Do you travel a lot for work and need to scan various documents regularly? Don't worry, get a portable scanner. Efficient, practical and offering good image quality, this light and compact device will accompany you in your scanning work. Brother, Fujitsu or Canon, check out our comparison to learn more about the best portable scanners of the moment
Here is our commitment, to make sure that we provide the best user experience and content quality:
You can support us by using our links to make your purchases (at no extra cost to you)! This sometimes earns us a commission which allows us to remain independent. More about us
Our selection
"Versatile, the Brother DS-940DW allows you to quickly scan different types of documents. It comes with all the software needed for most scanning tasks. A…"
"The Epson WorkForce ES-50 is a scrolling scanner with a battery. Fast, accurate, it is a smart choice despite a really simple design and rather…"
"Considering all it can do, the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i is surprisingly compact. Plus it has a useful interface and comprehensive document management software. If your…"
"The Canon P-208ii portable scanner is compact and weighs less than 600g. It can meet the scanning needs of both individuals and professionals. Its mobility…"
Versatile, the Brother DS-940DW allows you to quickly scan different types of documents. It comes with all the software needed for most scanning tasks. A simply great portable scanner.
207 £ on BoulangerThe Brother DS-940DW is a handheld, manual-feed scanner designed for low-volume, single-sided and double-sided scanning tasks on the go. In addition to its accuracy, it is appreciated for the complete software package that comes with it, its battery life and its wireless connectivity. Plus, it can scan to micro SD cards. You can operate the DS-940DW from your laptop, smartphone or from the control panel, which consists of 3 buttons and corresponding status indicators.
The maximum optical resolution of 600 dpi remains within acceptable standards, with an interpolation of 1,200 dpi. Brother estimates the daily duty cycle of its DS-940DW handheld scanner at 100 scans. The Japanese manufacturer also rates the device's scanning speed at 16 ppm for single-sided and double-sided scanning.
The Epson WorkForce ES-50 is a scrolling scanner with a battery. Fast, accurate, it is a smart choice despite a really simple design and rather limited features. But it scans well, and that's the main thing!
95,20 £ on MaterielThe Workforce Epson ES-50 handheld scanner is the fastest and lightest of all scanners in this price range. It can scan a full page in just 5.5 seconds and 10 A4 pages in an average of 1 minute. It may look small, but you can easily use it to scan very long pages. It can also be used to scan small documents, such as ID cards and receipts, and offers an excellent scanning resolution of 600 dpi. Just plug it into a USB port and it's ready to go.
The Workforce Epson ES-50 comes with Epson ScanSmart software that makes it easy to scan, review and save all documents. The auto-feed mode allows you to combine multiple page scans into one file. It also features Nuance OCR, which supports the creation of editable Word, Excel and PDF files. By the way, at 600 dpi, OCR performance is excellent. In terms of power, no external battery or power supply is required.
Considering all it can do, the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i is surprisingly compact. Plus it has a useful interface and comprehensive document management software. If your budget allows, this is the ultimate in portable scanners.
184 £ on AmazonThe Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i is a portable scanner designed to help people who travel frequently to scan documents for work. Given its compact size, it amazes with its speed and accuracy. The ScanSnap S1300i comes with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that can hold a maximum of 10 sheets. It should be noted that the S1300i has 2 scanning sensors, one for each side of the paper, to capture the 2 sides of a document simultaneously.
The connectivity consists only of a USB 2.0 data port. However, the S1300i can be powered either by mains or USB. Fujitsu rates the speed of the ScanSnap S1300i at 6 ppm in single-sided mode and 12 ipm (image per minute) in duplex mode. These are very average speeds. The good news is that the speed of converting scanned text into editable text by the ScanSnap software is excellent.
The Canon P-208ii portable scanner is compact and weighs less than 600g. It can meet the scanning needs of both individuals and professionals. Its mobility and efficiency make it a remarkable office tool.
128 £ on AmazonAny specific needs?
The best portable scanner in 2021
The best entry-level portable scanner
The best high-end portable scanner
Your guide :
Rate this buying guide :By rating this buying guide, you are helping us to reward our best writers. Thank you!
| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Brother DS-940DW
|
Epson Workforce ES-50
|
Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i
|
Canon P-208ii
|
|
Versatile, the Brother DS-940DW allows you to quickly scan different types of documents. It comes with all the software needed for most scanning tasks. A simply great portable scanner.
|
The Epson WorkForce ES-50 is a scrolling scanner with a battery. Fast, accurate, it is a smart choice despite a really simple design and rather limited features. But it scans well, and that's the main thing!
|
Considering all it can do, the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i is surprisingly compact. Plus it has a useful interface and comprehensive document management software. If your budget allows, this is the ultimate in portable scanners.
|
The Canon P-208ii portable scanner is compact and weighs less than 600g. It can meet the scanning needs of both individuals and professionals. Its mobility and efficiency make it a remarkable office tool.
|
|
|
|
16 ppm scanning speed
|
10 ppm scanning speed
|
12 ppm duplex scanning speed
|
16 ppm scanning speed
|
|
|
Accurate OCR functionality
|
Excellent OCR functionality at 600 dpi
|
Automatic duplex document feeder
|
Scan directly to the cloud
|
|
|
Stunning Wi-Fi and USB 3.0 connectivity
|
Convenient Scan to Cloud functionality
|
Simultaneous scanning of both sides of a document
|
Single-sided scanning in one pass
|
Help us improve this table:
Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!
We spend thousands of hours each year studying the major specialized websites, analyzing products of hundreds of brands and reading user feedback to advise you on the best products.
We are a product review company with a single mission: to simplify your buying decisions. Our research and testing helps millions of people every year find the best products for their personal needs and budget.
To support us you can: use our links to make your purchases (which often earns us a small commission), share our articles on social networks, or recommend our site on your blog. Thanks in advance for your support!
Generally, the scanning speed of a portable scanner is counted per second. On average, it is 5 to 10 s. Those considered faster offer a maximum scanning speed of 7 s.
As its name indicates, the portable scanner must be easy to carry. Thus, prefer a model that is as light as it is compact. You may want to put it in your pocket or bag when you travel. When choosing a portable scanner, make sure that it does not exceed 1000 g.
When it comes to portable scanners, the most common connectivity options are USB and Wi-Fi , although the latter is not always available on all models. Connection via Bluetooth is rather rare. On the contrary, you will find on almost all portable scanners of the moment a port for micro SD card.
If
you want to scan the pages of your books and/or small documents
(flyers, brochures...), favor handheld scanner models. On the
other hand, it is preferable to choose a compact document scanner for the scanning of A4 sheets.
The
choice of the resolution depends on the type and colors of the documents to be scanned: images or texts. On average, it oscillates between 300 to 900 dpi. The color scan is expressed in bit and its resolution can vary from 16 to 48 bits. Take into account that the higher the number, the better the resolution.
Whether you're going on vacation or on a business trip, a portable scanner will save you a lot of hassle. Indeed, this smart device will allow you to organize your trip in the best way. Here are a few tips on how to use it properly and enjoy all its benefits:
Always have a copy of your important documents at hand
Often, you can't remember where you put your passport, your reservation or the address of your hotel. To avoid such an unpleasant situation, use your portable scanner. As soon as you receive your documents, scan them and convert them into PDF files to compress and index them. Then transfer them to your smartphone.
Keep a digital version of your travel guides
Ideal for traveling as light as possible, the portable scanner will help you carry your travel guides. To do so, simply scan the page(s) you are interested in and store them in your cell phone in PDF or JPEG format. The same goes for your business documents since you will always have a backup copy in case of loss.
A good alternative when your phone battery is flat
If your phone battery fails, don't panic! Even if you can't take pictures, scanning offers excellent image quality. Scan directly your tickets, your flyers, the name of the menu you ordered at the restaurant, your Polaroid photos... to create wonderful memories.
Currently, there are 2 main categories of portable scanners, namely the handheld scanner and the compact document scanner. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is up to you to choose the model that best suits your needs.
The most portable of the portable scanners, this type of model offers excellent ease of handling. You can keep it in your hands at all times. Its small size allows it to accompany you wherever you want. It slips easily onto different types of surfaces such as cardboard, glossy paper or newsprint.
Versatile, the portable handheld scanner is suitable for all formats
from the smallest documents to A4 formats. For scanning, you will only have to pass the device on the document to be scanned and the turn is played. Its biggest drawback? Avoid making sudden movements for the scanning to be efficient.
More
limited, the compact document scanner only supports a certain type of document. It is a device that processes only paper documents of a format below A4 like a payslip, a check, a brochure...
It does not fit in the hands, but rather absorbs the paper for automatic scanning. The fact that you can scan documents on both sides is a real plus. On the other hand, only the free sheets can pass in this type of scanner.
The portable scanner is distinguished by the disconcerting ease with which it slips into a pocket or a bag. Indeed, its compact size and its lightness allow you to save space on your desk. You will be able to take it with you when you travel. No need to connect to a computer to use it even though it has USB, Wi-Fi and SD card connectivity. So you can scan your documents and decide to transfer them to your PC later.
The presence of Wi-Fi ensures an easy and simultaneous connection with several devices such as a tablet, a PC and a smartphone. Offering a sufficiently good autonomy, the portable scanner is available in 2 versions, either the one with batteries or the one powered by battery. It should be noted that this portable device offers about the same resolution and image quality as conventional scanners. Moreover, it excels in scanning catalog pages and books.
The reading pen, also known as a digital highlighter scanner, is one of the easiest to use. Like the handheld scanner, it must be passed over the text to be effective. The small device is suitable for magazine pages as well as books, newspapers, faxes and invoices. The scanning is done in real time. In addition, it can also scan small black and white images like a signature.
The pen transfers information via a Bluetooth connection to devices such as a Mac, Windows PC, Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. Better yet, thanks to OCR or Optical Character Recognition technology, this handheld scanner will be able to send text directly to a Word file. Easily held in the hand like a simple pen, it is suitable for both right and left handed users. Its recognition capacity reaches 3,000 characters per minute.
The handheld scanner is precisely suitable for scanning a full page of A4 size. It is wider and flatter than the reading pen and scans the document you want to scan faster. The stylus, on the other hand, offers more advantages for small documents such as business cards. The biggest difference is that you can scan a specific line of text with the digital highlighter.
Ideal for digital communication at any time
The portable model is a great alternative in case of emergency, whether professional or personal. With a battery life that can last for hours, the device will work without needing to be charged for a long time. So, even if there is a power outage, you can still scan your documents at any time.
Advanced technology
The portable scanner offers many advantages. Indeed, it allows you to send your documents without difficulty even if there is no computer or fax machine. Its speed means that scanning takes no more than a minute. Moreover, the documents will be of impeccable quality. Equipped with an internal memory, you will be able to save hundreds or even thousands of files.
Several formats available
There are two main types of portable scanners. The quality of the images and the scanning speed vary according to the models. Its portability greatly facilitates your task since it does not need to be paired with a computer to operate. You can also take it with you on business trips.
High mobility
This is the biggest advantage of the portable scanner. You don't have to go to the office or wait until you get home to scan a document. In addition, it fits in a computer bag, a travel bag or a pocket of your jacket quite easily. It is important to note that the portable scanner is battery powered and rechargeable via a USB cable or batteries.
Specific scanning
The portable scanner excels where conventional models cannot. With such a device, you will have the opportunity to scan entire pages of a book or magazine, thick cardboard papers, posters stuck on a wall ... without any loss of text. Simply slide the device over the document in question and scan.
In our opinion, the best brands of portable scanners in 2022 are :
The brand began creating sewing machines in 1908. It entered the American market in 1941 and made its mark in the field of household appliances and computer equipment. In the case of portable scanners, they stand out thanks to their autonomy, their quality of finish and their mobility.
Specialized in the world of optics, the Canon brand produces cameras as well as printers, scanners and copiers. Its portable scanners are renowned for their efficiency and speed.
The TaoTronics firm is more specifically aimed at high-tech accessories and technology enthusiasts. If you are looking for a discreet portable scanner with a modest design, choose this brand.
Born around 1935, Fujitsu is among the experts in the field of robotics, telephony, audiovisual as well as computing. Its portable scanners meet the needs of those who want to perform quality digital transformation work.
If you are looking for a high-performance portable scanner? Don't hesitate to choose the Iris brand. Versatile, its models are impressively compact, allowing you to take them wherever you want.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Get a portable scanner to scan searchable and editable documents.
Portable scanners with older technology scan documents as images only, which means you can't edit or search them. However, new optical character recognition technology can scan documents as editable Word files or searchable PDF files. Getting this tool can make your life much easier.
Opt for an offline document scanner
Some
Wi-Fi enabled portable scanners don't give you the ability to scan offline, which can be frustrating. For added security, get a portable scanner that is not connected.
Use an automatic document feeder
Some
portable scanners come with an automatic document feeder (ADF), while others require you to manually load each sheet. If you need to scan a large number of documents at a time, opt for the ADF.
Scan all your documents at once.
Use
smart separators when scanning stacks of paper to indicate where one document ends and another begins! Multifunction desktop scanners offer the ability to automatically separate batches of documents by simply adding a blank page between them. A simple trick to easily create separate files. Try doing the same with your portable scanner.
Scan to editable PDF.
Editable PDF was designed for those who don't like looking for information in stacks of paper documents. Scan your paper document, process it with OCR software like Readiris, and simply choose the editable PDF output format. It adds an invisible text layer to your file (which is 100% identical to the original).
The best portable scanner depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide for the best products out there.
Scanning speed varies from model to model. However, some models provide fast scanning of an A4 page in as little as 2 sec.
Most portable scanner models offer the most common formats such as JPEG, JPG, PNG and PDF
.
Generally
, this is not possible at all. To preview a scanned document, you will need a screen provided for that purpose. However, the portable scanner does not have one. You will have to transfer the data to a smartphone or a computer to check the final rendering.
Effectively,
scanning multiple pages is possible. You must subsequently put them on an SD card and then insert them in the same PDF file.
Every month we help more than 1 000 000 people buy better and smarter.
Copyright © 2022 - Made with ♥ by buyingbetter.co.uk
Your reviews and buying guides 0% advertising, 100% independent!
