Here’s a balanced review of the ANENG 683 Smart Multimeter Tester — a popular touch‑screen, rechargeable digital multimeter that’s frequently recommended for DIY, electronics projects and household electrical measurements.
📊 What It Is
The ANENG 683 is a 6000‑count digital multimeter with a large touch‑style screen and smart auto‑ranging, meaning it tries to detect what you’re measuring (voltage, resistance, etc.) without manually switching ranges. It also includes a rechargeable battery and several useful modern features.
⚙️ Key Features
- Smart Auto‑Range — automatically selects measurement range for AC/DC voltage and resistance.
- Large Touch VA Color Display — 6000 counts with analog bar for quick trend viewing.
- Rechargeable Battery — built‑in lithium battery with USB‑C charging.
- Wide Measurement Capabilities: AC/DC voltage & current, resistance, capacitance, frequency, temperature, diode/continuity, duty cycle.
- NCV (Non‑contact Voltage) Detection — alerts to live wires without contact.
- Integrated Flashlight — helps in workspaces with low light.
- Protective Silicone Sleeve — shock and scratch resistant.
👍 Pros — What Users and Specs Highlight
🧠 Smart & Modern Interface
Many owners appreciate the touch display and auto‑range operation, which simplifies measurements compared with traditional manual dial meters.
🖥️ Clear Display & Readability
The VA color display with high contrast and analog bar helps both numeric and visual trend reading, which is useful for dynamic measurements.
🔋 Rechargeable & Compact
The USB‑C rechargeable battery eliminates hunting for disposable batteries, and the compact size (~217 g) is easy to carry for fieldwork.
📈 Broad Measurement Scope
Offers real‑world functions including temperature, frequency and duty cycle, beyond basic voltage and resistance — helpful for electronics hobbyists and technicians.
🧪 Good Community Feedback (Shop Reviews)
Retail listings with user star ratings show very high satisfaction (~4.8/5) with most buyers reporting the multimeter works as expected for common tasks and is worth the price.
👎 Cons — Caveats & Limitations
📏 Auto‑Range Quirks
Some testers find the automatic range detection a bit annoying — it can switch modes when you’re not measuring voltage at the moment, especially in resistance ranges, making it less comfortable than traditional manual multimeters.
🔍 Not Ideal for Small Signals
Tests from third‑party reviewers indicate it may struggle with very low voltages or currents and misinterpret small analog values due to auto‑range behavior.
🔓 Not Professional Grade
As with many inexpensive smart multimeters, the input resistance and measurement precision can be weaker than premium meters from brands like Fluke or Uni‑T, and some experienced tech‑users prefer manual range controls for precision work.
🧪 Community Anecdotes
On forums, users note occasional quirks like calibration drift over time or less robust electronics compared with branded meters — though these vary and much of the discussion is around similar cheap multimeter designs in general, not exclusively the 683.
📊 Verdict — Who It’s Best For
✅ Great Choice If You Are:
- A DIYer, hobbyist or student needing a modern, feature‑rich multimeter for electronics projects
- A homeowner doing basic AC/DC household electrical testing
- Someone who values a touch display, auto‑range and rechargeable design
⚠️ Consider Other Options If:
- You need precision measurements for professional diagnostics
- You prefer manual range control and don’t like auto mode behavior
- You work with very small signals or require high input impedance
🧾 Summary
The ANENG 683 Smart Multimeter Tester is a feature‑packed, inexpensive digital multimeter with auto‑ranging, touch control, NCV detection, rechargeable battery and broad measurement ability — making it a compelling tool for everyday electrical testing and hobby electronics. While it isn’t a professional lab‑grade meter and may show quirks in auto‑range behavior or low‑level signals, user reviews and specs suggest excellent value for the price point and solid performance for most practical tasks.