Expert review
Advantages
- Very inexpensive
- Relatively slim design, with a replaceable battery and a useful life of 10 years
- Loud alarm with siren and spoken alarm
Disadvantages
- No smart features
- The LCD display doesn’t do much
- A bit intrusive in design
Our verdict
This affordable smoke/CO detector features an LCD display of CO conditions that, ideally, you never have to look at.
Today at the best price: X-Sense XP0A-SR smoke/CO detector
Let’s start this review by saying that X-Sense’s latest “smart” smoke and carbon monoxide detector is smart in only the broadest sense. Yes, it has an LCD display that shows carbon monoxide levels and offers voice alerts, which are preferable to a traditional siren, but it doesn’t have mobile app capabilities or wireless connectivity. It also does not have connectivity features that allow it to trigger other alarms.
Physically, the device has a familiar puck design, measuring just over 5 inches in diameter and 1.2 inches thick. The mounting bracket is a slim disc that sits flush with the wall and has no visible edge on the rear edge of the detector. Once removed from the holder, you have access to the battery: a single, replaceable 3-volt CR123A cell (one is included). According to X-Sense, the included battery lasts 5 years; The detector has a rated lifespan of 10 years and should therefore be retired after a single battery change.
The X-Sense XP0A-SR’s $30 price tag is extremely low, even compared to standard-class combination detectors.
In operation, the device uses two sensors – one photoelectric and one electrochemical – to detect both smoke and carbon monoxide. Alarms include both a loud siren and spoken alarms that provide a clear set of warnings about the threat in question. When activated, the alarm also activates a blue backlight behind the LCD display and flashes a small, additional red LED to provide further visual warning of environmental problems. This red LED will continue to flash for 9 minutes even after the alarm has been silenced.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smoke detectors.
When the X-Sense XP0A-SR enters an alarm state, its LCD backlight turns blue and its LED flashes red.
When the X-Sense XP0A-SR enters an alarm state, its LCD backlight turns blue and its LED flashes red.
Christopher Null/Foundry
When the X-Sense XP0A-SR enters an alarm state, its LCD backlight turns blue and its LED flashes red.
Christopher Null/Foundry
Christopher Null/Foundry
Assuming your home is operating normally, the LED display should never show anything other than 0, which indicates the amount of CO in the room in parts per million. If CO levels rise above 30 ppm, the LED will flash green to alert you to potentially dangerous brewing conditions. However, the alarm will only sound when the CO level reaches 70 ppm.
I haven’t tested the alarm’s CO detection capabilities, but I have tested its smoke detection capabilities and found it to be both quick to respond and easy to silence with the accessible mute/test button. However, normal smoke does not cause a change in the LED display, so I did not observe any increase in CO PPM values in real time.
If you need a CO detector for a particularly sensitive area where the risk of rising CO levels is high, the LED function can be useful. However, most homeowners will likely find it excessive and perhaps even an undesirable feature that detracts from the aesthetics of a utility appliance that they would rather keep in the background as much as possible.
However, the price of $30 is extremely low – even compared to standard combination detectors without any technical features. If you don’t mind the looks, it’s a good buy for a non-smart detector.
Note that the $30 price listed here is if you purchase directly from the vendor. However, you must add shipping costs unless your total purchase exceeds $35. Amazon sells the device for $39.99, but you can clip a coupon to cut the price by 20 percent, making the final price $32 (with free shipping for Prime members).