Canon imageFORMULA R10 Review

What sets the Canon imageFORMULA R10 apart from other portable scanners is its document-processing capabilities. It may not be a speedy scanner, but its duplex scanning capabilities and 20-page autofeeder give you the option to process many double-sided documents no matter where you are without having to manually load and flip each one.

Scan Quality

The imageFORMULA R10 does a great job scanning black-and-white text documents. When I scanned receipts and tax documents with handwritten entries, the text was clear and easy to read, and I was pleasantly surprised by the color accuracy of the pen ink. However, the scan added some visual noise to the white space of the digital document. This is a minor nitpick, but it does result in text that does not “pop” quite as much, and it may have a less professional feel compared to a more pristine scan.

Scan Speed

Our scan speed tests are proof that the Canon imageFORMULA R10 is optimized for scanning black-and-white documents. I was able to scan a 10-page double-sided document at 600 DPI resolution in 155 seconds, which averages to 3.9 pages per minute. On the other hand, it took a whopping 76 seconds to scan a single double-sided colored document, despite being a duplex scanner that can read both sides at once.

File Management

The imageFORMULA R10 is nearly unbeatable in terms of how easy it is to just turn it on and use. The initial setup takes as little as five minutes, and there's no software setup to worry about — the software runs entirely on the scanner itself and functions right out of the box. The device itself only has a single button, and it even comes with an autofeed tray. Just load up the documents you want to scan and it simply works.

The software is, by far, the weakest point of the Canon imageFORMULA R10 and the factor that holds it back from receiving our wholehearted recommendation. When using this scanner with a Mac device, we experienced consistently slow function and constant crashing. Hooking it up to a Windows PC helped a bit, but glitches were still common.

Photo Scanning

The R10 leaves more to be desired when scanning photos. The scan is heavy-handed on color saturation and adds some noticeable grain to high-resolution colored images. The images come out a bit darker than the original, too, even for black and white photographs.

Should You Buy the Canon imageFORMULA R10?

The Canon imageFORMULA R10 is a capable product for on-the-go professionals who need a hands-off way to scan documents or business cards during meetings. It can also be worth buying if you have limited desk space but still need a way to frequently process important forms. However, this is not the scanner for you if you want to digitize photographs and preserve their beautiful qualities. It's also worth reiterating our negative experience with the R10's software–this scanner can save you time while you're on the go, but waste just as much time when you're transferring scans in the office.

What Other Scanner Should You Consider?

While the Canon imageFORMULA R10 is a decent compact scanner with the added bonus of a 20-page autofeeder tray, we don't consider it the best portable scanner on the market. If you're looking for a portable scanner, we recommend checking out the Epson WorkForce ES-60W, because it produces sharper, more color-accurate scans, has better software, and has a lower price tag. If portability and space-saving aren't priorities, consider the Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300 for a home office scanner. This unit boasts excellent scan quality, operates incredibly fast, and maintains a relatively small footprint.