Best portable scanner 2023 • 7 portable scanners Reviews

What is a portable scanner and how does it work?

Portable scanners, or handheld scanners, are small, electronic devices that allow images or documents to be captured and converted quickly to digital format. These devices are usually small and light, so they can be easily taken anywhere to capture images on the go. There are many different models available, each with different features and advantages.

What types of portable scanners are there?

Handheld

These allow you to scan pages directly from books since the device is passed over the document to be digitized. You have to be patient though and have a steady hand in order to obtain a good result.

Sheet-feeder

You don’t need to worry about keeping your hand steady or continually holding a button, as the scanner feeds the sheet through the device. The device performs the scanning process automatically. You are unable to scan documents that are not loose such as pages from a book.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Portable Scanners

A portable scanner is an innovative device that allows you to scan documents quickly and conveniently.
This device is perfect so that you don’t accumulate excessive paper in your home or office.

What’s perhaps even more important than simply saving space is that, by digitalizing your documents and photos, they will be far better organized and more secure on your computer or in the virtual cloud.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Shopping Criteria for Portable Scanners

When it comes time to buy yourself a portable scanner, it is important that you consider a number of purchase criteria. To help you with the selection process, we have chosen the shopping criteria that we consider to be the most important. We highly recommend that you closely look at the following criteria in order to make a successful purchase.

Intended Use

As with any product that you are going to buy, the first question you should ask yourself is what the intended use of the product is. If you plan on scanning pages from a book, then a handheld portable scanner is the product for you. However, if you will be scanning loose sheets, then you can choose a sheet feeder.

You should also think about whether you’ll be scanning images or text. When it comes to images, a device that will scan in high resolution is highly recommended. To only make copies of text, documents, or contracts, the resolution is not as critical.

Design

As this product is designed to be portable, you want it to be lightweight and easily transportable. Many of today’s portable scanners weigh less than 2.2 pounds, but you should double-check the specifications of the product you are going to buy. A portable scanner should also be compact enough and resistant to withstand shocks and falls, as these devices are often dropped accidentally.

Type

The type of portable scanner will depend on the intended use, as explained above. A sheet feeder portable scanner usually has a lane that sheets of paper take in to make a copy. Some handheld portable scanners use a system of wheels that allows the scanner to move smoothly over the documents to be scanned. Depending on how you plan on using the scanner will determine the system that best suits you.

Battery Life

An important question that you should ask yourself is if you prefer a portable scanner with or without a rechargeable battery. Not all portable scanners have a rechargeable battery, so it is important to decide if this feature is important, as you will likely pay a little more for this luxury. Rechargeable or not, the battery life and charging time are two aspects that you should consider carefully as these will determine where and for how long you can use the device.

Resolution and Speed

The resolution of the scanner will have a significant influence on the quality of the digitalized image. The resolution of a portable scanner is measured in dots per inch (dpi). Normally, for basic documents or graphics, a resolution level between 300 and 600 dpi will be sufficient.

For higher-quality copies or scanning photographs or documents, for example, a resolution level that is higher than 900 dpi is required. In addition, it is important to consider the scanning speed of the device. This metric is usually expressed in pages per minute (PPM).

Connectivity

When it comes to portable scanners, the most common connectivity options are via USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It is also common to see models that utilize a micro SD card slot for recording the information that is scanned. Think about the final point of your scanned documents and what connectivity options your devices have.

Brand

The most prestigious scanner manufacturers are Canon, Epson, and Brother. Brother is a Japanese company that stands out as a producer of such high-quality products as printers, sewing machines, scanners, and various computer accessories. Epson is another Japanese manufacturing company that sells scanners, printers, and much more.

Canon is primarily known for making the best quality cameras and video cameras on the market. Its scanners are compact and versatile and can be used for a variety of situations. Canon scanners are particularly useful for scanning photos and graphics.

Related Links and Sources

• https://store.hp.com/us/en/tech-takes/top-10-uses-for-portable-document-scanners
• https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/09/home-office-setup-ideas/
• https://www.lifewire.com/top-mobile-printers-2377818

FAQs

Is a portable scanner worth buying?

With a portable scanner, you have the possibility of digitizing documents quickly and conveniently. If this sounds like it could be valuable to you and your business, then a portable scanner is definitely worth buying. If you often need to scan documents in different locations, portable scanners are an essential item to own. As they’re so small, they don’t take up much space and their low price means you won’t be breaking the bank to buy one.

For whom is a portable scanner recommended?

If you own a business or are working in a professional field such as a lawyer, real estate agent, journalist, or researcher, then a portable scanner is a device that can be very valuable to you. If you regularly need to scan a contract, an image, or another document, you can do so anywhere, anytime with a portable scanner. Imagine you are a real estate agent who is selling a house. Instead of going back to the office, signing a contract, and emailing it over to a prospective buyer, you could both sign the document on the spot, scan and email it to the client’s phone immediately. The time-saving and opportunity to improve your processes could be astronomical with this device.

Portable scanners are also very useful for professionals who work in photography or graphic design who want to digitize images or designs that are in paper format. Students who need to scan pages from textbooks or work from fellow students to prepare for exams find these products particularly useful. Of course, the medical industry should not be forgotten as they can find many uses for this product.

Which file formats do portable scanners produce?

Portable scanners can scan documents in a variety of different formats, it just depends on the format you need and choosing a product that provides this format. The vast majority of portable scanners capture files in image form (JPG, JPEG, and PNG, among others) and in PDF format. You may be interested to note that some computers allow you to convert the files to be e-book compatible, so you can read them on your e-reader.

What care does a portable scanner require?

Most importantly, you must ensure that you prevent your portable scanner from being hit or falling to the floor. When using the portable scanner, handle the controls with care so you do not damage them. It is also a good idea to avoid heat sources and leaving it in hot spaces or direct sunlight, such as a hot car. When you take a portable scanner with you, use a protective cover to protect it from any possible impacts.