Review: HOZO Design NeoRuler

Measurements are an area that haven’t really undergone that many real innovations over the years. The humble ruler, even less so. HOZO Design aims to change that with its NeoRuler, which is a measuring tool that can help both at the desk and away from it.

The NeoRuler is basically a considerable expansion of the concept of the ruler. To start with, you don’t have the usual ruler functionality of markings for centimeters and inches on the edges. And, as equipped, it looks more like a set of calipers.

This takes the more advanced route of requiring a small display to actually tell you how long something is. Instead of measuring simply by putting the ruler against an object and using your eyes, you instead have to move a physical indicator along the length of the ruler, along a channel. Doing so will display the measurement on the LCD display, in millimeters and inches.

Hardware Specs
1.14″ backlit true-color LCD display 240×135 at 240DPI
0.004″ (0.1mm) resolution
12″ (305mm) measuring range
0.4lb (184g) weight
1000 mAh lithium-polymer battery
180-day battery life in standby, 12 hours of continuous use under maximum power consumption 
Aluminum Alloy, Stainless Steel, ABS, PC, and POM
Bluetooth 4.0

Product Design

The NeoRuler utilizes a segmented LED strip along the edge of the ruler and a 1.14″ backlit true-color LCD display to display measurements. There are no labeled increments along the ruler, but instead, a sliding pointer is manually moved and the distance is displayed on the screen.

The screen is absolutely fabulous. It’s probably the easiest-to-read screen you’ll ever see. There is a non-glare coating over the screen that makes it easy to read even with bright overhead lights.

There are three buttons on the end that you use for various functions. Near the display, there is a Type-C port for charging the 1000 mAh battery.

The Premium Combo includes the NeoRuler, NeoCaliper, NeoPointer, and NeoMaginfier. The pointers are simple, one for regular measuring and drawing, and two that are used for guiding pencil, pen, or marker tips.

The digital nature of the HOZO Design NeoRuler was one of the things that intrigued me. The NeoRuler can display measurements in multiple units such as mm, cm, m, inch (decimal and fractional), feet, yard, and mike/km when in map mode with a scale greater than 1:50000.

One of the things I found interesting is that you can “zero” the ruler at any point along its length, and the ruler will display measurements when you move the pointer in either direction. This is handy when you want to leave the ruler along a line and measure from one place to another without lifting the ruler.

One of the main features of the NeoRuler is its Smart Scale feature. There are 93 built-in scales distributed in 8 scale modes. For example, in the architectural mode, there is a scale for 1″ = 1′. If you’re drawing something that isn’t actual size, these modes can be quite a lifesaver and will save you from having to do a lot of math.

Display Screen And Battery Life

Unlike a typical caliper, the NeoRuler has a color LCD screen with a resolution of 240×134 and 240 PPI. The screen has a diagonal size of 1.14″, which might seem a bit small on paper but on-hand is a useful size with a UI that makes a smart use of the size/resolution of the display to provide all the necessary information without becoming neither overwhelming nor lacking details. Through the mobile app you can customize the color theme of the display to better adjust to your preferences.

Inside is a 1,000mAh battery with USB-C charging, but you’re probably not going to need to recharge it that often. You can get up to 14 days of continuous usage under “comprehensive power consumption,” or 12 hours of continuous use under its maximum consumption setting. It also boasts 180 days of battery life when left in stand-by mode.

Portable And Durable

Rulers from the traditional age remain portable yet their delicate construction remains their biggest weakness. Plastic can crack. Wood can warp. paper-based markings gradually disappear due to the elements passing by.

NeoRuler is compact and durable. NeoRuler’s strong housing safeguards interior technology. The built-in rechargeable power system maintains its readiness through an entire working day. The tool serves all professionals who regularly work in both office environments and classroom and field-based settings.

Final Thoughts

For $249 the HOZO Design NeoRuler certainly isn’t for everyone. It’s more for those that measure things day in and day out, or at least on a pretty regular basis. For someone like me who doesn’t work in a field that requires measuring, it’s out of my price range for sure. For those that do work in certain fields, I feel this would be a great bargain with all that it does.