Vgate iCar Pro 2S TESTED | Best Budget ELM327

I tested the Vgate iCar Pro 2S on multiple cars, including Fiat Punto and Toyota Corolla. This is one of the cheapest ELM327 adapters you can buy, but it still uses the new ELM 2.3 chip and works on iOS, Android, and even Windows. For an entry-level adapter, it gave me surprisingly good speed and easy connection.

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What This Tool Actually Is

iCar Pro 2S is a Bluetooth ELM327 adapter.
It has no app of its own.
You pick whichever app you want from the App Store or Google Play.

Apps used in testing
• Car Scanner Pro (best choice)
• Torque Pro
• OBD Auto Doctor
• brand-specific apps (Fiat, Opel, etc.)

It is a plug-and-play engine diagnostic tool.
Not a full-system scanner.
Not a service tool.
Not a coding tool by itself.

Test Results on Real Cars

I tested it on real cars.

Cars used
• Fiat Punto 2004
• Toyota Corolla
• other used-car checks

Connection and Setup

Very easy.
No pairing issues.
iOS, Android, and Windows all supported.

Speed Test

Response time was around 21 ms.
For the price, this is good.

New ELM 2.3 chip helps with stability and speed.

It is not as fast as vLinker MS (7 ms) or OBDLink MX+ (6 ms), but for normal diagnostics the difference is small.

Live Data Testing

I checked live data on a rough-running engine.

Short-term fuel trim was around 70%
• this instantly showed a vacuum leak
• the adapter updated fast enough to see the issue
• oxygen sensor stopped reporting values (real engine issue)
• ECU doubled the fuel amount
All data displayed correctly in the app.

Graphs worked smoothly.
Multiple PIDs can be graphed at once, but the more you add, the slower it gets.

Fault Code Reading

iCar Pro 2S found multiple pending O2 sensor faults and one confirmed P0500.
Confirmed codes showed check engine light.
Clearing the codes worked normally.

Extra Features Through Apps

This depends on the app, but you can do
• smoke check
• readiness monitors
• acceleration tests
• data logging
• exporting CSV logs
• HUD mode (mirrored dashboard)
• fuel consumption tracking

Apps also allow recording engine data and creating performance videos.

Manufacturer Specs vs Real Testing

Area	Manufacturer Claim	What I Saw in Testing
ELM version	2.3	confirmed
App support	iOS, Android, Windows	confirmed
Speed	fast	21 ms (good)
Live data	supported	smooth with moderate PIDs
Coding	app-dependent	basic only
Full-system scan	not claimed	engine only

Hardware / Software / Plans / Internet Dependency

Hardware is compact and durable.
Works in tight OBD ports with an extension cable.

No subscriptions.
No activation.
No internet needed except for certain app features.

Supported Service Resets

None directly.
ELM adapters do not handle service resets unless a brand app supports it.

For service functions, you need a real diagnostic tool like Mucar BT200 Max, TopScan, or a tablet.

Supported Languages

Depends fully on the app you choose.
Car Scanner has the best translations.

Comparison Section

iCar Pro 2S vs vLinker MS

VLinker MS is faster and has a pairing button.
iCar Pro 2S is cheaper and still reliable.

Comparison Table

Feature	iCar Pro 2S	vLinker MS
Speed	21 ms	7 ms
ELM version	2.3	2.3
Connection	easy	secure with pairing button
Price	cheaper	mid-range
Coding support	basic	better due to speed

If you want best value, iCar Pro 2S wins.
If you want speed for advanced apps, vLinker MS wins.

iCar Pro 2S vs OBDLink MX+

OBDLink MX+ is the premium engine adapter.

Comparison Table

Feature	iCar Pro 2S	OBDLink MX+
Speed	31 ms	6 ms
App support	wide	widest + optimized
Security	basic	advanced
Stability	good	excellent
Price	very cheap	expensive

OBDLink is better for heavy coding, but iCar Pro 2S is enough for most DIY work.

iCar Pro 2S vs Mucar BT200 Max

Different category, but important for buyers.

BT200 Max is a full-system scanner with bi-directional tests.
iCar Pro 2S is an engine-only tool unless an app supports more.

If you want
• full-system diagnostics
• service functions
• module scanning
• bi-directional testing

then iCar Pro 2S is not enough.

If you only want
• engine data
• pending/confirmed codes
• live data
• O2 monitoring
• trip logging

then iCar Pro 2S is perfect.

Final Verdict

The Vgate iCar Pro 2S is my favorite budget ELM327 adapter.
Cheap, reliable, easy to connect, and uses the newest ELM version.
Speed is good enough for real diagnostics and logging.

If you need faster performance for coding or heavy logging, get the vLinker MS.
If you want premium stability, get OBDLink MX+.
For basic engine diagnostics, the iCar Pro 2S is the best value for money.

How to save money
Buy from the official Vgate store to avoid clones.
Most apps work for free or have a cheap upgrade.