Simplex Vs Duplex Scanners Compared (5 Key Differences)

Quick Overview Of Simplex And Duplex Scanners

Let’s see how simplex vs duplex scanners work.

Simplex Scanners

In simple words, simplex scanners are designed to scan only one side of a paper. Their mechanism cannot read the other side of a document, and if you want to scan the other side you need to manually flip the side of the paper.

Duplex Scanners

The duplex scanner can scan both sides of a document in a single pass. You need not flip the side manually or feed the document again. Duplex scanning is achieved by using two cameras in a scanner, each one scans one side of the paper, and thus both sides are captured with a single pass.

Simplex And Duplex Scanners Compared

Let’s make a comparison between simplex vs duplex scanners and see how they stack up in different categories.

1. What Are Your Scanning needs?

Choosing one is easy if you need to scan different types of documents that may include documents with both sides. A simple scanner can scan these kinds of documents too by flipping sides, but the process becomes time taking.

Sheetfed scanners or Flatbed ADF scanners are used in offices and workplaces with huge scanning need and in that environment having to deal with a simplex scanner is not a very practical option.

2. Time Efficiency

Simplex scanners are way too time-consuming than the duplex ones. They work on one side and then the document comes out of the output tray, and it needs to be reversed and fed again for scanning the other side.

The process becomes tiring and time-taking. A duplex scanner, on the other hand, takes a paper once and read both sides, and in a snap, the document is moved to the output tray without wasting any time at all. For busy offices or organizations this speed advantage can become the deciding factor.

3. Manual Work Involved

Simplex scanners involve more manual work as compared to a duplex scanners which works pretty much on their own. Someone has to take each paper and reverse the side.

A duplex scanner works on a batch of documents in a single time and requires no manual involvement. The scanner processes both sides on its own and keeps on working on documents in its feeder with speed.

4. Cost Difference

There is not much noticeable difference between the cost of both these types of scanners. If you add the manual work in the cost then simplex ones become costly.

On the other hand, if your scanning needs are limited, or if the documents that you scan are generally one-sided, then spending extra on duplex scanner would be futile.

Both Simplex and Duplex sheetfed scanners are more expensive compared to flatbed scanners.

5. Scan Quality

As far as the quality of the scans go, they are more or less the same. That really depends upon the technology used in the scanner.

As a rule of thumb, the higher the quality you want, the more expensive would be your scanner. For professional levels of quality, you are better off with flatbed scanners. However, if you want speed, stick to sheetfed scanners.

Final Verdict

Simplex scanners are becoming outdated nowadays, and there is no practical reason to choose a simplex scanner.

Even if your scanning need does not require documents with both sides, buying a duplex scanner is more reasonable as it can be useful in future.