With the world becoming increasingly digital, scanners play an important role in preserving physical documents. We look at the top scanners across a range of categories to suit different needs and budgets. Whether you need a portable scanner for receipts, a high-speed document scanner for the office or a scanner specifically designed for photos, we have recommendations for you.
The 5 Best Scanners:
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Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless High-Speed Photo Scanner – The best photo scanner with an intuitive interface, one-second scanning and impressive image quality.
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Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600 Color Duplex Sheet-fed Document Scanner – A robust and reliable document scanner with an automatic document feeder, fast scan speeds and advanced image processing. Perfect for office use.
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Brother ADS-2200 Digital Scanner – An affordable duplex scanner for scanning and archiving documents with speeds of up to 30ppm and a 50-sheet ADF.
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Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi Scanner – A highly portable battery-powered scanner ideal for scanning on the go. Scans directly to the cloud and mobile devices. Great for scanning receipts, business cards or notes.
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Epson WorkForce ES-400 Duplex Document Scanner – A duplex sheet-fed scanner delivering quality scans with fast speeds all at an attractive price point. Solid performance for most basic scanning needs.
Buying Guide
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Resolution: Higher resolution scanners can capture more detail and are good for scanning photos. 600 dpi is good for documents, while 1200 dpi or more is better for photos.
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Scan speed: If you need to scan lots of documents, look for a scanner with a fast pages per minute (ppm) rating. 20-30 ppm is a good speed for most offices. Slower scan speeds are fine for occasional home use.
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Portability: Do you need a portable scanner to use on the go? Look for a battery-powered scanner that is compact and light. Non-portable scanners typically offer faster speeds and lower prices but require a power outlet.
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Connectivity: Choose between wireless, USB-connected or network scanners. Wireless and network scanners can scan directly to mobile devices, computers and the cloud. USB scanners connect directly to your computer.
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Price ranges:
•Basic scanners: Under $200. Good for scanning the occasional document or photo at home. Max resolution typically 600 dpi.
•Mid-range scanners: $200 to $500. Offer faster speeds, higher resolution (up to 1200 dpi), larger ADFs and more advanced features. Great for home office or small business use.
•Professional scanners: $500 and up. Deliver the fastest speeds, largest ADFs and highest resolutions for scanning large volumes or demanding jobs. Built for enterprise and office use.
FAQs
Q: What types of scanners are there?
A: The main types are flatbed scanners, sheet-fed scanners, portable scanners, photo scanners, and duplex scanners. Flatbed and sheet-fed scanners are for documents, while photo scanners are for photos. Duplex scanners can scan both sides at once.
Q: How do I scan old photos?
A: Use a photo scanner or flatbed scanner. Scan photos at a high resolution like 600 dpi or higher. Save the files in an uncompressed format like TIFF. Handle old photos carefully to avoid damage. You can also use a photo scanning service to digitize prints.