Guide · Tips and cartridges
T12 vs T15 tips
Hakko names its FM-2027/FM-2028 cartridges T12 in Asia and T15 in North America and Europe. What that means for genuine tips and AliExpress T12 stations.
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Short answer
T12 and T15 are Hakko's regional series names for the cartridges of its FM-2027 and FM-2028 irons: T12 for Japan, Oceania, Asia and other countries, and T15 for North America and Europe.[1] Hakko describes the cartridge as a tip with its heating element and sensor built in.[2] On AliExpress, treat "T12" as a T12-format part made by a company other than Hakko, unless the seller can prove otherwise.
What Hakko says
Hakko's tip page for the FM-2027 and FM-2028 irons lists both series and splits them by region:[1]
| Series | Where Hakko sells it | Example part numbers |
|---|---|---|
| T12 | Japan, Oceania, Asia and other countries | T12-B, T12-D12, T12-KR |
| T15 | North America and Europe | T15-BC1, T15-D24, T15-SB02 |
Two things follow:
- Genuine Hakko cartridges for the US and Canada carry T15 part numbers.[1] A listing that sells "Hakko T12" tips to a US address is not following Hakko's own regional naming.
- Hakko's pages that we read do not compare the two series part by part. So we do not claim that a given T12 and T15 cartridge are physically identical or interchangeable. If you own a genuine Hakko iron, order the part numbers your regional Hakko distributor lists.
Inside the cartridge
Hakko calls the T12 a composite tip: the soldering tip, heating element and temperature sensor are one part. Hakko says this gives superior thermal responsivity and much better thermal recovery, which allows lower temperature settings.[2]
The practical consequence: every replacement tip is a complete heater and sensor, so you change the whole cartridge, never just the end.
Hakko's own figures for its FM-2027/FM-2028 iron are 70 W power consumption at 24 V, 200–450 °C, tip-to-ground resistance under 2 ohms and potential under 2 mV, a 1.2 m cord, and 30 g with a T12-D24 tip.[3] Those numbers describe Hakko's iron. They do not describe T12-format clones.
Hakko's FX-950 station, built around the FM-2028 iron, was discontinued in April 2025, and Hakko names the FX-971 as its successor.[2]
What "T12" means on AliExpress
On marketplaces, "T12" has become a format name. Stations and tips sold under it are usually made to fit the T12 shape by companies other than Hakko. Treat any AliExpress "T12" station or tip as T12-format unless the seller can prove Hakko provenance.
- Sequre lists T12-format tips such as T12-K, T12-D24 and T12-BC2 for its SI012 iron.[4]
- QUICKO's own website lists T12 stations[5] and links an AliExpress store as one of its official online stores.[6] A link from the brand's own site is a stronger sign than a store's name.
- KSGER: an AliExpress store is titled "KSGER Official Store",[7] but we found no KSGER-controlled website confirming that it belongs to the brand. An EEVblog forum post quotes a KSGER notice that its stations switched from an STM32 to an MM32 chip from December 2021,[8] a reminder that one model name can cover different hardware.
Counterfeits
Hakko warns about fakes in general terms. American Hakko tells buyers to purchase only from authorized Hakko distributors and dealers, says some counterfeits copy Hakko's designs and colors and even carry the logo, and notes that most authentic sellers are based in the US and Canada and sell 120 V products.[9] Hakko Japan says counterfeit products circulate on internet auction sites and similar channels, at home and abroad.[10]
We do not label any particular listing counterfeit. We describe parts by format: Hakko-made only when the provenance is clear, T12-format otherwise.
How to buy cartridges that fit
- Identify your iron. A genuine Hakko FM-2027 or FM-2028 takes Hakko cartridges; in the US and Canada, order T15 part numbers from an authorized dealer.
- For a T12-format station, buy the cartridges its maker lists, or ask the seller to confirm the fit in writing.
- Check the shape against the maker's drawing, not just the letter code. See soldering tip shapes.
- Check the station's voltage. The US supply is 110–120 V.[11] Some listings, including the KSGER below, mention both 110 V and 220 V without a variant that says which you get. Ask the seller to confirm 110 V in writing before you pay.
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Questions
Are T12 and T15 soldering tips the same?
Hakko presents them as regional series for the same FM-2027 and FM-2028 irons: T12 for Japan, Oceania, Asia and other countries, T15 for North America and Europe. We found no Hakko page comparing them part by part, so we do not claim they are interchangeable.[1]
Will genuine Hakko T15 tips fit my AliExpress T12 station?
We cannot confirm it. Hakko lists its cartridges for its own irons, and a T12-format station's maker sets its own specification. Buy the cartridges your station's maker lists, or get the seller to confirm the fit in writing.
Are the T12 tips sold on AliExpress made by Hakko?
Treat them as T12-format tips from other makers unless the seller proves Hakko provenance. American Hakko tells buyers to use authorized distributors and warns that counterfeits can copy its designs and even carry its logo.[9]
Is the Hakko FX-950 still made?
No. Hakko's FX-950 page marks it discontinued from April 2025 and names the FX-971 as its successor.[2]
Does the Hakko FX-888DX use T12 or T15 tips?
Neither. American Hakko lists the FX-888DX's standard FX-8801 iron with T18 tips, a separate system, and the station is rated 100 W at 120 VAC. See the Hakko T18 tip system.[12]
How powerful is a T12 soldering iron?
Hakko lists 70 W power consumption at 24 V for its own FM-2027/FM-2028 iron. T12-format clones publish their own figures, which Hakko's specification does not cover.[3]