Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 review

With the ability to dig deeply into a car’s computers and find often-hidden problems, Topdon’s Phoenix Lite 2 will make automotive hobbyists feel right at home without alienating professional mechanics. The $799 price tag means it costs as much as several capable scanners, but its wireless tablet design can free mechanics from dealing with cables during 360-degree connected car walkarounds.

Size: 10.2 x 7.2 x 1.7 inches
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Live data: Yes
Display type and size: Color touchscreen, 8-inch
Number of keys: None
Bluetooth: Yes
Handheld: Yes
Warranty: 2 years

One of the biggest and heaviest scanners around, it’s been hardened for clumsy users. There's a kickstand for ease of use, and its 8-inch touch screen let me stretch out with my car’s data. But it’s OK if the Phoenix Lite 2 doesn’t come close to fitting into my toolbox, because it has its own case and a slew of adapters.

The only question is whether the Phoenix Lite 2 is too much, too little or just right for your automotive needs.

Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 Review: Price and availability

At $799, the Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 is not exactly budget friendly, although it is significantly less expensive than other Phoenix scanners. It might miss a few items here and there, but the Phoenix Lite 2 can handle just about any automotive problem.

Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 Review: Design

A hybrid of wireless and handheld designs, the Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 has an OBD port transmitter that sends automotive data via Bluetooth to the tablet receiver. In other words, forget about trailing cables while working. I was able to work in the engine bay, the interior and around a connected car without barriers.

On the downside, the kit’s OBD transmitter takes up 3.2 x 2.0 x 1.2 inches, making it among the largest around. The tablet is hardly skin and bones as well, weighing 2.6 pounds and measuring 10.2 x 7.2 x 1.7 inches – the equivalent of six stacked iPad Minis. The tablet can feel awkward after a few minutes, unless you prop it up with the pull-out kick stand.

The tablet has been hardened with a slip-proof surface and ruggedized exoskeleton. Its hard case has room for all the parts, including an excellent assortment of connection cables, like the 23-inch OBD extension cord alongside adapters for older Mercedes, Fiat and Nissan vehicles. This is the scanner for those with a classic car in the driveway.

Inside, the tablet has a high-performance Android 10 computer with a quad-core 2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space. Its 12.6 amp-hour battery pack was good for a full day of testing, troubleshooting and connected test drives. While it charges with a USB-C input, the package lacks an AC adapter.

The 8-inch touch screen displays 1,280 x 800 resolution and made quick work of diagnostic duties with an efficient interface that can run horizontally or vertically. There’re tiles for scanning, checking the vehicle’s history and what cars are covered. Just tap and it’s done, although I found that greasy fingers and wearing gloves can cause problems.

As a bonus, the Phoenix Lite 2 has a built-in Chrome browser. It was equally good at grabbing diagnostic and repair tips from the Internet as it was for watching dancing videos on TikTok.

Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 Review: Setup

After plugging the Phoenix Lite 2’s transmitter into the OBD port of my Subaru Outback, I connected the tablet to my home’s Wi-Fi network. Next, I created a Topdon account and activated the OBD transmitter. It was ready and glowed green.

Like the company’s ArtDiag500, the Phoenix Lite 2 came with a booklet guide to get started. It deserves more with detailed descriptions of the tests and how to use them. The company’s YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MxtGi_hPKM) is an excellent introduction.

The Phoenix Lite 2 comes with two years of warranty coverage and firmware updates. After that the updates cost $495 a year.

Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 Review: Performance

A big step forward for auto diagnostics, the Phoenix Lite 2 has access to excellent live test data, including engine load and speed, mass air flow sensor output and accelerator position. There are hundreds of other bits of data that the competition ignores, even the clutch pedal position for manual transmissions. All are shown as numbers or timeline graphs; four variables can be plotted at once.

For most, the Phoenix Lite 2 will be somewhere between just right and overkill — with compatibility for everything from Ford, GM and Chrysler to BYD, VAZ and Tata. In addition to the vehicle identification number (VIN), it showed a slew of diagnostic data. The scanner’s Services opens more than two dozen items, many restricted to the dealership’s mechanics, like turning off the oil change light, performing a battery matching routine and resetting the air bags.

There’s no explicit I/M Readiness test, although its individual components are available. The Phoenix Lite 2’s Health Report took 47 seconds and showed the car had no problems. Not only was I able to save the results, I also managed to email them to myself. Later, the Phoenix Lite 2 quickly alerted me when I disconnected the seat occupant sensor and explained the sensor’s role.

Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 Review: Verdict

It may not be for everyone, but the Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 can do a lot for shadetree mechanics and professionals alike. It offers live data, fault information and a slew of advanced items. The Lite 2 comes into its own with a high-performance wireless tablet that reveals the inner workings of a vehicle while working in the engine bay and walking around the car.

An automotive tour de force, the Phoenix Lite 2 is nothing short of the most versatile OBD scanner available.