By Mark Kotterink, director of the Dutch Colour Institute (SNKI) · Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

NCS Colourpin PRO or Colourpin II: which colour reader suits you?

The short answer

Colourpin II: quick colour matching on matt surfaces. Colourpin PRO: measures independently of gloss, 6 mm aperture, twice as consistent (0.05 ΔE00).

The NCS Colourpin II and the NCS Colourpin PRO are both small colour readers that work with your phone via Bluetooth. They find the nearest NCS colour for a measured surface. The difference lies in how they measure, how consistently they measure and how they deal with gloss.

What both devices do

You place the reader flat on a surface and measure via the NCS+ app on your phone (iOS or Android).
The app shows the nearest colour among the 2050 NCS standard colours.
You also get Lab, RGB and CMYK values.
You store, name and share measurements in the app.

According to NCS, both readers are meant for flat surfaces. A curved, coarsely textured or very small part gives a less reliable result.

The big difference: how they measure

The Colourpin II measures with 45/0 geometry. Light falls in at 45 degrees and the sensor looks straight down. You measure the colour as it appears, and gloss affects the reading. A glossy and a matt surface in the same paint can therefore give a different result.

The Colourpin PRO measures with a sphere (d/0): light comes from all directions and the specular gloss is included. According to NCS, the PRO thereby approximates the actual colour, and gloss does not affect the reading. NCS itself calls the PRO a colorimeter, not a spectrophotometer.

What does that mean in practice?If you want to know the colour of a glossy cabinet or door, regardless of its gloss, the PRO is the better fit. If you want to match a matt wall or fabric quickly for a mood board, the Colourpin II is enough.

The specifications side by side

These data come from the technical specifications published by NCS Colour.

Measuring geometryII: 45/0, gloss affects the reading · PRO: sphere d/0, specular component included (SCI)

Measuring apertureII: 4 mm diameter · PRO: 6 mm diameter

Repeatability (short term)II: 0.10 ΔE00 · PRO: 0.05 ΔE00, on a white ceramic tile

Inter-instrument agreementII: average below 0.30 ΔE00 · PRO: average 0.25 ΔE00

Illuminant and observerII: D50 with 10°; D65, F2, F7 and A for comparisons · PRO: D65 with 10° and D50 with 2°

Light sourceBoth: full-spectrum LEDs

Measuring timeII: 2 seconds · PRO: 1.5 seconds

CalibrationII: at every connection, with white calibration cap · PRO: every 1000 scans, with the supplied white ceramic tile

BatteryII: 280 mAh, about 5000 scans · PRO: 200 mAh, about 250 scans · both fully charged within 60 minutes

Matching according to NCSII: 97% · PRO: 99%. NCS gives no definition; repeatability tells you more.

What the figures mean

ΔE00 is a measure of colour difference. Repeatability tells you how much readings on the same surface differ from each other. At 0.05 versus 0.10 ΔE00, the PRO measures twice as consistently. Both values are well below 1, the limit below which the eye hardly sees a difference side by side.

Inter-instrument agreement matters when several people work with different readers, for example an architect and a painter. The smaller that figure, the better their readings agree.

The larger aperture of the PRO averages over more surface. That helps with light texture, such as plaster, textile or wood grain.

According to NCS, the PRO's battery lasts about 250 scans, against about 5000 for the Colourpin II. So charge the PRO before a long day of measuring.

Which device is for whom?

Colourpin IIFor designers, stylists and consultants who want to find a colour quickly on matt, flat surfaces: walls, fabrics, paper. Simple, and long-lasting on one charge.

Colourpin PROFor those who specify or check colours: architects, painters and manufacturers who work with varying gloss levels, document measurements or work together with several devices.

A reader does not replace a sampleBoth devices give the nearest NCS standard colour. That need not be exactly the measured colour. Always check the result with an original NCS colour sample next to the surface.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between the Colourpin II and the PRO?

The measuring geometry. The Colourpin II measures 45/0, so gloss affects the result. The PRO measures with a sphere (d/0) including gloss and, according to NCS, approximates the actual colour regardless of gloss. The PRO is also more consistent: repeatability of 0.05 versus 0.10 ΔE00.

Do both readers use the same app?

Yes. Both connect via Bluetooth to the NCS+ app for iOS and Android. There you see the nearest NCS standard colour and the Lab, RGB and CMYK values, and you store and share your measurements.

Can I measure glossy surfaces with a Colourpin?

With the PRO, yes: according to NCS, gloss does not affect its reading. With the Colourpin II gloss counts, so a glossy surface can give a different result from a matt surface in the same colour. In all cases, measure on a flat surface.

How often do I need to calibrate?

You calibrate the Colourpin II at every connection with the white calibration cap. You calibrate the PRO every 1000 scans with the supplied white ceramic tile. Keep the cap and tile clean, because dirt causes deviations.

Is a Colourpin suitable for quality control?

For a quick check the PRO is the most suitable, thanks to its small measurement spread and small difference between devices. If you work with agreed tolerances in a contract or lab, agree beforehand which instrument and which measuring method will be used.

View both colour readersWe supply both Colourpins as original NCS products, with the matching calibration material.

NCS Colourpin PRO NCS Colourpin II

Mark Kotterink, director of SNKI. Colour expert, lecturer and researcher with 35 years of experience in colour technology and colour application.

Read on

Identifying an NCS colour in five steps →Light reflectance value (LRV) explained →All colour readers →