By how you carry it
Portable breathalysers
Portable means it lives in a pocket, a glovebox or a handbag and works when you take it out. In practice that comes down to three things: how big it is, how it is powered, and whether it still reads correctly after months of being carried around.
9 models, 
1,000 to 9,500, excluding tax. Full price list
| Model | Sensor | Detection range | Response | Price (excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT-6000 | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–0.20% BAC • 0.00–2.00‰ BAC • 0.00–1.00 mg/L • 0.00–200 mg/100mL | Less Than 6 Seconds | 1,000 |
| A9S Small | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–0.19% BAC (0–1.9 g/L) | Less Than 5 Seconds | 1,400 |
| AT-1100 | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.000–0.199% BAC / 0.000–1.990‰ BAC / 0.000–0.995 mg/L (BrAC) | Less Than 5 Seconds | 1,500 |
| A15 Bottle | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–0.19% BAC (0–1.9 g/L) | Less Than 5 Seconds | 2,000 |
| AT-6000 Pro 1 | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–0.19% BAC (0–1.9 g/L) | Less Than 5 Seconds | 2,500 |
| AT-6000 Pro 2 | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–0.19% BAC (0–1.9 g/L) | Less Than 5 Seconds | 3,000 |
| A20 SMART | High-Precision Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–200 mg/100mL | 5 Seconds | 3,000 |
| A18 Slim | Semiconductor Sensor | 0.00–0.19% BAC (0–1.9 g/L) | Less Than 5 Seconds | 3,500 |
| AH3 | Fuel Cell Sensor | 0–0.400% BAC / 0–2.00 mg/L / 0–4.00‰ BAC / 0–4.00 g/L / 0–440 mg/100mL | Less Than 5 Seconds | 9,500 |
Every figure here is read from the product's own page. Where a product does not publish a number, this table says so rather than estimating it.
Which one
- AT-6000— The entry point; runs on three AAA cells and weighs 90 g.
- A9S Small— Mini pocket body.
- AT-1100— Compact, one step up from the AT-6000.
- A15 Bottle— Bottle-shaped, so it clips to a keyring.
- AT-6000 Pro 1— Easy-carry body.
- AT-6000 Pro 2— Easy-carry body, wider unit coverage.
- A20 SMART— Reads up to 200 mg/100mL, the widest range here.
- A18 Slim— Ultra-slim, one-touch.
- AH3— The only fuel cell unit on this page.
The honest part
Eight of the nine use a semiconductor sensor. That is the right choice for a personal check and the wrong one for a reading somebody else will act on, because the sensor drifts and is recalibrated to correct it. If the number has to mean something to another person, the AH3 is the cheapest fuel cell unit we carry, and the professional range starts where this page ends.
Questions
- What is the difference between the semiconductor units and the AH3?
- The sensor. Eight of these nine use a semiconductor sensor, which drifts with use and is recalibrated; the AH3 uses an electrochemical fuel cell, which holds its reading longer.
- How quickly does a pocket tester give a result?
- Around five seconds on these models, after a short warm-up. Each product page lists its own warm-up, response and recovery times.
- Does it need recalibrating?
- A semiconductor sensor drifts with use and recalibration corrects it. Each product page lists its calibration cycle.
- Can I use it on other people?
- Yes, with a fresh mouthpiece each time.