Keysight DSOX1202G Oscilloscope Review: Main Features
Oscilloscopes can look like props from a science fiction film: glowing traces, rows of knobs and numbers that update faster than you can read them. In the right hands, though, a scope is one of the most useful tools on an electronics bench. We won’t spend time on what an oscilloscope is, since most people shopping for one already know. There are plenty of brands to choose from. This article looks at the Keysight DSOX1202G, the current entry-level InfiniiVision model, to see what it offers and whether it is worth the money.
Updated September 2026: product availability, specs and prices re-checked.
This review originally covered the Keysight DSOX1102G. Keysight now lists that model as obsolete and names the DSOX1202G as its replacement, so the review below covers the newer scope. It keeps the same idea: a two-channel bench scope with a built-in function generator, aimed at people moving up from hobby gear.
Keysight DSOX1202G Oscilloscope: First Impression
The DSOX1202G belongs to Keysight’s InfiniiVision 1000 X-Series, the company’s lowest-cost line of bench scopes. Even so, it costs more than most rival entry-level models. Keysight’s list price is $1,389 for the 70 MHz version, $1,715 for 100 MHz and $2,040 for 200 MHz (September 2026). Siglent, Rigol and Hantek all sell two-channel scopes for a fraction of that.
What the extra money buys is a long list of analysis tools that come standard, a three-year warranty and Keysight’s reputation for accuracy. Keysight says the 1000 X-Series offers measurement and analysis features that rival scopes three times the price.
One detail from the older model carries over. Keysight ships the DSOX1202G with two N2140A 200 MHz passive probes, even on the 70 MHz version. That makes sense, because the bandwidth is a software upgrade. Owners of the older DSOX1102G often talked about unofficial ways to unlock more bandwidth. With the DSOX1202G, the 100 MHz and 200 MHz options are sold as official upgrades, so the probes in the box are already rated for the top option.
Keysight DSOX1202G: Main Features
Below are the most important things to consider before you buy.
Screen
The DSOX1202G has a 7-inch display. That is the standard size in this class, and it leaves room for two traces plus the measurement readouts around them. The waveform update rate is where Keysight pulls ahead. The company rates the DSOX1202G at up to 200,000 waveforms per second, four times the 50,000 rating of the model it replaced. A faster update rate makes rare glitches more likely to show up on screen. The interface follows the older model. Owners of the 1000 X-Series describe the menus as easy to learn, and a built-in help function gives a short explanation of a key when you press and hold it.
Functionality
Oscilloscopes are niche devices that do complex but necessary work. The features below explain the price and why this Keysight model is still a common pick among entry-level bench scopes.
Bus Operations
The DSOX1202G includes serial protocol triggering and decoding as standard. Supported buses are I2C, SPI, UART/RS232, CAN and LIN. That covers most of what hobbyists and embedded developers run into. Keysight’s cheaper EDUX1052G education model only decodes I2C and UART, which is one of the main reasons to pay more for the DSOX version.
Waveform Operations
Basic waveform capture is something every scope does. Where the DSOX1202G stands out is memory. It has 2 Mpts of acquisition memory and samples at up to 2 GSa/s. That is enough to capture a long stretch of signal and then zoom in on the detail you need. The EDUX1052G, by comparison, has 200 kpts.
Bandwidth
Keysight sells one DSOX1202G, with three bandwidth levels. It starts at 70 MHz, and 100 MHz and 200 MHz are paid options. If you only work with audio, microcontrollers and slower digital signals, 70 MHz is usually enough. If you work with faster edges, the 100 MHz or 200 MHz option is worth considering. You can buy it at the start or add it later.
The “G” in the model name stands for the built-in WaveGen, a 20 MHz function generator with modulation. It lets you feed a test signal into a circuit and view the result on the same instrument. Earlier owners of the 1000 X-Series reported that only the sine wave reaches the full 20 MHz, while other shapes top out lower. That is normal for this class, so check the datasheet if you need fast square waves.
The WaveGen also powers one of the most useful standard features: frequency response analysis. The scope can sweep its own generator and draw a Bode plot of a filter or amplifier. That kind of test used to require a separate network analyzer.
Refresh Rate
It is worth coming back to the update rate, because it affects everyday use more than most specs. A scope that redraws the screen quickly misses less of what happens between captures. At up to 200,000 waveforms per second, the DSOX1202G is less likely to miss an intermittent fault than scopes that redraw more slowly.
Fast Fourier Transform
FFT is expected on any modern oscilloscope, and this Keysight model has it as standard. Math functions and mask testing are included too. Mask testing lets you set a pass/fail template and have the scope flag any waveform that crosses it, which is handy for checking a batch of boards.
Keysight DSOX1202G Oscilloscope: Verdict
Keysight is a highly respected oscilloscope maker, and the DSOX1202G is a strong entry-level bench scope. It suits students, hobbyists and engineers doing light to medium work. It has a clear 7-inch display, fast waveform updates, standard protocol decoding, and a built-in generator with Bode plots. The official bandwidth upgrades mean you can start at 70 MHz and pay for more later. The main drawback is price. If you don’t need the Keysight name, the three-year warranty or the standard analysis tools, cheaper two-channel scopes from other brands will do the basics for much less.
