Buying Guide: fNIRS
For applied research, HCI, hyperscanning, and imaging-adjacent work. 4 devices compared.
Device Comparison
| Device | Channels | Electrode | Sampling Rate | Price | SDK Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flow Kernel | 52 52 source-detector channels; TD-fNIRS (time-domain) | optical | N/A | contact | Proprietary |
| NIRSport2 NIRx | 128 Up to 128 source-detector pairs; modular; CW-fNIRS | optical | 60 Hz | $30,000–$120,000+ | LSL |
| Brite MKIII Artinis Medical Systems | 54 Up to 27 Tx + 27 Rx; modular optode layout | optical | 50 Hz | $20,000–$60,000+ | LSL |
| LUMO Gowerlabs | Modular Modular tile-based system; channel count depends on tiles deployed | optical | N/A | contact | Proprietary |
Decision Criteria
- CW vs. TD-fNIRS. Continuous-wave systems (NIRSport2, Brite) are mature, well-documented, and cheaper. Time-domain (Kernel Flow) provides depth discrimination and absolute concentration measurements but is newer and typically enterprise-priced.
- Montage flexibility. Modular systems (Gowerlabs LUMO tiles, NIRSport2) let you reconfigure optode layouts per study. Fixed-layout devices are faster to set up but lock you into one brain region.
- Motion artifact tolerance. Mobile research (walking, VR, sports) needs devices designed for movement. Artinis Brite and wearable form factors handle motion better than rack-mounted lab systems.
- Analysis pipeline. NIRx ships with Aurora and strong MATLAB toolbox support. Artinis uses OxySoft. Kernel has its own cloud platform. Factor in whether your lab already has Homer2/3 or NIRS toolbox expertise.
- Multi-modal integration. If combining fNIRS with EEG (common in hyperscanning studies), check LSL support and whether the system supports concurrent cap-based EEG placement.
Budget Tiers
$20K -- $60K
Portable research-grade systems for mobile and outdoor studies
- NIRSport2 (128 channels)
- Brite MKIII (54 channels)
$30K -- $120K+
High-density lab systems for clinical and cognitive neuroscience
- NIRSport2 (128 channels)