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Head-to-head · Best Bluetooth OBD2 Scanners

ANCEL BD310 Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner vs OBDLink MX+

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

OBDLink MX+ comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). OBDLink MX+ is best for: car enthusiasts and Ford/GM owners who want fast live data, third-party app support and advanced network access. Read the strengths below before deciding.

ANCEL BD310 Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner
Ranked #3 in Best Bluetooth OBD2 Scanners
ANCEL BD310 Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner
2 sourcesall derived$60as of Oct 17

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.

Strengths
  • — 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
Watch-outs
  • — 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
$60 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
OBDLink MX+
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Bluetooth OBD2 Scanners
OBDLink MX+
2 sourcesall derived$139.95as of Oct 11

Enthusiasts gravitate to the OBDLink MX+, which reads advanced Ford MS-CAN and GM SW-CAN networks, streams live data at near 100 samples per second, and works with iOS, Android, Windows and third-party ELM327 apps. The Drive praised its responsiveness and accuracy. Bluetooth 3.0 is dated and this is the priciest option here, but for live data and broad app flexibility it leads.

Strengths
  • — Reads advanced Ford MS-CAN and GM SW-CAN networks most consumer tools cannot
  • — Works with the free OBDLink app plus ELM327-compatible third-party apps like Car Scanner
  • — Supports iOS, Android and Windows, the broadest platform coverage here
Watch-outs
  • — Dated Bluetooth 3.0 (Classic) rather than modern BLE
  • — Advanced manufacturer features can require paid add-on apps
  • — Overkill for someone who only reads a check-engine light
$139.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

ANCEL BD310 Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner

Unlike the BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro, OBDLink MX+ and Veepeak OBDCheck BLE, which are plug-in adapters read through a phone, the BD310 has its own 2-inch screen and attached cable, so it can read and clear codes without a phone. At about $60 it also comes with a free app, whereas the FIXD OBD2 Scanner's buyers are expected to manage a subscription.

OBDLink MX+

The enthusiast and live-data leader. Its MS-CAN/SW-CAN coverage and sampling speed exceed the BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro, the FIXD OBD2 Scanner, the Carista OBD2 Bluetooth Adapter and the Veepeak OBDCheck BLE, and its three-platform support is the broadest here, though it uses older Bluetooth 3.0 versus the BLE in the FIXD, Carista and Veepeak.

Specs side-by-side

SpecANCEL BD310 Bluetooth OBD2 ScannerOBDLink MX+
Dimensions5.1 x 2.4 x 0.6 in2.01"L x 0.91"W x 1.81"H
Weight5.4 oz—
Display2-inch colour—
ConnectionAttached OBD-II cable plus Bluetooth—
Cable LengthAbout 55 in (Car and Driver measured)—
App SupportiOS and Android—
Battery TestYes—
Warranty3 years—
Connectivity—Bluetooth 3.0 (Class 2)
App—OBDLink (free) + ELM327 apps
Protocols—All OBD-II + MS-CAN/SW-CAN
Live Data—~100 samples/sec
Platforms—iOS + Android + Windows
Subscription—None for core app
ELM327—Emulation supported
Vehicle Support—Ford / GM enhanced
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