Compact scanners are gaining more and more popularity, and the market for them is getting more and more crowded. In the sea of compact document scanners, there are a few brands that should be trusted more than others.
If you are looking for a compact document scanner, Brother is one of the leading brands you should consider. They have been providing quality products for years and their DS-640 is no exception. This is an affordable and reliable scanner and one of the most popular options on the market.
Price
$119.98
Dimensions
11.9″ x 2.2″ x 1.4″
Speed
16 ppm
Our Rating
Overview
With its size of 11.9 x 2.2 x 1.4 inches and weighing one pound, the Brother DS-640 is one very compact and portable scanner. The DS-640 has most of the features that you expect from a modern compact document scanner.
There is just one button found on this scanner, which makes it extremely easy to use. It does not require any complex software or complicated settings in order to work. With just a few clicks, you can scan your documents and make them available in a matter of seconds.
Features
While you can’t expect a ton of features from a scanner that is this small, the Brother DS-640 has a couple that will make your work easier. One of the more important ones is the automatic color detection/adjustment feature which is especially helpful when you are scanning several different types of documents at once.
The scanner also comes with great built-in OCR and document management software that allows you to make edits to your files. What this scanner lacks are the automatic document feeder and duplex scanning. So, you will have to manually feed the two-sided documents, which will be more time-consuming.
Some other compact scanners like the Epson WorkForce ES-50 have an ADF and a slightly more expensive Brother DS-740D has a duplex scanning option.
Connectivity Options & OS Compatibility
When you look at most compact scanners, you can see that many lack the Wi-Fi connectivity option, except the likes of the Epson Workforce ES-60W Doxie Go SE. This scanner also lacks the Wi-Fi connectivity option, but the great thing is that it supports USB 3.0, as opposed to many others that only support 2.0.
In terms of OS compatibility, like most scanners, the Brother DS-640 is Windows, Mac, and Linux compatible.
Performance
If you want a fast compact scanner, the DS-640 is not for you. Scanning longer documents with the DS-640 takes a lot of time, especially the color ones. Its speed is one of this scanner’s downsides, but we didn’t expect blazing fast scanning speeds at all.
On the other hand, the scanning quality with the maximum resolution of 600 dpi is surprisingly great and can compete with much more expensive scanners. All of this makes the Brother DS-640 a great option for those who want precise scans, but are willing to sacrifice the speed.
Specs
- 11.9 x 2.2 x 1.4 inches
- USB 3.0
- 600 dpi maximum resolution
- 16 ppm
- Windows, Mac, Linux
- Automatic color detection
- Document management and OCR software included
Conclusion
Overall, the Brother DS-640 is a great value for the money for someone who is looking for a lightweight and portable scanner that doesn’t plan to scan a lot of documents. It’s economical and simple to use, but for a slightly higher price, the Epson WorkForce ES-50 is a better choice.
