Aoralscan Elite, Elite Wireless and NEO: what's the difference and which to choose?

In short: all three scanners in the Aoralscan Elite family are designed for everyday digital impressions; the key differences are intraoral photogrammetry (IPG) and the cable. Aoralscan Elite is a wired scanner with IPG, Aoralscan Elite Wireless is wireless with IPG, and Aoralscan Elite Wireless NEO is wireless but without IPG, which makes it more affordable. If your clinic plans full-arch implant (All-on-X) restorations, choose Elite or Elite Wireless; if not, NEO or even Aoralscan 3 / Elf may be the more sensible choice.

What IPG is and why it drives the choice

IPG (intraoral photogrammetry) is photogrammetric capture of implant positions using the intraoral scanner itself. SHINING 3D presents Aoralscan Elite as the first device to combine intraoral scanning (IOS) and photogrammetry in a single unit. Scanning is done with coded scan bodies: each carries a unique dot code, so the software recognizes the position of every implant and reduces the stitching errors typical of edentulous arch scans. According to the manufacturer, the coded scan bodies are compatible with more than 100 implant systems, and IPG precision reaches 5 µm.

A clinic that does crowns, bridges, inlays, single-implant restorations or aligners will not use IPG day to day. In that case there is no point paying for it, and that is exactly what the NEO model was created for.

Aoralscan Elite: wired scanner with photogrammetry

The wired Elite connects via USB Type-C. The current manufacturer specification lists a weight of 124 g (without cables) and dimensions of 245 × 30 × 26 mm, with single-unit accuracy of 10 µm and three-unit bridge accuracy of 20 µm. A cable means no worrying about battery charging or wireless stability, which matters in long full-arch procedures. Elite suits clinics and implant centers that work in one or two operating rooms and want IPG at a lower price than the wireless version.

Aoralscan Elite Wireless: wireless with IPG

Elite Wireless offers the same IPG function and coded scan body support but connects via Wi-Fi 6. According to the manufacturer, the scanner weighs 194 g including the battery, measures 247 × 38 × 37 mm, scans continuously for up to 2 hours, lasts up to 12 hours in standby and fully charges in about 2.5 hours. Wireless operation is convenient when the scanner is moved between treatment rooms or when you want more freedom of movement around the patient during surgical procedures.

Aoralscan Elite Wireless NEO: wireless without IPG

In hardware terms, NEO matches Elite Wireless: 194 g with battery, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, three interchangeable tips (large 19 × 12 mm, standard 16 × 12 mm and mini 12 × 9 mm), a wireless charging case, up to 2 hours of continuous scanning, export in STL, OBJ and PLY formats, and a 2-year warranty. There is one difference: NEO does not support intraoral photogrammetry, so it is not used with coded scan bodies. It is the logical choice for a clinic that wants a wireless Elite-class scanner for restorative and orthodontic work.

Where Aoralscan 3, 3 Wireless and Elf fit in the line-up

• Aoralscan 3: a wired (USB 3.0) scanner for everyday work, 240 ± 10 g. According to the manufacturer, it scans one arch in ~25 s and both in about a minute; scan depth up to 22 mm, tips autoclavable for up to 100 cycles.
• Aoralscan 3 Wireless: the wireless version of Aoralscan 3 with Wi-Fi 6: about 2 hours of continuous scanning, up to 10 days in standby, two tips (standard and mini).
• Aoralscan Elf: an ultra-light (106 g without cable) wired scanner with a single Type-C connection, three tips and AI-based IntelliBite bite analysis, 2-year warranty. Designed for clinics moving to digital impressions without a large investment.

None of these three models supports IPG or coded scan bodies.

Comparison table

All Aoralscan models export open STL, OBJ and PLY files. Warranty terms (Aoralscan Elf and Elite Wireless NEO: 2 years) and the package contents for each model are specified in our offer.

How to choose: a practical checklist

1. Will you be doing full-arch implant restorations? If yes, or if you plan to within the next year, choose Elite or Elite Wireless. If not, NEO, Aoralscan 3 or Elf.
2. Will the scanner move between treatment rooms? A wireless version saves time and cable management, but battery charging needs to be planned.
3. What computer do you have? For the Elite series, the manufacturer recommends at least an Intel Core i7-8700 processor, 32 GB RAM and an NVIDIA RTX 2060 6 GB graphics card (Windows 10 Pro 64 bit), or macOS Ventura 13 or later.
4. Who will use the scanner? A lighter scanner is less tiring for the hand in long procedures; it is worth trying during a demo.
5. Accessories. IPG models require coded scan bodies, spare screws and Scan Caps; all models need spare tips.
6. Workstation. The scanner can be combined with the All-in-one e-motion cart, which also integrates a face scanning camera.

Typical scenarios

• General practice, 1–2 chairs, crowns and aligners. Aoralscan Elf or Aoralscan 3 is enough; if the scanner will be moved between treatment rooms, choose Aoralscan 3 Wireless or Elite Wireless NEO.
• A clinic that restores implants but refers full-arch cases to colleagues. Elite Wireless NEO: a wireless Elite-class scanner without IPG you don't need.
• An implant center that performs All-on-X regularly. Aoralscan Elite or Elite Wireless with coded scan bodies and Scan Caps.

A common mistake is buying IPG "just in case". If you have no full-arch implant cases, the money saved is better spent on a 3D printer or extra tips.

Next step

You will find all models in the intraoral scanners section and accessories under scanner accessories. Price on request. Contact IMMT: we will visit with a demo scanner, help you compare Elite, Elite Wireless and NEO on your clinic's cases, and after purchase we will install the software and train your team.