When selecting mobile devices for barcode scanning applications, take care to select the correct scanner hardware. Most devices come in multiple scanner configurations, and there are a few things to consider when choosing what type of scanner to purchase.

Scanner Types

Lasers

The traditional barcode scanner type is a laser that scans the barcode label and reflects back to the device. For one dimensional standard barcodes, lasers are my favorite. The upside is they scan at a longer distance and it is easier to target a specific barcode when a bunch of barcodes are stuck together in close proximity. The downside is they don’t support two-dimensional barcodes and cannot read damaged tags.

Imagers

The newer devices are shipping with what are called “Imagers.” These are basically cameras that take a picture of the barcode and analyze the image to “scan” the barcode. The benefit of Imagers is they support one and two dimensional barcodes so they are more flexible. Two dimensional barcodes can store more information in a smaller space. They can also be used to store multiple values within a single scan. Lastly, imagers are able to read somewhat damaged tags using fuzzy logic. This can be handy in certain environments. The downside is the scanning distance is shorter, and it often takes longer for the scanner to read the barcode. It is also difficult to isolate a single barcode when there are many close together. This can be extremely annoying in high-volume environments. You can see examples of two dimensional barcodes on UPS of Fedex packages. They look like boxes with little dots all over.

Positron Imagers

Cheap devices ship with what are called Positron imagers. These are basically one dimensional barcode readers that are imager-based. They are horrible. They don’t scan tags well at all and I highly recommend that you never purchase a device with a Positron imager, unless you are looking for a headache and an expensive paperweight.

Recommendations

If you are using high-quality one dimensional tags only, I recommend going with a laser-based scanner. You will be happier with the performance after scanning a lot of tags.

If you need to support 2D tags, then buy a high-quality Imager-based scanner. Just be certain you are not purchasing a 1D imager like a Positron. Most Motorola mobile devices ships with both configurations of Imagers. Be sure to get the 1D/2D imager version.