The ANCEL BD310 is a palm-sized OBD-II code reader with a 2-inch colour screen and an attached cable that also pairs over Bluetooth with a free iOS or Android app. Car and Driver named it its best overall OBD-II scanner, praising the mix of corded and Bluetooth use, an excellent app interface and an 18.6-second time to display a code. Tom's Guide found it read a deliberately introduced fault, cleared the check-engine light and doubled as a supplementary dashboard gauge. It suits DIY owners who want to read and clear codes and watch live data; anyone needing bidirectional tests or repair guidance should look at more advanced tools.
- — Works as a wired handheld, a Bluetooth phone scanner or a dashboard gauge
- — Showed a trouble code 18.6 seconds after plug-in in Car and Driver's test
- — Car and Driver judged its companion app interface excellent
- — Small 2-inch screen and four-key interface can feel limiting
- — No bidirectional control for active component tests
- — Lacks charging-system and starter tests, and gives no repair information