Best Scanner 2021: Shopping Guide &#038; Review

$575.99

This pricey but amazing scanner from Fujitsu is a top seller on Amazon and customers love its many great features. Those include double-sided scanning, an easy-to-use 4.3-inch touch screen and special, built-in software that cleans up your documents for you, such as by cropping or deleting unnecessary blank pages.

The ScanSnap iX1500 can scan at speeds of up to 30 pages per minute and has a 50 page automatic document feeder. It achieves an optical resolution of 600 dpi. Managing all your paperwork is breeze with this product. Scan quickly and upload to whatever platform you prefer, be it Google Drive, Dropbox or straight to your desktop.

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i Portable Color Duplex Document Scanner for Mac or PC

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i Portable Color Duplex Document Scanner

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$259.99

Here’s another great option from Japanese tech company Fujitsu. Much cheaper than the first product we listed, this scanner is very simple and easy to use, with a compact design for easy storage and transport. Scan all your personal or business documents quickly with the touch of a button and the ScanSnap software, then save them wherever you like.

This scanner features an optical resolution of up to 600 dpi for color scans, a speed of up to 12 double-sided sheets in a minute. It has automated software to correct any issues with your scan, and you can make the results into searchable, multiple-page PDFs in a snap.

Brother Mobile Color Page Scanner, DS-620, Fast Scanning Speeds, Compact and Lightweight, Compatible with BR-Receipts, Black

Brother DS-620 Mobile Scanner

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$189.95

Another major Japanese company, Brother makes top quality products for your office or home. This affordable, simple and compact scanner weighs under one pound, making it perfect for any mobile professional who needs the ability to scan wherever they go. You can scan up to 8 pages per minute at resolutions up to 1200 x 1200 dpi interpolated or 600 x 600 optical, in color or black and white.

The DS-620 comes with an array of useful software for scanning on the go and uploading straight to whatever platform you prefer. It’s compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux, and comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Epson Perfection V600 Color Photo, Image, Film, Negative & Document Scanner

Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner

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$284.50

This sleek and affordable scanner from the photography pros at Epson is the #1 best seller on Amazon among flatbed scanners. If you want high-quality scans from a compact device, look no further. You can scan slides, negatives and medium-format panoramic film in addition to the usual documents and prints you might need. Get sharp, vivid results with 6400 x 9600 dpi resolution and scans that can be reproduced up to 17″ x 22″.

This scanner has four customizable buttons for easy access to scanning, copying, scanning to email and PDF creation. It also comes with Digital ICE software to remove the appearance of any scuff or tears on your photos, so you won’t need to spend a ton on retouching services. And don’t worry about warm-up times because this scanner uses energy-efficient LED lighting, which is fast and better for the environment.

Epson WorkForce ES-50 Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner for PC and Mac

Epson Workforce ES-50 Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner

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$119.99

Last but not least, check out this portable scanner that is also from Epson. At a great price, you’ll get the fastest, lightest mobile scanner in its class. Scan a page in as little as 5.5 seconds and use the smart software to send files to online storage accounts, organize files and create searchable PDFs or Word files.

This scanner is compatible with Mac and PC, and includes a TWAIN driver that works with almost any imaging software. If you need to scan on the go, this is a great option that can be powered straight from your computer via the USB port. Scan documents up to 8.5″ x 72″, in addition to ID cards and receipts.

Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Scanners

If you spend your days in an office, you may need to scan various documents to alter them, or quickly send them to a colleague or client in an email. There’s a scanner out there for you, it just depends on what kind of documents you’re looking to digitize. To choose the best option, you should be familiar with how scanners work. In the next section, we go through some of the key aspects of scanners.

Scanners basically function by receiving light that’s reflected through a series of mirrors.
(Source: Elnur Amikishiyev: 97181108/ 123rf.com)

What types of scanners are there?

Different kinds of scanners can be found on the market, each with specific characteristics. The most common type is the manual scanner, which is also known as a flatbed scanner. Flatbed scanners feature a lid that you lift up, exposing the glass surface where you place an item you’d like to scan. Some models are more versatile and have the capability to digitize books or even objects.

Another type of scanner features an automatic document feeder (ADF). In offices, this kind of scanner is the most commonly used, because it can scan large quantities of documents automatically. Nonetheless, the image quality for these scanners tends to be a bit worse than other models. The last kind of scanner we’ll mention is the portable scanner, which is designed to be easy to carry around with you, no matter where you need to go.

How do scanners work?

The world’s first scanners were invented in 1984 by the Taiwan-based company Microtek. Scanners function by receiving light that’s reflected by a sensor through an array of mirrors. The sensor transforms light energy into electrical signals. Those signals are then made into a digital format that a computer can interpret and display for you on your screen.

Scanners are generally very easy to use. If you’re using a flatbed scanner, all you need to do is put the document under the lid and press the appropriate button. Repeat the same procedure with whatever documents you need digitized. Automatic scanners are even easier: just put all the sheets in the tray and sit back and wait. Portable scanners, meanwhile, have a designated slit into which you feed the documents.

What does a scanner’s color depth signify?

Expressed in bits, the color depth setting indicates the amount of information about the document or photo that the scanner gathers. The best scanners on the market are usually able to process 24 bits. This provides a range of over 16 million possible colors. Scanners below 24 bits may result in scans of lesser quality.

More color depth will allow for a more technically accurate reading of the scanned item. But keep in mind that achieving a higher quality will also slow down the digitizing process and leave you with much larger files. Still, if you’re planning to alter your scans, higher quality is important, especially if you’re working with photos.

Expressed in bits, color depth signifies the amount of information that a scanner gathers.
(Source: Kirill Kedrinski: 37053003/ 123rf.com)

What kinds of documents do scanners support?

All the scanners that we’ve discussed thus far can digitize paper documents at least up to the most common size, which is A4. They can scan all kinds of paper documents, from receipts to invoices and study notes. Automatic scanners are the most limited in terms of scannable material, since most can only handle paper.

Flatbed scanners, however, are more versatile. You can scan the usual documents, but also various other items like business cards, photos or stamps.

Did you know that some scanners have special attachments or compartments to scan your negatives and slides?

How do I connect my scanner?

Most scanners can be hooked up to your computer via a USB cable. However, the latest trend is to include Wi-Fi connectivity as a feature. This is especially convenient, because it allows a greater distance between the scanner and the computer or other receiving device.

If you intend to use your scanner from your smartphone or tablet, WiFi capability is particularly important. Additionally, many offices have an internal local network via which you can send images or documents to different devices. Lastly, some scanners on the market come with a memory card slot, so you can immediately store your scanned documents.

What is a charge-coupled device?

The charge-coupled device (CCD) is a sensor present in some scanners. These sensors are also used in fields like photography and astronomy. The CCD sensor allows you to scan images with less noise or grain and higher quality.

The very first CCD sensors were invented in 1969 by two American scientists at AT&T Bell Labs. The high sensitivity of charge-coupled devices means they can recognize a range of light colors. This is critical for getting scanned results that are as accurate to the original document or photo as possible.

All the scanners that we’ve discussed in this article can digitize standard paper documents.
(Source: Piotr Adamowicz: 87844671/ 123rf.com)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different scanner models?

As we mentioned already, there are three primary kinds of scanners that you can find on the market. To help you make the right choice, we’ve laid out the pros and cons of automatic scanners:

Advantages

Faster than manual scanners
They allow you to scan batches of documents
They usually support double-sided scanning

Disadvantages

Many can only scan in black and white

And here are the pros and cons of flatbed scanners:

Advantages

They produce scans with higher resolution
They offer better color depth
Some models are able to digitize negatives and slides

Disadvantages

You have to scan the documents individually
The devices are not as fast

Shopping Criteria

Our world is becoming more and more digitized, and dealing with burdensome paper documents is an issue for many. You may find that you need to modify them, archive them on your computer or send them off via e-mail. That’s why having a quality scanner at your home or office is essential. In this section, we’ll go through some key factors that you should keep in mind as you pick the scanner that’s best for you.

Resolution
Sensor
Speed
Size of accepted documents
Type of user

Resolution

The resolution of a scanner plays a big role in determining its quality and value. Resolution is expressed in dots per inch (dpi). The higher the resolution of your scanner, the higher the quality of the scanned result will be. Still, don’t forget that higher resolution also equals a larger file size.

Keep in mind that resolution isn’t the same as the size of the document. While these aspects are related, they mean different things. The resolution specifically refers to the quality of the scanned document or image. A higher quality scan means that you can reproduce or enlarge the result without having unwanted pixelation. Furthermore, a high resolution will allow for easier and better modification of the digitized product.

Our DS-80W Wireless Portable Document Scanner offers fast, wireless scanning wherever you are. Check out all of its features: https://t.co/N61nPrmjY7 pic.twitter.com/Ggx14UiWgx

— Epson America (@EpsonAmerica) August 27, 2019

Sensor

The technology used in scanners is very similar to that used in cameras. Both methods utilize light to capture the subject of an image. This is all made possible by the sensor, which receives and interprets the light and then converts it into electronic information. This information will form a digital image that mimics the original.

There are two kinds of sensors found on the market: the CCD we talked about earlier, and the CIS (contact image sensor). The CIS is the most commonly used, since it provides a good balance between manufacturing price and image quality. Nonetheless, the CCD is the preferred sensor for professional scanners, especially those tailored for photography and other types of art.

Daniel BellSociologist & Professor at Harvard University

“Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.”

Speed

If you’re planning to use your scanner in an office, speed may be a key factor for you. Note, however, that the speed of a scanner also depends on the material you’re digitizing. For example, a photograph will usually take much longer than a text document. As we mentioned, the resolution of your scan also influences the speed of the process.

The kind of scanner you pick for will also play a role in determining the scanning speed. With manual models, you will need to scan your documents one by one, which can take a while. Meanwhile, if you use an automatic scanner, you just place a batch of documents in the tray and press go. The device will digitize the entire set at once.

Size of Accepted Documents

The size of your scanner will largely determine the size of the documents or photos it can manage. The most common size is the A4 format, and most manual and automatic scanners are meant to handle documents of this size. Still, if you have particularly sizes you need to can, get what works for you.

If you plan to digitize documents that are smaller than A4, you shouldn’t have any issue with the average scanner. Larger documents are where you might face some issues though. You may be able to work around this problem by scanning your document or photo in several parts, but the final result may not be exactly what you want.

If you’re looking to scan a lot of larger documents or photos, there are a number of models that can handle larger items. These may be more cumbersome and some are designed for very specific tasks. Larger scanners might be especially useful in architectural studios where people work with large plans, for example. In general, A4-size scanners are the most common in homes and offices.

Type of User

There is an appropriate scanner for every type of user. If you want to quickly scan large batches of documents, you’ll probably prefer an automatic model. That model will save you time that you can spend on other important tasks at work. But keep in mind that automatic scanners are best for standard documents.

Manual models may be better if you have fewer scans but want higher quality results. This is probably the case if you’re scanning photographs, and you’ll want the higher quality as well. Last but not least, a portable scanner is best for those looking to scan on the go, wherever they may be.