I just tested the ultimate OBD-II scanner — and it's the best reason not to go to a mechanic

Think of Innova’s 5610 as a crossover scanner. It’s just as useful for a car owner looking to diagnose roadside problems as it is for a professional mechanic who needs a small handheld scanner with many professional-tier features. Better still, this dual-purpose tool can plug into the vehicle’s OBD port and connect to your phone via Bluetooth using Innova’s RepairSolutions2 app.

One of the most versatile OBD scanners around, the 5610 can not only make changes to a vehicle’s options and show recalls but can conduct bidirectional testing, perform predictive analysis and help figure out repairs. In other words, it’s an OBD two-for, ready to help with anything from the Check Engine light and tire pressure sensors to resetting the battery and streaming engine or transmission data.

The only question remaining is whether $350 is too much to spend on an OBD scanner. Read on to see our verdict

Innova 5610 review: Pricing and availability

At $350 the Innova 5610 is expensive for a handheld scanner, but feels like a bargain when you consider all it does. The company has several specials underway, including a free borescope for peering into an engine (code “3380EVENT”) and doubling the warranty to two years for $29. Innova has a $99 accessories kit with specialty connectors for using the Innova 5610 with several older OBD-I cars.

The company sells a wide variety of scanners from the $58 Innova 3011 basic handheld scanner to the $600 professional 7111 tablet device.

Innova 5610 review: Design

With a black and silver design, the Innova 5610 features the best of both OBD worlds. The paddle shaped device is slim enough to comfortably hold in your hand, while the top has a 3.4-inch color screen to show the test results and action.

Overall, it measures 7.4 x 4.0 x 1.3 inch with its grippy silicone cover and weighs 12.4 ounces. It feels solid in the hand and survived being dropped.

The color display is the center of attention with places for details from the I/M readiness checks. You’ll find ABS assessment results at the top, with the most recent diagnostic fault scans lower down — a section that includes a severity rating.

The scanner’s red, yellow and green LEDs light up to show whether the vehicle has pending faults requiring attention.

Underneath is an 11 button physical interface: A prominent System Menu button, up, down and enter keys as well as an on/off key. It has a place to collect live data, run a system check, collect fault code data and erase them. The interface is so efficient that after a short time, I didn’t have to look to use it.

One of the most versatile handheld scanners available, the 5610 is capable of doing more than the expected features — diagnosing fault codes and turning off the “check engine” light.The unexpected features include the ability to check brake pads, oil life and a hybrid vehicle’s battery. On some newer vehicles, it can even help calibrate things like the steering wheel sensor, which was strictly the realm of the dealer’s repair shop until recently.

Like any good OBD-II scanner, the 5610 shows live data from the engine, transmission and other components, while also recording and explaining many of the manufacturer-specific codes. However this coverage varies by vehicle.

Although the emphasis is on recent OBD2 cars, the 5610 covers older OBD1 vehicles as well. You will need correct connectors, something Innova sells in a $99 package.

Innova 5610 review: Setup

The Innova 5610 is battery powered with three AA cells and its 72-inch screw-on cable easily reached the engine bay. The connector’s blue LED lit up the car’s port, making it easier to plug it in on the first try. Once online, it shows the car’s vitals.

Later I installed the RepairSolutions2 app on my Samsung Galaxy S25, though the app is available on both Android and iOS phones. It connected via Bluetooth quickly.

In addition to a comprehensive manual, the Innova 5610 comes with a pouch to keep it from getting too gunky, as well as a USB-C cable for Innova’s promised lifetime of firmware upgrades. The one-year warranty can be extended by a year for the clumsy ($29), and anyone experiencing issues can call Innova’s tech support office Monday-Friday 6am-6pm (eastern time).

Innova 5610 review: Performance

Once online, the 5610 opened up a wealth of live automotive data for my 2023 Subaru Outback, including hundreds of parameters, like engine speed, coolant temperature, battery voltage and mass airflow sensor. The data can be shown numerically or graphically to better diagnose complex problems.

Happily, the car passed the pre-inspection I/M readiness test battery with a green LED. After I disconnected the car’s oil temperature sensor, it showed a fault code. It let me turn off the Check Engine light after it was reconnected.

Although the 5610 records individual engine misfires, it lacks a cylinder balance test, something I’d check before buying a used car. It’s included on the less expensive Bosch OBD 1300. Plus, the 5610 lacks battery leads and clips to run a load test on the charging system.

The scanner came into its own when connected to the company’s RepairSolutions2 phone app. Not only was it able to display recalls and the next scheduled maintenance, but warned of the failure of the transmission’s solenoids.

Innova 5610 review: Verdict

While I prefer the tablet format for professional level OBD equipment, the handheld format of the Innova 5610 can make quick work of general scanning, diagnosing problems or just making sure a car is running properly.

The combination of streaming data, bidirectional information and offers the bonus of using the company’s RepairSolutions2 phone app. All told, it can feel like having a trained mechanic at your side.

At $350, the Innova 5610 is neither too expensive (considering all it can do) nor too cheap (considering its solid construction). For me, it’s just right.