LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini Vs. PROS MINI Vs. DIAGUN V: Never buy it before reading this comparison

It is entirely fitting to compare the LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini vs. LAUNCH X431 PROS MINI vs. LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V. These three car diagnostic tools are not only made by the same manufacturer (Launch Tech), but they also fall within the same price range.

The Pro Mini and PROS Mini are priced precisely the same. Granted, those two will set you back slightly more than the DIAGUN V, but not by much. The latter is about $120 cheaper. But how do these three OBD scan tools compare in terms of functionality?

LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini Vs. PROS MINI Vs. DIAGUN V: comparison chart

*Notes: Excellent: 9-10; Good: 7-8; Fair: 5-6; Poor: 3-4; Very poor: 1-2

We put Launch’s three scanners through their paces. First, we tested their vehicle coverage. That was primarily to discover the list of cars, light trucks, and SUVs that each scanner is compatible with. We then proceeded to look at the functionality of the scan tools. Yes, they are all (relatively) affordable bidirectional scanners. But what can you do with each of them as far as actuation tests, adaptation, matching, coding, and programming? And what OBD2 functions do they bring to the table?

To make it even more interesting, we looked at each OBDII scanner’s extra functions – connectivity, warranty, software update, storage, ability to print diagnostic data, etc. So, without further ado, let’s get down to the juicy part.

LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini Vs. PROS MINI Vs. DIAGUN V: The Key Similarities

As mentioned, the three scanners are made by Launch Tech. Therefore, it’s only natural that some features will be similar. For example, they are all shipped with a Bluetooth VCI connector for wireless connectivity to the ECU. Therefore, if mobility is your biggest priority while running diagnostics, any one of these three scanners will do. Here are some more similarities:

OBD1 And OBD2 Coverage

The Launch X431 Pro Mini, LAUNCH X431 PROS MINI and LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V are compatible with OBD1 as well as OBD2 vehicles. Therefore, you can use either of these tools to diagnose and fix older cars (1995 or earlier years) and newer ones (1996 to date). This coverage includes domestic (American-made) and foreign (European and Asian) cars, light trucks, and SUVs.

All Systems Diagnosis

Regarding diagnosis, all three scanners will give you in-depth access to all available systems in a car. That includes the ECM, transmission, ABS, airbag, SAS, fuel system, EVAP, TPMS, BMS, EPB, etc. You can pull codes, clear codes, check freeze frame data, view live data, and plot PIDs. Therefore, they support all the functions you may need to diagnose, repair, and maintain an on-board system.

Service Functions

The Launch X431 Pro Mini, LAUNCH X431 PROS MINI and LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V can perform several reset functions alongside codes and data. They can reset the oil light, IMMO, EPB, throttle position, TPMS, etc. Additionally, each of these OBDII scanners supports DPF regeneration, ABS bleeding, SAS calibration, and battery maintenance.

These capabilities make the scanners great for professional as well as DIY car repair and maintenance. Thus, if you want to scan, diagnose, monitor, and reset systems, pretty much anyone of the three Launch car diagnostic tools will do.

Bidirectional Controls

You’ll also get bidirectional functions regardless of the OBD2 scanner that you choose. More specifically, these three diagnostic tools can do actuator tests (active). You can use either one of them to command solenoids, switches, and relays to perform certain functions. For example, you can use the Pro Mini, PROS MINI, or DIAGUN V to activate wipers, turn the fuel pump on/off, activate fuel injection, roll the windows up/down, etc., straight from the scanner.

Adaptation, Coding, And Programming

All these are technically bidirectional controls. It’s worth mentioning them separately, nonetheless.

Adaptation is matching a replacement part with the ECU so that the two can communicate. For instance, if you replace a TPMS, you’ll have to relearn (adapt) the new TPMS to communicate with the car’s TPMS module (and thus the ECU).

On the other hand, coding and programming refer to changing the control module’s parameters so that it performs differently. For example, you can code the injector and modify its throttle stop. That’s known as injector coding.

Similarly, you can code the ECU and change a car’s OEM settings. That’s called ECU coding or ECU programming. As a final example, key coding is the process of changing the settings of a car key’s transponder so that it’s able to communicate with the car’s ignition system.

You’ll be happy to know that our three focus scanners support these functions. Whether you choose the LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini or the LAUNCH X431 PROS MINI, or the LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V, you can do an adaptation, coding, and programming on all compatible vehicles.

Built-in Wi-Fi

In addition to Bluetooth, our three OBD2 scan tools come with Wi-Fi capabilities. They also have an app for browsing the internet. That’s very important because you may come across diagnostic data that you don’t understand – like a strange trouble code. Rather than stressing, you can use the Wi-Fi and browser to access online info regarding that piece of data. Therefore, even if you’re new to car diagnostics, you can successfully use them.

2-year Free Software Upgrade

All three scanners run on Android, which you can upgrade for free for two years. Is that a big deal? Absolutely! It means you can get Launch’s new features on your device for free for at least two years. In addition to fixing bugs, such features usually ensure that they’re compatible with newly released car models and auto tech. And yes, the three scanners come with a 5-year warranty each.

Extra Features/Functions

As far as extra features, our three scanners are more similar than different. They’re all equipped with a 2MP front camera and 5MP rear camera for taking photos as you perform diagnostics.

Each of these car diagnostic tools comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage memory. The RAM is sufficient to make them run impressively fast, while the 32GB of space allows you to store diagnostic data. They also support the printing of codes, PIDs, and other diagnostic feedback. That’s very important if a client needs to see all the issues that are in the car or if you need a printout to store/file for future reference.

LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini Vs. PROS MINI Vs. DIAGUN V: The Key Differences

Launch’s X431 Pro Mini, X431 PROS MINI and X431 DIAGUN V are just as different as they are similar. These differences can easily make one scanner more suitable for you than the other two. For that reason, let’s get down to what makes them unique.

1. Design And Specifications 

One of the Launch PROS MINI’s most outstanding features is its large, 7-inch screen. The Launch X431 Pro Mini, on the other hand, has a slightly small screen of 6.9 inches. That’s still bigger than what you’ll get with the LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V (5.5 inches).

Surprisingly, the bigger screens on the PROS MINI and Pro Mini do not make the two scanners any larger than the DIAGUN V. While the latter measures 15.91 x 11.89 x 4.09, the Launch X431 Pro Mini is 15.98 inches long, 12.52 inches wide, and 4.49 inches thick. The PROS MINI measures 15.91 x 11.89 x 4.21 inches.

In terms of weight, the Pro Mini, PROS MINI, and DIAGUN V weigh 6.98, 7.45, and 5.15 pounds, respectively. In comparison, the iPad Pro measures 11 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches and weighs 1.42 pounds. So, while the scanners are bigger, they are not crazy big that you can’t walk around with one of them. Mobility is a big deal if you’re an auto dealer or mechanic who moves from one place to another, diagnosing vehicles.

2. Overall Features And Functions

When it comes to functionality, these three Launch scan tools can do almost the same things. When you power up either one of them, you’ll be greeted by six apps (functions).

The first app – Diagnose – let’s choose the make and model of the vehicle you’re working on. After that, you can do a “Health Report”, “System Scan” or “System Selection”. A full health report scans every single module that’s available in the vehicle.

A system scan, on the contrary, will scan the systems. You can view all the engine, ABS, transmission, airbag, and other systems’ codes. If you’re only interested in checking one or two systems, you can go ahead and choose “system selection”.

The second app on the scanners is “Special Functions”. It gives you access to all the service/reset functions and relearns, adaptations, coding, and programming functions. They include brake reset, oil reset, SAS reset, IMMO, gear learning, injector coding, ECU programming, etc.

That’s pretty much all there is to all these three scanners – at least as far as functions. But I had mentioned that there are six apps. The other four are:

• “Feedback Diagnosis” for checking code meanings and possible fixes, 
• “Software Upgrade” for updating the firmware,
• “Maintenance Help” for reaching out to Launch’s customer support, and finally
• “Personal Center” where you can do things like logging into your Launch account and adding a car.

With all that said, what makes the LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini different from the LAUNCH X431 PROS MINI and LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V? While the latter two support remote diagnostics, the X431 Pro Mini doesn’t.

Remote diagnostics or online diagnostics is where you register a car in the scanner, and you can diagnose that car even when it’s miles away. Both the PROS MINI and DIAGUN V keep a list of contacts – pretty much like a smartphone or tablet. Thus, if you want to do remote diagnostics on a car, tap on the car owner’s contact, and they will permit you. Once they do, you can diagnose that car regardless of where it is in the world. You can even do coding and programming remotely.

There’s a catch, though. The scanner must be connected to the internet for this to work. Luckily, both models (PROS MINI and DIAGUN V) have a built-in Wi-Fi module. And unfortunately, the Launch X431 Pro Mini doesn’t support remote diagnostics. Therefore, if you want a device that you can use to diagnose a car, no matter where that car is, you may want to look at either the PROS MINI or DIAGUN V.

Note that this feature doesn’t cover all vehicles. The DIAGUN V can only do remote diagnostics in VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, and a few other brands. The PROS MINI adds BMW to the list to make it VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, BMW, and many different makes. If you want to know for sure if a particular car brand is covered, you can send Launch an email or give them a call, and they’ll confirm it for you.

3. Software And Updates

Although our three OBDII scan tools run on Android, the LAUNCH X431 PROS MINI uses Android 7.0, while the other two (LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini and LAUNCH X431 DIAGUN V) are equipped with Android 7.1. There’s not much between the two versions of Android. Therefore, you may expect the PROS MINI to work just as well as its counterparts.

Even better, all three scan tools come with two years of free software updates. The downside is that you’ll have to pay $399 per year to update the software once the two years are over. That’s rather steep. But you don’t need to update firmware if you only work on one or two vehicles that are 100% compatible with the scanner you choose. 

4. Supported Languages

Even though the three devices have multilingual menus, the LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini supports fewer languages than its counterparts. While the PROS MINI and DIAGUN V support 23 languages apiece, the Pro Mini supports 19.

X431 Pro Mini: Arabic, English, Polish, German, Russian, Finnish, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Hungarian, Italian, French, Swedish, Turkish, Czech, Greek, Danish, and Korea.

X431 PROS MINI: Italian, English, Chinese, German, Russian, French, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Romania, Serbia, Danish, Swedish, Czech, Korean, and Finnish.

X431 DIAGUN V: German, English, Italian, French, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Greek, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Hungarian, Korean, Persian, Arabic, Danish, Romanian, Serbian, Finnish, Swedish, Czech, and Chinese.

Pros and cons LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini Vs. PROS MINI Vs. DIAGUN V

Pros and cons of LAUNCH X431 Pro Mini

Pros and cons of LAUNCH PROS MINI

Pros and cons of LAUNCH DIAGUN V

Recommendation

So, which of these three Launch OBD2 scanners is ideal for you? As far as functionality, they are mostly the same. However, if you plan to do remote diagnostics (like online coding), choose either the PROS MINI or DIAGUN V, not the Pro Mini. That’s because the Pro Mini doesn’t support that function.

In case you’re looking for the most lightweight, then the DIAGUN V‘s 5.15 pounds will seem attractive. It’s easily portable. You can throw it in a throwback bag and move from one place to another effortlessly. Of course, that comes with a tradeoff – a small display screen.

If the small screen is a deal-breaker, you may want to consider the PROS MINI, which comes with a 7-inch display, or the Pro Mini with a 6.9-inch panel.

FAQs

Q: Can you program smart keys using a Launch scanner?

Yes, the Launch Pro Mini, PROS MINI, and DIAGUN V support IMMO/KOS and keyless keys programming.

Q: How do you update a Launch X431 scan tool?

All the scanners in the X431 series come with a one-click update app named “Software Upgrade”. It’s on the home screen. Tap on it (while you’re connected to Wi-Fi internet) to update the device.

Q: Do these Launch OBD2 scanners do bidirectional controls?

Yes, the Launch Pro Mini, PROS MINI, and DIAGUN V are all bidirectional scan tools. They support “active tests”, adaptation, coding, and programming.

Q: Is the OBD1 connector included?

Yes. All three scan tools’ kit includes OBD1 connectors.

Q: What’s the difference between Launch Pro Mini, PROS MINI, and DIAGUN V?

The most significant difference between these three scanners is that the Pro Mini doesn’t support remote diagnostics. Otherwise, they have the same functions.

Q: Will the Bluetooth dongle notify me to remove it from the vehicle after use?

Yes, Launch’s scanners have a Bluetooth VCI that beeps when it’s idle. The beeping sound is meant to remind you to unplug it from the car’s OBD port so that it doesn’t drain the vehicle’s battery.

Read More: Best Professional Automotive Diagnostic Scanner 2021 Buying Guide