Next-Gen Environmental Tools: YSI EXO vs YSI ProDSS Explained - Which YSI device should you trust for your next field mission?

When it comes to environmental science and field-based water monitoring, the stakes are high, and having the right tool can make all the difference. Whether you are wading knee-deep in a stream, running a coastal monitoring program, or deployed long-term in a remote reservoir, you want to be sure that when you collect data, you will be able to trust it – and the equipment that brings it to you.

Among the top multi-parameter water quality sondes available from YSI, a Xylem brand, are the YSI EXO series as well as the YSI ProDSS. Both are workhorses in the field, but they also have their own strengths for different kinds of missions in different conditions. So, which one do you determine fits your project?

Let’s break it down.

YSI EXO Series: Made for the Field

✔️ Best For:

• Long-term unattended deployments
• Continuous data logging
• Remote monitoring stations
• Scientists using high-resolution, time-series data

🔍 Key Features:

• Durable, submersible probe is built for fieldwork and long life
• Configuration available for up to 7 smart sensors (EXO2)
• Titanium body for superior durability and corrosion resistance
• Anti-fouling wiper system for maximum accuracy on extended deployments
• Bluetooth and USB connectivity
• Onboard data logging — no need for a handheld to collect your data
  

🧠 Why Scientists Love It:

If your monitoring project demands unattended, long-duration deployment — in estuaries, lakes, rivers, or even offshore — the EXO is a top-tier pick. It’s designed to live in the water and keep logging high-quality data, even in fouling-prone environments.

🧪 YSI ProDSS: Designed for Grab-and-Go Fieldwork

✔️ Best For:

• Field sampling missions and grab samples
• On-the-go measurements across multiple sites
• Lab and field versatility
• Agencies needing portability and flexibility

🔍 Key Features:

• Handheld rugged design, IP-67 rated
• Connects to a cable with replaceable digital sensors
• Rechargeable internal battery with long life
• Built-in GPS and barometer
• Logging capacity with real-time data view
• USB data export to PC via KorDSS software

🧠 Why Field Teams Choose It:

The ProDSS is your backpack-friendly companion. It’s made for real-time sampling across varied locations — from shallow streams to storm drains to agricultural runoff zones. If your workflow involves lots of travel and quick, reliable reads, the ProDSS is the easy winner.

⚖️ EXO vs ProDSS: Side-by-Side at a Glance

🧭 So, Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose the YSI EXO if you need autonomous, long-term data collection and high-end durability in challenging conditions. Think buoy deployments, stormwater monitoring, algal bloom research, and baseline ecosystem assessments.
• Choose the YSI ProDSS if you need a robust, handheld tool for high-mobility fieldwork. Ideal for daily sampling routines, compliance checks, catchment studies, or post-rainfall water quality investigations.

Final Thoughts

In a perfect world, you’d have both — an EXO out in the water doing the heavy lifting while you and your ProDSS rove around collecting targeted samples. But if you have to pick one, match the tool to your mission.

Both the YSI EXO and ProDSS are trusted by researchers, environmental consultants, and government agencies worldwide. With proper care and calibration, either will provide years of dependable service and the kind of data you can build science on.

Still not sure? Get in touch with your regional YSI rep or lab gear distributor. They’ll help you choose the right configuration for your application.

SCREEN PROTECTOR – YSI EXO AND YSI ProDSS

Secure shield screening for your pressure gauge devices — with heavy-duty construction like the equipment it guards.

When you're working in tough, unpredictable environments, every piece of field equipment matters – including the screen. With either the YSI EXO or the YSI ProDSS, shield your device’s screen from scratches, reflections and smudges to help save your valuable equipment from damage and to maintain useful data output clarity in the field.

We invite you to check out our full line of high-quality screen protectors designed for YSI EXO and YSI ProDSS instruments. Each protector is designed in-house and made to order in our own facilities for a precise fit, maximum durability and clear visibility that won’t interfere with screen functionality.

🔒 Finish Options for Both Models:

• Nano Glass screen protector – Our premier glass screen protector with a 9H-hardness rating, crystal-clear surface and unbeatable impact resistance
• Anti-Glare screen protector – Blocks harsh reflections from the sun and glare from the water
• Premium Film screen protector – An everyday solution for scratch resistance with long-term durability
• Anti-Viral screen protector – Engineered to limit transmission of pathogens, including the species responsible for the 2019 Coronavirus Disease; also available in clear and Anti-Glare varieties

From laying your device down in a field kit to getting hit by a driving rainstorm, or even sitting on your device on a long flight — ScreenShield protectors come to the rescue.

🇦🇺 Proudly Australian Made

Born and bred in Melbourne, ScreenShield is 100% Aussie owned and operated. We're a small family-owned independent retailer, and our protectors have been purchased by tens of thousands of customers around the country. When you purchase from us, you’re not only enjoying best-in-class protection — you’re also supporting local innovation and quality craftsmanship.

Keep your YSI gear safe and secure the way you want.

Select ScreenShield — and let your data be what it was always meant to be.

image source: ysi.com/prodss?srsltid=AfmBOooUfL4Xk1oXH0MkS_MNNYEIkvTMpG4I2Uxpx7pfGJvB3GExgBr5