Konnwei KW850 Review: A Great Size & More

I asked him what scanner that was, having never seen it before that time. He showed me and that was when I knew that I needed to review the Konnwei KW850 sooner than later. So, here we are.

But, truly, what caught my interest was its sheer size: the scanner looked quite large in his hands and I was curious to see what it could do.

When my brother mentioned that it was a basic code reader, my curiosity was piqued further: why in the world was a basic code reader this large?

I needed to use the Konnwei KW850 for a week and share my thoughts.

Konnwei KW850 Review: First Impression and What’s in the Box

When my brother first pulled out the Konnwei KW850 for the first time, my impression of it was that he had drawn a weapon – and I’m NOT joking!

Its size, from when I first saw it, right up to this day, remains the singularly largest basic code reader I’ve ever crossed paths with, though at that time, I had no idea that it was a basic code reader and little else.

The overall impression, however, was bold and badass: the unit, I assumed, was some comprehensive modern scanner that was capable of scanning all vehicle diagnostic modules and while at it, doing some really cool things.

And, that was exactly what I had in mind, even when my brother explained as best as he could.

My conclusions would be reached, I debated within myself, when the unit was plugged into my vehicle’s OBD II port and things decided for me.

Curious and with a heart full of anticipation, I asked him for the unit so that I could review it. When I first held it, only one thought filtered through my mind…

…it was heavy – in a good way (just as heavy as the ST203, when I ran the Foxwell ST201 vs. ST203 comparison).

Content-wise, I was able to glean from my brother (I actually requested and got the pack’s contents) that the KW850 came in:

• A biodegradable carton.
• A user manual in the pack.
• A sort of carrying pouch and
• Of course, the scanner itself.

Functions & Abilities

When I took the Konnwei KW850 from my brother for review purposes, I had very high expectations of the unit and believed it would be feature-packaged. Who wouldn’t believe same, given the unit’s size?

When I plugged the machine into my vehicle’s OBD II port, my doubts were cleared and I was welcomed to reality.

Below is what I found:

1. Basic Code Reading & Erasure

When your vehicle’s ECU detects something out of set parameters in your vehicle, it sets a DTC, which manifests itself on the instrument cluster in the form of a check engine light.

The Konnwei KW850 works awesomely in reading such codes and letting you know firsthand what exactly is the matter, by means of codes.

Speaking of codes, the codes that your vehicle brings forth directly tell an interesting story: a story that is easily deciphered by means of the DTC lookup.

And, after you’ve fixed the issue, this Konnwei also has the ability to help you delete the codes so that you have a clean cluster that allows you to focus on the bigger issues of life.

2. DTC Lookup

The codes the KW850 pulls out are meaningless, to the untrained eye. If you’re not a mechanic or advanced DIY person, you’re likely to get confused, when the codes present themselves upon pulling them up.

This is where the DTC lookup feature of the KW850 begins to make sense: simply input the codes and a smart, easy explanation presents itself without much ado.

This function is what makes the whole process of ‘not making sense’ actually make sense.

3. Data Stream Reading

Getting to know what’s wrong with your vehicle goes beyond mere code reading; sometimes, to get to the root of an issue, data needs to be drawn out and carefully analyzed.

For instance, a lean condition as indicated by the P0171 code simply spells that: “system too lean (bank 1).

This does not contain much information, on face value, especially for the newbie or folk who isn’t exactly a professional.

However, with live data, the exact air the vehicle is seeing, per g/s can be figured out and compared against engine displacement and cylinders, typical for such an engine.

If the values are within range, it typically means that there’s a leak somewhere and the unmetered air is what’s causing all the challenges.

The good part? This Konnwei has this simple, often taken for granted but very important feature.

Other Exciting Functions

Beyond the basic code reading and erasure, DTC lookup and ability to stream data, there’s also I/M readiness (a function that checks the operation of a vehicle’s emissions system and makes sure that they’re within limits).

There’s also an EVAP system monitor, O2 sensor test, and the ability to pull vehicle information, which are all nice and good to have around.

Further, there’s the feature to review/delete: DTCs. freeze data, data stream, and importantly, also print out the information, if you’ll appreciate a hard copy of what you’re seeing on the display of the device.

Konnwei KW850 Vehicle Compatibility

Most modern cars on the road today are compatible with the Konnwei KW850. Since getting the unit from my brother to test what it can do, I’ve tried it on several brands, makes, and models (minus hybrids, sports and electric cars) and have found that in all cases, it worked flawlessly.

It is also important to note that all vehicles I tested the code reader on were OBD II certified – so if your unit is OBD I certified, you may need to confirm with the manufacturer directly.

It’s thus safe to conclude that if you’re not driving an exotic sports car, a hybrid, an electric car, or an OBD I powered vehicle, you have a great chance of getting this unit to work with your vehicle without any ado.

The Battery Testing Feature & OBD I Capabilities

Very few OBD II code readers today come with standard with a battery tester. However, the few that do (like the Ancel AD410 Pro) are respectable options and choices in their own regard.

Surprisingly, I noticed that the Konnwei KW850 comes standard with a battery tester that conveniently tests the battery voltage and summarizes its state from the luxury of the OBD II port and not the trunk or hood where the starter battery is typically, physically located.

Now, not only is the inconvenience of getting out and physically clamping a battery to figure out what is wrong with it removed, the unit pretty much gets the reading right, as I cross-checked with a multimeter.

That said, another feature worthy of special mention is the ability of the unit to scan vehicles of the OBD I generation.

Granted, such vehicles are rare on the roads today, but it gives a certain level of satisfaction knowing that if you ever need to read the DTCs on an older vehicle, you have a handy machine that will easily do the job without as much as breaking a sweat.

Limitations

This Konnwei KW850 review won’t be complete without mentioning the various limitations the code reader has. Without further ado, here they are:

1. Humongous Size

The size of the KW850 is humongous – and it’s just a basic code reader and nothing more. This means, for all its size, you won’t be able to scan the transmission. You won’t be able to scan the ABS. You won’t be able to scan the airbags. You won’t be able to scan a lot of things.

2. The Detachable Cord Could Be a Blessing or a Curse

The detachable chord is a blessing – but can also easily register as a ‘curse’, too.

With the chord removed, the unit is pretty easy to store and in this way, it could be regarded as a blessing.

However, if you’re a careless folk (or have hyperactive kids), then, the chord is likely to go missing, sooner than later, leaving you with a code reader that is without a means to connect to the OBD port.

Leaving the chord on or taking it off is risky; looked at from whatever angle.

Alternatives to Consider

There are many competitors to the Konnwei KW850; options that offer a competitive edge over it, if you’re in the market for the unit.

First, there’s the Ancel AD 410: a small, sturdy badass unit that I’ve used myself for several years now (6 +). The unit is permanently in my glove box and there’s not a moment I wish I had bought another.

If the battery testing feature is very important to you, there’s the Ancel AD410 Pro, an improved form of the 410, offering battery testing capabilities.

In the past, I reviewed my unit on this website. If you’re considering the 410 from Ancel, start by reading my Ancel AD 410 review.

Second, if the size is what you love with passion and won’t trade it off for anything, there’s an equally large unit from Foxwell (though, admittedly, it isn’t as large as the KW850).

The unit is called the Foxwell NT301 – and it is as amazing as it is large. Minus the battery testing feature, you won’t miss the 850 if you decide to look at Foxwell’s offering instead.

Should You Buy the Konnwei KW850?

There are folks who love to make an impression with whatever they do: such folks make grand entrances and love making everything about the larger than life.

If this is your type of person, then, few options compete with the Konnwei KW850 code reader: it fits your style and personality perfectly.

However, if you don’t really care and are simply looking to get a basic code reader and don’t fancy the battery-checking capabilities of the KW850, you’re better off with the Ancel AD 410.

If you love to have the ability to check your starter battery and its state, especially in a no start condition and don’t want to invest money in a dedicated battery tester (like the Ancel BA101) and also don’t care about size or will appreciate something smaller, then, the Ancel AD410 Pro is your best bet.

To wrap up, if you love your things big and impressive, are looking to have a basic battery checker built into a simple code reader, and importantly, will love the extra power of knowing that your unit is both OBD I and II compliant, then, nothing beats the Konwei KW850.