Scanners are useful for converting hard copies to soft copies. Your office might have plenty of legal documents stacked up in the file room and there might be other documents as well printed on papers that need to be kept safe since they are confidential. Stacking paperwork takes up a lot of room and organizing these documents is time-consuming and a rigorous process. The best scanners can convert these hard copies into digital documents that can easily be retrieved from a computer.
Scanners are used in establishments to preserve important historical documents. At home, these are used for scanning hard copies of old photos and digitizing them on your computer to preserve memories. Digital files can be organized, indexed, and retrieved quickly whether it be organizational documents or memorable photographs of your childhood.
These devices also contribute to the safety of your document. A physical document can easily be stolen, while a document stored on the computer can be password protected, encrypted, and securely stored on the cloud. These files can be accessed only by people who have permission to access the files. Documents on the cloud make it easier to share and collaborate on projects. You can access these files from wherever you are and also view these digital documents simultaneously. Also, since it is imperative to follow the go green motto for the sustenance of the earth, reducing the use of paper can reduce deforestation.
Here are a few best scanners that promote easy document and file sharing to save time and space.
Best Scanner – Our Reviews & Comparisons:
Product Highlights
The Epson WorkForce ES-50 is suitable for scanning receipts and paper. It accompanies Epson’s proprietary software that allows you to upload your scans straight to the cloud while compiling and labeling them. This is a sheet-fed scanner that is portable and lightweight.
Features
Weighing just 10 ounces, it is a lightweight scanner highlighting fast performance. The scanner is powered using a USB cable, once you connect it to your laptop, it is ready to go. Epson rates the ES-50 at 5.5 seconds per page, which is roughly 10 pages per minute. This also depends on how fast you can feed sheets of paper into the scanner. The scanner and its software efficiently scan and convert pages without errors. It can scan most of the documents accurately.
What We Don’t Like Epson WorkForce ES-50
It is lightweight and portable.
What We Don’t Like About Epson WorkForce ES-50
Wireless operation is not possible.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast Lightweight | Not wireless |
Product Highlights
The Panasonic KV-S1027C is a cost-effective sheet-fed scanner that features exceptional performance. It is capable of scanning 45 pages per minute, has a USB 3.0 port, and can scan anything from ID cards to passports.
Features
The scanner is much faster than an average scanner which saves valuable time if you have a huge document to scan. The scanner is fitted with an ultrasonic sensor which helps detect if there is double-feeding during scanning. Double-feed detection ensures that no document is skipped if you are scanning stacks of important ones. This is a useful feature that can save a lot of time and energy.
What We Don’t Like Panasonic KV-S1027C
While most scanners have a feeder capacity of 20-30 sheets, the KV-S1027C lets you scan up to 100 sheets at a time.
What We Don’t Like About Panasonic KV-S1027C
The scanner cannot be used with other operating systems like Linux or macOS.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Double feed detection Fast performance | Only compatible with Windows operating systems |
Product Highlights
If you have large workloads to scan at your office, the Brother ADS-2700W is the best scanner for the task. This document scanner has a folding-tray design to help save space on your desk. You can connect it to computers with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems via Ethernet, wireless, and USB connection.
Features
The ADS-2700W has a loading tray with a 50-sheet capacity for handling large stacks of documents. It has multi-feed detection, technology, background removal, and blank page removal options for document scanning. The device lets you scan photos and documents directly to a dedicated file or scan directly to an email. It is also equipped with automatic double-sided scanning and has speeds of up to 35 pages per minute.
What We Like About Brother ADS-2700W
You can set up user profiles so that only approved users can use the scanner.
What We Don’t Like About Brother ADS-2700W
Scanning a searchable PDF document is slow.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good optical character recognition(OCR) 50-sheet automatic document feeder | No mobile OCR |
Product Highlights
The Canon CanoScan Lide 300 is a flatbed scanner. You can simply open the lid place documents or photos on the glass and scan multiple pieces at once. It automatically crops each picture into its own photo file. You can place as many as four photos on the glass and get it scanned with accuracy. If you want to digitize your kid’s sketchbook for memory sakes, you can easily do so with Lide 300.
Features
This flatbed scanner is the best budget scanner designed for personal use. It is a fairly small scanner that can be stored away until it is required. It has good image quality and is user-friendly. The software adds to the user experience. The LiDE gets its power from and communicates with a computer via a single USB 2.0 cable.
What We Don’t Like Canon CanoScan Lide 300
You can extend the hinges to fit in thicker documents like thick books. This lets you scan hard-to-reach pages inside a book or a magazine.
What We Don’t Like About Canon CanoScan Lide 300
The mid-tones are lacking.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Portable User-friendly | The resolution could be improved |
5. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 Deluxe
Product Highlights
If you are looking for a high-end scanner for your business, the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 has the best features and work speeds that justify its price point. This document scanner is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux and therefore is versatile.
Features
It can tackle huge stacks of documents and files easily and accurately. It is equipped with a 50-sheet capacity and an automatic document feeder. The working speed of 30 pages per minute makes it a huge attraction for large enterprises with a heavy workload. This scanner showcases automatic double-sided scanning and is powered by software that allows you to automatically crop images and delete blank pages from documents.
The device exhibits a 4.3-inch touchscreen that allows you to choose a save destination for scanned files such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or any network location that you prefer. You can connect the document scanner to your computer via a USB cable or Wi-Fi signal.
What We Don’t Like Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 Deluxe
Using a Wi-Fi connection you can send scanned images and documents to compatible mobile devices.
What We Don’t Like About Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 Deluxe
The device has no scan to cloud feature as claimed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi capability Fast and reliable performance | Software could be improved |
Final Verdict
According to our review, the Brother ADS-2700W is the best scanner that gives value for money. This color scanner permits users to connect and scan via Ethernet, wireless, or high-speed USB 2.0. Moreover, it highlights a 2. 8-inch color touchscreen with an LCD. It offers one-touch scanning to preset destinations which automatically saves your documents in locations of your choosing. You can also use the touchscreen to access device settings to speed up scanning functions.
When it comes to scanners, there is no one size fit for all. Features of scanners differ according to the purpose you are using them for. You may care less about the resolution if you’re just scanning black-and-white documents. However, if you are planning to scan photos you will need to ensure that your scanner can handle a variety of photo sizes and that it can deliver high-resolution scans. Do note that 6400 dpi is the highest resolution scanners can deliver. Also, many photo-focused scanners come with the ability to scan negatives which can come in handy if you work in a dark room.
More to read:
Best Fax Machines for Small Business 2021
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