No experience with meters, but I never understood their use. You're testing FC each time, right? Is it really that much more trouble to test the pH at the same time, it takes seconds. Otherwise, what? You collect water for the FC test, and test the pH out at the pool fumbling with the meter, then test FC elsewhere. Three steps. Or test both with the Taylor. Three steps. With Taylor, no calibration needed. Just don't see the advantage of yet another electronic gizmo in my life. (Don't mind me, I'm old!!)
Regarding the color match up: not sanctioned by Taylor (I called them about this), but learned here at TFP: use four drops instead of five. With five, I can't match the colors, with four I can easily.
@dschlic1, are you a male? Men have more trouble with distinguishing reds than women do (something to do with are respective hunter/gatherer genes). Some here have their female SOs help them with pH.