If you're diving into the world of at-home potency testing and came across tCheck, you're probably wondering: "What's the difference between the basic tester and the full kit?" Good question! And I'm here to break it down clearly so you can pick with confidence.
The Two Main Offerings
tCheck 3 Potency Tester Device - This is the core hardware: the spectrometer device, the app, the reusable tray. It's designed primarily for testing infused oils, butters, tinctures, and so on.
tCheck 3 + Flower Testing Expansion Kit - This bundle includes the same core device plus the full "flower-testing" accessories: reagents, syringes, filters, sample containers, materials to properly test raw flower or concentrates.
Both unlock the same underlying device power, but they differ in scope of what they can test out of the box.
What They Have in Common
Before diving into the differences, let's cover what they both give you (so you know the baseline).
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- Both use the tCheck app and Bluetooth to log and track results.
- Both let you test infused oils, tinctures and similar preparations quickly - skipping lab costs and delays.
- Both include the reusable testing tray, device calibration, and the support and guarantee you expect from tCheck (30-day money-back, etc).
So in short: if you're exclusively making infusions (butters, oils, tinctures) and want accurate results, the device alone covers that.
Key Differences: Device vs Device + Kit
1. Testing Scope
Device alone: Ideal if your focus is on infusions - e.g., you've decarbed flower, infused THC or CBD into butter or oil, and want to figure mg/ml or mg per tablespoon so you can dose reliably.
Device + Kit: Adds the ability to test raw flower (buds, trim, shake) and concentrates. That means if you grow your own cannabis or buy flower and want to know its percent THC/CBD before infusing (or maybe want to test concentrates), the kit gives you that full-spectrum capability.
2. Accessories and Sample Prep
The kit includes reagent solution, syringes, filters, sample containers, other materials required to process flower/concentrate testing. Without that, the device alone would require you to source those extras (or may not be optimized for raw flower/concentrate testing).
For infusions, the device alone is sufficient because you're already working with an extract/oil that the device is calibrated for. For flower you need extra steps (grinding, dissolving, reagent, filtering) which the kit provides.
3. Price & Value
Naturally, the bundle costs more up front because of the added materials. But consider value: if you send flower or concentrates to a lab for testing, you may pay large sums each time. With the full kit, you bring that capability home and reuse materials. tCheck themselves highlight the "pays for itself in just 10 batches" angle when you skip external labs
4. Ideal User Profile
Choose the device alone if: you make infusions, oils or tinctures; you don't plan on testing raw flower or concentrates (or you already have access elsewhere); you want an easier entry point.
Choose the device + kit if: you grow flower or buy flower and want to know its potency; you occasionally handle concentrates; you want a "complete" home-testing setup now rather than upgrade later.
Which Potency Tester Should You Get? (Friendly Decision Guide)
Let's break it down in "you vs. your use case" style:
If you're an infusion-maker: e.g., "I make cannabinoid-infused coconut oil or tinctures for personal or small-scale use, I want to know mg per ml so I can dose reliably" → go with the device alone.
If you're also working with raw herb or concentrates: for example, you bought a batch of buds and unsure of potency, or you want to test your flower before creating infusions → go with the full kit.
If budget is a concern: you can start with the device alone and upgrade later by adding the expansion kit when you're ready to test flower or concentrates.
If you're still uncertain: consider the full kit if you might expand your scope soon - you'll save time and add functionality vs. buying separate accessories later.
Extra Perks & Why It Matters
Testing potency at home helps you avoid guesswork. The tCheck site highlights that cannabis is under-regulated: mislabeling, inconsistent potency, and unknown dose risks are very real.
Accurate potency means better dosing, fewer surprises (less anxiety, paranoia) and safer experiences - especially important for both recreational & medicinal users.
For infusion makers: knowing mg/ml means you can create edibles with consistent dosing, label them properly, and build trust (if sharing with friends/family).
For growers/flower buyers: you can know your THC/CBD % before infusing, use that data for future batches, and avoid sending to expensive labs.
The full kit opens the door to full-spectrum home testing (flower, infused oil, concentrate) - which is increasingly valuable as the home-infusion world grows.
Black Friday Alert
Good news! tCheck's biggest sale of the year is live NOW. For a limited time, you can get 20% OFF either option using code 'BFCM2025' at check out on tcheck.me.
Whether you pick the device alone or the device + kit, you'll save 20% off your new at home testing equipment.
Stock is limited and the sale ends soon - there's never been a better time to invest in dosing confidence!
Final Wrap-Up
If I were to sum it up in one sentence:
Device alone = great for oils, tinctures, infusions.
Device + kit = everything above PLUS raw flower/concentrate testing capability.
If you're just starting out in home infusion, go with the device and build from there. If you already work with flower or want the full setup now, go for the bundle. Either way, with the 20% Black Friday discount (code: BFCM2025), now is an excellent time to get in.
