Imagine a scenario where you are out traveling, and you suddenly need to scan a very important document or page of a book. But failing in your search for a scanner, you become disappointed and defeated.
What if we told you that there was a solution to this problem? Yes, the solution is getting a portable wand scanner. Wand scanners are basically handheld image scanners. It serves the same purpose as a traditional scanner at a smaller scale but with the added advantage of portability.
If you are looking to buy a wand scanner for cashing in on this advantage, then you have come to the right place. Here, we will go through 9 wand scanner reviews and try to determine the best wand scanner.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Wand Scanner
Let us first know about the multiple benefits of a portable wand scanner, and then we will dive into the few drawbacks that they have.
Benefits
A portable wand scanner will benefit you greatly in the following fields:
Portability
It goes without saying that portability is the biggest advantage that a wand scanner provides. With the best portable wand scanner, you don’t have to find a place with specific electrical facilities and a scanner to scan your documents or pictures. You can use it anywhere and at any time.
Versatility
A very special thing about this type of scanners is that you can use it for multiple purposes. And a scanner can scan images and almost anything you need (pages of books or magazines, documents, cards, pictures, etc.) as long as you keep it on a strong, flat surface. This is a big help when used instead of flatbed scanners. Because a flatbed scanner is generally not portable.
Advanced Technology
The things that are possible with portable handheld wand scanners is already a matter of wonder, and it only gets more wondrous with the improvement of technology.
Nowadays, it is even possible to connect your mobile scanner to your mobile phone or computer through WiFi connectivity or USB connectivity. If your scanner is USB connected, you can directly transport all the scans in you PC to view from your computer interface.
Variable Options
If all of that wasn’t enough, you have multiple options based on size, speed, and functionality to choose from so that you can get the best wand scanner that fits your unique needs.
Drawbacks
Every device comes with its drawbacks, and so does the wand scanner. The drawbacks of this device are as follows:
Less Room for Mistakes
You need to be quite skilled in operating a wand scanner. The slightest mistakes on your part may result in flaws in scanning documents. You have to account for the proper position of the scanner, the correct timing while moving the scanner, etc. and this might be an unnecessary hassle for many people.
So, if you are thinking of scanning and printing your artwork on your watercolor paper, or screen printing on transparent paper, then refrain from getting this type.
Not Hands-Free
While this device is portable, it, unfortunately, isn’t hands-free. In most cases, you have to manually maneuver the device, and that can be quite tiring.
9 Best Wand Scanner Reviews
In this section of the article, we will be reviewing 9 of the very best scanners that are currently available in the market.
1. VuPoint ST470 Magic Wand
This Vupoint magic wand might actually be the finest wand scanner available, considering all the features that it provides. Before we move further, it is necessary to mention that this scanner costs quite a bit more than the standard portable scanner. The features and functionality that it provides do a great deal to make up for the price.
Firstly, this product has two different modes of scanning. One of them is the traditional handheld scanning, which is done by rolling the scanner over the image or document. The other is scanning through a docking station. You can dock the scanner in the docking station and scan the desired image through the station.
Secondly, it provides the best scan quality possible. The max dpi rate for this handheld portable scanner is 1050 dpi, and it is the same for this one in handheld mode. But when docked in the docking station, it can deliver up to 1200 dpi.
Thirdly, it can scan a 125 inch long and 8.5-inch wide image in a matter of 2 seconds. Same goes for scanning books. If that wasn’t all, the scanner supports a maximum of 32GB SD Card and comes with an 8GB SD card as well. There will also be a micro SD card slot here. Also, it has a 1.5-inch full color LCD display screen you can use to preview the scans in case something went wrong.
The battery life isn’t anything to scoff at either because it can run at least 400 scans on low settings easily. But there have been multiple complaints of white lines appearing in the handheld images. This product is also difficult to assemble as it has more added complications in its design, and the tech support doesn’t help much.
Pros
- Allows for both handheld and hands-free scanning
- Supports the highest dpi rate possible
- Can provide high-quality scans in a matter of 2 seconds
- Comes with an 8GB memory card and supports up to 32GB
- Has a full color 1.5 inch LCD screen
- Great battery life that can survive at least 400 scans
Cons
- Vertical lines may appear in the scans when the handheld mode is used
- Difficult to set up without user manual
- Very weak and unhelpful tech support
2. VuPoint ST47 Magic Wand
The second product from VuPoint is a much more budget-friendly option. While that means you have to give up some key features, it more than makes up for them in other fields. With an extraordinary battery life that survives 400 scans, this scanner can give you great, long-lasting performance in unision with the best printers under 50.
Even when you are low on battery, you can dock it in the docking station for prolonged use. The scan quality isn’t a great as the previous one and only works up to 900 dpi. But that is understandable considering the low cost. However, you can get up to 1200 dpi by docking it.
Like most scanners, it also supports a maximum of 32GB SD card. But it doesn’t come with a separate SD card. The 1.5-inch color supported LCD screen is good enough to give you a good preview of what you are scanning. This scanner has an additional power-saving feature that makes it turn off after 3 minutes of inactivity.
And this device also greatly saves up on time as it can easily scan a 125 inch long and 8.5 inches wide in 2 seconds. But we have to mention that the docking station significantly lacks in portability. A power source is almost obligatory, which makes it very redundant while traveling.
Also, there have been multiple complaints about the scans not being straight enough.
Pros
- Great scan quality in both handheld and hands-free modes
- Long-lasting battery life
- Great LCD screen
- Comes with a very helpful power saving feature
- Provides very good quality scans in little time
Cons
- The docking station doesn’t work without a power source
- Scans may not be completely straight
3. VuPoint Solutions PDS-ST415-VP
And now we come back to VuPoint, the company that dominates our list. This particular product is a great budget-friendly alternative to the previous two VuPoint products.
Unlike the two products, this one doesn’t have any docking station and doesn’t support docking either. So you have to rely on its battery life. Fortunately, it has a great battery life that lasts nearly 400 scans.
When it comes to resolution, you can alternate among 3 levels with this device. These levels are 300 DPI, 600 DPI, and 900 DPI. The maximum resolution is lower than some scanners, but it is still good enough for the price.
The power-saving option comes in handy if you forget to turn it off because it shuts down automatically after 3 minutes of inactivity. It is also extremely easy to use. The interface is simpler than most devices with very little added complications. This unit is a perfect fit for users who occasionally do scanning and printing tasks and already own a printer for infrequent use.
However, when it comes to the flaws, we have to mention that it doesn’t come with a preview screen to assess your scans, and that may be a problem for many people. It also takes more skill and accuracy to operate this device efficiently.
Pros
- Very budget-friendly
- Great, long-lasting battery life
- Useful power saving option that shuts down the device after 3 inactive minutes
- Has a very simple interface that makes it easy to use
Cons
- The LCD screen is low quality and doesn’t show accurate previews
- Requires more skill and accuracy to operate it
4. VuPoint Handheld Magic Wand Portable Scanner
Almost all wand scanners are portable, and that goes without saying. But this scanner takes portability to the next level. It is extremely lightweight compared to the standard wand scanner. So it is one of the best scanners for traveling. The interface of this device is absolutely fantastic.
It’s so simple that anyone with no idea of using wand scanners can easily operate this with little to no trouble. And we were surprised to observe the level of details it rendered through a black and white photo printer.
This scanner is also one of the very few wand scanners that can deliver up to 1050 DPI scanning speed on high resolution on a budget like this, and that alone is an incredible feat. The tiny light sensors will finish small documents in a flash. In the low and medium resolution, it can deliver 300 DPI and 600 DPI, respectively. I don’t know about this particular wand but scanners generally use detector array technology for this kind of speeds.
Speaking of the budget, it is very budget-friendly. There are some features that are less than attractive or are lesser than other portable scanners. But considering the low budget, these flaws can be forgiven.
For example, this device can only scan an image up to 98 inches long and 8.27 inches wide in 3 seconds, which is honestly quite less than the other scanners on this list. But you can look past this issue if you need to save costs.
Similarly, the battery life on this scanner isn’t really special. On low settings, this device can perform up to 200 scans. Compared to a lot of scanners, this is quite low.
Many scanners of VuPoint itself offer much higher and long-lasting battery life. But again, this is one of those flaws that you can ignore if you choose to do so after considering the price of the product because it is a very affordable wand scanner.
Pros
- Very budget-friendly
- Extremely simple interface that makes it easy to use
- Lightweight
- Can scan at a very high resolution
Cons
- Scans are limited in length at 98 inches
- Low battery life
5. VuPoint Solutions PDS-ST470-VP
The biggest issue with this device ultimately comes down to the battery life, as it isn’t very long-lasting. Particularly in high settings, the device really drains the rechargeable battery. The fact that it doesn’t support a docking station like the first two products from VuPoint makes the issue even more problematic.
We have seen a few budget-friendly options on our list so far. But this device pushes that to the limit. This is the cheapest portable scanner wand on this list, and it is a wonder how it still maintains such amazing features.
Firstly, this device actually gives you the highest resolution of scans possible at 1050 DPI. This is almost unheard of at this price. Much more costly scanners fail to give you this amount of resolution.
But of course, like any other wand scanners, you also have options to scan at low (300 DPI) or medium (600 DPI) resolution if you want to save power.
This product also comes with an 8GB SD card for storing your scans. But if you want to change it for an SD card with higher storage, you can do so because it can support the memory of 32GB. This product comes back with the 1.5 inch LCD screen.
Moreover, this screen is also color-supported and gives you a very accurate preview of the scans. A seemingly insignificant but very helpful feature of this device is the fact that you can set your desired format of scans beforehand. In many scanners, the default format is fixed to JPG, and you have to manually select PDF formats. Jpeg format is also an option.
Furthermore, this is minor trouble, but if you are someone who mostly deals with PDF files, it can understandably be an extra hassle for you to handle these digital files. But in this device, you can select the default format to suit your needs.
Last but not the list, the product is regarded as one of the best portable scanners for mac as its compatibilty with mac devices is absolutely amazing.
Pros
- Supports very high resolution of scanning
- Very cost-effective
- Supports 32 GB of maximum storage
- Comes with a full color supported LCD screen
- Allows you to set the default format according to your liking
Cons
- Very poor battery life especially on high settings
- Absence of docking support accentuates the problem with the battery life
6. MUNBYN Magic Wand Portable Scanner for Documents
If VuPoint is the leading company in wand scanners, MUNBYN comes second. What makes these products so special is their Wi-Fi connectivity, which is something VuPoint products lack. But the scanning process is largely similar to the Vupoint solutions magic wand for all your documents.
Because of this Wi-Fi connectivity, you can connect this device to your phone or computer wirelessly and get your scan results directly from there without needing a USB cable. But it still has a USB port for you but the photo scanner has no supplied USB cable. These efficiencies make this perfect portable scanner a contender for most famous wand scanner.
But while on paper, this feature does exist and seems very lucrative, many complaints have surfaced regarding issues with connecting phones with this device wirelessly.
However, this product does manage to deliver when it comes to performance. The maximum storage it can support is 32GB, and it comes with a 16GB SD card. The resolution of the product is also quite good. While it doesn’t support 1050 DPI, it is definitely good enough for the price it comes at.
The low resolution comes at 300 DPI, the medium resolution comes at 600 DPI, and the highest resolution is at 900 DPI. Like the previous product, this scanner also gives you the opportunity to set the default format according to your preferences, which is a nice touch as always.
Speaking of options, you can also choose the type of scan you want. You can choose between a black and white image and a colored image. Moreover, you also have optical character recognition software as like the top wand scanners.
Even though you have a lot of options in this product, the complicated user interface can make the options difficult to access. Also, the tech support in this product is also very subpar and doesn’t help you significantly figure out how to operate the device.
Pros
- Very low-cost product with lots of high-end features
- Comes with a 16 GB SD card and can support a maximum of 32 GB
- Allows you to set the default image format
- Gives you the option of choosing between B&W and color
Cons
- Connecting with phones is difficult and problematic
- Complicated interface and bad tech support makes it difficult to use
- OCR software doesn’t support Mac
7. MUNBYN Magic Wand Portable Scanner for Photo, Document, Receipt and Old Pictures
This product is essentially an upgraded version of the last product we reviewed. And because of its upgraded features, the price of the product is also naturally higher.
Compared to a lot of other products, this one is a fair bit expensive, and it is understandable if you want to avoid it. But the device is a fantastic scanner when it comes to its performance.
Like the previous product, this one is also Wi-Fi enabled. It can connect to your phone or computer wirelessly through Wi-Fi without needing any external app. Unlike the previous product, though, this one doesn’t have any issues in establishing this connection.
After the scanner is connected to your device, you can access the scans on a website. But it should be said that the interface of the website is far from ideal, and accessing it is quite hassle. It doesn’t have problems in the storage area. And it also has a maximum storage of 32 GB and comes with an SD card of 16 GB.
It can deliver a top-notch resolution. The maximum resolution it can extend to is 1050 DPI, which is always a welcome feature. You can also run it on 300 DPI (low) and 600 DPI (medium). This scanner also allows you to alternate between PDF format and JPG format. You can also choose beforehand what the default format is.
However, the feature that really makes this device special and justifies its price is the advanced and stylish interface. It is much easier to navigate all the settings and options in this scanner. It is a great for professionals for scanning receipts and photographs with good image quality. The preview screen also gives you better and more accurate previews.
Pros
- Allows you to connect the scanner to your phone or computer easily
- Contains a 16 GB SD card and supports one up to 32 GB
- Supports the highest resolution possible
- Allows you to choose the default scan format
- Has a very advanced and stylish interface
Cons
- Comparatively expensive
- Poor website interface
8. VuPoint Solutions PDS-ST414PU-VP
The last product on our list is also the most expensive product on the list. This is certainly not the product you want if you want to save costs. An argument can even be made for the product being overpriced.
However, this product makes up for that greatly through its nice design, great battery life, and consistent performance. The design is very sleek and unique. It looks different from most wand scanners you have seen in our wand scanner reviews. It also comes with multiple color options.
Speaking of options, you also get to choose what type of scan you prefer from black and white images and colored images.
And the battery life is fantastic. It can endure over 200 scans, even in high settings, which is absolutely unprecedented. The LCD screen is of very high quality and allows you to easily preview the scans accurately.
Moreover, the scan quality is also quite good. It maintains the standard three levels of resolution, i.e., low resolution at 300 DPI, medium resolution at 600 DPI, and high resolution at 900 DPI.
However, the results of the scans have been subjected to many complaints. A lot of users have said that the bottom parts of the scanned files, documents and images are often cut off. And the bad tech support doesn’t really help in resolving the issue.
Pros
- Unique and stylish design
- Allows scanning in both B&W and color print
- Fantastic and long-lasting battery life
- High-quality LCD screen for better previews
Cons
- Very expensive and arguably overpriced
- The bottom part of the scans are often cut off
- Smaller scan button than other devices
9. Aibecy iScan02 Document Scanner
This is the first scanner on our list that is not from VuPoint, and it is also the first scanner that doesn’t support hands-free scanning. That means you cannot use it in a docking station. But that is actually the norm for most wand scanners. With this one, we were able to scan lots of fun designs and print envelopes containing invitation cards.
A benefit that this scanner has is the integrated Wi Fi. It has its own Wi-Fi connection, and you can connect it with your phone or computer to get the scans directly. This scanner has a variable set of dpi that lets you scan documents on low (300 DPI), medium (600 DPI), and high (1050 DPI) resolutions easily. However, the scanned documents wont disappoint you.
The image sensor in this device is especially top-notch. It uses an A4 color contact sensor that picks up the necessary data very efficiently. The product is also great when it comes to power saving as it automatically turns off after only 3 minutes of inactivity.
Moreover, the LCD screen could use some great improvements, though. It is a 480×320 LCD screen, and there are much better screens available in other products of the same price range. However, the Wi-Fi feature makes up for it greatly.
Also, the charge of the scanner can run out very quickly. It can only last for about 2 hours. Furthermore, this device doesn’t work so well when it comes to older photos or documents. So that should be something to keep in mind.
Pros
- Delivers the highest possible scan resolution in handheld scanning
- Comes with a Wi-Fi feature
- Equipped with a great image sensor for better scanning
- Smart power-saving mode
Cons
- Very low battery life
- Doesn’t function well with older photos and documents
Things to Consider before Buying
Now that you know about 9 of the very best wand scanners out there, you need to know about all the key features that you need to consider. Before buying any product, it is always wise to know what you want from it. For that, you must know about all the features that are relevant to the product.
The following are the things that you should consider before buying a wand scanner.
Handheld vs. Hands-Free
As we have mentioned in our wand scanner reviews, a wand scanner can be used in two ways. You can use it in the handheld mode to scan the required documents, or you can dock it in a docking station and scan through that. The benefit of scanning in handheld mode is that it is very portable.
Scanners that come in this mode are perfect for traveling. Again, the hands-free mode with the docking station is great because it conserves more battery. Also, it can give you a higher resolution compared to a scanner used in hands-free mode.
Purpose of Use
You need to be sure of the exact purpose you need the scanner for. And you can use a wand scanner for multiple purposes like scanning pages of books or magazines, scanning business cards or other cards of the same material, scanning letters or other necessary documents, etc.
If you want to scan pages of books, there really is no alternative to the portable handheld scanner as you can’t scan it through the docking station. But for documents or business cards, a hands-free docked scanner is the better option as it is much simpler than keeping the document completely flat and scanning it.
Also consider the OCR technology that can give you smart outputs without image distortion. For longer use you should also go for a scanner that can support memory cards. But these days all of the wand scanners for flat surfaces have this feature.
Battery Life
You obviously want your wand scanner to run as long as possible. And you already know that unlike multi-page paper scanners, these require batteries . For that, you have to ensure that the scanner has sufficient battery life. It is always better to buy wand scanners with rechargeable batteries as they usually have a higher battery life than the ones that use AA batteries.
While buying the product, you should also look up the features to see how many scans the product can do before running out. If the scanner can do 200-400 scans on low settings before running out, it is a good pick.
Resolution
The resolution is obviously an important detail. You want your scanner to be able to give you the best image possible. For that, you should look for a scanner that can run at 1050 DPI in the handheld mode.
And if you are not using the scanner for pages of books, then getting one with docking support is a much better idea as they can run on 1200 DPI.
Storage Capacity
If you need to get a lot of scans at once, you need to make sure that your wand scanner has enough storage capacity to contain them. Traditionally, most scanners come with an 8GB SD card. But you should make sure that your scanner supports at least 32GB of storage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here we have the most commonly asked queries regarding the best wand scanners:
1. What is a wand scanner?
To put it simply, a wand scanner is a scanner that has the added advantage of being portable. It does everything that a scanner does with a different working mechanism.
2. How does a wand scanner work?
A wand scanner works through image sensors. The image sensor picks up the data, which are then converted to a color signal and then digital data. This data is saved in SD cards.
3. How to use a wand scanner?
To use a wand scanner in the handheld mode, you have to line up the page properly along with the markers. Then you have to roll the scanner over the page to get a proper scan.
4. When to use a wand scanner?
Wand scanners come in really handy when you are traveling. It is impossible to find a scanner when you are not sure where you are. In times like these, the wand scanner can be a real blessing.
5. Where to buy wand scanners?
Like most products, wand scanners are always available on Amazon. It is the perfect place to buy them. If you don’t want to buy things online, you can go to any electronic store and inquire about these scanners.
6. Can I do duplex scanning on any of the wand scanners?
I do not know any wand scanner that can give you high resolution scans with a reasonable speed if not the maximum dpi settings. Even if there are, it will very very expensive and unreliable. So, it is a big no from me.
7. Are sheet fed scanners necessary for professionals?
It depends on what kind of professional you are. This type of scanner captures images very fast. But only a few professions like students or journalists need this kind of fast wand scanner.
Final Words
With that, we are at the conclusion of the article. We hope you were benefited from this article and now have a much clearer concept of what you are looking for. Asses your priorities, determine what you need, and then choose the best wand scanner that fulfills your requirements.