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Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2025
As a replacement for a tape measure, the Hoto Laser Measuring Tool is easy and intuitive to use. The screen is particularly easy to read, and the various functions easy to access from a side rocker switch. The basic functions are intuitive enough that the manual is largely unnecessary.I've compared the Hoto unit to another more traditional laser measuring tool. Of the two, I prefer the Hoto unit for general around the home use. It's more intuitive and easily accessible. I also like that it's rechargeable whereas the other unit requires batteries.I don't care for the included app. Unfortunately changing the units or the reference point requires the app. These functions should be settable on the device, but they are not. Out of the box the tool sets the reference point at the base of the tool. If you need to make it the front of the tool, you'll have to use the app. Likewise out of the box the distances are feet-inches-fractions. If you prefer decimal feet, or metric, that must be set on the app.The app is data greedy. My review is somewhat delayed because initially there was no way to register an account for the app without giving up my phone number. It was the only option, and creating an account could not be bypassed. Note the privacy policy said it could be bypassed but this was not true. You had to confirm the number with a texted code. I was unwilling. The app also asks for precise location data. Apparently though the app has been updated to allow creating an account using email and will work with Apple's "Sign in with Apple". You can deny it wifi and location services the usual way. That moves the app to "acceptable" from "not acceptable", although no account at all should be necessary for a *tape measure*. The Hoto app is used for multiple devices they sell though. I found the app not particularly useful. You can construct floor plans using it and by taping a segment and then measuring on the tool, it will put the measurements on the diagram. It's crude enough though to be of little practical purpose.What I would need for 5 stars?Allow setting the reference point and units on the device.Include a simple protective case.Include a lanyard.Improve the app and eliminate the need for registration.Overall, I think it's a very nice too for all but the most demanding technical users. A very good fit for any general user.In the images, the Hoto unit is the smaller one. You can see two measurements were off by 1/16", probably due to slight differences in the angle I held them at. In bright light, the other device's LCD is more readable, but the Hoto unit is fine. In dim light the Hoto unit is better. The lanyard connection on the other unit is more practical.
E. E. Saulsberry
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2025
As a replacement for a tape measure, the Hoto Laser Measuring Tool is easy and intuitive to use. The screen is particularly easy to read, and the various functions easy to access from a side rocker switch. The basic functions are intuitive enough that the manual is largely unnecessary.I've compared the Hoto unit to another more traditional laser measuring tool. Of the two, I prefer the Hoto unit for general around the home use. It's more intuitive and easily accessible. I also like that it's rechargeable whereas the other unit requires batteries.I don't care for the included app. Unfortunately changing the units or the reference point requires the app. These functions should be settable on the device, but they are not. Out of the box the tool sets the reference point at the base of the tool. If you need to make it the front of the tool, you'll have to use the app. Likewise out of the box the distances are feet-inches-fractions. If you prefer decimal feet, or metric, that must be set on the app.The app is data greedy. My review is somewhat delayed because initially there was no way to register an account for the app without giving up my phone number. It was the only option, and creating an account could not be bypassed. Note the privacy policy said it could be bypassed but this was not true. You had to confirm the number with a texted code. I was unwilling. The app also asks for precise location data. Apparently though the app has been updated to allow creating an account using email and will work with Apple's "Sign in with Apple". You can deny it wifi and location services the usual way. That moves the app to "acceptable" from "not acceptable", although no account at all should be necessary for a *tape measure*. The Hoto app is used for multiple devices they sell though. I found the app not particularly useful. You can construct floor plans using it and by taping a segment and then measuring on the tool, it will put the measurements on the diagram. It's crude enough though to be of little practical purpose.What I would need for 5 stars?Allow setting the reference point and units on the device.Include a simple protective case.Include a lanyard.Improve the app and eliminate the need for registration.Overall, I think it's a very nice too for all but the most demanding technical users. A very good fit for any general user.In the images, the Hoto unit is the smaller one. You can see two measurements were off by 1/16", probably due to slight differences in the angle I held them at. In bright light, the other device's LCD is more readable, but the Hoto unit is fine. In dim light the Hoto unit is better. The lanyard connection on the other unit is more practical.
customer
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2025
Laser measuring tools are speedy to use and incredibly accurate. Regardless, I recommend the old adage “measure twice, cut once” – it is painfully easy to take the first reading as absolute and not realize that there was “operator error” in getting the reading.This is a feature loaded laser measuring device that exceeds the capabilities of a standard tape measure. While there are situations that work better with the “old school” metal tape measure, most measuring tasks can be handled more quickly, and more accurately with this electronic laser device. However, you can’t “hook the end” of the laser beam over an edge to set a starting point! You have to actually have a barrier at the one end point in order to get a good reading.This unit actually replaces a high-end name brand laser measuring tool that I bought a few years ago. The old one didn’t wear out – it just didn’t have all the features that are jammed into this unit. It is delightful to be able to effortlessly switch between Imperial and Metric measurement, decimal and fractional readouts, and be able to hold onto a series of saved measurements for a project. In addition this unit connects with my cellphone and provides angle measurements, too!This is a very lightweight unit that is easy to carry around. The display is clear and bright. The battery lifetime is very long. Even when it needs a recharge, the charging time is not significant – just don’t neglect charging it if you know you have a big day ahead of you.
customer
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2025
Laser measuring tools are speedy to use and incredibly accurate. Regardless, I recommend the old adage “measure twice, cut once” – it is painfully easy to take the first reading as absolute and not realize that there was “operator error” in getting the reading.This is a feature loaded laser measuring device that exceeds the capabilities of a standard tape measure. While there are situations that work better with the “old school” metal tape measure, most measuring tasks can be handled more quickly, and more accurately with this electronic laser device. However, you can’t “hook the end” of the laser beam over an edge to set a starting point! You have to actually have a barrier at the one end point in order to get a good reading.This unit actually replaces a high-end name brand laser measuring tool that I bought a few years ago. The old one didn’t wear out – it just didn’t have all the features that are jammed into this unit. It is delightful to be able to effortlessly switch between Imperial and Metric measurement, decimal and fractional readouts, and be able to hold onto a series of saved measurements for a project. In addition this unit connects with my cellphone and provides angle measurements, too!This is a very lightweight unit that is easy to carry around. The display is clear and bright. The battery lifetime is very long. Even when it needs a recharge, the charging time is not significant – just don’t neglect charging it if you know you have a big day ahead of you.
Drew Long
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
This laser measuring tool is pretty cool and I found it to be very accurate compared to a ruler. The tool has a nice screen for displaying measurements, both angle and distance, as well as simple, intuitive controls to use the device. There are several different measurement modes though I found the most useful to be the standard distance and angle measuring mode, and the virtual tape measure mode. The basic distance and angle modes lets you just click to record a measurement, and the values will gradually get pushed off screen as you take more measurements. The virtual tape measure mode though will actually take continuous distance measurements and the screen will display the value as you’d see it on a tape measure. It’s kind of cool to walk backwards from a wall and watch the virtual tape move with you. Something to note that tripped me up a couple times while using this mode is that as soon as you pass the next inch marker, the number displayed will increment, which sometimes makes it seem like you just passed that inch marker, but it’s really the next marker number. Another thing to note is that the measurement location is different for the tape mode vs the other modes. For the tape measure mode, the measuring line is the line on the center of the display shown on the tape, not the front of the device. For the other modes, the measurement includes the entire length of the device, so you should use the back of the device as the measuring line, not the front, which makes sense if you are measuring the entire length of a wall.The device also has app connectivity, however, the app is pretty basic and not super useful. You can trigger measurements from your phone and it will display the measurements, which can be useful, but that’s about it. It makes you create an account on a China based app, so I deleted it after using it. I do love that the device is USB rechargeable though.
Drew Long
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
This laser measuring tool is pretty cool and I found it to be very accurate compared to a ruler. The tool has a nice screen for displaying measurements, both angle and distance, as well as simple, intuitive controls to use the device. There are several different measurement modes though I found the most useful to be the standard distance and angle measuring mode, and the virtual tape measure mode. The basic distance and angle modes lets you just click to record a measurement, and the values will gradually get pushed off screen as you take more measurements. The virtual tape measure mode though will actually take continuous distance measurements and the screen will display the value as you’d see it on a tape measure. It’s kind of cool to walk backwards from a wall and watch the virtual tape move with you. Something to note that tripped me up a couple times while using this mode is that as soon as you pass the next inch marker, the number displayed will increment, which sometimes makes it seem like you just passed that inch marker, but it’s really the next marker number. Another thing to note is that the measurement location is different for the tape mode vs the other modes. For the tape measure mode, the measuring line is the line on the center of the display shown on the tape, not the front of the device. For the other modes, the measurement includes the entire length of the device, so you should use the back of the device as the measuring line, not the front, which makes sense if you are measuring the entire length of a wall.The device also has app connectivity, however, the app is pretty basic and not super useful. You can trigger measurements from your phone and it will display the measurements, which can be useful, but that’s about it. It makes you create an account on a China based app, so I deleted it after using it. I do love that the device is USB rechargeable though.
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