When you’re working remotely, whether at home, in a coffee shop, or in a hotel room, you may find yourself needing to scan important documents. Even during travelling, it may be useful to be able to digitalize your travel documents while on the go so that you can keep everything in one orderly place.
As convenient as phone scanning apps are, technology has advanced enough to allow manufacturers to pack a whole desktop scanner into a small, portable form factor, which is perfect for these scenarios, especially if you’re looking for high-quality scans.
Here’s our list of the best portable scanners you can get in Malaysia.
Top 10 Portable Scanners in Malaysia 2024
Table of Contents
Overview
Canon’s imageFORMULA P-215II is an all-time favourite, one that often makes the list for portable scanners. It is stylish, easy to carry around, and it gives you a bang for your buck! The imageFORMULA P-215II is able to deliver high-resolution prints in black & white, grayscale or colour up to 600dpi. The scanner can scan up to A4-sized pictures and documents. Besides, with the plug-and-scan feature, you’ll be able to connect the scanner to your device easily.
Canon imageFORMULA P-215II scanner Specs
- Scanner Type: Desktop sheet-fed scanner
- Maximum Resolution: 600 dpi
- Speed: up to 15ppm / 30ipm
- Scan Resolution: 150 x 150dpi, 200 x 200dpi, 300 x 300dpi, 400 x 400dpi, 600 x 600dpi
- Scanning Modes: Black and White, Error Diffusion, Advanced Text Enhancement II, 256-level Gray, 24-bit Color
- Scanning Side: Simplex / Duplex
- Suggested Daily Volume (Scans): 500
- Feeding Capacity: 20 sheets
Who is this for?
Canon’s imageFORMULA P-215II Scanner is designed to be portable, but it can also double as a stationary personal desktop scanner as well. Overall, this is a decent portable scanner that can provide you with excellent scanning quality.
Overview
The Epson WorkForce ES-60W is a colour scanner that has a color input of 16 bits and 8 bits color output This scanner stands out for its wireless networking, easy to navigate software, great speed, and tremendous accuracy. It comes bundled with Epson ScanSmart and Epson DocumentScan.
Compact and portable, the Epson WorkForce ES-60W can be powered via USB, AC adapter, or built-in battery. It has a scan speed of up to 4.0 seconds per sheet when running on battery, and can be connected via Wi-Fi.
Epson WorkForce ES-60W Specs
- Scanner Type: A4 sheet-fed colour scanner
- Sensor Type: Contact Image Sensor (CIS)
- Scanning Method: Fixed document and moving carriage
- Min Document Size: 50.8 x 50.8 mm
- Max Document Size: 216 x 1,828.8 mm
- Supported Paper Weight: 35 - 270 g/m2
- ADF Capacity: 1 sheet
- Daily Scan Volume: Up to 300 sheets / day
- Interface: USB 2.0 (Micro-B), Wi-Fi
Who is this for?
Despite its compact size, reviews have praised the scanner for its great quality scans, ranging from documents and name cards to photos. The Epson Document Scan software allows you to edit image and scanning adjustments easily from your mobile phone. If you’re looking for a light scanner that allows you to scan your documents from day-to-day, the Epson WorkForce ES-60W is a great fit!.
Overview
Epson’s Perfection V600 Photo Scanner is a flatbed colour image scanner, able to accommodate for scans up to A4 in size. As this scanner is particularly geared towards photographs, it delivers quality scans for different mediums ranging from photos, films, and slides, to day-to-day documents. When scanning films, the films can also be enlarged with the tonal range, shadow detail, and 48-bit depth option/features!
The four buttons on the scanner can be customized to fit the functions you need so that you can scan, copy, scan-to-email, or create PDFs at just a press of a button. It also comes with an OCR software, which makes it easy to convert scanned documents into text you can edit.
With the Epson ReadyScan LED Technology, this technology is environmentally friendly as it is mercury free, low in heat dissipation and power consumption!
Epson Perfection V600 Specs
- Scanner Type: Flatbed colour image scanner
- Max Document Size:
- Reflective: 216 x 297mm (A4, US Letter size document)
- Transparency: 68.6 x 242.4mm (35mm x 12 frames strip film, 35mm x 4 frames mounted film, 6 x 22cm x 1 frame medium format film)
Who is this for?
Epson’s Perfection V600 Photo Scanner is great for any home user, with its ability to scan films, slides, and your everyday photos. However, the V600 may not be the best option for professional photographers as it’s a lightweight scanner that may not be able to keep with heavy loads.
Overview
For the workaholics out there, Epson’s WorkForce DS-310 is a simple to use and install, allowing you to get to work as soon as possible! Like with most Epson products, this model comes bundled with easily accessible software to get your documents ready and scanned with the click of a few buttons.
If you’re looking for an easily portable device, the WorkForce DS-310 has got you covered with its compact size and footprint. This scanner can be powered via a USB 3.0 bus-powered or AC adapter.
Epson WorkForce DS-310 Specs
- Scanner Type: A4 sheet-fed, simplex colour scanner
- Optical Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
- Output Resolution: 50 – 1,200 dpi (in 1 dpi increments)
- Max Document Size: 216 x 1,117mm
- Daily Scan Volume: up to 500 pages
Who is this for?
Epson’s WorkForce DS-310 has been praised for its portability, as it is lightweight and compacy. There have been mixed reviews on the efficiency of its software – some reviewers found it easy to set up, while some struggled with connecting their USB and Wi-Fi. The WorkForce DS-310 works best for scanning A4-sized documents.
Overview
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600 follows a long line of ScanSnap products that have made an impact. Not only is it user-friendly as it is simple to use, it gets the job done quickly. This has been recommended for great use in home offices and small offices.
There are different modes to choose from when scanning your documents. Hence, the speed of the scanning process as well as its maximum capacity varies based on the system environment used. A3 scans are also possible with this model, made available with the use of A3 carrier sheets.
Fujitsu iX1600 Specs
- Scanner Type: ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) / Manual Feed, Duplex
- Scanning Speed: 40ppm, 10ppm on Excellent mode
- Scanning Color Mode: Color, Grayscale, Monochrome, Automatic (Color / Grayscale / Monochrome detection)
- Optical Resolution: 600 dpi
- ADF capacity: 50 sheets (A4, 80 g/m2 or 20 lb)
- Interface: USB and Wi-Fi
Who is this for?
Reviews have praised the quality of Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600’s scans. The scan quality is superb and efficient. Besides, its touchscreen interface and software package makes the ScanSnap iX1600 user-friendly and simple to use!
Overview
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 is a manual-feed document scanner, designed for your work on-the-go! This model is compatible with both PC and Mac devices, perfect for home-based offices. The software provided with this scanner will be able to cover most tasks, from managing your documents, cloud scanning, financial data, and business card archiving. It is compatible with both Wi-Fi and USB.
Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 Specs
- Scanner Type: Single fed (Straight / U-turn path), CDF (Continuous Document Feeding), Simplex
- Scanning Speed: Auto, Normal, Better, Best mode: 5.2 seconds / page; Excellent mode: 20.4 seconds / page
- Scanning Color Mode: Color, Grayscale, Monochrome, Automatic (Color / Grayscale / Monochrome detection)
- Interface: USB and Wi-Fi
Who is this for?
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 is snappy, accurate, and has a decent battery life. It’s also relatively affordable, so it’s perfect for printing on-the-go.
Overview
If you’re looking for a device that can do more than just scan, the HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One Printer would be the one to consider! From printing, scanning, to photocopying, this automatic document feeder does it all.
It also comes packed with a long-lasting battery and multiple charging options, so you won’t have to worry about running out of power when you’re in a hurry!
HP OFFICEJET 250 Specs
- Cartridge yield:
- 62 (Black 200 pages, Colour 165 pages)/
- 62XL (Black 600 pages, Colour 415 pages)
- Print, copy, and scan
- HP Smart App enabled
- Bluetooth wireless
- Printing Speed: 9 ppm black & 6 ppm color
- Scan Resolution: Up to 600 dpi
- 1-year onsite warranty with 1-to-1 unit exchange
Who is this for?
Not everyone needs a portable all-in-one machine, but if you do need one, this is a great steal.
Overview
This may be the cheapest on the list, but it’s also an all-in-one scanner. Not only can you print and scan seamlessly with the HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2336, you can also copy documents easily, all for just under RM200.
For your scanning needs, the DeskJet Ink Advantage 2336 comes with a flatbed type scanner that allows you to scan your photographs and document pages in different file formats. It is easy to set up and get your HP device working, and you can also connect it to the HP Smart App for easier access.
HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2336 Specs
- Functions: Print, copy, scan
- Print Speed: Black - Up to 7.5 ppm / Colour - Up to 5.5 ppm
- Duty cycle (monthly, A4): Up to 1000 pages
- Recommended monthly page volume: 50 to 100
Who is this for?
Three words sum up this printer scanner: Affordability, accessibility, and efficiency. It is simple to operate, but some users with Apple devices have mentioned struggling with setting up.
Overview
Brother’s ADS-2800W is part of the brand’s extensive line of document scanners. If you’re looking for a scanner with a decent scan speed and a user-friendly touchscreen interface, this model would be a great deal! The ADS-2800W provides a great combination of features, speed and value. Whether you're using it at your home, office, or from a mobile device, digitising tasks has never been easier. It is USB, wired Ethernet as well as wireless connectivity compatible!
Brother ADS-2800W Specs
- 600dpi optical resolution
- Scanning Speed: 85ppm at 300dpi colour/mono
- Simplex/duplex
- 100-page ADF
- 3.7cm colour LCD screen
- Maximum daily duty cycle: 9,000 pages
Who is this for?
Brother’s ADS-2800W provides a great combination of features, speed and value. Whether you’re using it chiefly from a PC, a mobile device or as a walk-up, it’ll make light work of your digitising tasks.
Overview
The WorkForce DS-360W can scan quickly and seamlessly in both mono and colour at a resolution of up to 300dpi. Duplex scanning is supported by this device as well. Though it is portable, it still weighs about 1.3kg. The WorkForce DS-360W has both micro-USB and wireless connectivity. There are two charging options for you to choose from: either through the provided external power supply or its USB port.
Epson WorkForce DS-360W Specs
- Scanner Type: A4 compact sheet-fed, one-pass duplex colour scanner
- Max Document Size: 216 x 1,117mm
- Output File Formats:
- Epson Scan 2: JPEG, TIFF, Multi-TIFF, PDF, Searchable PDF, BMP, PNG
- Document Capture Pro (Win): JPEG, BMP, PDF, Searchable PDF, TIFF, Multi-TIFF, PNG, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX
Who is this for?
If speed is what you’re prioritising, then Epson’s DS-360W is the one for you, as it’s fast and efficient. It is also supported by a software bundle, which provides easy connection to your computer or mobile device.
FAQ
How do I choose a scanner?
There are some things you need to consider before buying a scanner.
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How much space do you have for a scanner?
As scanners can come in all sizes, you will first have to know what will fit in your space. You need to make sure your scanner can fit comfortably on your desk without affecting paper feeding, or in the all-in-one devices’ cases, printing. Some scanners can be bulky, taking up more room. This would not be suitable if your workspace is limited. A compact scanner would be more suitable in that situation!
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How many dots per inch (dpi) do you require?
Think of dpi as pixels on a computer screen. The higher the number, the clearer and better the resolution of your scanned document. If you are in need of a scanner that provides high resolution, you’ll want to choose a scanner with a higher dpi.
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How much bit depth do you need?
Bit depth refers to how much information the scanner gathers from the document that is being scanned. For example, monochrome images are 8-bit images, while 24-bit and 36-bit colour scanners will give up to 68 billion colours.
Like the dpi, the higher the depth bit, the better, but the trade-off is large file sizes. A casual user would probably only need up to 24-bit, while professional photographers might want a higher bit depth scanner.
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Do you prefer a flatbed scanner or a sheet-fed scanner?
A flatbed scanner, like its name suggests, uses a flat surface for scanning documents. To scan a document, the user just has to place the document onto the glass and close the lid. Because of this, flatbed scanners are bulkier and more expensive, but they do provide better quality scans.
On the other hand, sheet-fed scanners are much slimmer and take up less space. These are typically used only for loose sheets of paper, as the user has to physically feed the papers through the scanner. They’re great for portability and efficiency.