ELM327 Bluetooth v1.5 vs Mini v2.1 vs v2.1 HH: which to buy

All three are classic Bluetooth ELM327 adapters with the same microcontroller inside, the PIC18F25K80, the chip in the best-rated clones. All three work with Android and Windows, none with iPhone, and all three only reach the car's HS-CAN network. So the differences are not in what they do but in three details: size, what comes in the box and compatibility with older cars.

The version is not the chip

"v1.5" and "v2.1" are not hardware generations: they are the number the firmware reports when an app asks for it (the ATI command). The original ELM327 never had a version 1.5, and a clone can report any number it likes. What really decides how an adapter behaves is its chip and firmware, and here the chip is the same in all three. We explain it in what an ELM327 is.

The differences that matter

Cars from 2001 to 2005

This is the big one. The v2.1 HH fails with quite a few cars that use the older ISO 9141 or KWP2000 protocols, such as the 2004 Citroën C3, 2001 Peugeot 206, 2005 Renault Mégane II, 2002 Fiat Tipo and several Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Nissan and Mitsubishi models from those years. With a CAN car (in Europe, almost every model since 2008) you will not notice any difference. If your car is from that transition period, get the v1.5.

Size

The Mini v2.1 is the most compact: the housing is little more than the 16-pin plug itself. Handy if the socket is where your knee rubs or if you want to leave it plugged in. The v2.1 HH is the largest (45 × 25 × 70 mm) and the only one with status lights (Power, OBD and PC), useful to see at a glance whether it has power and is talking to the car.

What comes in the box

The Mini includes a software CD and the HH a driver CD. In practice you will not need them on Android: apps like Torque or Car Scanner are enough, and we cover them in the software guide.

What if I have an iPhone?

None of the three will do: iOS does not let these apps use classic Bluetooth. You need a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0 (LE) adapter. We compare the two Wi-Fi options in ELM327 Wi-Fi vs Vgate iCar2, and the step-by-step guide is in how to connect an ELM327 to an iPhone.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ELM327 v2.1 better than a v1.5?

Not because of the number. The version is what the firmware reports, not the chip. These three use the same PIC18F25K80; what changes is the size, the lights and the fact that the v2.1 HH fails with quite a few ISO 9141 and KWP2000 cars from 2001 to 2005.

Do all three use the same chip?

Yes. All three use the PIC18F25K80 microcontroller, like every generic ELM327 Satkit sells. That is why they do the same job with the same apps: read and clear engine fault codes and show live data.

Which one for a BMW motorcycle with MotoScan?

The v1.5. MotoScan works with Bluetooth adapters that report v1.4 or v1.5 and advises against those that report v2.1, so for the bike choose the v1.5. On bikes from before 2017 you also need the 10-to-16-pin cable.

Do they work with FORScan on a Ford?

For the engine, yes. For every module, no: all three only reach the HS-CAN network, and on Ford and Mazda the comfort, cluster and climate modules sit on the MS-CAN. That is what the ELS27 USB is for.