Best Book Scanners | Flatbed, Overhead, Handheld.

What is the best book scanner? The answer to this question depends on what your priority is. There are three types of book scanners: flatbed, overhead, and handheld options. The flatbed scanners like the Plustek OpticBook A300 effectively remove distortion and shadows at the binding and are not dependent on ambient lighting. However, they can damage fragile books and are less convenient to use compared to other types.

Overhead book scanners like the CZUR Aura-B use a desktop lamp with LED lights, a mat, and the scanner. Such devices capture images without touching them and generally offer a number of useful features. Of the three types, this one is the best for scanning books. And finally, there are portable handheld models, such as the iSCAN, that you can easily carry with you. When you roll the unit across the book, it scans pages and automatically saves the images into the microSD card. Handheld book scanners are the least efficient but, at the same time, the cheapest option.

What Types of Book Scanners Are There? Flatbed, Overhead, Handheld

Basically, there are 3 main types of book scanners available on the market: flatbed, overhead, and handheld scanners. Deciding on which option to choose depends on your needs and tasks. When choosing your book scanner, make sure that it is easy to use and allows you to comfortably scan numerous pages within a short period of time. Another thing to consider is how many extra features the device has. In this regard, an overhead book scanner is a more advanced option as it has more functions.

Flatbed book scanners

This is the most widespread type of book scanners. One of the advantages of such devices is their ability to remove distortion and shadows at the binding. What makes flatbed book scanners different from conventional flatbed models is the platen glass moving up to the edge of the scanner. The downside is that a flatbed scanner will occupy some extra space on your desk and is not portable enough compared to other options.

A great example is the high-end Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus A3/Tabloid Size Book Scanner. This 600DPI device can scan up to 200 pages in 20 minutes and features a special book-edge design. It comes with software allowing the device to automatically cut, rotate, and save the scanned pages.

Overhead book scanners | Best for scanning fragile and valuable books

This type of scanner looks like a desk lamp with a mat. Generally, it is more flexible, functional, and comfortable to use in comparison with other options. The majority of overhead scanners are packed with features, which is one of their strong points. The device is versatile as it can scan not only books of different sizes but also magazines and 3D objects. All you need to do is to lay the book under the camera and open it. However, some people find it inconvenient and they have to hold down the book edges.

Overhead scanners are particularly beneficial for scanning fragile and valuable books as they use the non-contact technique. While being reasonably priced, these products are very fast and do the job well. The weak point of this option is that the device cannot be used near the source of bright light, whether it is a lamp or a window.

You may try the CZUR ET16 Plus Advanced Book & Document Scanner that can flatten the curved page, recognize and crop your fingertips. Equipped with a 16MP Sony camera and 10 LED lights, it can scan as many as 300 pages in just 10 minutes.

Handheld book scanners | Compact & Cheap

The main benefit of handheld scanners is portability as they are compact, lightweight, and can fit any bag. You can easily carry them with you to scan books and magazines in libraries or any other places outside your house or office. A handheld scanner is easy to use: just roll it across the book and the device will automatically save the scan into the microSD card. These models are the least efficient on the list. But if you are ready to sacrifice scanning quality for mobility, a handheld book scanner is the best bet for you. Another advantage of this option is a lower price in comparison with other types of scanners.

For example, the battery-powered IRISCan Book 5 Wifi Wand Portable Scanner measures 10 inches in length and less than 2 inches in width. It weighs as little as 13 ounces and features a 1. 5” color screen. You can choose between three scanning resolution options: 300, 600, and 1200 DPI. This model is claimed to be the fastest portable autonomous scanner in the world as it can scan one page per second.

Best Book Scanner Review

Below, you will find a review of the best book scanners at a price ranging from $50 to $500. Whether you occasionally need to scan books or need an advanced scanner for professional use, this review offers the most appropriate options for any purpose. There are versatile overhead scanners that can capture images of up to A3 size and portable foldable or handheld models allowing you to scan books anywhere you need.

CZUR Aura, The Smart Portable Personal Scanner | Best for Page Sizes Under A3

Using proprietary technology, the scanner can quickly change the curved 3D sheet into a flat page. It scans the material with 3 laser lines while the software processes and improves the image. The product includes a scanning device with a 2-inch viewing screen and a multi-use desk lamp. The latter is an adjustable smart lamp with several lighting modes that can be changed via the app. The CZUR Aura works super fast as it takes just 2 seconds for the device to scan one page.

Once the page is scanned, it can be converted into the text in editable formats, such as Word or PDF. The software works with over 180 languages and ensures high accuracy. The scanner handles books, newspapers, drawings, and all sorts of documents. The only disadvantage we would like to highlight is that it can only scan sheets less than A3.

Almost 60% of the buyers rated the product five stars. They say that it works well with hard-bound books and handwritten documents, producing top-quality scans. It does flatten curved, curled, and folded pages.

CZUR Aura: Check the current price

CZUR Aura-B Book & Document Scanner, Auto-Flatten & Deskew | Best for A3 Pages

Unlike the previous item, this one can capture an image as large as A3. The device utilizes a revolutionary AI algorithm to flatten book curves without the need for unbinding them. It scans at a speed of 2 seconds per page and can convert images into different formats, including text ones. The CZUR Aura-B has a benefit atypical for overhead scanners. With a weight of just 3.3 lbs, it is foldable and portable, which makes it more beneficial for the everyday user. You can use a foot pedal that comes with the device to operate it hands-free.

Made from aluminum with a stylish finish, the unit comes with a powerful lamp that is equipped with 32 LED lights plus 2 extra side lights. The lamp is so bright that you can use it not only for scanning but also for reading. Depending on the purpose, you can set a natural light mode, a reading mode, a computer mode, or a night mode. The special technology allows the CZUR Aura-B to detect sound to brighten or dim lights.

Customers say that the product is great for home use and basic needs but has some limitations. For example, if your edit is wrong, you cannot undo it. Instead, you have to re-scan the page, which is time-consuming. Besides, it is hard to flatten the book even with holders, and leveling the book is also a problem.

CZUR Aura-B: Check the current price

Best Professional Book Scanners: Fujitsu vs CZUR

As you can see, the above-mentioned scanners work well but meet only basic needs. For professional use, you should opt for more sophisticated devices. Below, we will review the most popular professional book scanners from different brands.

Fujitsu PA03641-B305 ScanSnap SV600 Overhead Book Scanner

Packed with multiple beneficial features, the Fujitsu SV600 is made with high-quality optics, advanced capture technologies and LED illumination. It does not damage books and can automatically detect page-turning. This is pretty convenient as you can scan continuously, without having to press the button each time you turn the page. The fingertips can be removed and the curves at the spine of a book can be flattened via the included software. You can use this tool to crop and straighten images, too.

What makes this device particularly useful for professionals is the feature allowing for multiple document detection with automatic cropping. It quickly digitizes bound books, scanning one page in less than 3 seconds. While this book scanner is compact and just 15 inches high, it is pretty weighty (6.6 lbs).

One of the buyers says that it can scan nearly everything flatbed scanners can’t. However, there are downsides. The device is not good at identifying the borders of pages, meaning some manual editing will still be needed.

Fujitsu PA03641-B305 ScanSnap SV600: Check the current price

CZUR Professional Document Scanner ET18-P, Fast Recognition

In comparison with the Fujitsu SV600, this model is more compact and lightweight. It measures approximately 14 x 14 x 6 inches and weighs 4.4 pounds. In addition, it works faster, scanning up to 1.5 pages per second. The 10 built-in LED lights plus two extra lights provide enough illumination and eliminate shadows. Equipped with an 18MP Sony HD camera, the device handles sheets of up to A3 size and can convert the scans into a variety of formats. Designed for professional use, it ensures perfect scanning results.

Like other CZUR models, it uses an advanced technology called Laser-based image flattening. To achieve a flat image, the laser beam forms a horizontal line on the curved page. While having approximately the same price, the CZUR ET18-P is more popular with customers than Fujitsu SV600. One of the buyers says that with this unit, he managed to scan over 940 pages in less than one hour. More importantly, he did it at a normal pace, realigning the book when needed. Previously, when he tried to scan that book with another scanner, it took as much as 2 hours and the quality was significantly inferior.

CZUR Professional Document Scanner ET18-P: Check the current price

Portable Scanner iSCAN 900 DPI A4, Handheld | Best Budget

The combination of low price and mobility makes this device an ideal choice for students. Your visits to libraries will be more productive and will take less time. Easy to use, the iSCAN starts to work with the press of a button. The scanner does not require any software, all it needs to operate is a memory card and 2 AA batteries. It takes several seconds for the device to scan an image, which is slower compared with the performance of desktop scanners. That said, the iSCAN has 3 different resolution options ranging from 300DPI to 900DPI. Once scanned, the image can be stored in the Jpeg or PDF format. You can connect the device to your smartphone or computer via a USB port.

Now, let’s see what makes this product so convenient to use and carry around. First, it is super lightweight and weighs only 10 ounces. The unit is 12 inches long — just like a folder and — 4 inches wide. Customer opinion seems divided. Some buyers say that it does the job and scans well even at low resolution while others claim that it has many disadvantages. For example, the device forgets settings when turned off, has poor battery life, and needs a steady hand.

Portable Scanner iSCAN 900: Check the current price

10 Best-Selling Book Scanners Comparative Table