ANENG DM850 Review: A $5.72 Multimeter That Actually Works

When your old multimeter dies and you need a replacement fast

My DT830B finally gave up. It had been sitting in the toolbox for years, showing up when I needed to check a fuse, test a battery, or trace a wire. When it stopped reading AC voltage reliably, I needed a replacement — but I wasn't about to spend $40 on a Fluke for occasional home use.

I started looking at what was actually available under $10. The market at that price point is messy. Most no-name units have manual ranging only, tiny displays, and build quality that feels like it won't survive a second use. Then I found the ANENG DM850 at $5.72 — down 54% from its original price — and decided it was worth a try.

Here's what I found.

Honest Review: What It Does Well and Where It Falls Short

The single most useful feature at this price is auto-ranging. Most cheap multimeters make you manually select the measurement range, which is annoying if you don't know exactly what you're testing, and potentially damaging if you get it wrong. The DM850 handles AC/DC voltage detection automatically and adjusts the range on its own. For casual use, that removes a real point of friction.

The display is large and clear — legible at an angle, which matters when the meter is propped on a surface and you're working with both hands. It reads 1999 counts, which is standard for this class but more than adequate for home diagnostics.

Feature coverage is solid: AC/DC voltage, DC current, resistance up to 2MΩ, continuity with a built-in buzzer, and diode testing. The buzzer is genuinely useful — when you're tracing a break in a wire or checking a fuse, audio feedback means you don't have to keep looking at the screen.

Probes are included and functional. Nothing premium, but they work.

Now, the limitations — and I want to be direct about these:

It does not measure AC current. If you want to check actual power draw on an appliance or measure current in an AC circuit, this meter cannot do that. DC current only. That's a meaningful gap if AC amperage is part of what you need.

Also, the 9V battery is not included. Annoying when the unit arrives and you want to test it immediately.

The build feels lightweight. It won't survive being dropped onto concrete regularly. For a toolbox tool that gets used hard, that's worth noting.

What Would You Normally Get at This Price?

At the $5-6 price point, you're usually looking at generic unbranded multimeters with manual ranging, tiny single-row displays, and no recognizable quality history behind them. ANENG is not a premium brand, but they have a track record in budget test equipment — this isn't a one-off white-label unit.

I tested the DM850 against my (now deceased) DT830B by measuring the same battery and household outlet before the old one fully died. Readings were consistent and in line with what I expected.

If you need more, a Uni-T UT61E runs around $35-40 and gives you AC current measurement, higher resolution, and PC connectivity. Worth it if you do this regularly. For occasional home use? The price gap is hard to justify.

Buy It If / Skip It If

Buy it if you're a DIY hobbyist who needs a reliable meter for home repairs, basic electronics projects, car diagnostics, or just checking batteries and outlets. Also worth it as a backup meter to keep in a different bag or at a second location.

Skip it if you need to measure AC current, if you're doing professional electrical work where certified accuracy matters, or if you need safety ratings above CAT II for high-voltage environments.

My honest take: for $5.72 with auto-ranging, a clear display, continuity buzzer, and solid basic coverage, the DM850 is a legitimate tool — not a toy. It won't replace a serious instrument, but it wasn't trying to. What surprised me was how little I had to give up compared to multimeters costing three times as much for similar home use.

If you need a functional multimeter without spending real money, this is a reasonable bet: Buy now on AliExpress