Soil EC meters and water EC meters are different because they measure the electrical conductivity (EC) of different things:
Soil EC meters
Measure the ability of soil water to conduct electricity. Soil EC is a measure of the concentration of ions in the soil, which are carried by salts dissolved in the water. Soil EC is expressed in milliSiemens per meter (mS/m) or deciSiemens per meter (dS/m).
Water EC meters
Measure the EC of water extracted from the soil, a well, or a piezometer. A probe attached to a meter can be lowered into a well or piezometer to measure the liquid EC.
Soil EC measurements can be affected by many factors, including:
Temperature
Warmer temperatures increase the activity of ions, which allows them to conduct electricity better.
Soil grain size
Finer grained soils, like clay or silt, produce higher EC signals than coarser grained soils, like sand or gravel.
Soil salinity
Soils with high salt concentrations have increased electrical conductivity. High salinity levels can negatively impact plant growth.
Hope that helps.