Rigol

Founded in 1998, Rigol has become one of the most disruptive brands in modern electronic test equipment. Rigol instruments are especially popular in education, maker spaces, electronics repair, embedded systems development, and small engineering labs because they offer impressive capability for the price.

Modern Rigol oscilloscopes often include features that were once reserved for high-end instruments:

• Deep memory
• Protocol decoding
• FFT analysis
• Large colour displays
• Mixed signal capability
• LAN and USB connectivity

Many engineers consider Rigol the “sweet spot” between affordability and professional-grade functionality.

Tektronix

Founded in 1946, Tektronix is one of the most respected names in the test and measurement industry. Tektronix scopes are found in universities, aerospace labs, telecommunications companies, manufacturing facilities, and advanced R&D environments worldwide.

Tektronix instruments are known for:

• Exceptional signal integrity
• Advanced triggering and analysis
• Long-term reliability
• High-end measurement accuracy
• Professional support ecosystems

For many engineers, Tektronix represents the benchmark standard for oscilloscopes.

Bench Presence & User Experience

A big part of oscilloscope ownership is the day-to-day workflow. How fast can you capture a signal? How intuitive are the controls? Can students learn it quickly?

Rigol: Fast Learning Curve & Modern Value

Rigol scopes are generally praised for their approachable interfaces and feature-rich software.

Many newer Rigol models provide:

• Bright modern displays
• Responsive menus
• Excellent waveform visibility
• Strong connectivity features
• Impressive capabilities per dollar

For education and small labs, this matters enormously. Students can quickly become productive without navigating overly complex menus.

Tektronix: Premium Feel & Engineering Refinement

Tektronix instruments tend to feel more refined and purpose-built for demanding engineering environments.

Advantages commonly include:

• Larger, higher-resolution displays
• Excellent physical controls
• Fast waveform responsiveness
• Superior triggering systems
• Highly polished software workflows

Tektronix scopes are often easier to use under pressure in professional debugging or validation environments where efficiency matters.

Experienced engineers often describe Tektronix scopes as “predictable” and “confidence inspiring”, particularly when analysing difficult or noisy signals.

The Kiwi Perspective

In New Zealand, many electronics engineers and educators are increasingly turning toward brands like Rigol because modern instruments now offer extremely capable performance at far more accessible pricing.

For:

• Schools
• Polytechnics
• Universities
• Startups
• Repair workshops
• Automation integrators
• Embedded developers

…the value equation is difficult to ignore.