ScanSnap ix1600 Discontinued: Why the Ricoh ix2500 is the Superior Replacement

What Happened to the ScanSnap ix1600?

When Ricoh acquired a majority stake in PFU Limited in September 2022, followed by acquiring the remainder in March 2025, they inherited one of the most respected names in document scanning. The rebranding of PFU's scanner products, including the ScanSnap line, began in April 2023.

The ScanSnap ix1600 wasn't just popular - it was Australia's best-selling document scanner and by far the most popular choice among small businesses at Landmark Computers. Its reputation among Australian professionals, accountants, small business owners, and home office users for reliability, ease of use, and excellent scanning quality was well-deserved.

As part of the product lineup refresh, Ricoh has discontinued the ix1600 and introduced the ix2500 as its flagship desktop scanner. While some retailers may have remaining ix1600 stock, these units represent the tail end of inventory rather than ongoing supply. For anyone shopping today, the ix2500 is the model to consider.

The transition hasn't been a typical "remove features to cut costs" move that we sometimes see when products are replaced. Instead, Ricoh has genuinely improved the platform in meaningful ways while keeping prices competitive.

Side-by-Side Comparison: ix2500 vs ix1600

Here's how the two models stack up across the features that matter most for Australian users:

What Makes the ix2500 Better Than Its Predecessor

The improvements aren't just incremental spec bumps. These are meaningful enhancements that improve the daily scanning experience for Australian users:

Significantly Faster Scanning Speed

The ix2500 scans at 45 pages per minute compared to the ix1600's 40ppm. While that might sound like a modest improvement on paper, it adds up quickly in real-world use. Scanning a 100-page document takes just over two minutes with the ix2500 versus nearly two and a half minutes with the ix1600. Over the course of a week processing invoices, receipts, and contracts, those seconds multiply into meaningful time savings.

The speed improvement comes from Ricoh's next-generation iiGA System on a Chip, which was previously only available in their business-grade scanners. This provides faster start-up times, improved image processing, and more responsive operation overall.

Doubled Paper Capacity Changes the Game

Perhaps the most impactful upgrade is the automatic document feeder capacity increasing from 50 sheets to 100 sheets. This seemingly simple change transforms how you work with the scanner.

With the ix1600, scanning a week's worth of receipts or a large contract often meant splitting documents into multiple batches. The ix2500 handles twice as much in one go, meaning you can load your scanning jobs, press start, and walk away to handle other tasks. For small business owners juggling multiple responsibilities, this unattended operation is genuinely valuable.

Even with the receipt guide installed for scanning smaller documents, the ix2500 still holds 50 sheets—matching the ix1600's maximum capacity without the guide.

Larger, More Responsive Touchscreen

The touchscreen has grown from 4.3 inches to 5 inches, and the improvement is immediately noticeable. The larger display makes it easier to read profile names, preview settings, and navigate options without squinting. Ricoh has also improved the touch response, making the interface feel more fluid and smartphone-like.

For offices where multiple people use the scanner, the bigger screen makes it easier for everyone to select their personal profiles and preferred settings at a glance.

WiFi 6 for Modern Australian Offices

While the ix1600 offered WiFi 5 connectivity, the ix2500 upgrades to WiFi 6 (802.11ax). This isn't just about raw speed—WiFi 6 provides more stable connections in environments with multiple wireless devices, which describes most modern Australian offices.

The scanner maintains robust wireless performance even in congested office buildings with dozens of WiFi networks competing for airspace. It also supports the WPA3 security protocol and TLS 1.3, providing better protection for your scanned documents as they travel across your network.

Advanced Skew Detection Prevents Document Jams

The ix2500 includes an ultrasonic skew detection system that Ricoh previously reserved for their more expensive business scanners. This system uses sensors to examine documents as they feed, detecting if a page is entering crooked.

When skew is detected, the scanner automatically stops feeding to prevent potential damage or jams. This is particularly valuable when scanning mixed batches of older documents, receipts, or papers of varying quality. It's one of those features you don't think about until it saves you from a jammed and potentially damaged document.

Privacy Mode for Shared Workspaces

With more Australians working from coworking spaces or hot-desking in hybrid office environments, the ix2500's Privacy Mode addresses a genuine concern. When enabled, your scanning profiles and destinations appear on the touchscreen only while your device is connected to the scanner.

Once you disconnect, your profile information disappears from the unit, ensuring others can't see your cloud storage destinations, folder structures, or scanning preferences. This makes the ix2500 much more suitable for shared office environments where multiple companies or individuals might use the same equipment.

Portable Profiles: Your Scanner Everywhere

Another clever addition for modern work arrangements is portable profiles. When you connect your device to any ix2500 scanner, your personal settings and destinations automatically apply. This means if your company has multiple ix2500 units across different offices or floors, or if you work from various coworking spaces equipped with these scanners, you get your customised experience wherever you go.

Your preferred scan quality settings, cloud destinations, and custom shortcuts travel with you—no need to reconfigure the scanner at each location.

Receipt Guide Included as Standard

The ix1600 required purchasing the receipt guide as a separate accessory. The ix2500 includes it in the box, which is particularly valuable for accountants, bookkeepers, and small business owners who regularly scan receipts and business cards.

This removable attachment guides smaller documents through the scanner smoothly, preventing misfeeds and ensuring receipts scan straight and clear.

What Hasn't Changed (The Good Stuff)

While the upgrades are impressive, everything that made the ix1600 popular remains intact:

Same Excellent ScanSnap Home Software

The ix2500 uses the same ScanSnap Home software that ix1600 users know and trust. This all-in-one application handles scanning, document organisation, OCR (optical character recognition), and integration with cloud services seamlessly.

The software automatically detects document types, applies appropriate processing, and routes files to your designated destinations—whether that's specific folders on your computer, cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive, or directly to applications like Microsoft Office.

Proven Scan Quality and Reliability

The optical resolution remains at 600 dpi, which provides excellent clarity for documents, receipts, photos, and business cards. The image processing that made the ix1600 popular—automatic blank page removal, colour detection, deskewing, and rotation—all carry over to the new model.

Ricoh hasn't changed the fundamental scanning technology that earned the ScanSnap line its sterling reputation for producing clean, clear, consistently high-quality scans.

Comprehensive Cloud Integration

The ix2500 maintains full compatibility with ScanSnap Cloud, allowing you to scan directly to popular cloud services without a computer or mobile device. The scanner can automatically recognise different document types—receipts, business cards, documents, and photos—and route them to appropriate cloud destinations.

This includes integration with services that Australian businesses rely on: Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Evernote, and accounting platforms like Xero (via Hubdoc), MYOB, and QuickBooks Online.

Compact, Desk-Friendly Design

Despite the increased paper capacity and larger touchscreen, the ix2500 maintains a similar compact footprint to its predecessor. The collapsible paper output tray and feeder mean it doesn't take up much desk space when idle.

At 6.3 by 11.5 by 6.3 inches, it's still one of the more compact scanners available considering its speed and capacity.

Real-World Performance: What Australian Users Can Expect

Specifications tell only part of the story. Here's what the ix2500's improvements mean for different Australian users:

For Small Business Owners

The doubled paper capacity is the standout feature. You can now scan an entire week's worth of invoices, receipts, and correspondence in a single batch. Load the documents, press start, and handle other tasks while the scanner works through the stack. The included receipt guide makes processing expense documentation straightforward, and the cloud integration means documents flow directly into your accounting software.

For Accountants and Bookkeepers

Processing client documents becomes faster and more efficient with the increased speed and capacity. The receipt guide handles the varied sizes of financial documents smoothly, while the advanced skew detection prevents issues with older or crumpled receipts. Direct integration with Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks Online streamlines your workflow, and the Privacy Mode provides peace of mind when scanning sensitive client information in shared office environments.

For Home Office Professionals

The WiFi 6 connectivity provides reliable wireless scanning throughout your home, even in areas where the ix1600 might have struggled with signal strength. The larger touchscreen makes occasional scanning tasks more intuitive, and the compact design means it doesn't dominate your workspace. The ability to scan directly to cloud services without turning on your computer is genuinely convenient for quick jobs.

For Coworking Space Users

The Privacy Mode and portable profiles make the ix2500 ideal for shared workspaces. Your scanning preferences follow you between locations, your profiles disappear when you disconnect, and you maintain control over where your documents are stored. This level of privacy wasn't possible with the ix1600.

For Existing ix1600 Owners: Should You Upgrade?

If you currently own an ix1600 that's working well, there's no urgent need to replace it. The ix1600 remains an excellent scanner that will continue serving you reliably for years. Your ScanSnap Home software receives the same updates, and your workflows remain fully supported.

However, consider upgrading to the ix2500 if you regularly encounter these situations:

The good news is that transitioning from the ix1600 to the ix2500 is seamless. Your ScanSnap Home profiles, cloud connections, and custom workflows transfer directly. You're already familiar with the interface, so there's virtually no learning curve.

If You're Buying a Scanner Today: The Clear Choice

For anyone shopping for a desktop document scanner in Australia right now, the decision is straightforward. There's no reason to hunt for remaining ix1600 stock when the ix2500 offers:

• Better specifications across scanning speed, paper capacity, and connectivity
• More advanced features like Privacy Mode, portable profiles, and ultrasonic skew detection
• Competitive pricing that's actually lower than the ix1600's original launch price
• Full manufacturer support and warranty coverage from Ricoh
• Future-proof technology with WiFi 6 that won't become outdated quickly

The ix2500 represents that rare situation in technology where the replacement product is genuinely better in every meaningful way while remaining affordable. Ricoh hasn't cut corners or removed features to hit a price point—they've enhanced the platform while keeping it accessible.

Getting the ix2500 in Australia

At Landmark Computers, we've been helping Australian businesses choose the right scanning solutions since 1994. With over 30 years of experience serving customers from Melbourne to Perth, Sydney to Brisbane, and everywhere in between, we understand what Australian offices need.

We offer the Ricoh ScanSnap ix2500 at the lowest price in Australia, with free delivery Australia-wide. Whether you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, or anywhere else across the country, we'll get your new scanner to you at no extra cost.

Our team includes technicians with extensive experience in document management solutions who can answer your questions about setup, integration with your existing systems, and optimising your scanning workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still buy the ScanSnap ix1600 in Australia?

The ix1600 has been officially discontinued by Ricoh. While some retailers may have remaining inventory, we recommend the ix2500 which offers superior features, better performance, and full manufacturer support with warranty coverage.

Will my ix1600 accessories work with the ix2500?

Carrier sheets and most accessories are compatible between models. The ix2500 also includes a receipt guide as standard, which was an optional accessory for the ix1600. Replacement consumables like pick and brake rollers are specific to each model.

Is the ix2500 compatible with my ix1600 software and workflows?

Yes, absolutely. The ix2500 uses the same ScanSnap Home software and maintains full compatibility with all cloud services, destinations, and workflows you've set up with your ix1600. Your profiles can transfer to the new scanner, making the transition seamless.

How much faster is the ix2500 compared to the ix1600?

The ix2500 scans at 45 pages per minute versus the ix1600's 40 pages per minute. This represents about a 12 percent speed increase, which translates to scanning 100 pages in approximately two minutes versus two and a half minutes with the ix1600.

What does WiFi 6 actually mean for my scanning?

WiFi 6 provides more stable and reliable wireless connections, particularly in environments with many WiFi devices. You'll experience fewer dropped connections, more consistent scanning speeds over wireless, and better performance in office buildings with multiple competing WiFi networks. It also includes enhanced security protocols to protect your scanned documents.

Can I scan directly to my accounting software?

Yes, the ix2500 integrates with popular Australian accounting platforms including Xero (via Hubdoc), MYOB, and QuickBooks Online. You can scan receipts, invoices, and other financial documents directly into these systems through ScanSnap Home or ScanSnap Cloud.

Does the ix2500 work with Mac computers?

Yes, the ix2500 fully supports both Windows and Mac operating systems. The ScanSnap Home software is available for both platforms and provides the same features and functionality regardless of which system you use.

How does Privacy Mode work?

Privacy Mode displays your scanning profiles on the touchscreen only while your device is connected to the scanner. When you disconnect your computer, smartphone, or tablet, your profile information is automatically removed from the scanner's display and memory. This ensures others cannot see your cloud destinations, folder structures, or scanning preferences when using shared scanners in coworking spaces or hot-desking environments.

What's the difference between the ix2500 and the ix1400?

The ix1400 is a more budget-friendly model that lacks the touchscreen, WiFi connectivity, and advanced features of the ix2500. It's controlled entirely through computer software rather than the scanner itself. The ix2500 offers greater flexibility, faster operation, wireless connectivity, and features like Privacy Mode that aren't available on the ix1400.

Can I scan photos with the ix2500?

Yes, the ix2500 handles photos beautifully. It can scan a 4 by 6 inch photo in under a second and includes intelligent features like automatic facial orientation and red-eye reduction. Use the included carrier sheets when scanning valuable or delicate photos to protect them during the scanning process.

The Bottom Line

The discontinuation of the ScanSnap ix1600 isn't something to mourn. Ricoh has replaced it with a genuinely superior product that addresses real limitations of the previous model while maintaining everything that made it popular.

The ix2500 offers faster scanning, double the paper capacity, better connectivity, enhanced privacy features, and clever innovations like portable profiles—all while being competitively priced. For Australian users shopping for a desktop document scanner today, it's the clear choice.

Whether you're replacing an ageing scanner, upgrading from an ix1600, or choosing your first document scanner for your Australian business or home office, the ix2500 delivers the performance, features, and reliability you need to handle your scanning tasks efficiently.

Looking for more information about scanners and office productivity? Explore our range of scanners, or contact our experienced team for recommendations tailored to your Australian business needs.