The catch
Brother ADS-1800W
Its 20-sheet feeder suits small piles better than long runs you leave unattended.
Side by side
Brother ADS-1800W vs ScanSnap iX1300: Host-powered scanning on Brother takes 15 W
Quick verdict
The ADS-1800W is the pick for named touchscreen jobs, TWAIN software and USB-C power from a host supplying at least 15 W. The iX1300 is the better fit when its front Return Scan suits your desk and the cards you scan.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Tight desk space and a lack of outlets pull in opposite directions
Ordinary pages stay in the U-turn path of the iX1300, which also has a front return slot. The ADS-1800W takes USB-C power from a host that supplies at least 15 W. If the missing outlet is the constraint, check what your laptop outputs before you prefer Brother.
Where this comes from
With a USB-C port of lower output or a USB-A adapter, optional AC power is required. The iX1300 always needs its separate AC adapter.
The catch
Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
Because it needs an AC adapter, USB doesn't free you from an outlet.
Brother ADS-1800W
- Why pick it
- Touchscreen jobs appeal to you, and your laptop delivers at least 15 W over USB-C
- TWAIN scanning is required by your Windows application
- The catch
- Its 20-sheet feeder suits small piles better than long runs you leave unattended.
Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
- Why pick it
- Paper has to come back out close to the scanner
- Scanning supported cards through a front-return slot is a regular task for you
- The catch
- Because it needs an AC adapter, USB doesn't free you from an outlet.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
USB-powered touchscreen scanning meets ScanSnap's compact return path here. Your desk layout, cards and existing software can settle which model suits you.
The ADS-1800W is the pick for named touchscreen jobs, TWAIN software and USB-C power from a host supplying at least 15 W. The iX1300 is the better fit when its front Return Scan suits your desk and the cards you scan.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A laptop desk where no outlet is free
The Brother runs from USB-C only if the host supplies at least 15 W.
- Brother ADS-1800W
- Better fit
- Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
- Caution
A cramped desk with the odd supported card
Cards up to 1.4 mm go through Return Scan, which brings them back out the front.
- Brother ADS-1800W
- Good
- Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
- Better fit
A number of named filing destinations for the household
A touchscreen for selecting jobs comes with the Brother.
- Brother ADS-1800W
- Better fit
- Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
- Good
Windows software that needs to acquire scans through TWAIN
The ScanSnap driver does not use TWAIN.
- Brother ADS-1800W
- Better fit
- Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Tight desk space and a lack of outlets pull in opposite directions
Ordinary pages stay in the U-turn path of the iX1300, which also has a front return slot. The ADS-1800W takes USB-C power from a host that supplies at least 15 W. If the missing outlet is the constraint, check what your laptop outputs before you prefer Brother.
How we worked this out
With a USB-C port of lower output or a USB-A adapter, optional AC power is required. The iX1300 always needs its separate AC adapter.
Return-slot rules differ for cards and booklets
Return Scan on the iX1300 handles cards up to 1.4 mm and suitable booklets up to 2 mm. Capturing a booklet requires a computer connection. Someone who alternates between ID cards and booklets has to check both thickness and receiving device, although the slot is the same.
How we worked this out
Feed one supported item at a time. For booklets, check the dimensions and carrier requirements and do not carry over the rule for cards.
An existing filing app can undo the case for compactness
With Brother’s Windows TWAIN driver, compatible software can acquire a scan directly. ScanSnap needs its own scanning workflow, and you import the resulting file elsewhere afterward. In an office that already has a capture system, that extra handoff can matter more than a smaller paper path.
How we worked this out
Look up the exact application and OS. Nothing here compares OCR accuracy.
Option A
Brother, ADS-1800W
ADS-1800W
When household forms and work receipts belong in different places, you pick the saved destination on the touchscreen.
- Best for
- Touchscreen jobs appeal to you, and your laptop delivers at least 15 W over USB-C
Facts we checked
- Power: USB-C host that supplies at least 15 W
- Manual paper path: Ordinary feeder plus a dedicated card slot
- On-device controls: On a 2.8-inch touchscreen
- Application driver: TWAIN for Windows
Option B
Ricoh ScanSnap, iX1300
iX1300
Routine sheets sit above the scanner, and a card or supported thick item goes through its front return slot.
- Best for
- Paper has to come back out close to the scanner
Facts we checked
- Power: Needs an AC adapter
- Manual paper path: Front Return Scan, for cards up to 1.4 mm
- On-device controls: Workflow driven by one button
- Application driver: ScanSnap-specific and no TWAIN
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Brother ADS-1800W | Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | USB-C host supplying at least 15 W | AC adapter required | With a lower-output USB-C port, Brother still needs an outlet. |
| Manual paper path | Dedicated card slot and ordinary feeder | Front Return Scan, cards up to 1.4 mm | Supported originals fed by hand come back to the front on ScanSnap. |
| On-device controls | 2.8-inch touchscreen | One-button workflow | At the scanner, Brother shows multiple jobs. |
| Application driver | Windows TWAIN | ScanSnap-specific, no TWAIN | ScanSnap can be ruled out by software you already depend on. |
| Ordinary stack | 20 sheets | 20 sheets | A large packet does not fit one load on either. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Brother ADS-1800W
- There is no Ethernet socket, and scanning to a network folder relies on supported CIFS settings.
With Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300
- ScanSnap offers no TWAIN, and Return Scan takes just one item at a time.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your laptop supplies at least 15 W and the scanner has to run on its USB power
Go with Brother ADS-1800W. An AC adapter is required for the iX1300.
The front return path matters more to you than choosing jobs on the device
Go with Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300. It changes the place where you feed supported originals and pick them up.
You often load 80 sheets at once
Neither model fits. Each is a 20-sheet machine.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with the ADS-1800W if you want named touchscreen jobs, TWAIN software and USB-C power from a host supplying at least 15 W. Go with the iX1300 if its front Return Scan is a better match for your desk and for supported cards.
Tight desk space and a lack of outlets pull in opposite directions
Ordinary pages stay in the iX1300's U-turn path, and it adds a front return slot. The ADS-1800W takes USB-C power from a host that supplies at least 15 W. When the lack of an outlet is your constraint, check what your laptop outputs before favoring Brother. With a lower-output USB-C port or a USB-A adapter, you need the optional AC power. The iX1300 always needs its own AC adapter.
Return-slot rules differ for cards and booklets
Return Scan on the iX1300 supports cards up to 1.4 mm and suitable booklets up to 2 mm. Booklets can only be captured with a computer connected. So if you switch between ID cards and booklets, you have to check both thickness and the receiving device, even though both use the same slot. Feed one supported item at a time. For booklets, check the dimensions and carrier requirements and don't carry the card rule over.
An existing filing app can undo the case for compactness
With Brother's Windows TWAIN driver, compatible software can pull in a scan directly. ScanSnap makes you go through its own scanning workflow first, and only then can you import the resulting file elsewhere. In an office with a capture system already in place, that extra handoff can outweigh a smaller paper path. Check the exact application and OS. Nothing here compares OCR accuracy.
What this page can’t tell you
- Manufacturer feed ratings leave out document preparation, OCR and saving time.
- Confirm the supported media, the scan mode, your current operating system and the destination before you purchase.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the document scanners we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother ADS-1800W |
|
| |
| Ricoh ScanSnap iX1300 |
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Brother ADS-1800W
Touchscreen jobs appeal to you, and your laptop delivers at least 15 W over USB-C
See price & reviews on AmazonRicoh ScanSnap iX1300
Paper has to come back out close to the scanner
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money