Apera Instruments PC60-Z review
Apera Instruments PC60-Z Smart Multi-Parameter Pocket Tester (AI3719)
By Tom Calder
We no longer recommend this model, so it no longer appears in our buying guides. In its place, we now recommend Apera Instruments PCO60-Z Bluetooth pH/Conductivity/ORP/Redox/TDS/Salinity/Resistivity Smart Multi-Parameter Meter Tester Kit in our Water testing kits guide.
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- What it tests
- pH, conductivity, TDS, salinity, resistivity
- Format
- Handheld electronic probe meter, IP67 waterproof
- Tests included
- Physicochemical readout
- Results in
- Seconds per reading, auto-hold when stable
This is a genuine lab-grade instrument rather than a novelty gadget: an IP67 electronic probe meter with 3-point calibration and Bluetooth logging via Apera's free ZenTest app. It's well suited to monitoring a private supply's day-to-day chemistry, but it doesn't test for the things that actually make water unsafe.
- Best for
- Private well/borehole owners and hobbyists (aquariums, hydroponics, brewing, pools) who want precise, loggable pH/EC/TDS readings — not households just wanting reassurance on tap water.
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Accurate multi-parameter electronic probe (pH, EC, TDS, salinity, resistivity, temperature) — not a dip-strip guess
- Bluetooth data logging via the free ZenTest app, useful for tracking trends on a private supply over time
- IP67 waterproof build with proper multi-point calibration, built for repeated use rather than a single test
Worth knowing
- Does not test for lead, bacteria, nitrates or pesticides — the parameters that actually determine drinking-water safety
- A serious outlay for a household that only wants peace of mind on tap water
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Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy this expecting an answer to 'is my tap water safe' — it can't detect lead, bacteria or pesticides. If you're in a pre-1970 home worried about lead pipes, or need to satisfy your Private Water Supplies Regulations obligations on a borehole or spring, send a sample to a UKAS-accredited lab instead; this device is for ongoing pH/conductivity monitoring by owners and hobbyists who already understand that limit.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for Owners of a private well, borehole or spring wanting a broad lab panel with UKAS-accredited bacteria results, or buyers vetting a private supply before a house purchase.
Best for Homeowners with pre-1970 lead pipework, or anyone on a private supply (borehole, spring, well) who needs a definitive lead reading rather than an indicative guess.
Read the review →Best for Owners of a well, borehole or spring who need a genuine lab-verified metals reading, not a DIY indicator strip.
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