Zebra Industrial Barcode Scanners

DS3608 and DS3678 class scanners rated for repeated drops onto concrete. Standard, high density and extended range imagers for shelf, small-code and forklift scanning.

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Buying Guide

Zebra Industrial Scanner Questions

Drop ratings, corded against cordless, and what SR, HD and XR actually mean.

What makes a barcode scanner industrial?

Two specifications. Drop rating is the height the unit survives onto concrete, repeatedly rather than once. Ingress protection, the IP number, covers dust and water resistance.

A retail counter scanner survives a desk-height knock. An industrial unit such as the DS3608 or DS3678 is built for repeated drops onto a hard floor, and often for washdown areas too.

For lighter duty at a counter, see the full Zebra barcode scanner range.

Corded or cordless for industrial use?

Corded units such as the DS3608 have no battery to charge and nothing to lose, which suits a fixed station. Cordless units such as the DS3678 free the operator to scan away from the host.

Cordless costs more and adds a battery to manage, so only choose it where movement is genuinely required.

Compare across vendors in rugged corded and rugged Bluetooth scanners.

What do SR, HD and XR mean on Zebra scanners?

They describe the imager and its working distance. SR is standard range, covering normal scanning at arm's length. HD is high density, for very small or tightly printed codes such as electronics marking. XR is extended range, reading a barcode several metres away.

XR matters if operators scan racking from a forklift rather than climbing to reach the label. HD matters if codes are small enough that a standard imager struggles.

Most sites need SR. Buy XR or HD only for a specific problem you already have.

Do I need a scanner or a mobile computer?

A scanner sends data to a computer or terminal and does nothing on its own, which suits a fixed workstation that already has a screen.

A mobile computer runs your application in the aisle and shows the operator what to do next, which matters for picking, receiving and stock counts.

See Zebra mobile computers, or wearable computers where both hands need to stay free.

Hardware Selection Support

Not sure which model is right?

Send us what you are trying to do and we will come back with a specific recommendation rather than a catalogue. If you are replacing equipment, a model number or a photo of the existing setup is usually enough to work from.

  • Solutions experts on staff to answer your hardware questions
  • 30 day return policy, excluding consumables
  • In-stock items ship same day when ordered by 4:00pm Eastern
  • Volume and multi-location pricing reviewed on request

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Plan the Right Hardware Deployment Before You Order

Compare hardware classes, connectivity, durability ratings, accessories and supplies before committing to equipment. If the specification is right the first time, the install is a day rather than a project.

Prefer to talk it through?

Our team can match hardware, accessories, cables, mounts and supplies to your workflow and operating environment. In-stock items ordered before 4:00pm ET ship the same day.

(833) 466-4478 info@shopposportal.com