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How to choose a handheld LiDAR scanner

Buying guidance

Start with the file your next project needs. A scanner that produces an attractive scene may still leave your team with registration, cleanup, modeling and quality checks before the data is ready to use. We recommend choosing the capture and processing workflow together.

Pocket2 and Pocket2 Pro are Manifold Tech products. RS7 is a CHCNAV product with a different software ecosystem. They belong in the same buying conversation when they are being evaluated for the same deliverable; their accessories, licenses and processing tools are not interchangeable.

Match the shortlist to the result

On a small screen, swipe the table or focus it and use the arrow keys. Row labels stay visible.

Required result	Practical shortlist	Make this the acceptance test
Measured building or facility point cloud	Compare Pocket2, Pocket2 Pro and RS7 on the same route	Check independent dimensions, floor alignment, missing surfaces and a usable export in the receiving application.
Point cloud plus richer visual documentation	Evaluate Pocket2 Pro and RS7; compare the imagery workflow against Pocket2	Inspect image detail, difficult lighting, visual-to-geometric alignment and the deliverable the client will actually receive.
Work with restricted cloud upload	Start by proving a complete local workflow for the proposed kit	Disconnect from the internet for the agreed test and establish what still works, including licensing, processing, export and later access.
Long corridors, repeated rooms or multiple floors	Include RS7 in a same-site test; use the same difficult route for every candidate	Inspect drift, repeated surfaces, stair connections and independent checks after processing.
Georeferenced site data	Evaluate the complete scanner, positioning and control setup	Check the coordinate system and independent horizontal and vertical checkpoints; confirm required GNSS or control hardware.

These are evaluation shortlists. RS7 is marketed for building/interior capture and inertial-assisted motion tracking; Pocket2 Pro adds integrated imagery capability. No winner is established without a matched test.

Know which accuracy question you are asking

Local geometry asks whether nearby features have the right shape and spacing. Global consistency asks whether the route holds together across a building or site. Absolute positioning asks whether the result is in the right real-world coordinate position. A good result in one category does not prove the other two.

Ask for the definition and test conditions behind every accuracy figure. Keep control points used to align or optimize a dataset separate from independent checkpoints used to assess it. A small residual on the points used to fit a model does not, by itself, validate the rest of the site.

Prove the full path from capture to delivery

1. Capture a representative route. Include doorways, stairs, long sight lines and areas with poor texture or repeated geometry. Record the route and any pauses or reinitialization.

2. Process with the software and computer you plan to buy or already own. Record processing time, manual work, internet use and settings.

3. Check geometry and coverage. Inspect sections through walls and floors, revisit suspect areas and compare independent dimensions or checkpoints.

4. Deliver into the real receiving application. Test the required point cloud, image, mesh or other output with the agreed units, coordinates, colors and attributes.

A point cloud does not automatically become a finished BIM model, CAD plan or accepted volume report. Establish who creates those deliverables and what additional software, interpretation and checking they require. A Gaussian splat can be useful for visual review; measure from a validated geometric dataset when the job requires defensible dimensions.

Local and cloud processing are buying decisions

Manifold lists MindCloud Studio for local point-cloud processing, MindCloud Go for mobile use, MindCloud Render for Gaussian rendering and MindCloudX.AI for cloud services. Its download center says the Studio desktop application requires a license. A named software suite on a product page is not proof that every module, seat or term is included in your purchase.

CHCNAV documents RS7 workflows involving its capture app, CoPre, CoProcess and CoCloud. Its datasheet labels the listed processing software optional, and CoCloud pricing depends on configuration. Ask for the exact local and cloud path for your quoted RS7, including current app names, supported versions and output entitlements.

Local processing: establish operating system, CPU, RAM, GPU/VRAM, disk space, license activation and realistic turnaround on a representative dataset. Check the workstation requirements for the software release you plan to use.

Cloud processing: establish upload permission, connection needs, processing allowances, storage, retention, export/download rights, sharing controls and charges after included usage.

For either route: retain an agreed way to retrieve the raw capture and usable outputs, and understand what remains accessible if a license or subscription ends.

Frequently asked questions

Does a higher point rate make a scanner more accurate

Point rate describes data collection capacity. It does not establish trajectory accuracy, registration quality, target visibility or finished-project accuracy. Compare the same features at similar distances and inspect the checked result.

Can a handheld scanner capture every surface in one pass

Plan for occlusions, glass, reflective surfaces, moving people and areas the sensor cannot see. Include representative problem surfaces in the demo and determine whether supplementary capture is needed.

Can we use scan data directly in our CAD or BIM tools

Test the exact exported file and application version. File support, coordinate handling, performance and the amount of manual modeling all matter. Do not base the purchase on a logo or a generic compatibility claim.

How should we compare total cost

Use the same period and workload for each option. Include hardware, accessories, training, computing, processing licenses, cloud usage, storage, renewals and staff time to produce accepted work.

Next step

Compare Pocket2 and Pocket2 Pro in our model guide, then request a workflow demonstration using your own acceptance criteria. Tell us whether the job requires measured geometry, visual documentation or both.

Related buying guides

Before selecting a configuration

Record the exact supplied model, part numbers, hardware and firmware versions.
Check correction-service eligibility, regional coverage, accuracy, convergence and current service terms.
Match capture hardware, control requirements, software modules and file outputs to your workflow.
Compare ready-to-scan weights and verify accessory compatibility for the supplied revision.
Review current prices, availability, shipping, applicable taxes, included items and license terms before ordering.
Agree any demonstration, training, support and sample-data permissions as part of your quote.

Sources

Sources were checked October 5, 2026. Datasheet revisions are recorded where visible. Product pages can change, so the final quote should identify the specification for the supplied version. Manual links below lead to official support or download pages; select the exact model and current document there.

Manual navigation note: Manifold’s download site uses product selection. Choose Pocket2 or Pocket2 Pro and then Documentation Manual; the product query URL may open the general software panel. Downloading an installer does not establish a software entitlement.