Handheld scanner comparison – legacy scanners vs. smartphones
That’s why smartphone scanners are the future of mobile Barcode Scanning

Smartphones are swiftly becoming the default barcode scanners in numerous industries. Apps and websites with an integrated Barcode Scanner SDK deliver maximum precision, speed, and flexibility at a minimum total cost of ownership (TCO).
Everything you need for mobile barcode scanning in just one smartphone
Battery life
Modern mobile devices have plenty of power to last the day. They commonly offer battery capacities of over 4000 mAh, with high-end models even reaching 6000 mAh. On top of that, Barcode Scanning SDKs are optimized for low energy usage.
Speed
Current smartphones always have several CPU cores, each running at 2.6 GHz on average, ensuring a fast, friction-free scanning experience for users.
Data protection
Regular security updates, remote data wiping, options for separating business and private use, and reliable data encryption are must-haves and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
Ruggedness
IP and MIL-STD ratings indicate the robustness of a smartphone. Many standard models are water- and shock-proof, and tough shell cases offer additional protection.
Performance
The Scanbot SDK allows smartphones to match and often exceed the accuracy and scanning speed of dedicated handheld scanners, delivering scanning results with an average accuracy of 98.7% within a fraction of a second.
Want to see how it works?
Explore the fast and reliable functionalities of the Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK in our Demo App – Download now!
Streamline your operations with state-of-the-art technology
34% higher productivity
Significant cost savings
Peak agility with BYOD & Co
Flexibly adapts to new use cases
Side-by-side comparison: Smartphones versus
conventional barcode scanners
Scanbot’s Barcode Scanner SDK at a glance
Let’s look at the main benefits of the Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK over conventional handheld barcode scanner:
High Speed
The Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK impresses with its exceptional scanning speed. It scans 113 barcodes per minute.
Reliability
For most users in the retail industry, the most important criteria of a trusted barcode scanning solution is reliability – it should just work. The Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK does exactly that – in any scenario, no matter the conditions:
Scans in 0.2 seconds
Any angle
Tiny barcodes
Poor lighting
Corrupted and blurred barcodes
Possibility to scan from distances >1 m
Reflective surfaces
Low background contrast
Cutting-edge features
Multi-scanning accelerates your workflows
Filter: Adjust it to recognize specific barcode types only.
Save the scan: Store barcode images as PDFs for further different purposes.
Continuous Scanning: Scanning multiple barcodes without the camera closing enables a constant workflow.
Get in contact with Scanbot
We’re happy to help you get started with the Scanbot SDK.
Why is Scanbot your best choice?
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