Rigol vs Siglent is the question almost every hobbyist and small lab runs into when buying a first serious oscilloscope. In 2026 the fair fight is between two 12-bit, four-channel families: the Rigol DHO800 and the Siglent SDS800X HD. The 70 MHz models, the Rigol DHO804 and the Siglent SDS804X HD, are priced within a couple of dollars of each other.

The short answer: the Siglent SDS804X HD gives you more instrument for the money, with a faster sample rate, twice the memory and more serial decoders, plus a path to 200 MHz. The Rigol DHO804 is the better pick if you want HDMI output, USB-C power and a very high waveform capture rate, or if you plan to buy the 100 MHz version, where Rigol is cheaper.

Last checked October 2026: availability, specs and prices.

What to Look for in Entry-Level Oscilloscopes

Bandwidth. A common rule of thumb is to buy a scope with about five times the bandwidth of the fastest signal you need to see clearly. For audio, power supplies, Arduino-class microcontrollers and slow serial buses, 70 MHz is enough. For faster logic and switching edges, 100 MHz or 200 MHz gives more headroom.

Vertical resolution. Both families here use 12-bit converters. Rigol puts it plainly: 12 bits means 4,096 quantization levels, 16 times as many as an 8-bit scope. That shows up when you zoom into small ripple riding on a larger signal.

Sample rate and memory depth. Sample rate limits how much detail you capture in one shot. Memory depth decides how long you can record at that rate before the scope has to slow down. The headline figures are maximums, and on scopes in this class the rate is shared when more channels are switched on.

Waveform capture rate. This is how many waveforms per second the scope can draw. A higher rate improves the odds of spotting a rare glitch. Makers quote it in different modes, so compare like with like.

Decoding and triggers. If you work with I2C, SPI, UART, CAN or LIN, check which decoders are included and which cost extra.

Connectivity and expansion. LAN and USB control, a video output, a logic analyzer option and a built-in or add-on signal generator all change what the scope can do in two years’ time.

Rigol DHO800 Series (DHO804 and DHO814)

The Rigol DHO800 is Rigol’s economical 12-bit line. Rigol’s North American site lists four models: the two-channel DHO802 (70 MHz) and DHO812 (100 MHz), and the four-channel DHO804 (70 MHz) and DHO814 (100 MHz). All four share the same core specs: 12-bit vertical resolution, a 1.25 GSa/s real-time sample rate, 25 Mpts maximum memory depth, and a waveform capture rate Rigol states as up to 1,000,000 wfms/s in UltraAcquire mode.

The front is a 7-inch, 1024×600 touchscreen. Rigol describes the series as having a compact form factor, and it comes standard with USB, LAN and HDMI output. Power arrives through a USB Type-C connector, and Rigol notes the scope can run from a portable power source for field use. One probe per channel and a calibration certificate are in the box.

Rigol’s store listed the DHO804 at about $459 (October 2026) and the DHO814 at $549, both shown in stock.

Siglent SDS800X HD Series (SDS804X HD and SDS814X HD)

The Siglent SDS800X HD is Siglent’s entry 12-bit family, sitting below its larger HD ranges. Siglent’s North American site lists six models: 70 MHz, 100 MHz and 200 MHz, each with two or four channels. All use 12-bit converters at up to 2 GSa/s. The 70 MHz and 100 MHz models have 50 Mpts of memory per channel, and the 200 MHz models have 100 Mpts.

Siglent quotes a waveform capture rate of up to 120,000 wfm/s in normal mode and 500,000 wfm/s in Sequence mode, and a front-end noise floor of 70 µVrms at 200 MHz bandwidth. Serial triggering and decoding for I2C, SPI, UART, CAN and LIN is part of the feature list. The scope also has segmented (Sequence) acquisition with up to 80,000 segments, a History function, more than 50 automatic measurements, mask test, power analysis and a Bode plot function.

The display is a 7-inch, 1024×600 capacitive touchscreen, and Siglent says it supports an external mouse and keyboard. Siglent lists the SDS804X HD at about $461 (October 2026) and the SDS814X HD at $587.

Rigol vs Siglent: Bandwidth and Model Range

At 70 MHz and 100 MHz the two families line up model for model. Above that they differ. Siglent keeps going inside the same series: the two-channel SDS822X HD and four-channel SDS824X HD reach 200 MHz. Rigol’s DHO800 list on its North American site stops at 100 MHz. To go faster with Rigol you step up to the DHO900 series, with the 125 MHz DHO914 and the 250 MHz DHO924.

So if you already know you need 200 MHz, the comparison becomes Siglent SDS824X HD against Rigol DHO924, and the Rigol has the higher bandwidth figure of the two.

Sample Rate and Memory Depth

This is Siglent’s clearest win on paper. The SDS804X HD samples at up to 2 GSa/s against 1.25 GSa/s for the DHO804, and stores 50 Mpts against 25 Mpts. More samples per second means better reconstruction of fast edges. More memory means longer captures before the sample rate has to drop.

In practical terms, the Siglent can record twice as long a stretch of signal at a given sample rate. That matters when you capture a long serial frame or a power-up sequence and then zoom in. Rigol closes the memory gap only in the DHO900 series, which has 50 Mpts.

Waveform Capture Rate

Here the headline goes to Rigol: up to 1,000,000 wfms/s, against Siglent’s 500,000 wfm/s maximum. Both of those top figures come from special modes, UltraAcquire on the Rigol and Sequence on the Siglent. Siglent also publishes a normal-mode figure of 120,000 wfm/s. Rigol’s product page gives only the UltraAcquire number, so a like-for-like comparison in everyday mode is not possible from the makers’ pages alone.

Siglent also specifies a 256-level intensity-graded display plus a color temperature mode, which shows how often a signal passes through each point on the screen.

Serial Decoding, Triggers and Analysis

Siglent lists I2C, SPI, UART, CAN and LIN triggering and decoding as features of the SDS800X HD, covering both embedded and automotive buses. Reviewers at HobbyistScope, who compared the two 70 MHz models, report that the DHO804 includes SPI, I2C and UART decoding as standard, with CAN and LIN as a paid option. If you work on vehicle electronics, that tilts the choice toward Siglent.

Siglent’s analysis toolkit is also deeper on the spec sheet: Bode plot comes standard, along with power analysis, mask test, History and segmented capture. On the Rigol side, Bode analysis is a selling point of the DHO900 “S” models and is not listed for the DHO800.

Display, Interfaces and Power

The screens are a draw: both are 7-inch, 1024×600 touch panels. The differences are around the edges.

• Video output: Rigol includes HDMI as standard. Siglent’s interface list (USB host, USB device, LAN, pass/fail and trigger out) has no video output.
• Power: the Rigol runs from USB-C and can be fed by a portable power source, which is handy for field work. Siglent does not advertise this.
• Remote control: both have LAN and USB. Siglent lists VXI-11, Telnet and Socket control over LAN and USBTMC over USB.
• Input devices: Siglent states support for an external mouse and keyboard.

HobbyistScope’s reviewers describe the Rigol interface as the smoother and more phone-like of the two, and the Siglent as more utilitarian. They also report that the Rigol’s fan is the more audible. Those are reviewer impressions, so weigh them accordingly.

Logic Analyzer and Signal Generator Options

The Siglent SDS800X HD can grow into a mixed-signal scope. Siglent offers a 16-channel logic probe, the SLA1016, and an optional 25 MHz arbitrary waveform generator. With a generator attached it can run loop response tests through the Bode plot function.

Rigol reserves digital channels for the DHO900 series, where all models accept the PLA2216 logic probe for 16 digital channels. The DHO800 product page lists no digital channel support. If you expect to debug parallel buses or many GPIO lines later, that is a point for Siglent at this price, or a reason to budget for a DHO900.

Price: Rigol DHO804 vs Siglent SDS804X HD

The makers’ own North American stores listed these prices in October 2026:

• 70 MHz, four channels: Rigol DHO804 $459, Siglent SDS804X HD $461
• 100 MHz, four channels: Rigol DHO814 $549, Siglent SDS814X HD $587
• 70 MHz, two channels: Rigol DHO802 $329, Siglent SDS802X HD $356
• Step-up models: Siglent SDS824X HD (200 MHz) $839, Rigol DHO914 (125 MHz) $659, Rigol DHO924 (250 MHz) $769

At 70 MHz with four channels the price is effectively identical, so specs decide it. At 100 MHz and in the two-channel models, Rigol is the cheaper option by roughly $27 to $38.

What About the Older Siglent SDS1000X-E?

Siglent still lists the SDS1000X-E series, long a default recommendation. The four-channel, 100 MHz SDS1104X-E is listed at about $499 (October 2026). It samples at 1 GSa/s, has 14 Mpts of memory in interleaved mode and uses a 7-inch, 800×480 screen without the 12-bit converters of the HD line.

Since the SDS804X HD costs less and the SDS814X HD offers the same 100 MHz bandwidth with higher resolution, sample rate and memory for about $88 more, the SDS1000X-E is hard to recommend for a new purchase unless you find it heavily discounted.

Rigol or Siglent: Buyer Questions

Is 70 MHz enough for a first oscilloscope?

For audio, linear and switching power supplies, Arduino and similar microcontrollers, and buses such as I2C, UART and most SPI, yes. Choose 100 MHz or more if you expect to look at faster digital edges.

Do I need four channels?

Four channels are worth the extra cost for most electronics work. Decoding SPI alone uses three or four signals, and three-phase or multi-rail power work needs them too. The two-channel models save about $105 to $130 at 70 MHz.

Does 12-bit resolution matter for hobby use?

It matters when you measure small signals on top of large ones, such as power supply ripple or sensor outputs. Both families here are 12-bit, so it does not separate them. It does separate them from older 8-bit scopes.

Which brand has the better upgrade path?

Siglent, within the same series: the SDS800X HD reaches 200 MHz and accepts a logic probe and waveform generator option. With Rigol, the same features mean moving to the DHO900 series.

Related reading

• Best Multimeters for Electronics Hobbyists in 2026

Verdict

For most first-time buyers choosing a four-channel 70 MHz scope, the Siglent SDS804X HD is the better buy. At essentially the same price as the Rigol, it has a faster sample rate, double the memory, CAN and LIN decoding, a standard Bode plot function and options for a logic probe and signal generator.

Buy the Rigol DHO804 if HDMI output for teaching or streaming matters, if you want to run the scope from a USB-C power bank away from the bench, or if the highest waveform capture rate is your priority. At 100 MHz, the Rigol DHO814 is the value pick because it undercuts the Siglent SDS814X HD. If you need 200 MHz or more, compare the Siglent SDS824X HD with the Rigol DHO924 and decide between Siglent’s deeper memory and Rigol’s higher bandwidth.