Measuring tool using laser is not something new. It has been around for quite some time. Sometimes laser distance measure is more effective than traditional measuring tape when we need to measure larger rooms or other circumstances when extending the measuring tape would take more effort. Some of the laser measure tools I used in the past have their own issues, from being too complicated for quick use, too bulky, or often run out of battery when I need it.

Hoto Smart Laser Measure is the smallest laser measure I have seen. It is very small, compact and lightweight. Instead of coming with some fancy features, it does one thing and it does it well: it measures distance. The operations cannot be simpler since it has only 1 button. Long press to turn on/off. Short press to activate measure, then we aim, then we do another short press and the distance is displayed on the screen.

This laser measure tool is a smart device because it has Bluetooth connectivity and can pair with Xiaomi app in our phones. From the app, we can choose measurement unit (metre or feet) and whether measurement should start from the front end of the tool (where the laser comes from) or from the back (where we hold the tool). It helps that its design comes with convenient hole, making it easier to hold during use.

If we open the app right after measuring, the last measurement results will be displayed in the app. We can then assign custom labels so that we remember what the measurement is for. There is another cool feature in the app: drawing mode. We can hand-draw some floor plan and assign the measurement results to it. We can also use an image from Photos. I suppose I am a bit of old-fashioned in this case, but I find myself using pen and paper almost every time though.

USB-C is used for charging. I love how the battery has a long retention time when not in use (I am talking about weeks or even months). If I have to nitpick one weak element of this product, is that the display is not really the brightest and clearest I have seen in a mini tool. It is still perfectly readable in most circumstances.

Overall, very solid tool that does what it promises. It will not fully replace traditional tape measure, consider this as a complementary product. I have been using this for months and will continue to get some good use of it.