Autel MK808S

The Autel MaxiCOM MK808S is a 7 inch Android tablet that connects to the car with a cable. It reads and clears codes on all systems, runs active tests, and lists 28 or more service functions. Amazon adds full-system scanning, a camera option and one free update year. Neither Amazon nor Autel lists ECU coding, DoIP or CAN FD for it.

The short version: The MK808S is the entry tablet of this Autel family, for a home mechanic or a small shop that wants all-system diagnosis, active tests and the common resets. Amazon and Autel agree on active tests, resets, the hardware family and one free update year. They differ on counts and wording: Amazon says 28 or more services, 3000 or more tests and 200 or more brands, while Autel’s MK808S page gives no count at all. ECU coding, DoIP and CAN FD are not listed by either source.

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What the MK808S Actually Does

The tool is one tablet. The Autel manual says it reaches the car through a main cable that plugs into the tablet’s DB15 port and the car’s OBD2 port. The tablet then takes its power from the car. Amazon does not say how the tool connects, and the tablet has Wi-Fi for updates and printing. The accessory kit in the manual lists the main cable, a mini USB cable, a power adapter and a quick reference guide.

Autel lists these tablet specs:

• Screen: 7 inch LCD touchscreen, 1024 by 600.
• System: Android 11 with a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor at 1.8 GHz. Amazon names a Rockchip RK3566 four-core CPU.
• Memory: 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage, with an SD card slot.
• Battery: 3.7 V, 5000 mAh. The manual says about 7 hours of continuous use.
• Connections: Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), USB 2.0 and mini USB 2.0.

Amazon and Autel name these functions:

• All-system diagnosis. Amazon says “OE-Level Full System Scanner” across engine, transmission, ABS, TPMS, BCM and more. Autel says it reads and erases codes on all available systems.
• Live data. Amazon says “5-in-1 live data” in multiple formats. Autel says live data can be viewed and graphed. The manual explains that 2 to 5 parameters can be merged in one graph.
• Active tests. Amazon says “3,000+ active tests” and names window operation, wipers, the cooling fan and the A/C clutch, with a note that it varies by vehicle. Autel says bi-directional Active Tests across several systems.
• Service functions. Amazon says “28+” and names oil reset, ABS bleed, SAS calibration and BMS battery registration. Autel’s MK808S page names SAS, service intervals, EPB, DPF regeneration, injector reset and battery registration, without a count.
• Workshop extras. Amazon names cloud diagnostic reports, power balance, report printing and endoscope compatibility (MV105S and MV108S). Autel says it is compatible with a videoscope, and the manual describes the MaxiVideo application.
• Updates. Amazon says “1-Year Free Software Updates, with most features remaining active after expiry”.

The picture below shows a steering angle sensor reset on a Chevrolet Malibu, with the main cable plugged in.

What Amazon Says vs. What Autel Confirms

We compared the Amazon listing with Autel’s MK808S page, Autel’s page for the related MK808Z and Autel’s user manual. They agree on the core. They differ on counts and on two hardware details.

The scope point matters. The Autel page for this tool is shared with the MK808Z, so some statements come from the sibling. We name the MK808Z store page when we use it. The MK808S review you are reading does not give the tool any function that neither Amazon nor Autel’s MK808S page names.

The count point matters. Amazon says 28 or more services. Autel’s MK808S page names six service items and gives no number. The Autel store page for the MK808Z says “28+”. We show the number as Amazon’s, backed by the sibling page.

The brand point matters. Amazon says 200 or more brands and 10,000 or more cars. Autel’s MK808Z store page says 80 or more makes. Counts of brands and makes are counted differently, so they may not contradict each other. Use the Scanner Finder for your car.

The update point matters. Amazon says one free year, that most features stay active afterwards, and that renewal prices are given on request. Autel’s family page says one year. Neither source gives a renewal cost, so we do not give one.

A third source. The US federal standard 49 CFR 571.126 covers electronic stability control on light vehicles. It says the purpose is “to reduce the number of deaths and injuries that result from crashes in which the driver loses directional control of the vehicle”. It says the system must use closed-loop algorithms, determine the vehicle’s yaw rate and monitor the driver’s steering inputs. The source is independent of both Amazon and Autel. It explains why a steering angle sensor calibration, which Amazon and the Autel page both name, matters after steering work.

How we handle these differences. The feature table at the bottom of this page, the Scanner Finder and our comparisons follow the Amazon listing, because Amazon is where you buy. We name the points above so you can see where Autel says something different. If one of them matters to you, read this section before you decide.

Is the MK808S Enough for You?

A short table gives the first answer.

For a garage hobbyist or a small shop, the upper rows cover most weekday jobs. The lower rows are work for a different tool.

Will the MK808S Work on Your Car?

Amazon says 200 or more brands and 10,000 or more cars. The Autel manual describes four ways to identify a car: Auto VIN Scan, Manual Input, Automatic Selection and Manual Vehicle Selection. The tool does not list DoIP or CAN FD, so for cars that need them, treat the MK808S as not listed. Our DoIP explainer and CAN FD explainer say what they are. Use the Scanner Finder to check your year, make and model.

How to Set Up and Use the MK808S

This section follows Autel’s MK808S user manual. The screens can differ a little from what you see, and the manual says the function lists vary by car.

Step 1: Wake the tablet

Hold the Power/Lock key at the top right until the screen lights and the LED turns green. Swipe the lock icon upward to open the Job Menu. The manual recommends locking the screen when you are not using it, to protect the data and save power.

Step 2: Plug in the main cable

Connect the main cable to the DB15 port on the tablet and to the OBD2 port of the car. The car then powers the tablet. For charging away from a car, use the mini USB cable and the power adapter from the kit.

Step 3: Register and update

Open Update on the Job Menu and download the latest software before the first job. In Settings, Auto Update can run updates at a time you set, and Firmware Upgrade needs the main cable and a power supply. Amazon and Autel give one free update year.

Step 4: Let the tool find the car

In Diagnostics, tap the VID Scan button and choose Auto Detect. The tablet reads the VIN from the control unit, shows it for you to confirm, then shows the vehicle profile to confirm with Yes or No. If it cannot read the VIN, use Manual Input, Automatic Selection or Manual Vehicle Selection.

Step 5: Scan the systems

Pick Auto Scan for every available system, or Control Unit for one. The result list shows a fault count, a pass, or Not Scanned for each system. The Report key turns the list into a report.

Step 6: Work inside a system

The function menu can include ECU Information, Trouble Codes, Live Data, Active Test and Special Function, and it differs by car. A few details from the manual:

• Before you erase codes, set the ignition to ON with the engine off. After the erase, read the codes again to confirm.
• In Live Data, a value can be a gauge, text or a waveform. You can merge 2 to 5 parameters from different graphs into one, which helps when you compare two sensors.
• Active Test sends commands to the ECU to drive actuators, such as a solenoid, a relay or a switch. Follow the prompts on the screen.

Step 7: Use the Service menu

Tap Service on the Job Menu. The manual’s general introduction lists oil reset, EPB, SAS, BMS, DPF, IMMO and TPMS as the special functions. Some notes:

• Oil reset. Do the reset after the oil change and the other work, because an early reset can leave codes stored. On a BMW the same function can clear other service reminders.
• EPB. The brake system may need to be switched off before brake work. Keep the car still on level ground, and switch the system back on when you finish.
• BMS. Registers a replacement battery and can check the charge state. Not all cars support it, and a battery of a different type or capacity may need extra programming.
• SAS. Saves the straight-ahead position, so line up the wheels and the steering wheel first. The federal standard in the section above is why this sensor matters.
• DPF. The manual wants the fuel light off, no stored DPF faults and the right engine oil before a forced regeneration. A second person should read the tablet if the car has to be driven.

The picture below shows an electronic parking brake reset on the rear caliper of a Chevrolet Malibu.

The manual also has TPMS and IMMO chapters. Amazon names TPMS only as a system the tool can scan, and neither Amazon nor Autel’s MK808S page lists sensor programming or immobilizer work, so we do not count them.

Step 8: Save and share

Data Manager stores vehicle history, images, PDF files and workshop and customer details. The cloud report option in Amazon’s bullet 7 matches the Data Manager chapter. MaxiVideo turns the tablet into a video scope with an optional camera head, and the manual lists the MV105S and MV108S as compatible models. These cameras are extra.

Step 9: Troubleshoot

The manual’s checklist says to confirm that the tablet is registered, the software is updated and the tablet is online, then to check the cables and the car’s fuse. Exit the diagnostics session before you unplug the cable.

Common Mistakes and Three Simple Plans

1. Expecting coding or DoIP. Neither Amazon nor Autel lists them.

2. Mixing up the MK808S and the MK808Z. Autel uses one page for both, so check the name on the Amazon listing.

3. Skipping the update. Update before the first job.

4. Starting an EPB service without switching the brake system off. The manual says to do that first.

Plan A: A routine oil change

1. Change the oil and do the other work first.
2. Plug in the cable and let the tool identify the car.
3. Open Service, run Oil Reset, then run Auto Scan to confirm.

Plan B: A new battery

1. Fit a battery of the same type and capacity.
2. Open Service and the battery function.
3. Follow the screen and check for codes.

Plan C: A car with an ABS warning

1. Run Auto Scan and open the ABS system.
2. Read the codes and the live data.
3. Use an active test if the tool offers one, then read the codes again.

Where the MK808S Sits Against Its Own Siblings

Our Autel MP808S review covers a tool that lists coding. Our Autel MX900 review covers a tool that lists DoIP and CAN FD. The full side-by-side is in our MK808S vs MP808S vs MX900 comparison.

The MK808S is the plain diagnostic tablet of the three. It keeps the active tests and the common resets, and it leaves out the two specialties of its siblings.

Who This Scanner Actually Fits

The MK808S fits a home mechanic or an independent technician who wants all-system diagnosis, active tests and the everyday resets in one tablet with a cable. It is a weaker fit for a buyer who needs ECU coding, DoIP, CAN FD, J2534 programming or ADAS calibration.

Important Limitations of the Autel MK808S

• No ECU coding is listed. Neither Amazon nor Autel lists it.
• No DoIP or CAN FD is listed. The protocol list in the manual does not include them.
• The counts differ by source. Services, brands and tests are Amazon figures, and the Autel MK808S page gives no count.
• One free update year. Most features stay active afterwards, per Amazon, and the renewal cost is not published.
• One page for two models. The Autel MK808S page is shared with the MK808Z.
• Functions depend on the car. Amazon says the active tests vary by vehicle, and the manual says the lists vary.

Who Should Choose It, and What to Consider Instead

Choose the MK808S if you want all-system diagnosis, active tests and the common resets, and coding or the newer protocols are not part of the job.

Consider the Autel MP808S instead if ECU coding is the reason you are buying. Consider the Autel MX900 instead if you need DoIP and CAN FD.

The picture below shows basic TPMS monitoring on a Chevrolet Malibu, with sensor programming not available on this tool.

Methodology: How SCG Evaluates OBD2 Scanners.

Our Verdict on the Autel MK808S

The MK808S is a plain, cabled diagnostic tablet with active tests and a long service list. Amazon and Autel agree on the core and differ on counts, and neither lists ECU coding, DoIP or CAN FD. If you do not need those, it covers a lot of everyday work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MK808S support bidirectional control?

Yes. Amazon says 3000 or more active tests, and Autel says bi-directional Active Tests across several systems.

Does it support ECU coding?

Neither Amazon nor Autel lists it. The Autel MP808S lists coding instead.

Does it support DoIP or CAN FD?

Neither Amazon nor Autel lists them. The Autel MX900 lists both.

Does it work on FCA vehicles?

Amazon puts FCA and SGW in the title. Autel’s MK808S page does not name it, and Autel’s MK808Z store page names AutoAuth for FCA.

How long are updates free?

One year, per Amazon and Autel. Amazon says most features stay active afterwards.

Is it compatible with my specific vehicle?

Use the Scanner Finder to check your year, make and model.