Epson WorkForce ES-50
Score: 60/100
Brother DS-640
Score: 72/100Rankings
The Brother DS-640 is a compact, USB-powered scanner delivering 600 dpi color scans and built-in OCR, ideal for mobile, occasional scanning tasks. Its lack of duplex capability and an automatic feeder limit its usefulness for higher-volume or double-sided work. Best suited for travelers and home-office users needing quick single-page scans.
The Epson ES-50 is a compact, USB-powered portable scanner offering 600 dpi resolution and built-in OCR for on-the-go document capture. Its single-sheet feed and slower multi-page performance make it unsuitable for high-volume scanning tasks. Perfect for mobile professionals needing occasional single-page scans.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
600 dpibest | 600 dpibest | |
10 ppm | 16 ppmbest | |
1 pagesbest | — | |
1,828.8 mmbest | 215.9 mm | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.27 kgbest | 0.467 kg |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
3 packagesbest | 1 packages |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Performance(1) | ||
Scan Speed (pages per minute) (ppm) | 10 ppm | 16 ppm |
Connectivity(1) | ||
USB Version | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
Design & Build(3) | ||
Maximum Document Size (mm) | 1828.8 mm | 215.9 mm |
Weight (kg) | 0.27 kg | 0.4665 kg |
Dimensions (W×D×H) | 271.8 x 33.0 x 45.7 mm | 55.88×35.56×302.26 mm |
Software(1) | ||
Included Software Packages (packages) | 3 packages | 1 packages |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the ES-50 for its tiny footprint, solid 600 dpi output and USB-only simplicity, making it a handy tool for occasional mobile scans. However, they criticize its sluggish multi-page performance, lack of duplex automation, and limited feature set compared to newer Epson models that add wireless and higher resolution.
Everyday users repeatedly praise the scanner's portability, easy one-touch operation and reliable OCR, noting it outperforms phone apps for receipts and documents. Common complaints focus on black-line artifacts, the need to reinstall drivers, and the slow, manual process required for multi-page or duplex scanning.
Professional reviewers praise the DS-640 for its excellent scan quality, vibrant color reproduction, and reliable OCR at a budget price, emphasizing its suitability for portable, occasional use. However, they consistently point out the lack of duplex scanning and an automatic feeder as significant drawbacks for any workflow that involves double-sided or multi-page documents.
Everyday users love the scanner's speed, portability, and ease of use, frequently mentioning the 3-second page scans and clear image output. Common complaints revolve around the missing duplex function, occasional paper jams, and a software installation process that can be slower than expected.
“fits in bags, survives cold weather/truck use”
“perfect handling of varied paper without jams”
“black lines appear after initial uses even on flat paper”
