What AcuRite Weather Station Should I Buy?

Filed Under: AcuRite,Weather Stations

Explaining the differences between the AcuRite Notos, Iris, and Atlas

AcuRite is likely one of the world’s most prolific weather instrument manufacturers. Chances are you’ve seen at least one AcuRite weather station at your local retailer: Walmart, Target, and Home Depot sometimes sell the AcuRite 3-in-1 or Acurite 5-in-1 weather stations (or both) in their brick-and-mortar stores.

But as you may have already read in our weather station guide, we don’t recommend purchasing these as they often are cheaply made and often don’t have a good track record of reliability. Yes, that includes some AcuRite models.

To answer this, AcuRite introduced the Atlas (our top pick), a higher-end station, and has often been rumored to be working on the Atlas Elite. They’re a step up from previous models. We’re also big fans of their app, arguably one of the best weather apps on the market.

AcuRite Weather Stations Currently Available

AcuRite Notos (3-in-1) Weather Station with Wind, Temperature, and Humidity (00638A3), Black and Metal

AcuRite Notos (3-in-1) Weather Station with Wind, Temperature, and Humidity (00638A3), Black and Metal

  • Patented Self-Calibrating Forecasting pulls data from a sensor in your backyard to give you the most accurate forecast for your exact location
  • Atomic clock updates time for consistent accuracy and no manual setting ever for DST
  • Easy-to-read LCD display
  • Durable, weather resistant construction
  • Strong signal penetration (enhanced 433 MHz)
AcuRite Notos (3-in-1) Weather Station for Indoor/Outdoor Temperature, Humidity, and Wind Speed (005

AcuRite Notos (3-in-1) Weather Station for Indoor/Outdoor Temperature, Humidity, and Wind Speed (005

  • Real-time weather conditions: receive readings for indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, wind sp
  • Forecasting technology: provides a hyperlocal, personalized weather forecast 12 hours from your curr
  • Illuminated lcd color display: easy-to-view display with adjustable dimmer makes for perfect placeme
  • All-in-one wireless weather station with historical data: weather instruments, including wireless in
  • Easy-to-mount home weather station: comes with a pole mount for quick weather center setup
  • Company based in lake geneva, wi, usa, since 1943 and known for superior, long-lasting quality produ
AcuRite Notos (3-in-1) 01604M Pro Color Digital Weather Station with Wind Speed, Temperature and Hum

AcuRite Notos (3-in-1) 01604M Pro Color Digital Weather Station with Wind Speed, Temperature and Hum

  • High-precision 3-in-1 wireless weather sensor accurately measures the temperature, humidity and wind
  • Daily and all-time high and low records
  • Current wind speed, average wind speed and peak wind speed readings are tracked and updated every 18
  • Illuminated full color digital display with adjustable dimmer; electric-powered with optional batter
  • Easy setup, includes sensor mounting hardware and features a 2-year battery life for maintenance-fre
AcuRite Notos (01530M) 3-in-1 Weather Station with Wi-Fi Connection to Weather Underground, White

AcuRite Notos (01530M) 3-in-1 Weather Station with Wi-Fi Connection to Weather Underground, White

  • High precision wireless weather sensor accurately measures indoor/outdoor temperature, humidity, and wind speend
  • Indoor comfort monitor, dew point, heat index with customizable alerts
  • Easily upload your weather information to weather underground with a wi-fi network connection
  • 12-24 hour future forecasts with daily high and lows
  • Easy setup, includes sensor mounting hardware and features 2-year battery life for maintenance free operations
AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Weather Station with Remote Monitoring Alerts for Weat

AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Weather Station with Remote Monitoring Alerts for Weat

  • Real-time weather conditions: look no further for the perfect indoor and outdoor thermometer! wirele
  • Pc connect weather stations: easily connect your indoor weather station display to your pc to access
  • Weather clock: the indoor weather station display is a large, illuminated color lcd display with the
  • Weather forecast: patented, self-calibrating technology provides a hyperlocal, personalized weather
  • Multiple thermometers & weather instruments: wireless weather station with a built-in anemometer, wi
  • Company based in lake geneva, wi, usa, since 1943 and known for superior, long-lasting quality produ
AcuRite 01535M Iris (5-in-1) Weather Station with HD Display, White Black

AcuRite 01535M Iris (5-in-1) Weather Station with HD Display, White Black

  • Real-time weather conditions: look no further for the perfect indoor and outdoor thermometer! wirele
  • Weather forecast technology: this digital weather station with wireless outdoor sensor utilizes inte
  • Easiest setup on the market: just install batteries, attach the wireless outdoor sensor (outdoor tem
  • Comprehensive weather information: receive over 25 data points and set weather threshold alarms to r
  • Set up custom alerts: alert yourself when conditions require attention using customizable alarms for
  • Informative weather clock: this digital weather station displays the current time, date, and day of
  • Digital weather station hd display: this high-definition indoor weather station display allows for e
  • Expand your system: upgrade your professional weather station with an outdoor weather station lightn
  • Perfect gift idea: this acurite weather station is a unique weather gift that the recipient will use
  • Company based in lake geneva, wi, usa, since 1943 and known for superior, long-lasting quality produ
AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) Home Weather Station with Wi-Fi Connection to Weather Underground with Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed/Direction, and Rainfall (01540M) , Black

AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) Home Weather Station with Wi-Fi Connection to Weather Underground with Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed/Direction, and Rainfall (01540M) , Black

  • Real-Time Weather Conditions: Look no further for the perfect indoor and outdoor thermometer! Wirelessly receive readings for indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity, wind speed/direction, barometric pressure, and rainfall directly to your home weather station
  • Weather Clock: The indoor weather station display is a large, color LCD Display with the current time, date, and an adjustable dimmer, making it convenient to read and easily view indoor and outdoor data, time, and conditions
  • WiFi Weather Stations: Easily connect your indoor weather station display to Weather Underground for remote monitoring and to share your weather data with more than 250,000 personal weather stations across the globe
  • Comprehensive Weather Information: One of the best weather stations, receive over 25 data points that allow you to set weather threshold alarms and track historical data, the heat index, dew point, wind chill, enhanced rainfall history, and more
  • Multiple Thermometers & Weather Instruments: Wireless weather station with a built-in anemometer, wind vane, barometer, hygrometer, rain gauge, and thermometer to give you hyperlocal personalized data on your indoor weather station for home
  • Weather Forecast: The outdoor weather station collects elevation data and combines it with barometric pressure data from the indoor weather station to provide a personalized weather forecast 12 hours from your current conditions
  • Easiest Setup on the Market: Just install batteries, attach the wireless outdoor sensor to a pole or post using the included mounting bracket, and you’re ready to be the neighborhood weather expert
  • Included on Numerous “Best Of” Lists: Named Best Overall Smart Wi-Fi Weather Station by Nerd Techy and Best Budget Weather Station for monitoring local conditions by The Spruce
  • Company Based in Lake Geneva, WI, USA, since 1943 and known for superior, long-lasting quality products and USA-based customer service
AcuRite Iris Home Weather Station with Direct-to-Wi-Fi Wireless Display

AcuRite Iris Home Weather Station with Direct-to-Wi-Fi Wireless Display

This version of the AcuRite Iris home weather station is often on sale.

AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station for Indoor and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity, Wind Speed and Direction, and Rainfall with Digital Display (01512M)

AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station for Indoor and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity, Wind Speed and Direction, and Rainfall with Digital Display (01512M)

  • Comprehensive Weather Information: One of the best weather stations, receive over 55 data points that allow you to monitor historical data, the heat index, dew point, feels like temperature, pressure trends with trend arrow, and more
  • Real-Time Weather Conditions: Look no further for the perfect indoor and outdoor weather station! Wirelessly receive readings for indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity, wind speed/direction, barometric pressure, and rainfall directly to your home weather station
  • Easiest Setup on the Market: Just install batteries, attach the wireless outdoor sensor to a pole or post using the included mounting bracket, and you’re ready to be the neighborhood weather expert
  • Weather Clock: The indoor weather station display is a large, color LCD Display with the current time, date, and an adjustable dimmer, making it convenient to read and easily view indoor and outdoor data, time, and conditions
  • Weather Forecast: The outdoor weather station collects elevation data and combines it with barometric pressure data from the indoor weather station to provide a personalized weather forecast 12 hours from your current conditions
  • Multiple Thermometers & Weather Instruments: Wireless weather station with a built-in anemometer, wind vane, barometer, hygrometer, rain gauge, and thermometer to give you hyperlocal personalized data on your indoor weather station for home
  • Included on Multiple “Best of” Lists: Listed as one of the Best Home Weather Stations by USA Today, Best Midrange Home Weather Station by Bob Vila, and 2nd Best Overall Weather Station by Best Reviews Tube
  • Company Based in Lake Geneva, WI, USA, since 1943 and known for superior, long-lasting quality products and USA-based customer service
AcuRite Atlas Professional Home Weather Station
Honorable Mention

AcuRite Atlas Professional Home Weather Station

While it's imperfect, the Atlas is the best AcuRite station available.

AcuRite Weather Station Comparison

Below we’ve laid out the specifications for the Notos, Iris, and Atlas weather stations. Remember, the Notos is the new name for the 3-in-1, and Iris is the new name for the 5-in-1. The Iris and Atlas include a solar panel on the sensor suite to increase sensor battery life.

AcuRite Notos vs Iris

The Iris is the better of the two AcuRite home weather stations in this comparison. The Notos is not much more than a glorified digital thermometer. However, its price makes it an attractive alternative to the more expensive stations.

If you’re okay with losing rainfall and wind direction and don’t have a lot of space to spare, opt for the Notos. However, if you can afford it, opt for the Iris instead; we think you’ll be happier overall.

AcuRite Iris vs Atlas

Whether you select the Iris or the higher-end Atlas comes down to budget. Both support the Access base station to connect to the internet to share weather data, which the Notos do not. They also support the most common weather measurements on any good station.

Overall, the Atlas instrumentation is of higher quality, thanks to an included daytime aspirating fan in the sensor housing. In our tests, this made the Atlas more accurate than even the Davis Vantage Vue in temperature and humidity readings. Atlas is it if you’re looking for better accuracy at a price significantly lower than other stations.

AcuRite Atlas vs Atlas Elite

It’s tough for us to truly judge how much better the AcuRite Atlas Elite is because it’s yet to release. But we’d guess many of the Atlas issues would be corrected. With our Atlas, the lightning detection wasn’t as precise as we would have liked, and the rain gauge significantly undercounted rainfall.

AcuRite promises professional-grade instrumentation for the Atlas Elite, so we’ll have to wait and see.

AcuRite vs Ambient Weather

Both AcuRite and Ambient Weather excel at making affordable weather stations, but we prefer Ambient Weather’s weather stations for their accuracy. The Ambient Weather WS-5000 is far more expensive than the AcuRite Atlas. However, it’s a much more accurate weather station. Similarly, the Ambient Weather WS-2902 is competitively priced with the AcuRite Iris but is generally more accurate.

Our Test Results for AcuRite Weather Stations

Below we’ve shared our scoring for the Ambient Weather station models that made our rankings for the Best Weather Station of 2023. Three stations made our final rankings for this year, the WS-2902, WS-5000, and WS-2000. To learn more about our scoring methodology, click here.

acurite atlas 7-in-1 weather station

AcuRite Atlas

Review Score: 92/100

acurite iris 5-in-1 weather station

AcuRite Iris

Review Score: 88/100

acurite notos 3-in-1 weather station

AcuRite Notos

Review Score: 88/100

AcuRite Weather Station FAQ

Let’s get started with a few questions we frequently hear from readers.

What Is The Difference Between The AcuRite Weather Stations?

The AcuRite Notos is the cheapest model. The station does not measure wind direction or rainfall but measures indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure. The AcuRite Iris includes all of the measurements above and adds a rain gauge and a wind vane for wind direction, while the Atlas further adds UV and light intensity (lux) and optional lightning detection. We have a comparison chart for you later in this blog post.

Who Should Buy The AcuRite Notos?

The AcuRite Notos, formerly known as the 3 in 1, is best for those with limited space and might need wind speed data instead of the typical digital thermometer. We’d recommend it for purely casual use and general weather information — those looking for better accuracy are better served by the Iris or Atlas. The Notos is not internet-connectable and requires batteries to operate.

Who Should Buy The AcuRite Iris?

The AcuRite Iris, formerly the 5-in-1, is best for general use. This is a great entry-level station, and AcuRite offers several models. We recommend the model with the better console and the Access base station for connectivity, but you should also consider the Ambient Weather WS-2902 if you consider the Iris.

Who Should Buy The AcuRite Atlas?

The AcuRite Atlas is the company’s most advanced model. It adds an optional UV and light intensity sensor, and it is capable of adding lightning detection. The indoor display is also really nice. If you’re considering the Atlas, select the model with the Wi-Fi console and the optional lightning detection. This package is cheaper than the Ambient Weather WS-5000.

Are AcuRite Weather Stations Accurate?

We often get questions as to the accuracy of AcuRite products. In our experience, we’ve found AcuRite’s accuracy to score below their competitors, with the notable exception being the Atlas. The Atlas is currently the only station we recommend, although the Iris is an attractive alternative to the WS-2902.

What Happened To The AcuRite Atlas Elite?

When AcuRite first announced the AcuRite Atlas several years ago, they also announced the Atlas Elite. At the time, the console was billed as a competitor to the Davis Vantage Pro2. Among the rumored features were built-in UV, light, lightning sensors, and “professional grade housing and instruments.” While the Atlas Elite has disappeared from the company’s site, we’re told it is still in development.

Can You Connect AcuRite Weather Stations To The Internet?

Both the Iris and the Atlas connect to the internet via AcuRite Access. You can add the Access base station or select a Wi-Fi-enabled console. We’re big fans of their web and mobile app, although it’s not as feature-packed as other stations, nor does it have smart device connectivity.

Should I Wait For The AcuRite Atlas Elite?

We wouldn’t recommend it. AcuRite hasn’t provided any timeline for the Atlas Elite’s release, so it might still be months, if not years, before it appears. We’d recommend purchasing the Atlas instead.

Wrapping Up

As we said previously, we strongly recommend not purchasing AcuRite products from a retailer. These are lower-quality models than what you see above. Instead, stick with the recommended packages above to get the best value for your money.

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About the Author

Ed Oswald

Ed Oswald has nearly two decades of experience in technology and science journalism, and specializes in weather stations and smart home technology. He's written for Digital Trends, PC World, and TechHive. His work has also appeared in the New York Times. When he isn't writing about gadgets, he enjoys chasing severe weather and winter storms.
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