Which One Should You Buy?
Airthings Wave Plus ($279): Best if you want comprehensive air quality monitoring beyond just radon. Tracks CO2, VOCs, humidity, temperature, and pressure. More refined app experience.
RadonEye RD200 ($199): Best if you only care about radon and want to save $80. Faster readings (hourly updates vs 24-hour average), smaller form factor, USB rechargeable.
Accuracy is essentially identical—both are ±10% vs professional labs. Choose based on features and budget, not accuracy.
At a Glance
| Feature | RadonEye RD200 | Airthings Wave Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $279 |
| Radon Accuracy | ±10% | ±10% |
| Update Frequency | Hourly | Every 5 minutes (displayed as 24hr avg) |
| Additional Sensors | None (radon only) | CO2, VOCs, humidity, temp, pressure |
| Power | USB-C rechargeable (3-4 months) | 3× AA batteries (16 months) |
| Display | Small LED screen + app | No screen (wave gesture shows LED ring) |
| App Quality | Good (simple, focused) | Excellent (polished, multi-sensor) |
| Size | Compact (3.5" × 3.5") | Larger (4.7" diameter) |
Accuracy Testing: Lab Comparison
Both devices use alpha spectrometry to detect radon, and both have been independently tested against professional lab equipment. Here's what the data shows:
Independent Testing Results:
RadonEye RD200
- • Accuracy: ±10% at 100 Bq/m³ (2.7 pCi/L)
- • Detection range: 0-370 Bq/m³ (0-10 pCi/L)
- • Measurement interval: Every 10 minutes (displayed hourly average)
- • EPA recognition: Yes
Airthings Wave Plus
- • Accuracy: ±10% at 100 Bq/m³ (2.7 pCi/L)
- • Detection range: 0-740 Bq/m³ (0-20 pCi/L)
- • Measurement interval: Every 5 minutes (displayed as 24hr average)
- • EPA recognition: Yes
Bottom Line on Accuracy:
Both are equally accurate. The ±10% error margin is the same for both devices and meets EPA standards. In real-world testing, both track within 5-15% of professional lab results. Choose based on features and price, not accuracy—they're functionally identical.
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
🕐 Update Speed: RadonEye Wins
RadonEye RD200
Hourly updates. You see a new reading every 60 minutes, with 10-minute interval sampling. Great for tracking rapid changes after opening windows or turning on fans.
Airthings Wave Plus
24-hour averaging. Takes measurements every 5 minutes but displays a rolling 24-hour average. Smoother readings but slower to show changes.
Winner: RadonEye for faster feedback. Airthings for more stable readings.
📊 Additional Sensors: Airthings Wins
RadonEye RD200
Radon only. No additional sensors.
Good if you don't want to pay for features you won't use.
Airthings Wave Plus
6 sensors total:
- • Radon
- • CO2 (stuffiness indicator)
- • VOCs (chemical off-gassing)
- • Humidity (mold risk)
- • Temperature
- • Air pressure (weather tracking)
Winner: Airthings if you want comprehensive air quality. RadonEye if you only care about radon.
📱 App Experience: Airthings Wins
RadonEye App
Simple, functional app focused on radon only. Shows hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly graphs. Clean interface but basic.
✓ Data export to CSV
✓ Customizable alerts
✗ Less polished UI
Airthings App
Beautiful, polished app with multi-sensor dashboard. Color-coded air quality scores, trend analysis, and actionable recommendations.
✓ Gorgeous UI/UX
✓ Multi-device support
✓ Smart home integrations (Alexa, Google, IFTTT)
✓ Detailed insights
Winner: Airthings. The app is significantly more refined and feature-rich.
🔋 Power & Maintenance: Tie
RadonEye RD200
USB-C rechargeable. Lasts 3-4 months per charge. Just plug in USB-C cable (included) for 3-4 hours to recharge.
✓ No battery purchases
✗ Need to remember to recharge
✗ Can't use while charging
Airthings Wave Plus
3× AA batteries. Lasts 16 months. When batteries die, pop in new AAs (~$5) and you're good for another 16 months.
✓ True wireless (no charging needed)
✓ Longer runtime (16mo vs 3-4mo)
✗ Ongoing battery cost (~$4/year)
Winner: Personal preference. Rechargeable = no ongoing costs. Batteries = less hassle.
💰 Price: RadonEye Wins
RadonEye RD200
$199 — $80 cheaper for comparable radon detection accuracy
Airthings Wave Plus
$279 — Premium price for 5 extra sensors
Winner: RadonEye. If you only need radon, save the $80. If you want CO2/VOCs, Airthings is still good value.
Which One Should YOU Buy?
Choose RadonEye RD200 If:
- ✓ You ONLY care about radon (nothing else)
- ✓ You want to save $80
- ✓ You prefer hourly updates (faster feedback)
- ✓ You like USB-C charging (no battery purchases)
- ✓ You want a smaller, more discrete device
- ✓ You don't need smart home integrations
Choose Airthings Wave Plus If:
- ✓ You want comprehensive air quality monitoring (CO2, VOCs, humidity, etc.)
- ✓ You're trying to troubleshoot stuffiness, headaches, or mold issues
- ✓ You want the most polished app experience
- ✓ You like the wave gesture interface (no buttons)
- ✓ You want smart home integration (Alexa, Google, IFTTT)
- ✓ You prefer true wireless (battery-powered, no charging needed)
Real-World Use Cases
Scenario: Basement Testing Only
You have a finished basement and just want to monitor radon levels. You don't care about CO2 or VOCs.
→ Get RadonEye RD200 ($199). Save the $80.
Scenario: Stuffy Home Office
You work from home and your office feels stuffy by afternoon. You get headaches and want to know if it's poor ventilation (high CO2) or radon.
→ Get Airthings Wave Plus ($279). The CO2 sensor will help.
Scenario: Post-Mitigation Verification
You had a radon mitigation system installed and want to verify it's working. You need fast feedback to confirm levels dropped.
→ Get RadonEye RD200. Hourly updates show changes faster.
Scenario: New Home Buyer
You just bought a house and want to monitor all aspects of indoor air quality—radon, mold risk, VOCs from new furniture, etc.
→ Get Airthings Wave Plus. Comprehensive = peace of mind.
Common Questions
Is RadonEye as reliable as Airthings?
Yes for radon accuracy (both ±10%). Airthings has better build quality and app polish, but RadonEye is a well-established brand used by home inspectors worldwide. Both are reliable—choose based on features, not brand.
Can I use both devices together?
Yes! Some users buy a RadonEye for the basement (where radon risk is highest) and a Wave Plus for the main living area (for comprehensive air quality). Both apps support multiple devices. Total cost: $478 for two-zone coverage.
Which has better customer support?
Airthings has more responsive customer support (based on user reviews) and better warranty coverage. RadonEye support is adequate but slower to respond. If warranty/support matters, lean Airthings.
Do I need the Pro version of RadonEye?
The RadonEye Plus ($249) adds a larger display and WiFi connectivity. Unless you want WiFi instead of Bluetooth, stick with the standard RD200 ($199). The radon detection is identical.
Our Recommendations
Radon Only:
Save $80 and get the RadonEye RD200. Same radon accuracy, hourly updates, USB-C rechargeable. Perfect if you don't need CO2/VOC sensors.
Buy RadonEye ($199) →Full Air Quality:
Get the Airthings Wave Plus. Tracks radon + CO2 + VOCs + humidity + temp + pressure. Beautiful app, smart home support.
Buy Wave Plus ($279) →Both devices offer free shipping on Amazon and 30-day returns