Best Multimeters for Electronics Hobbyists
Every bench needs one. Here's how to choose the right meter for what you actually do.
All Multimeters Reviewed
Fluke 117 lists Display counts: 6000; True RMS: true; Auto-ranging: true; Listed measurement category: CAT III 600V. Confirm the exact manual, fuse ratings and measurement-category limits before connecting to energized circuits. The matching Amazon catalog identity was checked on 2026-11-01. No independent performance or calibration test is documented.
UNI-T UT61E+ lists Display counts: 22000; True RMS: true; Auto-ranging: true; Listed measurement category: CAT II 1000V. Confirm the exact manual, fuse ratings and measurement-category limits before connecting to energized circuits. The matching Amazon catalog identity was checked on 2026-11-01. No independent performance or calibration test is documented.
AstroAI AM33D lists Display counts: 2000; True RMS: false; Auto-ranging: false; Listed measurement category: CAT II 600V. Confirm the exact manual, fuse ratings and measurement-category limits before connecting to energized circuits. The matching Amazon catalog identity was checked on 2026-11-01. No independent performance or calibration test is documented.
A practical general electrical meter with TRMS and temperature measurement. Its 4,000-count display suits routine checks; choose a different instrument when high-resolution logging or a higher measurement category is required.
A premium industrial option when enclosure protection, higher measurement categories and VFD filtering matter. It costs substantially more than a basic hobby meter and does not replace the Brymen BM869s high-count value proposition.
True RMS — Do You Actually Need It?
For electronics hobbyists working with DC circuits, Arduino, and sensor debugging: you rarely need true RMS. Basic voltage and continuity checks work fine with an average-responding meter.
Where true RMS matters: AC measurements on motors, variable frequency drives, distorted waveforms within the published frequency, crest-factor and input limits. If you work with real electrical circuits (not just PCBs), get true RMS.