What is the difference between a benchtop spectrometer and a portable spectrometer?

Benchtop Spectrometer

Size: Large, usually need to be fixed installed in the laboratory or workbench. The equipment is more bulky and not suitable to be moved at any time.

Testing: generally have higher resolution and sensitivity and are suitable for precision analysis. Due to the larger optical system and more precise copper components inside the instrument, it can provide higher spectral resolution and detection accuracy, suitable for demanding laboratory environments.

Application: Mainly used for laboratory analysis, suitable for long-term, continuous, fine sample testing, widely used in scientific research, material analysis, chemical analysis, environmental testing and other fields, especially where high precision and complex analysis is required.

Operation: usually need to be connected to a computer for operation, the software function is more and more complex, need to be operated by professional personnel, and the experimental conditions (such as ambient temperature, light source, sample processing) need to be strictly controlled.

Detection speed: Due to the high precision and often used for complex analytical projects, the detection process may require more time, including sample preparation, spectral scanning and data processing.

Functionality: Often equipped with additional features and accessories, such as multiple light sources, sample handling equipment and data analysis software, capable of performing a wide range of complex spectral analyses.

Maintenance: Requires more regular maintenance and calibration, which can be complex. Maintenance costs are high due to the precision of the internal optical system.

Portable Spectrometer

Volume: Small, lightweight and portable, suitable for on-site testing and mobile testing, and can be used anywhere, anytime.

Testing: Although the measurement accuracy and performance are improving, they are slightly lower compared to benchtop spectrometers. Due to the small size of portable spectrometers, the optical system is relatively simple, the resolution and detection limit is relatively low, but it is enough to deal with most of the on-site testing needs.

Application: suitable for on-site inspection and rapid analysis, commonly used in mining, waste recycling, manufacturing site inspection, environmental monitoring, emergency response and other fields, portable spectrometer mobility allows it to work in a variety of complex environments.

Operation: Simple to operate, often with a touch screen or simplified interface, many models can be operated by buttons, enabling rapid analysis of results. Complex sample handling is often not required, making them suitable for non-specialists or on-site operation.

Detection speed: faster detection speed, especially for on-site testing, can get preliminary results in a short period of time, rapid response to demand.

Function: the function is more simplified, focusing on the scene of rapid analysis, applicable to a single or a small number of parameters of the measurement, although some high-end portable spectrometers can be a variety of materials or components of the analysis, but the scalability is not as good as the desktop instrument.

Maintenance: Maintenance and calibration is relatively simple, portable equipment is usually designed for field use, durability and resistance to environmental interference, low maintenance requirements.