7 Best Portable Scanners of 2023
Now more than ever, businesses and at-home office workers opt for portable scanners.
Portable scanners are lightweight, compact, and have just as many technical capabilities as full-size scanners. Select a manual or sheetfed model depending on your daily requirements. Do you prefer to transfer data to your devices via a USB or over Wi-Fi?
If you’re travelling a lot, you’ll need to consider the weight and girth of your portable scanner. Will it fit inside a backpack or suitcase, with room for its accompanying equipment? By deciding which of these factors is essential, you’ll be more likely to find the perfect product.
So whether you’re headed on a business trip, kitting out a hybrid home office or simply need to save space, The Scanner Shop is here to tell you the seven best portable scanners of 2023.
What should I look for in a portable scanner?
There are three main factors to consider when choosing a portable scanner:
Wireless Connectivity
As you’ll likely be using your scanner on the go, a wall plug-in model won’t do.
You’ll need to look for features like wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, and rechargeable batteries. To own a reliable, dependable wireless scanner, choose a model powered by a lithium battery.
Direct-to-cloud scanning will be a lifesaver when there’s no room for a work laptop. Choose a portable model that can transfer data to your accompanying devices in a no-hassle way.
Image Quality
Your scan quality should be just as good when you’re out and about. Otherwise, what’s the point? Search for a portable scanner that can deliver quality scans in black, white and colour.
Compact and Lightweight
Lastly, you must consider the dimensions of your scanner. Whether loading papers into a feed tray or using a scanner wand, you’ll need to measure the dimensions of your backpack, suitcase or office desk to ensure it’s the perfect size and weight.
Best Portable Scanners of 2023
Now that we know what to look for, here’s our comprehensive list of 2023’s best portable scanners.
Kicking off our list is the impressive Fujitsu ScanSnap IX100.
This manual-fed portable scanner has an internal battery that lasts for at least 260 scans. This long-lasting lithium-ion power source is perfect for busy bees who need a couple of days of use in between charges.
Plus, it can transfer data via both USBs and wi-fi connections. The Fujitsu ScanSnap IX100 has software capable of completing several tasks; whether you’re managing, scanning or archiving documents, this compact product can do the job just right.
The Epson Workforce DS-360W is a powerhouse of versatility. It can complete both single and double-sided scanning with excellent efficiency and has a scanning speed of 25ppm1!
Its built-in battery, USB and wifi connectivity, and first-class software means you can do anything from capturing driver's licence and ID cards to scanning documents at 300dpi in colour and monochrome.
Plus, you can charge the Epson Workforce DS-360W via USB whilst on the road!
The Canon P-215II is one of the larger scanners on our list, but it is still a lightweight and easily portable product. This model has a sleek, matte-black finish and an easy-to-use document feeder tray capable of scanning one-sided and two-sided documents.
The image quality of the Canon P-215II is second to none and can produce high-quality scans of any document. If you purchase the optional WU10 Wi-Fi and battery unit, you’ll be able to scan documents from your phone, laptop or computer wirelessly.
If you’re looking to enhance productivity in the office, The Brother ADS-1200 portable scanner might be the perfect product for you.
It has impeccable duplex-scanning capabilities, meaning you can scan double-sided documents simultaneously. It can scan documents printed on thin, thick and recycled paper, as well as plastic and cardboard ID cards.
If wireless connectivity is not necessary, the Brother ADS-1200 connects to your computer via a USB and can begin scanning documents immediately. Its ingenious background removal features can sharpen print and produce high-quality scans.
If you’re looking for a product that works best with smaller documents and ID cards, the Fujitsu Fi-65F is the powerful A6 colour, black and white flatbed scanner you need.
Its fast and reliable performance is partly down to its coverless scanning capabilities. No more opening, closing and re-adjusting the cover before and after each scan: the Fujitsu Fi-65f allows you to scan documents with an impressive 600dpi resolution.
You can easily pack this portable scanner in any briefcase, backpack or carry-on luggage.
The Kodak ScanMate i940 is stylish, compact and portable, making it perfect for hybrid work styles. A resolution of 600dpi ensures crisp images and sharp text. With an automatic document feeder size of 20 sheets, processing speeds of 20 pages per minute, and the capability of scanning up to 1,000 scans per day the ScanMate i940 is the perfect scanning teammate.
To make information capture and distribution even more foolproof, the Kodak ScanMate i940 Scanner uses Smart Touch functionality – so the push of one button replaces complicated multi-step scanning processes. Easily create email attachments, image files, and searchable PDFs – and send your documents securely to the Cloud, so they can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
For a limited time only the Kodak ScanMate i940 includes an extended 3-year warranty.
The Canon ImageFormula R10 is one of the smallest, most efficient and most compact portable scanners on the market. This scanner can accurately scan double-sided documents with its automatic feeder capability, designed with at-home workers in mind.
When you need to make space on your desk, you’d hardly even know the Canon ImageFormula R10 was there! Its 285 x 95 x 40mm dimensions make it one of the smallest on our list. But that doesn't mean it comes with fewer features.
The Canon ImageFormula R10 is a USB-powered scanner that can scan A4-sized documents, business cards and ID cards in monochrome or colour. Save files as PDFs, JPEGs, TIFFs or PNGs: the choice is up to you!
