The Motorola DS4208 is a 1D and 2D general purpose handheld scanner and imager with scanning speed so lightning fast it’s comparable to laser scanners. That means capturing 2D barcodes with ease, without the risk of sacrificing quality. 
With no need to pause between scans or taking time to align the barcode with the scanner, productivity is never compromised. You can also capture bar codes printed on paper or displayed on the screen of a mobile device. What’s more, true point-and-shoot functionality enables the Motorola DS4208 to scan poor-quality and damaged barcodes, ensuring speed and accuracy in a variety of applications.
Applications and Typical Uses
The Motorola DS4208’s scanning versatility that accommodates barcodes printed on paper and on mobile device screens makes this scanner useful for retail environments, but it’s also useful for a variety of other applications, such as education, government, and warehousing.
A similar model, the Motorola DS4208-HC, is designed specifically for use in healthcare applications, with the ability to capture both 1D and 2D barcodes on patient wristbands, blood bags, suppositories, syringes, and even specimens to ensure accurate tracking without delaying patient care delivery. The DS4208-HC also offers IP43 (International Protection Marking, IEC standard 60529, also called Ingress Protection Marking, which classifies the level of protection against outside contaminants) sealing and a specially designed plastic housing, meaning you can sanitize and wipe down this scanner after every use without compromising the device’s integrity.
Scanning Capabilities
With retailers and manufacturers moving to 2D barcodes as a means to streamline the supply chain, organizations are faced with implementing more-capable 2D scanners. The Motorola DS4208 is designed to provide the same level of speed and accuracy obtainable with 1D barcodes, comparable to that offered by laser scanners, but in a more cost-effective and efficient package that doesn’t sacrifice image quality.
The Motorola DS4208 is compatible with virtually all 1D and 2D symbologies, making it possible to utilize a single scanning device for data capture. Additionally, there’s no need to carefully align barcodes with the scanner or pause between scanning, ensuring a streamlined, continuous workflow that doesn’t negatively impact productivity.
Durability
The Motorola DS4208 withstands 2,000 consecutive drops to concrete from a height of six feet. The DS4208 is a general-use handheld scanner that can be used in most typical applications and offers excellent durability against concerns such as exposure to heat, cold, dust, and spilled liquids (beverages). Its IP43-rated casing means it’s protected against exposure to harsh chemicals for the purposes of cleaning and sanitation.
The Motorola DS4208 can be stored in a wide range of temperatures, ranging from -40° F to 158° F. It can be used in temperatures ranging from 32° F to 104° F.
Additional Features and Functionality
The Motorola DS4208 is capable of scanning barcodes on a variety of surfaces, including mobile device display screens and paper, so this handheld scanner is a good choice for applications that rely on mobile device communications either in customer-facing scenarios or as part of the typical workflow.
Hotels, for example, can utilize the Motorola DS4208 handheld scanner to scan mobile customer loyalty cards, while retailers can easily accommodate mobile discount offers and coupons for customers. An LED aimer produces omnidirectional lighting, which means the scanner can accurately scan barcodes from multiple angles.
Key Features: 
- Excellent durability against dust, spilled beverages, extreme heat and cold
- Omnidirectional scanning capabilities
- Supports USB and RS232 interfaces
- Swipe speed of 100 inches per second at full illumination
- Lightweight at 6.1 ounces
- Immune to indoor lighting and sunlight
- Works in 5% to 95%, non-condensing
- Five-year warranty
Scanning Capabilities:
1D Supported Symbologies: UPC/EAN, UPC/EAN with supplementals, Bookland EAN, ISSN, UCC Coupon Extended Code, Code 128, GS1-128, ISBT 128, Code 39, Code 39 Full ASCII, Trioptic Code 39, Code 32, Code 93, Code 11, Matrix 2 of 5, Interleaved 2 of 5, Discrete 2 of 5, Codabar, MSI, Chinese 2 of 5, GS1 DataBar variants
2D Supported Symbologies: PDF417, MicroPDF417, Composite Codes, TLC-39, Data Matrix, Maxicode, QR Code, MicroQR, Aztec
Postal Supported Symbologies: Australian Post, US PLANET, Royal Mail 4 State Customer, US POSTNET, KIX Code (Dutch), UK Postal, Japan Post, UPU 4 State Postal FICS (Post US4), USPS 4 State Postal (Post US3)
Optional Accessories:
- Intellistand for hands-free use
- Gooseneck stand
- Additional cables
Cost: *Est. $210 – $260
Images via Motorola