Apera Instruments Premium-Series PH60S Food pH Pocket Tester Kit, Swiss Spear pH Electrode, ±0.01 pH Accuracy, -2.00-16.00 pH Range (AI313)

Bough the pH tester for use in making probiotics fermented fruit juice. The included instructions were detailed & clear and calibrating the device before first use with the included calibration solutions was quick & easy. The device is easy to use and well made. Would highly recommend it anyone who is serious about testing food samples quickly & accurately.

I wanted to check the accuracy of the pH sensor our pool had. I also hate using those tester strips which require identifying if the colour is light yellow or pale amber... I mean, really? Plus those strips are calibrated for a specific temperature, so any result you get with them will likely be wrong if your water temp is outside the norm. Anyhow, I hunted around and this seemed to be the one a lot of people recommended. It came in a neat little kit that included everything you needed in a hard shell case - although I'd recommend also buying some extra storage solution as the included amount will not last long. Use is super easy, and it automatically adjusts for temperature. You can also modify the settings so the backlight changes colour if the reading is outside the ideal numbers. I wondered why the case had an empty spot, then I realised that was so you could stand the tester up with the cap filled with storage solution. A really nice touch. If you want to keep it in the case with the lid closed, you just need to remember to store it on the side so there is less chance of leakage from the cap. Keep in mind that if you store it in tap, pool, or distilled water that could damage and permanently impact the accuracy of the tester. They do say that if it is stored dry, then that will also impact the accuracy of the sensor, but this can be fixed by soaking it in storage solution for a few days. Personally, I'd just get the storage solution - it's not expensive, the cap only requires a small amount, and you don't have to replace it after every use so a bottle will last a while. As for accuracy - I don't have a lab quality reference device to test it against, but it definitely appears to be more than accurate enough at least for testing a pool at home. I can't say anything about longevity as I've only had it now for a few weeks, but the sensor is replaceable plus it appears to be well made - so I think it should last well if treated with the care something like this deserves. They do have a newer version of this that has bluetooth and a "new improved sensor". For me this is more than good enough I think, I don't really have any need to track the readings over time, and as much as I am a geek the additional cost didn't really seem to justify it. Overall, very happy with this tester.

I have had my eye on this PH meter for some time now, as the cheap meter that I have been using for my home brewing and charcuterie hobbies is barely up to the task. Finally, the price on the PH60S fell to a point where I could not pass it up. The order arrived promptly, and as I unpacked it, the quality was immediately obvious. The unit comes in a protective case containing the meter, 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0 ph buffer solutions, calibration vials, and additional KCL storage solution. Also included are a lanyard for the probe, a printed user manual, and a laminated quick start guide/reference card. Set-up and calibration were fast and easy thanks to the clear and concise instructions in the user-manual. I was impressed with how quickly the readings stabilized during calibration and my initial testing. I was also pleased with the bright back-lit screen which made it super easy to read. I don't foresee having any issues with this meter, but if I do it will be easy to contact their support team since their phone number and email address are prominently displayed on a sticker inside the case. It is clear that Apera Instuments pays attention to detail. I highly recommend this meter.

I've been quite pleased with this pH meter. It's easy to calibrate and works well. It comes nicely packaged with everything you need to get started. You will want to purchase a bottle of KCl solution as it only comes with a small amount. Really helps me keep closer tabs on the pH of my hot tub, which is often hard to stabilize.

Calibration is important and finicky - but this will be the same for any pH meter (acidity/alkalinity meter). Apera provide solutions and OK instructions to calibrate. But the provided solutions don't go very far - about 10-20 recalibrations and I think they have a use-by date about a year out. My solutions were shipped already out-of-date - Amazon took care of that with a generous refund with which I purchased fresh calibration (buffer) solutions. The provided instructions are poor for the general user but with a bit of interpretation I found I could calibrate and use the instrument accurately. There are more expensive meters but they're really for laboratories and will be just as fussy. There are less expensive meters but I think this is around the best price/value for an accurate gauge of your water supply acidity/alkalinity. You could go with test strips but my experience with these is they are quite inaccurate. I wanted to know why my copper pipes were being corroded and my water was turning my shower curtain blue. I wanted to check water quality. I thought acid water from my well may be the culprit. The problem is once you've sampled and sent to to a testing lab your samples may no longer match what's coming out of your tap. For instance, some acidity may be caused by dissolved CO2 which will off-gas in transit raising the pH. Also a single test lab may cost you about the same as this instrument.

I've had several cheap pH meters over the years. I use them almost daily to test engine coolants (ethylene or propylene glycols). I found this meter to calibrate well, and hold its calibration well over time. When I re-check cal, which is not nearly as often as I should, it is usually within a few points still; ie 9.99 or 10.02 on a 10.01 cal solution. The only thing that sort of bugs me about it, and seems in other reviews as well, is that you have to be patient when using this meter. It is a temperature-compensating unit, and unfortunately, the temperature probe is embedded in the head, rather that protruding out into the liquid. So, you have to let it sit in a solution being tested, until the head of the meter equalizes to the ambient temperature of the solution. During my maintenance, I will typically put it in my test cup of glycol, let it sit, go about other tasks, and come back and read it again after it has timed out/turned off. That is usually amble time for it to be temperature stable. Here's my hints at the most frustration-free usage: * Using: as stated above, wait with unit in solution being tested until temperature has stabilized--this could take several minutes, depending upon starting ambient of the probe and solution. * Care: Always store with storage solution in the cap. Its a bit of a pain, as the tiny silicone o-ring on the probe does not seal well, so storage container must always be oriented so unit is stored upright. * Rinse with water and carefully shake or blow off before testing solutions * Rinse with storage solution after use, and keep clean solution in the probe storage cap. *Calibration: keep your cal solutions fresh. Before attempting calibration, keep your cal solutions and the probe in the same room/ambient temperature for a couple hours prior--it will speed up stabilization time prior to accepting cal. Photo is a random spot-check of cal with 10.01 solution after not being calibrated for about six weeks. EDIT: 20 Jan 22: I bought this meter 16 August 2019, and probe died two days ago. Ordered new probe for $28 on Amazon and received it today. Calibration went as expected, and I expect to get at or near the same service life out of this probe as well. Instruction sheet claims useful probe life at 12-24 months at the most, and should be changed more often for reliability. I never saw any reason with the first probe to question it. Kept meticulously clean, calibrated about every 60 days. Failed all at once, from old age. Also, I noticed on my new probe there was a second, small black o-ring at the end of the probe where it seals against the man body of the instrument. The original didn’t have the o-ring at all. Probe may have even lasted longer, but after it quit working, I removed it to inspect internally and found moisture, so that may have killed it. Alls well that ends well, its back in service now. Is used typically 5 days a week in samples of ethylene and propylene glycols.

I bought the PH60 because its probe can be replaced. Unlike the PH20, that does not. My PH20 quit on me after 2 years (is awesome PH pen), and I believe it's probe stopped working. PH60 I bought gave me problems calibrating (easy 2 point) and when I did get it calibrated it worked fine for taking a handful of readings for THAT night I calibrated. The next day I used it to check my ph drift after mixing a batch of nutrients for my hydro rez, the values made no sense, jumping everywhere. I returned for a new unit and will update this. Merry Christmas dec24th 2025

My first ph meter for testing dairy - using it to test super priobiotic yogurts. Was torn between this brand and another well known brand, but went with this one because of the kit, the cap with an O ring and small sponge in the tip that provides wet storage and protection of the probe even when it is on its side. Preventing the probe from drying out seems to be the key to a longer probe life. The Apera storage cap system makes this easy to do. The kit also comes with laminated instructions which are handy. I had been struggling with the paper test strips…never could get a precise reading. Love that this has a 2 decimal point read. I was nervous about the calibration process, but it turned out to be very easy. I’ve used it several times so far and love it. I draw my solution out with a sterile pipette and place it in a small shot glass…insert probe of the meter and very quickly have an accurate reading. Their support/customer service is great too. I called to get some spare sponges for the storage cap (comes with 2 extra), but they don’t sell them. They advised using a piece of any sponge…I found that a piece of small sponge hair roller works well. I would definitely recommend this meter. Hopefully it will hold up well over time.