Do you have a job that has you away from the office a lot? Do you frequently handle important documents that need to be scanned and saved to your computer? With a portable document scanner, you'll be able to scan important paperwork and save the files to your computer when you return to your office.
A portable document scanner can help you work more efficiently and make sure you always have access to any important documents that you need. Read through our reviews of the five best products on the market to help you decide which option you'd like to purchase.
Top 5: Portable Document Scanners Review
Product Image & Rating (Out Of 10) | Product Name | Price |
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9.8 | ||
9.7 | ||
9.5 | ||
9.3 | ||
9.1 |
If you're looking for a slim and compact option, the Epson Workforce ES-50 Portable Document Scanner is a great product to consider. It is the lightest and fast document scanner for single sheets in its class. With it, you'll be able to quickly scan what you need and tuck the scanner back in your bag to continue on with your day.
This product can scan a single sheet of paper in as little as 5.5 seconds. It is wide enough to scan a standard sheet of paper, or anything else up to 8.5 inches wide. You can use it to scan documents up to 72 inches long.
In addition to scanning standard pieces of paper, you can also use this product to scan receipts, ID cards, credit cards, and other smaller items.
You can scan documents to be saved to the scanner or scan them directly to the cloud when you use the included software. Or, you can hook up the scanner to your computer using the USB cable that comes with your purchase to save them there.
You will also receive software that will allow you to organize the documents you scan. You'll even be able to create searchable PDF files or make Microsoft Word or Excel files that you can edit on your computer.
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The Brother Mobile Color Page Scanner DS-720D is another great option to consider. This product is able to scan full-color images. It can also scan double-sided documents, so you won't need to feed items through twice because they are two-sided.
You'll be impressed with how quickly this little scanner can work. For single-sided documents, it can scan up to eight pages each minute. With double-side documents, it can scan up to five pages each minute.
You can use this product to scan full-size sheets of paper as well as business cards, receipts, ID cards, and other smaller items. It can handle products as large as 8.5 inches by 32 inches.
This is a great option if you are always on the go for work. It is very compact and lightweight, so you'll be able to put it in your workbag easily. It weights less than one pound and is only 12 inches long.
You'll be impressed with the quality of the documents you scan. The scanner can create scans up to 600 x 600 dpi resolution.
You will receive a software suite with your purchase. The software can help you organize and manage the documents you scanned. There is also a feature that will help you keep your scanned business cards organized and easily accessible.
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If you're looking to be able to easily scan more than one sheet of paper at a time, consider the Fujitsu ScanSnap Portable Document Scanner. This option includes a document feeder that will allow you to scan up to 10 pages at one.
It can handle two-sided sheets of paper as well. You'll be able to scan as many as 12 double-sided pages every minute, so this is a pretty quick scanner to consider.
This product can also scan smaller items, such as business card, receipts, or IDs. When you use this product, you'll also be able to scan full-color documents. After you have scanned a document, the scanner's intelligent scan correction will initiate a quick quality check to ensure the document scanned properly.
Your purchase of this product will also include software that will help you manage your scanned documents. You can use the software to create searchable PDFs or editable Microsoft Excel or Word files.
You will also be able to set the scanner up to scan your files directly to the cloud. If you choose this feature, you will be able to easily access them using services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Evernote.
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The Brother Mobile Color Page Scanner DS-620 is a very compact option that will easily fit in your work bag. It is only 12 inches long and weigh less than a pound, so you'll hardly notice you have it with you.
This product is able to scan up to eight pages every minute. It can scan in both color and black and white.
When you purchase this scanner, you'll also receive a USB power cord. You can power the scanner by connecting it to your computer. You'll also be able to pull off the files you scanned on to your computer using the USB cable.
You will also receive a protective bag to hold the scanner when you are not using it.
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With the Fujitsu ScanSnap Mobile Scanner, you'll be able to scan your documents to your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. You can also choose to scan items to a cloud drive, such as Google Drive, Evernote, or Dropbox. This is a wireless option, so you won't need to worry about hooking the scanner up using a USB cable.
This product also works quickly. It can scan a sheet of paper in just over five seconds. The documents you scan will have a resolution of up to 600 dpi.
The Fujitsu ScanSnap has a rechargeable battery. Once it is fully charged, you will be able to scan up to 260 documents before it will need to be charged again.
You will also receive software with your purchase that can help you keep your scans organized. One handy feature offered by the software is the ability to extract information from receipts and export it for your taxes.
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Buying Guide
If you're always on the go for work and frequently handle important documents, a portable document scanner is a great product to invest in. You'll be able to scan any important contracts, business cards, IDs, or other documents that you need to save for future reference. Read through the next few paragraphs to get our tips for a few things you'll want to consider before making a purchase.
One feature you should consider is how lightweight and compact the scanner is. If you'll frequently be taking it in and out of your bag, you likely want a very compact product that will be ready to use quickly.
If you frequently scan documents that are more than one page long, you may want to look for a product that has a document feeder. This will allow you to place multiple pages in queue for the scanner to take on its own, instead of individual feeding each page through when the scanner is ready.
Another important feature to consider is how quickly the scanner can operate. What is the average time for scan a single sheet of paper? When you are trying to quickly scan a document, both you and anyone else working with you will appreciate a product that works quickly.
Depending on the types of documents you scan, you may also want to look for a product that is able to scan double-sided documents. This will prevent you from having to individually scan each side of a paper, which will definitely speed up the process of scanning what you need.
Top Pick
We picked the Epson Workforce ES-50 Portable Document Scanner as our top pick. There certainly is a lot to love about this little scanner. With it, you'll be able to scan single sheets of paper in as little as 5.5 seconds.
You can use this product to scan documents of all different sizes. From smaller driver's licenses or credit cards to papers that are up to 72 inches long, it truly is a workhorse.
You can connect your computer to the scanner using the USB cable. This will allow you to transfer the files to your computer.
You'll receive software with your purchase. You can use the software to organize the documents you scan. You'll also be able to create searchable PDFs or Microsoft Word/Excel files that can be edited.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does a Portable Scanner Work?
Portable scanners have a detector array, or sensors, that cover the length of the scanner. When you put a document through the scanner, the sensors pick up the images and text and record them as points of light. Then, when you save the document to your computer, it is converted back into a full image of the document you scanned.
How Long Does a Portable Scanner Take to Scan a Document?
The exact amount of time a scanner will take to scan a document will vary based on the brand you select and what you're scanning. Most products will take somewhere between 5 and 10 seconds to scan a single page.
How Do You Get Files From Your Portable Scanner on to Your Computer?
Different scanners can send files in different ways. Some options come with a USB cable that you can hook up to your computer to transfer documents. Some other options can connect directly to your computer over via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and you'll be able to send documents once the scanner is connected to your computer.
Final Verdict
The Epson Workforce ES-50 Portable Document Scanner is a great option to consider when you are looking for a portable document scanner. Place your order today, and you'll have all the tools you need available to scan documents on the go.
