Topdon Artidiag 500 vs. 600 vs. 600s: Which Is the Best for a Home Mechanic?

Topdon ArtiDiag500 vs. 600 vs. 600S – are all from TOPDON. But each of them is designed to fit different needs.

But which one is appropriate for you? It all depends on what you will be doing with them.

This review will go through their performance, vehicle coverage, design & hardware, and after-sales service.

Keep reading to make a wise choice.

Topdon Artidiag 500 vs. 600 vs. 600s: Full comparison chart

	Topdon AD500 Check Price	Topdon AD600 Check Price	Topdon AD600S Check Price
DIAGNOSTICS
Four-system diagnostics	✅	✅	✅
Live data	Text, Graph	Text, Graph	Text, Graph
Full OBD2	✅	✅	✅
AutoVIN	✅	✅	✅
Battery test	✅	-	-
OTHER FUNCTIONS
Service functions	3	8	8
Oil reset	✅	✅	✅
SAS reset	✅	✅	✅
Throttle reset	✅	✅	✅
EPB reset	-	✅	✅
TPMS reset	-	✅	✅
BMS reset	-	✅	✅
ABS bleeding	-	✅	✅
DPF reset	-	✅	✅
VEHICLE COVERAGE
OBD2 car/light truck	✅	✅	✅
HARDWARE/ DESIGN
Screen size	5"	5"	5"
Storage	2GB & 16GB	2GB & 16GB	2GB & 32GB
Connection type	Wired	Wired	Wired
Cable length	3.9 ft	3.9 ft	3.9 ft
Android OS	Android 7	Android 7	Android 6
Battery	6,100mAh	6,100mAh	1,500mAh
AFTER-SALES SERVICE
Free update	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime
Warranty	1 year	1 year	1 year
Customer support	9.0/10	9.0/10	9.0/10
	Check price	Check Price	Check Price

Topdon Artidiag 500 vs. 600 vs. 600s: Key differences

Topdon Artidiag 500, 600, and 600S have a lot in common, which might make it hard to see how they differ. Here are two important things they stand apart:

• Service functions: The Topdon AD500 offers just 3 service functions, while the AD600 and AD600S support 8.
• Battery capacity: AD500 and AD600 have a capacity of 6100mAh, whereas the AD600S only has 1500mAh. However, these scanners get the power from the car’s battery to work, so it’s not a big deal. 

Here’s a quick suggestion if you’re not sure which one to pick:

TOPDON AD500 is an affordable option for DIYers who want to read codes on 4 main systems and do common service functions.

If you need to do a wider range of service functions, then AD600 and AD600S scanners are the ones to go for.

Topdon AD500

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Topdon AD600

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Topdon AD600S

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Topdon Artidiag 500 vs. 600 vs. 600s: Detailed comparison

Performance

Topdon Artidiag 500, 600, and 600S are all scanners that cost less than $250, which means they don’t provide many advanced functions. However, they can still handle some basic jobs for car repair and maintenance. For example:

• Scan trouble codes from 4 main systems: engine, transmission, ABS and SRS.
• Offer full OBD2 functions: smog check, Mode 6 & 8, etc.
• Read live data in both text and graph (4-in-1 graph)
• Support automatic VIN identification/reading.

Other than the stuff I just mentioned, there are only two main differences among these three scanners.

The first is about the number of service functions each scanner is equipped with. Both the Topdon AD600 and AD600S can do eight functions:

• Oil reset
• SAS reset
• Throttle adaptation
• Brake reset
• TPMS reset
• ABS bleeding
• Battery reset
• DPF reset

Meanwhile, Topdon AD500 is only equipped with 3 service functions. That’s because it’s cheaper than the other two, which cost over $100.

But don’t worry, what you pay matches what you get. It still goes with commonly used functions like oil reset, SAS reset, and throttle adaptation.

The second difference is about the battery test. 

This isn’t an advanced feature, but if you want to know how healthy your car’s battery is, then the AD500 is the only one out of these three scanners that can help you with that.

Vehicle coverage

Topdon ArtiDiag500, ArtiDiag600, and ArtiDiag600Ss can work with OBDII-compliant vehicles built after 1996.

They are compatible with a wide range of vehicles, from diesel (only 12v) and gasoline cars to regular 12V cars, pickups, smaller trucks, SUVs, and minivans.

These scanners might not be as good as high-end ones in terms of extensive vehicle coverage. But when I tried them out on several cars in the garage, they did a good job. 

Just remember, the number of service functions they can do might depend on the specific car models you have.

You can verify their compatibility through this link.

Design & Hardware

In this part, all three scanners are pretty similar. For instance, they all have the same 5-inch touchscreen, use a wired connection, and their cables are around 3.9 feet long.

Now, let’s talk about what’s different among them. The Topdon AD500 and AD600 have 2GB of memory (RAM) and 16GB of storage space (ROM), while the AD600S also has 2GB of memory but more storage, with 32GB.

But here’s the thing: the battery in the AD600S is quite small, only 1500mAh, while the batteries in the AD500 and AD600 are much bigger, with a capacity of 6100mAh.

However, there’s no need to worry about this because these scanners get their power from your car’s battery.

After-sales service

All three scanners come with free lifetime updates. Just open the scanner and click to download all the updates you need with just one click. You won’t have to mess up with a PC, laptop, or USB cable.

Moreover, you’ll have a warranty for one year from the purchase date in case there’s a manufacturer’s defect. This way, you can feel confident using the scanner during the first year.

When it comes to customer support, I’d rate it 9 out of 10. What makes Topdon stand out from other brands is their instant responses through the live chat feature on their website.

Recommendations

These three scanners are quite similar in many aspects. The only thing that might influence your decision is the number of service functions they offer.

If you require a broader range of service functions like what the TOPDON AD600 and AD600S provide, then these two scanners would be a better fit. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to perform basic tasks such as reading codes or common service functions, then the AD500 would be the ideal option.

Topdon AD500

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Topdon AD600

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Topdon AD600S

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