reliable pH meters?

My bad, didn't read the "soil" part:/

I got the Apera PH20 for abou 50€ wich is life-changing. Wouldn't ever miss out on a good one of those👌🏼Had the same Chinese thing, never used it, such a pain when you can't trust your pH. Readings would vary and make it extremely frustrating...

pens are great. best to have strips as a backup and calbiration solution to help keep it in check.

My Yinmik worked great for about a year without needing calibration.then I messed with some setting on it and it started acting weird so I got another and turned out the old one was off by about 1 degree. its comes with calibration powder. the new one works fine. I think any ph meter no mater the price is going to crap out at some point ph strips are the most reliable thing. but for the price I like mine I just didn't take the best care of it an I think that's why it failed

Maybe get a good ph meter and use the slurry method? Bluelab pen stays calibrated.