Best Portable Scanner in 2022 | Comparison, Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
What is the best portable scanner? This device can be powered by USB or batteries. The former is a more cost-efficient option as you will not have to spend extra money on batteries. However, the USB-powered model requires connecting to a laptop or computer, so you will need to have one of them at hand. Accuracy is another essential aspect to consider because it determines the quality of a scanned image or document.
The minimum requirement for scanning accuracy is 300 dpi, but we recommend you to buy a device that has 600 dpi to make sure you will get all the details. That said, scanning at more than 600 dpi isn’t just unnecessary but will also result in heavier files which you will have to store somewhere. And finally, a good portable scanner should have a number of extra features that enhance its performance and make the whole process more convenient.
The advantage of using such device is that you can easily take it with you, given that some models can even fit in a pocket. These are handheld portable scanners that have limited resolution, which is why they are used for scanning documents, not photos. But if you pursue a vigorous business life, a card scanner will come in handy for you. And of course, there are models that operate like a sheetfed scanner but are smaller in size.
Portable Scanners Compared
1. Epson Workforce ES-60W Wireless Portable Sheet-fed Document Scanner | |
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2. Brother Mobile Color Page Scanner, DS-620, Fast Scanning Speeds | |
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3. Brother Wireless Portable Compact Desktop Scanner, ADS-1250W | |
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4. Canon ImageFORMULA P-215II Mobile Document Scanner | |
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5. VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand Portable Scanner (PDS ST415 WM) | |
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6. Brother DS-740D Duplex Compact Mobile Document Scanner | |
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6. Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner - OCR Digital Highlighter and Reading Pen | |
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Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i | Best Portable Color Duplex Document & Photo Scanner
Using this model, you will be able to reproduce quality images since it can scan at up to 600 dpi. The device is also great for document scanning as it comes with a ten-page auto feeder. It works fast, producing up to twelve double-sided pages per minute. The scanner has several beneficial features, such as automatic color detection and rotation, and can handle thick paper including business cards.
You may choose a more affordable portable scanner, Epson WorkForce DS-40, which is 3 times more lightweight than the model by Fujitsu. Its output resolution reaches 1,200 dpi, but still, you will sacrifice some features of more advanced models.
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What Size And Type Of Materials Can Portable Scanners Scan?
Many people have to travel for work, meaning they may need to have at hand not just a phone and laptop but also a scanner. You never know what kind of document you will need to scan, but the good news is that portable scanners generally can process both documents and images, whether it is a contract, sales brochure or paper presentations. But it isn’t that simple.
When it comes to documents, portable scanners have length limits. While most models are capable of handling A4 document — except for pocket-sized scanners, like PenPower Business Card Scanner, designed specifically for scanning credit cards — they are not big enough for A3 or A2 papers. Well, I would not call it a downside because if they were, they would not be portable, which is their primary mission. Still, you may get creative and try to slide in a large-size paper horizontally, for example.
Portable scanners can handle images as well, however, the question is whether they can output high-quality images. This depends on image resolution, which varies from a model to model but basically, portable scanners featuring 600 dpi resolution do their job well. There are high-end models that will allow you to get an image with 1200 dpi resolution, but you should decide for yourself whether you really need such a benefit. First, this will cost you extra money and secondly, the scanned image will be heavier and take up more storage space.
What Software Can Be Used With Portable Scanners?
This depends on each specific model. As a rule, quality portable scanners come with a software bundle allowing you to manage, edit and share scanned documents and images. Regular scanners come with TWAIN, with the latter being more typical for high-speed scanners. However, portable scanners can be a little bit different.
For example, the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i Portable Scanner isn’t TWAIN-compliant. As the manufacturer explains, ScanSnap would not be an easy one-touch scanner if it used a TWAIN driver. The thing is that TWAIN gives the user a lot of control over the way the communication between software and hardware takes place. This portable scanner, on the contrary, is made for consumers who do not want to go into details, such as color and quality options. The idea is clear: a truly portable scanner is the one that is simple, fast, and easy to use.
Do Portable Scanners Have Two-Sided Scanning Capability?
Let me start by explaining what actually makes these devices portable. A power supply. There are two options for portable scanners: they can be powered either through the USB cable or from batteries. The battery-run models typically cannot scan double-sided documents in one pass. As for USB-powered models, their dependence on other devices makes them, in a way, less portable. You have to carry a computer or laptop with you, otherwise, the scanner just will not operate. While having this obvious disadvantage, many USB-powered portable models have many features that regular scanners have, including two-sided scanning capabilities.
A good example of that is Brother DS-740D Duplex Compact Mobile Document Scanner that has to be connected via USB 2.0 port to work. Measuring about 11 inches in length, this device is easy to carry in a bag. It also weighs a little bit more than one pound, meaning that the product is designed for those who have to travel a lot. But do not forget that you will have to carry a laptop with you if you want to use the scanner, something that will make your bag much heavier. Still, you may want to sacrifice convenience for the possibility to have a full-fledged duplex portable scanner. This means that two pages can be fed at the same time while a multipage document can be processed and saved as one document.
What Types Of Portable Scanners Are There?
Portable scanners differ in the way they process documents. But in general, this is about convenience and how portable they are. Now, let’s take a closer look at the three main types of these devices.
Portable scanners with an automatic document feeder
An automatic feeder allows a unit to scan a number of documents. All you need to do is to insert the papers you want to scan into the unit and they will be automatically fed through it. There is no need to manually place each page into the scanner. Such models are the largest of all portable scanners but, unlike flatbed ones, do not take up much space.
These machines may include a tray intended to hold several sheets of paper at once so that they could be automatically fed through the scanner. You may stack multiple documents into the tray and the scanner will process all of them. The downside to this option in comparison with regular flatbed scanners lies in that it requires sheets of paper to be separate. Also, paper jams may occur from time to time. Such machines are typically powered through a USB port and need to be connected to a computer. One of the examples is the Canon P-215II Mobile Document Scanner that is equipped with a 20-sheet automatic feeder.
Manual-feed portable scanners
And yet, most portable scanners lack an automatic document feeder, which makes them even more compact and lightweight. These are single-sheet machines that can be used to scan documents and images as well. As for their speed, it’s hard to assess how fast they process documents because much depends on the speed at which you feed each page to the machine. But in general, a high-quality manual-feed portable scanner like IRIScan Anywhere 5 can process about 7 pages per minute, whether it is PDF or Jpeg format.
The advantage of this model is that it can operate without a computer as it is a battery-powered device. The machine can scan up to 100 A4 sheets on a single charge, with a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi. Still, I would not recommend this option to those who often have to scan multiple pages at a time.
Handheld portable scanners
What separates handheld models from other types of portable scanners is that they need to be moved or rolled over a document or image. The main downside to this option lies in the fact that much depends on how steady your hand is. In case it is not, you may get a little bit blurry image. That said, handheld portable scanners have numerous advantages: they are truly portable, more affordable, run on batteries and usually do not require a USB port to operate. They are easy to use, just place the page on a flat surface and put the scanner at the top of it. Then, slowly move the unit down. The processed documents and images will be saved to a memory card.
Handheld portable scanners can be divided into two subtypes: wand scanners and pocket-sized ones. Their main distinction lies in the size and, of course, the quality of images they output. Pocket-sized options, such as Scanmarker Air Pen Scanner, can be as little as 5 inches in length. This very model is recommended for scanning editable texts rather than images, so the usage of this model is quite limited.
Another option, Vupoint ST470 Magic Wand Portable Scanner, is more versatile and functions in two ways — you can drag it across the page or use its auto-feed feature.
What is a Magic Wand?
One of the major benefits of a magic wand portable scanner is its amazing portability. With only 15 inches in length and 9.5 inches in width, the item weighs less than 3 pounds. It has a long-lasting battery intended for up to 400 scans per charge. Add to this a protective case that comes with the product, and it is easy to see how convenient this scanner is for transportation and use on a trip.
This device allows scanning documents and images in color or black and white, and save them in a variety of formats ranging from PDF to JPG. After being scanned, the document is stored to a microSD card supporting up to 32GB. The included SD card is up to 8GB in size and can store around 5,000 files. Another strong point for a scanner of this size is an auto-feed dock. The device can scan while charging, and produce high-resolution images. As for resolution, you can select different options: from 300 to 1200 dpi. On top of that, it is very fast, scanning documents within seconds. You can preview scanned images and documents thanks to the color LCD display.
Expert Opinion: Dave Taylor, Computer Expert
Dave Taylor, Computer Expert
Dave Taylor has been in the computer industry since 1980 and has been online since the first days of the Internet. He has authored a number of Unix and Linux books. Dave has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of California and a Master’s in Education from Purdue University. He runs the technology site AskDaveTaylor.
This is the Epson wireless portable color scanner, a really cool piece of technology. As you can see, it is portable, so wireless, and even has its own battery. You can plug it in, you can use it via USB with your computer but I love the fact that I can just do this and use it. The first thing, obviously, you have to open it up and it unfolds, and these come out, and now you have your document feed set up. And then on the side, there are three switches or a switch with three settings, I should say. So you can have it join a WiFi network, which is what I have been using. Or you could have it become its own basically wireless hotspot and then you can use things like your mobile device to connect to it. Or you can actually do old-school and you can have a USB wire plugging into your Mac or PC.
10 Best-Selling Portable Scanners | Comparative Table
Epson WorkForce ES-50 Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner for PC and Mac
- Fastest and lightest mobile single sheet fed document scanner in its class(1) small, portable scanner ideal for easy, on the go scanning
- Fast scans a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds(2)
- Versatile paper handling scans documents upto 8.5 x 72 inches, as well as ID cards and receipts
- Smart tools to easily scan and organize documents Epson ScanSmart Software(3) makes it easy to scan, review and save
- USB powered connect to your computer; No batteries or external power supply required
- Includes Nuance OCR create searchable PDFs and editable Word and Excel files
- Scan to the cloud(4) scan files directly to online storage accounts with the included software
- Compatible with Windows and Mac works with your existing system; Twain driver included
- Included Twain driver compatible with virtually any imaging software
- Automatic feeding mode combine multi page scans into one file; Scanner automatically accepts each new sheet as it’s inserted
Brother DS-740D Duplex Compact Mobile Document Scanner
- FAST SPEED AND DUPLEX SCANNING – Scan single and double sided documents in a single pass at up to 16 ppm (1) Color scanning doesn’t slow you down at all as it has the same scan speed as black and white document scanning
- ULTRA COMPACT – At less than 1 foot in length you can fit this device virtually anywhere (a bag, a purse a pocket) The DSD (Desk Saving Design) feature reduces the amount of space needed to use the device saving you 11 inches of desk space (2)
- READY WHENEVER YOU ARE – The DS 740D is powered via an included micro USB 3 0 cable, allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available Plug it into your PC or laptop and you are ready to scan
- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan to” destinations like PC Network cloud services Email and OCR (2) Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers (3)
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment image rotation (PC only) bleed through prevention/background removal text enhancement color drop to enhance the scans Software suite includes document management and OCR software (4)
Portable Scanner iSCAN 900 DPI A4 Document Scanner Handheld for Business, Photo, Picture, Receipts, Books,...
- Note: No software installation is required. You need 2 AA batteries ( not included) and a memory card (not included) to use it directly. Scan mode: Press and hold "Scan" for 2 seconds to turn on the device, and then press "Scan", the green light is on. The scanner moves to scan the file until the green light turns off automatically (or press the "Scan" key and the green light goes out). The number shown on the display increases by 1 to indicate that the scan is complete.
- Portable Scanner scans images or pictures quickly: Store JPEG/PDF files within seconds, scan images or pictures quickly, plug and play, no need any software preinstalled. Compatible with Windows XP/7/Vista/Mac OS 10.4 or above version.
- Lightweight and travel-friendly: Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected. Powered by 2pcs AA batteries, Compact Design, it is convenient to carry outside.
- 3 Image Resolution: 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it at the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is. Freely choose your favorite resolution.File Format: JPEG/PDF format is all available, Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card(Not included),total meet your need for business trip or daily use.
- Widely Used: It is applicable in bank, insurance business, real estate agency,home, office, library or outdoors. suitable for lawyer, businessmen, students, travelers and amateur archivists. Scan your important files and save them immediately, no struggling in finding a printing shop, keep it confidential.
Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner, (Model: DS640)
- FAST SPEEDS - Scans color and black and white documents at blazing speed up to 16ppm. Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed
- ULTRA COMPACT – At less than 1 foot in length and only about 1. 5pounds in weight you can fit this device virtually anywhere (a bag, a purse, even a pocket)
- READY WHENEVER YOU ARE – The DS-640 mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 3. 0 cable, allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available. Plug it into your PC or laptop and you are ready to scan
- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan-to” destinations like PC, network, cloud services, Email and OCR. Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention/background removal, text enhancement, color drop to enhance scans. Software suite includes document management and OCR software
Magic Wand Portable Scanners for Documents, Photo, Old Pictures, Receipts, 900DPI, Scan A4 Color Page in 3sec,...
- ♫ Easiest Way to Digitize Document/Photo: Document wand scanner Supports different size photo and document scanning (8.5" wide and up to 9.8") in color or black and white as JPG or PDF. 3 resolution setting for quality of scanning copy (300/600/900dpi). 👉 [Notice]: The scanner works with 2A batteries. The USB cable is just for file transmission.
- ♫ Impressive Clarity & Speed: Thanks to optional 900dpi setting, convert your picture or document into digital file with high clarity. 300 dpi ideal for scanning receipt/business card in 3s, 600 dpi for scanning document/book in 4s, 900 dpi for scanning photo in 5s. More efficient and convenient than a flatbed scanner
- ♫ Ultra Compact & Convenient: 9.5 inches in length and only about 0.44lbs in weight, available to fit this device virtually anywhere. Work with 2A batteries, wireless and easy to scan your full-color A4 page in just 5 seconds and 900 dpi.
- ♫ Go Paperless Easily: you can easily connect the scanner to your PC with USB to get your file at anywhere and anytime, even where there is no outlet available. Compatible with Mac, Windows 7/8/10/XP, Linux. 【Notice】: The scanner can be connected to Windows, Mac, Linux via USB for file transmission, but the OCR software only supports Windows. 👉 How to Video and Instruction of OCR Software: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HH8yZrFEL.pdf
- ♫ Comes with 16G SD Card & OCR CD Driver: With included 16G SD Card, mini scanner supports storing 25280pcs(300DPI)/ 8800pcs(600DPI)/ 2500pcs(900DPI) scans. With OCR tech, easy to organize and create editable multi-page PDFs, or transfer files into word/excel format. The OCR software only support Windows, not for Mac, software is not available to be updated.
Canon imageFORMULA R10 Portable Document Scanner, 2-Sided Scanning with 20 Page Feeder, Easy Setup For Home or...
- STAY ORGANIZED – Easily convert your paper documents into digital formats like searchable PDF files, JPEGs, and more
- CONVENIENT AND PORTABLE –lightweight and small in size, you can take the scanner anywhere from home offices, classrooms, remote offices, and anywhere in between
- HANDLES VARIOUS MEDIA TYPES – Digitize receipts, business cards, plastic or embossed cards, reports, legal documents, and more
- FAST AND EFFICIENT – No technical hurdles or complicated setups here; easily scan both sides of a document at the same time, in color or black-and-white, at up to 12 pages-per-minute, and with a 20 sheet automatic feeder
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Works with both Windows and Mac devices, be it laptop or computer
- BUILT-IN SOFTWARE – Use your scanner with ease as the powerful scanning software is already built-in, requires no installation, and updates automatically
- PREVIEW YOUR SCANS – Adjust and organize your scanned files as you edit, straighten, and trim your files or create buttons with custom scanning settings and destinations
- HIGH-QUALITY IMAGING – Leveraging the same technology used in Canon’s camera products, you’ll save great-looking output in color, black-and-white, or grayscale
- SUSTAINABLE DESIGN – Save energy and the environment with a scanner that meets ENERGY STAR guidelines
- This product is not intended for scanning photographs on photo paper / photographic media
Brother Wireless Document Scanner, ADS-1700W, Fast Scan Speeds, Easy-to-Use, Ideal for Home, Home Office or...
- COMPACT DESIGN AND FAST SCAN SPEEDS HANDLE A VARIETY OF DOCUMENTS - Scan single and double-sided, documents in a single pass at up to 25 ppm(1). Easily scan documents up to 34” long, receipts and photos using the 20-page capacity auto document feeder.
- EASY-TO-USE AND SAVES TIMES - 2.8” color Touchscreen display for one-touch scanning to preset destinations and device settings management. Auto Start Scan lets you simply drop paper into the feeder to initiate auto scanning to a predefined profile.
- COMPATIBLE WITH THE WAY YOU WORK - ADS1700W supports multiple “Scan-to” destinations: File(2), OCR(2), Email(2), Network, FTP, Cloud services(7) Mobile Devices(3) and USB flash memory drive(4) to help optimize your business process.
- VERSATILE SCANNING AND CONNECTIVITY - Wireless scanning to PC, cloud apps(7), mobile(3) and network destinations plus Micro USB 3.0 interface for local connections. Dedicated card slot easily scans business and photo ID cards.
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT - Enhance scans with automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention / background removal, text enhancement, color drop. Software suite(6) includes document management and OCR software.
Epson WorkForce ES-300W Wireless Color Portable Document Scanner with ADF for PC and Mac, Sheet-fed and Duplex...
- Wirelessly scan to your smartphone, tablet or computer plus online cloud storage accounts 2, PC and Mac compatible
- Fastest scan speeds in its class1, up to 25 ppm/50 ipm(3), Single-Step Technology captures both sides in one pass
- Total portability, choose from AC, rechargeable battery or USB power(4), wherever your business takes you
- Quick batch scanning for stacks of paper, 20-page Auto Document Feeder
- Powerful software included, easy scanning with intuitive Epson ScanSmart Software(2), preview, email, upload and more, automatic file naming and object recognition save time
- Compatible with most office software, the included TWAIN driver allows for easy connection to most document management software
- Built-in Nuance Optical Character Recognition (OCR), create searchable PDFs and editable Word and Excel files
- Easy sharing and collaboration, email or upload to popular cloud storage services(2) such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive
- Versatile scanning, scan 2-sided documents, receipts, business cards, plastic IDs and more
- Intelligent color and image adjustments, auto crop, skew correction, blank page and background removal with Epson Image Processing Technology
Portable Handheld Scanner, Moontie Document Wand Scanner Handheld for Business Photo Picture Receipts Books...
- Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card, JPEG/PDF format is all available, total meet your need for business trip or daily use.
- 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it in the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is.
- Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected. Powered by 2pcs AA batteries, small and portable, it is convenient to carry outside.
- It is applicable in bank, insurance business, lawyer, real estate agency, scan your important files and save them immediately, no struggling in finding a printing shop, keep it confidential.
- If you have any problem of using the scanner, please don't hesitate to contact with us and we would deal with the problem at once.
Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi - The Smarter Wi-Fi Scanner with Rechargeable Battery & Amazing Software
- 【Go Paperless】Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi delivers smarter portable scanning that you can take and sync anywhere – no computer required.
- 【Easy Wireless Scanning】Doxie's rechargeable battery, included memory, integrated Wi-Fi, and included Mac, PC, iPhone, and iPad apps make it easy (and fun!) to go paperless. Simply insert your paper to scan full-color pages in just 8 seconds at up to 600 dpi. Scan up to 400 pages per charge, store up to 4,000 pages before needing to sync.
- 【Tiny and Battery Powered】Doxie is tiny – the size of a rolled up magazine – which makes it easy to tuck it in your bag or a drawer when you're done scanning. Whether you’re scanning at your desk or on the go, Doxie gives you instant access to your scans wherever you are.
- 【Amazing Software and OCR】Doxie's included Mac and PC apps let you sync scans via USB or Wi-Fi to your desktop to organize and create searchable multi-page PDFs with award-winning ABBYY OCR technology. Save scans to your desktop, local apps, or your favorite cloud services — like Dropbox, Evernote, OneNote, and iCloud Drive. Or, sync scans to your iPhone or iPad with Doxie's iOS app to save and share your scans wherever you are.
- 【Protected by DoxieCare】Every new Doxie includes a comprehensive 1-year manufacturer warranty. Complete with access to the best support in the scanner industry to help you scan, organize, or just provide tips on the best ways to scan your paper.
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