Softlaser Buying Guide – Avoid the Scams!
If you're thinking about buying a softlaser device, you've probably already run into “amazing offers”: cheap, many-diode “professional medical lasers.” The reality is that the market is full of misleading products. In this guide I'll show you how to spot scams and how to choose a device that will actually help.
The two most common types of scams
Over the years I've spoken to many disappointed buyers who believed they had purchased a “laser” when they actually hadn't. I see two main trap types appearing again and again.
1. LED lamps sold as “lasers”
There is a huge difference between an LED and a diode laser — about as big as the difference between a pedal plastic toy car and a Mercedes. LED light is divergent, not coherent, and is typically 1–5 mW in output. A real diode laser, by contrast, emits a focused, coherent beam with 200–500 mW of power.
What does this mean in practice? With a 5 mW LED device it would take more than 80 minutes to deliver the same amount of energy to a single point that a 500 mW laser delivers in 10 seconds.
👉 Detailed technical explanation: LED vs Diode laser differences →
2. Shower-laser – the fake total power trick
“Shower-lasers” are devices resembling a shower head that contain many small, low-power diodes. The marketing trick is to add the diode powers together: “12×5 mW + 3×150 mW = 510 mW professional laser!”
The reality: twelve 5 mW red diodes are therapeutically almost worthless. The lion's share of the work is done by the three 150 mW infrared diodes — which, despite the “professional” label, are still only a fraction of what a real medical laser can do. All of this is sold for HUF 250–300k, while the Chinese manufacturing cost is 50–60 USD.
👉 How they miscalculate power? Shower-laser scam explained →
What to check when buying – 5 checkpoints
Before you buy any softlaser device, run through this checklist:
| # | Checkpoint | Why it matters | Red flag 🚩 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical device certification | CE/MDR certification guarantees it is truly a medical device | No certificate for a specific model |
| 2 | Diode type | LED ≠ laser; the mechanism of action is completely different | “LED laser” or similarly vague wording |
| 3 | Power per diode | It's not the total power that matters but the energy delivered to a single point | Only “total mW” is listed, without per-diode specs |
| 4 | Spot size and J/cm² | These let you calculate the real therapeutic dose | No data on spot size or energy density |
| 5 | Manufacturer background | Service, warranty, and customer support availability | Unknown manufacturer, no local service |
Tip: If the distributor cannot or will not tell you the power per diode and the spot size, that's already a telling sign.
Which devices do we recommend?
The devices below are real diode lasers with medical device certification (CE/MDR), transparent technical data, and reliable manufacturer support:
| Device | Power | Wavelength | Laser class | Ideal use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-Cure Laser Pro | Pulsed (PW), 4.5 cm² | 808 nm | Class 1 | Chronic pain, joint complaints – no protective goggles needed |
| Personal Laser L400 | 400 mW (CW), 1 cm² | 808 nm | Class 3 | Musculoskeletal complaints, deeper tissues |
| Energy-Laser L500 Pro | 500 mW (CW), 1 cm² | 808 nm | Class 3 | Intensive use, larger areas |
👉 Full range of softlaser devices →
Quick decision helper
Not sure which to choose? Here's a simple compass:
| If your goal is... | Then choose... |
|---|---|
| General home use, chronic pain | B-Cure Laser Pro – safe, Class 1 laser, no goggles needed |
| More serious musculoskeletal complaints, faster treatment | Personal Laser L400 – stronger, shorter treatment time |
| Intensive use, large areas, professional application | Energy-Laser L500 Pro – peak performance for home and clinic |
Summary – Quick overview
What is this article? A guide to navigating between softlaser devices and recognizing scams.
Who is it for? For anyone thinking about buying a softlaser and who doesn't want to make a bad decision.
Main message: Don't trust the advertising copy; trust the medical device certification, the power per diode, and a reliable manufacturer background. LED is not a laser, and the total power of a “shower-laser” is just a marketing trick.
If you want to learn more about laser therapy — how it works, what it's used for, and what scientific evidence supports it — read our comprehensive guide.
Have questions? We can help!
If you're unsure which device would be the best choice for you, write to us! Tell us what complaint you're looking to address, and we'll give personalized advice.
The information in this article is for informational purposes only. Home therapeutic devices serve as a complement to medical treatment and do not replace specialist medical care.
