Although the scanner market is becoming less and less in demand, mainly thanks to the all-in-one solutions that also integrate the possibility of scanning documents, there is a particular type of scanner that is still widely used today by people who they often work on the move, or who have little space for a multifunction or a traditional scanner: that of portable scanners.
There are several factors to consider when buying the best portable scanner for your needs, that’s why we thought we would help you with your choice, first of all listing the most important technical features, then moving on to the real guide to purchase.
Here we had selected the latest and advanced models of portable scanners for you.
RANK NO. 1
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...
- Fast scans a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds(2) Windows and Mac compatible, the scanner also includes a TWAIN driver.
- 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
RANK NO. 2
Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner, (Model: DS640) 1.5"x2"x11.9"
- Time-saving, fast scan speeds. Scans color and black and white documents at up to 16 ppm. (Color and monochrome scan speed, letter...
- On the go scanning. Powering the Brother DS-640 document scanner through the included micro USB 3.0 cable to a laptop or PC...
- Compatible with the way you work. The software included with the DS-640 document scanner allows you to scan to multiple "Scan-to"...
- Bundled software lets you do more. The included software suite provides document management and OCR software that allows you to...
- Compact and lightweight. The sleek new design of this Brother document scanner measures less than 11.8 inches in length and weighs...
SaleRANK NO. 3
Canon imageFORMULA R10 - Portable Document Scanner, USB Powered, Duplex...
- STAY ORGANIZED – Easily convert your paper documents into digital formats like searchable PDF files, JPEGs, and more.Power...
- CONVENIENT AND PORTABLE –lightweight and small in size, you can take the scanner anywhere from home offices, classrooms, remote...
- 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...
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Works with both Windows and Mac devices, be it laptop or computer
RANK NO. 4
Portable Document Scanner, AOZBZ 900DPI Handheld Image Scanner, Scanning Wand,A4...
- WIDE COMPATIBLE - Compatible with Windows XP/7/Vista/Mac OS 10.4 or above version. Scan images or pictures quickly and store files...
- 3 IMAGE RESOLUTION - 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it in the clearest way, picture...
- UP TO 32GB STORAGE - Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card, JPEG/PDF format is all available, total meet your...
- EASY OPERATION - Switch on, select color mode and resolution, press the "SCAN" button until the green LED lights up, scan the...
- EASY OPERATION - Switch on, select color mode and resolution, press the "SCAN" button until the green LED lights up, scan the...
RANK NO. 6
Hczrc Portable Scanner, Photo Scanner for A4 Documents, Handheld Scanner for...
- Note: No software installation is required. You need 2 AA batteries ( not included) and a memory card ( included) to use it...
- Portable Scanner scans images or pictures quickly: Store JPEG/PDF files within seconds, scan images or pictures quickly, plug and...
- Lightweight and travel-friendly: Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected....
- 3 Image Resolution: 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it at the clearest way, picture and...
- Widely Used: It is applicable in bank, insurance business, real estate agency,home, office, library or outdoors. suitable for...
RANK NO. 7
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...
- 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...
- 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...
- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan to” destinations like PC...
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment image rotation (PC only) bleed through prevention/background...
SaleRANK NO. 8
Epson DS-70 Document Scanner
- Smallest and lightest mobile single-sheet document scanner (1) ― ideal for easy, on-the-go scanning.
- Fast scans ― scans a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds (2).
- World-class service and support ― 3-year limited warranty with Next-Business-Day Replacement (3).
- Versatile paper handling ― scans documents up to 8.5" x 72", as well as business/ID cards and receipts.
- Create editable text and searchable PDFs ― OCR and document management software included.
SaleRANK NO. 9
Plustek Mobile Scanner S410 Plus - Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner - for...
- Digitize on the Go - Connect to your computer via BUS powered, eliminating the need for batteries or external power sources
- Button Free Scanning Experience - The S410 Plus is an automatic scanning device, no need to push any buttons or click any screens,...
- Versatile Paper Handling - Easily scan documents ranging from Letter and Legal sizes to business cards, plastic ID cards, invoices...
- Ultra compact & Lightweight - Weighing less than 1 lb, lighter than a bottle of mineral water, and its slim design is perfect for...
- Work smarter with Plustek Docaction - Built-in OCR allows you convert the files into editable, such as searchable PDF, excel or...
SaleRANK NO. 10
Doxie Go SE - The Intuitive Portable Document Scanner with Rechargeable Battery...
- 【Go Paperless】Doxie Go SE delivers smart, simple scanning that you can take anywhere – no computer required. Doxie's...
- 【Fast, Easy Scanning】Doxie makes it easy to scan documents at your desk or on the go – simply insert your paper. Scan...
- 【Tiny + Battery Powered】Doxie is tiny – the size of a rolled up magazine – and portable with a rechargeable battery and...
- 【Amazing Software and OCR】Included Doxie app syncs scans, sends directly to your favorite apps, and uses the award-winning...
- 【Protected by DoxieCare】Every new Doxie includes a comprehensive 1-year manufacturer warranty. Complete with access to the...
RANK NO. 11
Portable Scanner, Handheld Photo Scanner, A4 Document Scanner for Picture Text...
- IMPORTANCE: 1. Please read the instructions carefully before use. Micro SD card is a must to get this scanner running and link...
- Color photo scanner supports up to 32G Micro SD Card (not included) for storage and USB upload, convenient to read or further edit...
- Photo scanner can scan color photo or plain text in JPG or PDF format in optional resolutions - 300/600/900dpi
- Document scanner designed with an effective scanning width of up to 225mm (ref. A4 sheet 213mm)
- Scanner features a clear LCD display to show all necessary info, plus 2 light indicators to monitor your scanning status
RANK NO. 12
HP Small USB Document & Photo Scanner for Portable 1-Sided Sheetfed Digital...
- ON-THE-GO SCANNING MADE SIMPLE | Meet the Fastest, Lightest and Most Efficient Single Sheetfed Scanner in its Class. | The HPPS100...
- EASY, AFFORDABLE SIMPLEX SCANNING | Despite its Slim Profile, This Office Essential Offers Reliable 15ppm [15 Pages Per Minute or...
- DESIGNED FOR LIGHTWEIGHT PORTABILITY | Slip Inside a Bag or Briefcase, Then Travel from Home to Office to Business and Beyond. |...
- STUNNING SCANS WITHOUT THE BULK | Skip the Clunky, Messy, Complex Setups. | This Scanner Boasts a Tiny Footprint, Powers Via USB...
- WORK SMARTER WITH HP WORKSCAN | Download Our Free, Easy-to-Use Software or App for Windows and MacOS to Start Scanning. | Simple,...
RANK NO. 13
Epson Perfection V19 II Color Photo and Document Flatbed Scanner with 4800 dpi...
- Amazing image clarity and detail — 4800 dpi optical resolution (1), ideal for photo enlargements
- Epson ScanSmart software included (4) — easily scan photos, artwork, illustrations, books, documents and more
- One-touch scanning (2) — scan in fewer steps with easy-to-use buttons (2)
- Restore color to faded photos — with one click, Easy Photo Fix technology makes it simple
- Scan books and photo albums — high-rise, removable lid
Buying Guide to Select the Best Portable Scanners
The format of the sheets supported, the presence of WiFi or a display, the resolution, or the scanning speed are just some of the technical characteristics to be evaluated before purchasing the best portable scanner for your needs.
How Many Types of Portable Scanners Are There?
Although the operating principle is practically identical, there are three types of portable scanners on the market. The Portable Scanner is structured to allow scanning of printed photographs and slides. The scanner flatbed instead, have the classic tray covered with a lid, among which we must support documents for scanning.
Finally, the sheetfed scanners are characterized by a much slimmer design and structure and require the insertion of the sheets in a sort of “trolley,” which will automatically pull the document and then scan it.
Are Resolution and Speed Important?
They are, but it depends a lot on the type of use of the portable scanner. Many scanners allow you to choose between 300 DPI, 600 DPI, and 1200 DPI. Figures that do nothing but represent the density of pixels per inch of a scan, that is, the resolution.
For a standard document, the most suitable resolution is 600 DPI, while for a photograph, it is recommended to scan at 1200 DPI. Speed is also critical. Before purchasing the best scanner for your needs, it is therefore essential to carefully evaluate the number of pages per minute that the device can scan.
What Types of Sheet Formats Must It Support?
The most important format to be supported is A4. And the A4 form is the most popular also in portable scanners. Some models also support larger sheets, those in A3 format, but are much more expensive and bulky. In short, even in the case of supported formats, the choice depends very much on your needs, but we would advise you never to go below the A4.
Battery and Memory Cards
In portable scanners, it is essential to consider two factors: the capacity of the integrated battery and the type of storage supported. Some portable scanners also do not integrate the battery and are powered directly through the connection via USB cable. Others instead have the same battery as cell phones. Still, others finally use AA batteries to work (that is, ordinary stylus batteries).
To save the scans, microSDs are generally used, which can be purchased with different storage capacities. For a portable scanner, a 16 GB microSD may also suffice but, if you want to be on the safe side, you could think of buying a 32 GB microSD.
Is WiFi Important?
It is not essential, but it is very convenient. Some of the more advanced models of WiFi scanners integrate the ability to connect to WiFi networks to transfer scans to your computer or smartphone wirelessly. This is a feature to consider if you need to transfer files very quickly.
What Are the Adf and Duplex Used For?
For the duplex, there is little to say: it is the function that allows scanners to perform automatic scans of both sides of the pages. Much more interesting is the ADF (Automatic Document Feed), which is a component that allows the scanner to load the sheets completely independently, before performing the scans.
The Presence of A Display Is Important
The display, present in some portable scanner models, is used to guarantee complete control of the device’s functions and, above all, to control the amount of memory available in the microSD that is being used. The display also allows you to change the scan resolution.
How Does It Work?
There are two types of portable scanners: the first is the one that needs to be scrolled over the whole document, the image or the page of a company manual. The second is that in which the sheet is inserted inside the device, which in this way starts the scan.
In both cases, once the image is acquired on the memory card, it will be necessary to send it to another device, which may be the computer, tablet, or smartphone. Some models allow you to do it wirelessly, and others need the connection cable.
Which One to Choose?
To choose the right model, first check if it is compatible with your Android, iOS, Linux device, etc. Then check if the scanner works only if it is powered via USB, and therefore, only if you have a PC nearby or if it has a battery, and consequently, you can use it anywhere with maximum comfort.
If you have many documents to scan, the scanning speed may be relevant to you. Another parameter to evaluate is the resolution: all scanners should allow you to adjust the DPI level, but not all have the same decision.
Better never to drop below 600 DPI. A highly appreciated feature is the presence of the small integrated display that allows you to immediately have a preview of the scanned image to understand how it came about.
Alternatives
The need to scan documents and images has significantly increased in recent years, but the scanner itself is certainly not the only tool available on the market. In addition to multifunction printers, you can turn your mobile phone into a real scanner by downloading the right applications.
There are several, and many are also free, for example, Office Lens and CamScanner. Both are good for iOS and Android. In the beginning, it may take you a few minutes to understand how it works if you are not an expert on these things, but the tutorials and online explanations are not lacking.
What needs to be done is to frame the document to be scanned and taken. It will then be the app that will automatically crop the edges and improve the image. From your mobile phone, you can then send it to a customer’s email, to a WhatsApp contact, etc.
For Slides
If you have a lovingly created slide archive over the years or if you have so many negatives and films that you don’t want to miss, you should digitize them. But in this case, you don’t need a standard model, but a slide scanner.
These devices, also suitable for professional use, scan the classic 35 mm slides; some models those of 110 mm. Even in these cases, attention must be paid to the scanning speed, resolution, and compatibility with Windows and Mac and the possibility of using them anywhere or only by connecting them to the PC.
