I am hoping this is my last question. If you have a choice of getting a brand new Uni-T UT61E for $50 or a like new Fluke 87 original for $100, which one would you choose. Does the fluke model have better features than the Uni-T UT61E?
People are often recommending Fluke because it has built a good reputation in time and their multimeters maintain their "accuracy" in time relatively well. That is, most of the multimeters list specifications on the box and the meters themselves are much better than those specs and years later, the meters are still within those specifications.
There's nothing bad with that Uni-T 61E (I own it, I like it, and lots of people like it). It theoretically has better "processor" inside, has better display (more digits), it's 22.000 counts, it's True RMS.. on paper it looks good and the people who inspected the insides of the 61e didn't find anything bad (deal breaking) about it
The concern, as far as I understand it, is that you can't tell if a few years or so later the meter will be accurate, if it's reliable and so on.
People keep comparing fluke xx with UNI-T 61E, how about a UNI-T 71E which seems to have higher capabilities for a reasonable price. Strangely the local price (230 $ VAT included) is lower than the "ebay" price. Compared with a Fluke 87 V or 83 V, how would you rate it? I shall buy it anyway along with a Fluke 87V (or 83 on ebay) to have the complete set and not to look like a cheap Chinese multimeter fan:)
Uni-T seems to have several teams that design these multimeters. The 61E and the 6x series in general seems to have been designed by a completely different team than the one who made the 7x series. Some model (I forget which one) is reviewed here and it's ugly, basically not worth the money, lacking in protections inside and...well, overall it looks ugly inside.
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My opinion .. if you want a multimeter around the house, for hobby projects, for diy, as an introductory model, you can save some money and get the 61E with no worries, it's a very good meter for the money.
Use the rest as an advance for an oscilloscope or a soldering gun or whatever you may need.