Kizen LaserPro LP300 Infrared Thermometer In-depth Review
Overall Verdict
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 is a tough case. On the one hand, it has excellent build quality and a great usability score. But on the other hand, with a very mediocre measurement mode, it won’t be much use if you’re looking for an infrared thermometer that can return exacting, extremely accurate results.
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 could be a good enough purchase for kitchen use where reading is off by a few degrees. But if you plan on using the thermometer for other applications, like industrial use or HVAC, other infrared thermometers on the market can give more precise results, like the Helect or the Eventek thermometers.
Things We Like
- Quite affordable for what it is
- Solid build quality
- Laser emitter is bright and can be easily tracked
- Display panel is decently bright and data points can be easily read in many conditions (under studio lighting, in the dark, etc.)
- Handle is indented and textured for easier gripping
- Loud speaker
Things We Don’t Like
- Mediocre measurement accuracy
- Doesn’t have many measurement mode
- The backlight can’t be turned off
Not much is known about Kizen besides their extensive portfolio on Amazon. Their thermometers, which include LaserPro LP300, are generally well-reviewed.
After testing a unit in our lab for a week, it’s hard to determine whether the LaserPro LP300 is a good deal. While it does a good job in the cold test with ice, it’s one of the few infrared kitchen thermometers in our database that failed the hot test with cooking oil.
Its lackluster measurement accuracy is the only drawback. Otherwise, the Kizen LaserPro LP300 performed excellently in our assessment's design and usability portions.
Check the detailed test report below.
5.2 Performance
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 performed well in the cold test with ice, but it failed the hot test with cooking oil. This affected its overall performance score and made us hesitant to recommend it, despite its high scores in other areas. However, the total score still falls within a passing range.
Therefore, for kitchen use where extreme precision is not crucial, the LaserPro LP300 could be a suitable choice. However, alternative infrared thermometers may be more suitable for industrial applications and other uses.
8.4 Cold Test with Ice
After the temperature of the ice chest stabilized at 32°F, we put the Kizen LaserPro LP300 to the test. At two respective distances, 12 and 16 inches, the thermometer returned two readings of 30.4°F and 31.3°F.
These are very good results and within the ±2°F error tolerance. As such, our benchmark gives the LaserPro LP300 an average score of 8.85 out of 10. Further accounting for the stability variable, we get the total score of the Kizen LaserPro LP300 being 8.45 out of 10.
3.1 Hot Test with Cooking Oil
With the cooking oil stabilizing at 361°F, we put the Kizen LaserPro LP300 to the test at two distances, 12 and 16 inches, receiving two respective readings: 378°F and 374°F. These readings well exceeded the ±2°F error tolerance of the thermometer.
Our benchmark gives the LaserPro LP300 an average score of just 3.5 out of 10 for this test portion. The scoring is even lower when we consider the stability variable, which lowers the score even further down to just 3.1 out of 10.
9.3 Design
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 comes in a printed cardboard box and includes the thermometer, complimentary AAA batteries, user manual, warranty card, and emissivity settings chart. At 4.86 ounces, it’s a bit heavier than other infrared thermometers in our database, but it’s still comfortable to hold with one hand and fits well in a kitchen drawer.
The thermometer has excellent build quality, a red single-dot laser emitter with good brightness, a backlit LCD display panel, and is powered by two AAA batteries.
In the Box
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 comes in a printed cardboard box. Besides the infrared thermometer itself, you’ll also find a pack of complimentary AAA batteries. You’ll also find the user manual, the warranty card, and a chart of emissivity settings for the LaserPro LP300.
Dimensions
Although being one of the heavier infrared thermometers in our list, the Kizen LaserPro LP300’s weight is still light enough for the user to hold and use with one hand comfortably. The dimensions of the thermometer are about average for an infrared thermometer. It’ll fit nicely inside a kitchen drawer.
9.5 Build Quality
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 boasts excellent build quality with its high-quality plastic construction and eye-catching high-vis orange color, making it look like a professional industrial tool. The thermometer also has stylish black plastic details around the housing, enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal.
In terms of the overall construction, the Kizen LaserPro LP300 shares the same design as the Sovarcate HS960D and HS980E.
9.0 Laser Emitter
The laser emitter produces a red laser in the pattern of a single dot. The laser is very bright. We can see and track the laser beam even against a white background and under harsh studio lighting.
9.0 Display Panel
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 comes with a 1.18-inch backlit LCD panel. The screen does a good job of displaying data and recordings. The blue backlight of the thermometer is on by default. There’s no button to turn it off.
Battery Compartment
The thermometer is conveniently powered by two AAA batteries. A pack of complimentary AAA batteries is included in the box. Simply open the battery compartment, insert the batteries, press the trigger, and you'll be ready to use the thermometer immediately.
7.2 Usability
Our reviewers rate the handling experience of the Kizen LaserPro LP300 as "excellent," thanks to its excellent handling with indents and a textured grip for comfort and ease of use. The thermometer has a mode that lets you change the emissivity setting. Besides the EMS mode, it doesn’t allow you to do much else.
The thermometer features audio cues with a loud speaker that beeps when transitioning to HOLD mode, making it audible even in a noisy kitchen.
9.0 Handling
The handle has indents at the front, which mold to the user’s hand to make for a more comfortable grip. This part is also textured to make using the thermometer with wet hands easier. Combined with a pleasantly clicky trigger, the handling experience of the Kizen LaserPro LP300 is graded by our reviewers as “excellent.”
3.0 Measurement Modes
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 allows you to set the emissivity setting for the IR sensor Kizen also includes a chart of common materials and their emissivity to make it easier for you to tune to the right setting for the object you want to measure.
Besides the EMS setting, the thermometer has no extra measurement mode.
9.0 Audio Cues
The Kizen LaserPro LP300 comes with a speaker, which beeps when you release the trigger, and the thermometer switches from SCAN to HOLD mode. The speaker’s volume is loud enough to hear the beep from across the room. You’ll be able to hear the thermometer clearly, even in a noisy kitchen.