Handheld 3D scanners 2022: top 5 selection and buying guide

EinScan handheld 3D scanner systems are Shining 3D’s flagship portable 3D scanner series. The EinScan HX is a follow-up to the first-generation EinScan-Pro, EinScan Pro HD, and later EinScan Pro 2X and 2X Plus.

This portable 3D scanner features hybrid 3D scanning technology: its rapid mode is based on structured light, while the fine mode uses laser triangulation. A photogrammetry module est directly integrated for color and texture acquisition.

It is a powerful and versatile product that is capable of acquiring difficult surfaces (reflective, dark, or both) and adapting to parts of all sizes. Shining 3D also made great efforts in terms of weight and design; the HX is well-balanced and comfortable to use.

Read the full review: HX review

Peel 3d is a subsidiary of Creaform, one of the world’s leading 3D scanner manufacturers. They first created the original peel 3d (which we reviewed a while back) in order to tap into the entry-level 3D scanner market.

This second-generation peel 3D scanner offers a higher resolution than its predecessor, and is capable of capturing textures and colors.

Peel 3D scanners are easy to use, even for beginners with little 3D scanning knowledge. The software that comes with the peel 2 is also intuitive and user-friendly, offering multiple editing functionalities.

Artec’s Leo offers automatic onboard processing, providing an intuitive and wireless workflow. It is equipped with a built-in battery, touch screen, and its own, integrated computing platform. The Leo is one of the only wireless 3D scanners available.

It boasts a very large field of view and is capable of quickly 3D scanning large objects, all while capturing fine details. It is designed to capture even complex objects with shiny or black surfaces.

The Artec Leo’s technology enables it to 3D scan objects even in mediocre lighting conditions.

The Go!SCAN SPARK is one of the latest additions to Creaform’s highly regarded Go!SCAN product lineup. Creaform, which is based in Canada, is one the industry leaders when it comes to professional 3D scanners.

This handheld 3D scanner is one of the easiest scanners to use (it is a plug-n-play 3D scanner) and it features an interesting hybrid tracking scanning technology. You just need to point and shoot at the object to scan, and the software will instantly display your mesh in real time on your PC.

The GoSCAN SPARK is Creaform’s fastest 3D scanner, acquiring up to 1,500,000 measurement points per second. It’s one of the best handheld 3D scanners we’ve ever tested and we are particularly impressed with its color acquisition abilities.

Read the full review: Go!SCAN SPARK review

ScanTech is relatively new to the western market, but is growing fast thanks to highly competitive products that provide quality measurements at reasonable prices. The KSCAN-Magic is one of their flagship products and is precise enough for metrological applications like quality inspection.

It offers a highly flexible measuring range and boasts three different scanning modes; one for speed (11 blue laser crosses + an extra line), one for higher levels of detail (7 blue parallel laser lines), and one for large objects (11 infrared lines).

A probing CMM accessory is available for holes, planes edges, hidden points, and other geometries where marker placement isn’t possible.

Mantis Vision is a 3D scanner manufacturer from Israel. Their F6 SMART scanning solution is aimed at professionals that need to scan complex scenes.

The F6 SMART uses a color camera in order to deliver photorealistic mesh textures. According to Mantis Vision, this handheld scanner (which can also be used on a tripod, like most other portable 3D scanners) is able to 3D scan objects even in complete darkness.

This can be particularly useful in exploration and archaeology for example (caves, ruins, etc).

THOR3D has been producing professional 3D scanners since 2015 and is most famous for their Drake wireless handheld 3D scanner, which is now discontinued.

The Calibry is a very affordable handheld 3D scanner, and is one of the most lightweight you will find on the market. Despite weighing only 700 grams, the device is equipped with a built-in touchscreen, allowing you to see what you’re scanning in real time.

However, it does not work well on objects smaller than 200 mm in length, so it won’t face most of its competitors at the same ballpark price. THOR3D markets the Calibry Mini for smaller parts.

Polyga is a Vancouver-based manufacturer that develops industrial 3D scanning solutions. Their lineup mostly includes stationary 3D scanners like the Carbon or Compact series. The H3, launched in 2020, is their first handheld 3D scanner, though they’ve been distributing THOR3D’s more affordable Calibry for some time as well.

This handheld 3D scanner can also be mounted on a tripod to be used in stationary mode, offering a simplified workflow for small objects when paired with an automatic turntable.