Quality Chinese alternatives · no knockoffs
Hoto is a Chinese brand. Here are its peers:
Miniware, the tool brand of Guangzhou e-Design, makes the TS101 and TS80P portable soldering irons and the MHP30 hot plate, all supported by the open-source IronOS firmware. Hackaday found its earlier TS100 good enough for serious hobby work at a low weight and price.
Hong Kong-based Pine64 makes the Pinecil, an open-source USB-C soldering iron running the IronOS firmware. Hackaday called it the state of the art for handheld irons, and the IronOS project lists the Pinecil V2 as its recommended device.
Quick Intelligent Equipment, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Changzhou, makes soldering stations, hot-air rework stations and soldering robots. Clever Creations rated its 861DW hot-air station excellent for build quality and temperature control without overshoot, and EEVblog reviewed and tore it down.
Guangdong Sequre Technology, based in Dongguan, makes the S60, S60P and S99 USB-C soldering irons, which use JBC C210-compatible tips. All three are supported by the open-source IronOS firmware.
UNI-T (Uni-Trend Technology), founded in 1988 and headquartered in Dongguan, is a listed test and measurement maker. Its UT61E meters are EEVblog favourites, and independent testing found the UT61E accurate within spec, though its current ranges have a high burden voltage.
Devon is the professional power tool brand Chervon launched in 2007 for industrial users in Asia, with a 20V cordless line of over 120 tools. Chervon (Nanjing) also owns Flex, Skil and EGO and builds Lowe's Kobalt 24V tools, so Devon comes from an established pro-tool maker.
Jiangsu Dongcheng is a large Chinese maker of professional corded and cordless tools, also sold under the DCA and DCK names. Forum users rate its 20V drills close to Bosch for home and light trade work, but still prefer the premium brands for heavy daily use.
Greenworks is owned by Globe Tools Group, which designs and builds the tools at its headquarters in Changzhou, China. Its 24V drills and impact drivers are homeowner-grade, a peer to Ryobi rather than to pro brands.
Worx is the consumer brand of Positec, headquartered in Suzhou, China, and is best known for lawn and garden tools. Its cordless tools are aimed at homeowners, making it a peer to Ryobi rather than to pro brands.