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, and a built-in 25MHz function generator on the proven DS1000Z platform. At $549, it's hard to recommend over the DHO924S at $449. You're paying $100 more for less bandwidth, a worse display, no WiFi, and an older interface. The only justification is if you specifically need the proven DS1000Z platform's long-term reliability track record, or if you're buying for an educational context where the DS1000Z has established curriculum support.

| Scope | Price | Bandwidth | Display | Memory | CAN/LIN | |-------|-------|-----------|---------|--------|----------| | Rigol DHO924S | $449 | 250MHz | 7" IPS Touch | 50Mpts | Extra cost | | Siglent SDS1104X-U | $419 | 100MHz | 7" non-touch | 14Mpts | Included | **My verdict:** Buy the DHO924S unless CAN/LIN decoding is non-negotiable. In that case, the SDS1104X-U at $419 saves you the license cost and delivers reliable performance for automotive protocol work. The under-$500 category has never been stronger for hobbyists. Either of these scopes would have been considered exceptional value five years ago. Choose based on your specific protocol needs, and you'll be well-served.