For most NZ shops, a corded 2D USB scanner at around NZ$150–250 is the right buy, and your POS system's list matters more than the brand. If you sell from an iPad, look at a Bluetooth scanner your POS supports. Bustle, a hospitality system, doesn't list scanners at all.
Quick answer by POS system
| POS system | Scanners it lists |
|---|---|
| Lightspeed (Retail) | Supported: Socket Mobile S740 (Bluetooth), Zebra CS6080 (Bluetooth), Zebra DS2208 (USB or Bluetooth; Windows and Mac). Compatible but not supported by Lightspeed: Honeywell 1400G/1450G/1470G/1472G and Voyager 1202G, Socket Mobile D700, Motorola CS3000 |
| Shopify POS | Socket Mobile 1D and 2D, HP Engage 2D G2, Zebra DS2208 and DS2278, plus "any HID" scanner and the device camera |
| Loyverse | A long list, including Honeywell Granit 1910i, Zebra DS2208, Datalogic QuickScan Lite QW2100 and QuickScan QBT2131, SocketScan S700/S740/S800 and Motorola CS3070 |
| Hike | "Industry-standard" scanners on PC, Mac and iPad; sells an Element P100 1D/2D USB scanner (A$59 on its NZ page, priced in Australian dollars) |
| Bustle | No scanners on its hardware list (it's a hospitality system) |
| Lazygrid, Tabin | No public scanner list; ask before you buy |
If you sell barcoded stock, a retail-focused system with a proper scanner list is worth having. Compare them on our comparison table, or read Read our Lightspeed review, Read our Shopify POS review, Read our Loyverse review or Read our Hike review.
1D or 2D: which do you need?
Shopify explains the difference simply: 1D barcodes "are a row of parallel lines of varying thickness", the classic product barcode. 2D barcodes "are a pattern of black and white blocks arranged in a square", like a QR code.
A 1D scanner reads only the first kind. A 2D scanner (also called an area imager) reads both, so it can also handle:
- QR codes and digital loyalty cards
- gift cards and receipt barcodes (Shopify uses 2D codes on both)
- codes shown on a customer's phone screen (Datalogic's QBT2131, for example, is described as reading loyalty cards and barcodes from a mobile phone screen)
The price gap is small. At POS Central a 1D linear imager starts at NZ$89 incl. GST and 2D USB kits with a stand start at NZ$149, so 2D is the sensible default in 2026.
Corded, Bluetooth or presentation scanner
- Corded USB handheld: cheap and dependable for a fixed counter with a Windows PC, Mac or POS terminal. Lightspeed notes USB connects to one device at a time.
- Bluetooth (cordless): the usual choice for an iPad, and handy for scanning bulky items or doing stock counts. Shopify says its supported cordless scanners work "up to 100 meters away from your iPad or iPhone"; Lightspeed adds that Bluetooth has limited range and is prone to interference, so real-world range varies.
- Presentation (hands-free): sits on the counter and scans whatever passes in front of it. Good for busy checkouts. POS Central sells the Datalogic Magellan 900i at NZ$269 and listed the omnidirectional Honeywell Orbit MS7120 on special at NZ$299 (down from NZ$329) on 6 October 2026, both incl. GST.
- In-counter scanners are built into the checkout bench, often combined with a scale. They belong to supermarkets and produce shops; see our scanner scales guide.
Keyboard (HID) mode: why most scanners "just work"
HID stands for Human Interface Device. Shopify describes HID scanners as "simple plug-and-play scanners that emulate a keyboard": scan a barcode and the number appears in your POS as if you'd typed it, with no special software or drivers. "Most simple scanners are already in HID mode by default."
That's why an older scanner will often still work when plugged into a computer, as long as it's in HID mode. The catch is the device: an iPad can't take every USB scanner, so for tablets stick to your POS's list.
Scanning with a camera instead
If you scan rarely, your device's camera may be enough. Shopify POS can scan 1D and 2D barcodes with the camera, including products, receipts and gift card QR codes. It's slower than a dedicated scanner, so for a retail counter with a queue, buy the scanner.
What scanners cost in NZ
Prices at POS Central, an NZ POS supplier, all including GST:
| Scanner | Type | Price (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Zebex Z-3220 Plus | 1D linear imager, USB | NZ$89.00 |
| Nexa ZED 2602 | 2D, USB, with stand | NZ$149.00 |
| Honeywell HH490 | 2D, USB kit with stand | NZ$199.00 |
| Datalogic QuickScan QD2220 | 1D linear imager, USB kit with stand | NZ$199.00 |
| Zebra DS2208 | 2D, USB kit with stand | NZ$205.00 |
| Honeywell Voyager 1470G | 2D, USB kit | NZ$249.00 |
| Digitus 2D Bluetooth | 2D, Bluetooth | NZ$259.00 |
| Datalogic Magellan 900i | Presentation, USB, with stand | NZ$269.00 |
For comparison, Shopify's NZ hardware store lists the Zebra DS2208 at $199.00 (GST basis not shown). Hike's NZ page lists its Element P100 scanner at A$59 (Australian dollars).
The old names: Symbol, Motorola and Zebra
If you're replacing a scanner from the 2000s, you'll often see "Symbol" on it. Symbol Technologies was bought by Motorola in 2007, and in 2014 Zebra Technologies bought Motorola Solutions' enterprise business, which included the Symbol line. So "Symbol", "Motorola" and "Zebra" scanners are the same family. The LS2208 is still sold in NZ under the Motorola name, and Zebra's DS2208, a 2D handheld, is on both Shopify's and Lightspeed's lists.
Honeywell and Datalogic, the other big names in the old reviews, are still around. Current models you'll see listed include the Honeywell Voyager 1400G series (on Lightspeed's compatible list) and Granit 1910i (Loyverse's list), and Datalogic's QuickScan range (the QD2220 is sold at POS Central; the QW2100 and QBT2131 are on Loyverse's list).