In this product review we’ll cover the pros and cons of the Auto Pro Pad and the Topdon Ninja. While both vehicle programmers have their ups and downs, there is a distinct difference between the two. While differing in price and functionality, both provide vehicle key programming but with stark differences.

Auto Pro Pad Basic

The first obvious difference is the touchscreen. Pretty positive it’s just an android tablet in a fancy new case to be honest. This also means it connects to the internet. Instantly giving you a much wider range of vehicles you can program and pull codes for. There are some other specialty functions that you’ll likely never use as a locksmith, but hey they're there. It has it’s own power source, sounds silly, but it's a huge jump from the Topdon that leeches off the car battery unless you plug it in somewhere. It will also skip the 10 minute wait on most Ford vehicles, another huge bonus. Now the Pro Pad does come in at more than double the Topdon’s price point, rightly so. This machine provides exactly what it describes. Now… the English is still not perfect, but it is a million times better than the Topdon in that regard. Overall 9/10 as far as vehicle programmers go. It’s not a G2 Turbo, but it does what you need it to do.

Topdon

Coming in at about $500CAD when on sale or bundled, the Topdon seems like a heck of a bargain on the surface. Now the Topdon isn’t bad, it does most of what you expect it to do. However, the price tag definitely reflects its functionality. While it claims to be able to do a multitude of things, it often fails to actually enroll a key. The English at times clearly reflects that of being made in China. Not that being made in China is necessarily bad, it’s just blatantly clear that it was not written well. Now if you are already familiar with the vehicles you’re working on, you can get around that by knowing what to do already. For a nooby though, watch out. Don’t give this to your apprentice unless you’re sadistic and just want to watch him cry. For the price point though, if you want another programmer in your arsenal, it’s great, just don’t make it your primary. The analog style buttons make it feel like you’re programming with a Sega handheld, which is neat, but also a bit archaic. Prepare your thumbs for the button mash.

Conclusion

While the Topdon offers a great entry point for a new smith, or to add another programmer to an already existing arsenal of programmers, the Auto Pro Pad wins this round. If you’re looking for a new programmer the Auto Pro Pad Basic is worth what they’re charging for it. If you buy the Topdon first you’ll just end up buying the Pro Pad or an Autel later anyways. Save your money and just get the right tool the first time.

Are you in the Langley area and need new vehicle keys? Crono Lock provides vehicle key creation and vehicle key programming for most makes and models. Visit our car key page or give us a call today.