UNIWEIGH Travel Digital Pocket Scale 200g/0.01g

The easiest check is to use the included 50g calibration weight. Place it on the scale after calibrating and it should read 50.00g. Reviewers report it typically lands within ±0.02–0.05g of the calibration weight, which is excellent for a scale at this price point. If you notice readings drifting, recalibrate — the process is straightforward, and the instructions are actually printed right on the inside of the case lid so you don't need to hunt for a manual. One thing to note: if you leave an item on the scale for an extended time, the reading can drift slightly, so weigh and remove rather than using it as a static display.

It's genuinely simple: open the magnetic case, press the power button, and wait for it to display 0.00g. If you're using a small dish or container for loose tea leaves, place it on the scale first and hit the tare button to zero it out — then add your tea and read the weight directly. For calibration, the instructions are printed on the inside of the case lid: enter calibration mode, place the included 50g weight on the platform, and confirm. Batteries come pre-installed, so it's ready to go out of the box. The backlit display is bright and easy to read, even in a dimly lit kitchen.

The process is printed right on the inside of the case lid, which is a nice touch — no digging through manuals. Generally, you enter calibration mode through a button sequence, place the included 50g weight on the platform, and confirm. Reviewers highlight how easy this process is, and the fact that the calibration weight is included sets it apart from many competitors that make you buy one separately. It's good practice to recalibrate occasionally, especially if you move the scale between locations or notice readings seeming off.

The magnetic closure case does a solid job protecting the weighing platform and display during storage and travel — multiple reviewers highlight this as a standout feature. That said, the build quality has some minor weak points: the buttons can feel a bit plasticky and occasionally require multiple presses, and a couple of reviewers mention the hinge feels loose with no latch to secure the lid fully closed. For the price, it's well-built where it counts (the weighing mechanism itself), but don't expect premium-feeling hardware on the enclosure. It's a functional tool, not a luxury item.

It's one of the better options for travel use. The compact size fits easily in a bag, and the magnetic closure case protects the weighing surface and display from getting banged around. Reviewers specifically call out the portability as a strength. If you're a tea enthusiast who travels with loose leaf and a portable brewing setup, this scale adds minimal bulk while letting you maintain consistent measurements on the go. Just keep in mind the 200g capacity limit — it's designed for small items, not as a general-purpose travel kitchen scale.

Reviewers consistently note that this scale costs roughly a quarter of comparable alternatives while delivering similar accuracy for everyday use. The main things you give up at this price point are build quality on the buttons and hinge, and guaranteed laboratory-grade precision. The weighing accuracy itself is genuinely good — within ±0.02–0.05g — which matches what many scales costing 3–4x more deliver in practice. If you need a certified precision instrument, spend more. If you need a reliable, accurate pocket scale for tea, cooking, or hobbies, this punches well above its price.

Three main limitations to know: First, the 200g capacity means anything heavier won't register — so no weighing full bags of tea or large food portions. Second, while it reads to 0.01g, it's not true laboratory precision — there's a ±0.02–0.05g variance that matters if you're doing scientific or pharmaceutical work. Third, very small quantities under about 1g may not be reliable given that variance. For weighing tea portions, jewelry, spices, or coins, it's excellent. For lab work or weighing large items, look elsewhere.

With pocket scales, inconsistent readings usually come down to a few things: the surface isn't level, there's a draft or vibration, or the scale needs recalibrating. With the UNIWEIGH specifically, reviewers note that readings can drift if you leave an item sitting on the scale too long, so weigh quickly and note the number. Also, make sure you're on a hard, flat surface — soft surfaces like tablecloths or uneven counters will throw off any precision scale. If readings are consistently off, run the calibration using the included 50g weight. One reviewer noted the buttons occasionally need a firm or repeated press, so make sure you're fully entering the mode you intend before weighing.

For tea, you want a scale that measures in 0.01g increments, since the difference between 2g and 3g of loose leaf can noticeably change your cup. The UNIWEIGH scale hits that mark with 0.01g precision and a 200g capacity, which covers everything from a single serving of gyokuro to a full teapot's worth of leaves. It also includes a calibration weight so you can verify accuracy out of the box — something many budget scales skip. The compact size means it fits easily on a tea station without taking up space.

It's an excellent fit for tea enthusiasts who want consistent brewing, home cooks who measure spices precisely, jewelry makers, and anyone who needs a portable precision scale without spending a lot. Beginners will appreciate the built-in instructions, pre-installed batteries, and straightforward calibration. More experienced users will value the 0.01g precision and included calibration weight for accuracy verification. It's not the right choice for laboratory professionals who need certified precision, or anyone regularly weighing items over 200g.

Absolutely — reviewers use it for a surprising range of applications. Beyond tea and coffee portions, people weigh jewelry, coins, spices, baking ingredients, and supplement powders. Some of the more unexpected uses reviewers mention include authenticating thrift store finds (checking if metals are the right weight), mixing epoxy resin in precise ratios, and weighing small electronic components in workshop settings. The 0.01g precision and 200g capacity make it versatile for anything small that needs accurate measurement.

The UNIWEIGH supports multiple units — grams (g), ounces (oz), troy ounces (ozt), pennyweights (dwt), and carats (ct). You cycle through them with the mode button. For tea and food, grams is the standard and what most brewing guides reference. The troy ounces and pennyweights are useful if you're also weighing precious metals, and carats for gemstones. This versatility is part of why reviewers use it for everything from tea to jewelry to coin collecting.

A couple of reviewers reported LCD defects or pixel errors on their units. This appears to be an occasional quality control issue rather than a widespread problem. The majority of reviewers describe the backlit display as bright and easy to read. If you do receive a unit with display problems, reviewers report that customer service has been responsive in resolving issues. It's worth checking the display thoroughly when the scale first arrives.

Press power, make sure it's set to grams (use the mode button to cycle through units until you see 'g'), and you're set. For loose items like tea leaves or spices, place a small bowl on the scale first and press tare to zero it out — now anything you add reads as net weight. The UNIWEIGH goes up to 200g in 0.01g increments, so it's ideal for precise small portions. For context, a typical serving of loose leaf tea is 2–5g depending on the type, and this scale can easily distinguish between 2.50g and 3.00g, which actually matters for getting your brew strength right.

For everyday small measurements like tea, spices, and jewelry, a digital pocket scale with 0.01g resolution — like this UNIWEIGH — is the sweet spot between precision and affordability. True laboratory analytical balances offer guaranteed ±0.01g accuracy, but they cost hundreds of dollars and are overkill for home use. This scale's real-world accuracy sits around ±0.02–0.05g based on reviewer testing, which is more than sufficient for portioning tea (where even a 0.1g difference is barely perceptible in the cup) or weighing jewelry. If you need guaranteed sub-milligram precision, you'd need to step up to a lab-grade instrument.

Wait for the display to stabilize — the number should stop flickering and hold steady for a second or two before you record it. On the UNIWEIGH, the bright backlit LCD makes this easy to see. You can toggle between units (grams, ounces, troy ounces, pennyweights, carats) using the mode button, but for tea and food, grams is the standard. Always make sure the display reads exactly 0.00g before placing your item. If it doesn't, press tare to reset. And a quick tip: don't read at an angle. Look straight down at the display for the most accurate reading.

The tare function is your best friend. Place your plate, bowl, or container on the scale, press tare to zero it, then add your ingredient. The display shows only the weight of what you added. This works perfectly on the UNIWEIGH for small portions — tea leaves, spices, baking ingredients measured in grams. The 200g capacity means it handles most individual ingredients, but if you're weighing larger quantities like a full bag of flour, you'd need a bigger kitchen scale. For tea specifically, weighing your leaves instead of eyeballing them is the single biggest improvement most people can make to their brewing consistency.