Comparing Medit’s new i700 Wireless vs i700 vs i600 vs i500 scanners

You're probably here because you are considering buying a Medit scanner and are wondering about the difference between the i500, i600, i700 and i700 Wireless scanner models.

All of that information is below, but before we get into it, there’s some useful information that sales reps probably won’t tell you that will help you understand if a Medit scanner is right for you.

Let’s recap... On the 20th April 2022, Medit announced the newest member of the Medit family - the Wireless i700. The launch was expectedly stylish, with the dental equipment company doing their best version of an Apple launch - whipping out all-black outfits and a somewhat relevant dramatized short that emphasized their tagline “Magic Made Easy with A Simple Touch”.

The theatrics are great, but that left everyone in the digital dentistry world with questions, such as:

Is the Medit i700 Wireless worth it?

To find out the answer to this question you can soon watch our review on the i700 Wireless that Dr Ahmad Al-Hassiny beta tested for two months. For now, we have our unboxing of the Medit i700 wireless scanner and our overview of the Medit i700 Wireless to watch.

In this article, we want to help you understand how the Medit i700 Wireless stacks up against the wired Medit  i700 released a year ago and the new Medit i600 so you can compare the specs side by side.

How do all the new Medit scanners compare in features, performance, and specifications?

When there were two scanners the differences were clear and easy to understand.  Now, there are four scanners and the lines have blurred. So we have made an easy-to-understand comparison table at the end of this article. 

We will see how the newest Medit i700 wireless and Medit i600 compare against the Medit i700 wired and the original Medit i500.

How does the newest wired scanner compare - Medit i600 vs Medit i700?

Medit dropped a big surprise with the new Medit i600 scanner and with specs so similar to the Medit i700 wired version, the question is what's the difference and how good is it?

We will be answering this in more detail with our Medit i700 Wireless unboxing - review coming soon.

We are making it easy to compare all the Medit scanners available. We’ll cover some brief information on each individual scanner, and then a comparison table at the end. 

If this is your first time hearing about Medit, take a quick look at the Medit company background in our Medit i700 review.

Did Medit release a new scanner tip?

Medit has released a new scanner tip with the i700 Wireless. The new tip is autoclavable up to 150 cycles and is the same price as the previous 100 cycle tip.

You can get a box of four for $300 USD, which makes each patient scan cost 33% less at only 50c a patient. 

The tip is identical in dimensions and is compatible with the i600, i700, and i700 wireless; it just has more durability and is interchangeable with the previous tip.

So the i600, i700 and i700 wireless can all use the 150 autoclave cycle tip.

The difference you will see in the comparison table is that the i700 and i700 wireless package includes the 150 cycle tip by default in the box and the i600 includes the 100 cycle tip in the box. When ordering new scanner tips, all users will get the new 150 autoclave cycle tips.

Medit will be phasing out the 100 autoclavable tips as inventory depletes, in favor of the new 150 autoclavable tips so sometime in the future a new i600 scanner will come with the 150 cycle tips in the box.

When Medit first started out, they made some interesting choices in regards to how their scanners will work in comparison to other scanners in the market. 

Essentially, Medit has opted to go the Tesla route, where they regularly upgrade their software and firmware so that your intraoral scanner continually improves over time.

They can do this because their scanners are actually just image-capturing devices that get computers and AI to do all the hard work for them. This is opposed to many scanners in the market, which are essentially mini-computers that do more onboard processing.

These scanners certainly have a place in the market, but the direction Medit has taken ensures that they can create high-performing scanners for a fraction of the cost that constantly gets better. 

It’s an extremely interesting subject that has ramifications for the entirety of digital dentistry, continue reading about Medit’s Modern Platform Architecture in this article.

Medit i500 Overview

The Medit i500 was originally released in 2018 and immediately made waves in the digital dentistry world. It was touted as an entry point into digital dentistry and absolutely lives up to the hype, as the price point was at the time very affordable and it’s extremely easy to use.

The workflow is relatively simple, meaning that you can start using your scanner straight away. While there might be more attention-grabbing scanners in Medit’s portfolio now, the Medit i500 is still a decent scanner and a great way to integrate digital dentistry into your clinic.

The Medit i500 scanner will remain a current and available scanner in countries where the regulatory approval process can take time, sometimes years, so it will be a viable option for those looking to use Medit.

For everyone else with i600 available - we recommend it if you are on a budget. The i600 is a successor to the Medit i500. Better in almost everyway, cheaper and will phase it out the i500 eventually.

Medit i500 Price

The Medit i500 is believed to cost around $12,000 USD, making it the cheapest scanner in Medit's portfolio.

Medit i500 System Requirements

For your convenience, here are the system requirements for the Medit i500 scanner on Medit’s i500 support article.

Medit i500 Comprehensive Review 

If you’d like more in-depth information, click here to see the unbiased and objective review we wrote for the Medit i500.

Medit i600 Overview

As part of the Wireless i700 launch, Medit also surprised us when they revealed that they’ll be releasing the i600. Not many details were released at the time, but it is a new wired scanner that will take the place of the i500 after it's been phased out, in terms of being the most affordable offering in Medit’s portfolio. 

It has similar features to the i700, with a few removed such as the remote button. View all the listed features here. 

Medit i600 Price

Medit i600 will replace the i500 as their most affordable scanner. At $13,500 USD, this is an extremely appealing entry point into digital dentistry for those who are just looking to scan and send to the lab. 

While it may have fewer features and functionality than the i700, this price point is extremely competitive in the current market. 

Medit i600 Specifications 

Unlike the i700, the Medit i600 is limited to just 35 frames per second when scanning - its scanning capabilities are solid but not quite up to the level of the i700. 

It’s also worth noting that the i600 does not have a remote control mode and lacks UV-C disinfection - which is found in both i700 models.

The i600 also has no HD mode, unlike all other Medit models. This is a scanner mode in which an extra scan can be taken to improve the mesh density and quality of the scan. Not vital in day-to-day scanning but a nice option that is not present in i600.

While the lower speed, lack of a remote button or UV light might not concern many, the lack of a HD function might be very important when deciding between i600 and i700.

The i600 has autoclavable tips (up to 100 times) and features a 2-meter long cable so that you can move around your clinic freely.

It is the successor to the Medit i500.

Medit i600 System Requirements 

The below Medit i600 system requirements have been obtained from Medit’s website. 

Medit recommends purchasing a dedicated PC for the i600, as background apps could impact your overall scanning performance. 

Medit’s i600 system requirements are the same as all Medit scanners - you can achieve a high-level scan without having to use the latest technology and systems.

Medit i600 Comprehensive Review 

Click here to read our full review of the Medit i600.

Medit i700 Overview

Released in April 2021, Medit piggybacked off the success of the industry-disrupting i500 and doubled down with a new scanner - the Medit i700. The i700 is an impressive successor, it’s an incredibly fast and smooth machine that provides a scan experience that rivals the top scanners in the market.

The Medit i700 is a massive improvement on the Medit i500 in many ways. It’s much lighter, the scanning window is larger, and instead of requiring a power box and power cable, the Medit i700 directly connects to a computer with one USB C cable for both power and data. 

Overall, it blows the Medit i500 out of the water in terms of functionality and usability. It has essentially been improved in every way and there’s very little downside.

Medit i700 Price

As was the case with the i500, the i700 is a competitively priced scanner that rivals the major manufacturer’s scanners for only a fraction of the price. 

A new Medit i700 scanner has a list price of $18,000 USD ($2,000 less than its original launch price at 20k). 

Keep in mind, that the price doesn’t include the laptop or PC required to use the scanner. Probably the only downside to the i700 is that you’ll need a more powerful computer compared to what the i500 needs.

Expect to spend 2-3k on a good enough laptop to run the scanner.

Medit i700 Specifications 

Below are the technical specifications of the Medit i700 wired scanner.

The main difference between the i700 and the Medit i600 is that the i600 is limited to 35 fps and has the remote control mode, HD mode, and UV-C disinfection removed. I dont imagine a remote control button would be a major decision maker for many.

The i600 is a great offering for those on budgets. The i700 is for those who want the best of what Medit offers.

Medit i700 System Requirements 

Here are the system requirements for the i700 scanner on Medit’s i700 support article, check it out for the latest information.

Medit i700 Comprehensive Review

Medit i700 Wireless Overview

The Medit i700 Wireless launched on April 20th, 2022. We had the opportunity to beta test it for two months and can confirm that it’s an incredible piece of equipment. It’s everything you love about the i700 but - as the name would suggest- without any hindering wires.

The company has made sure to communicate that despite going wireless, the performance and functionality won’t be compromised.

It features all-day scanning with a single battery, you can use it for 60 minutes continuously or over 8 hours in sleep mode, so it will last most clinic days. It also uses intelligent power management technology to detect when the scanner is not in use and put itself in sleep mode.

It’s relatively light, weighing in at 328 grams with the battery, has tips that can be autoclaved up to 150 times and is apparently drop safe (although we wouldn’t recommend throwing it around). 

Other than that, it’s very much the same scanner you know and love - just wireless.

Medit i700 Wireless Price

The Medit i700 Wireless list price is $22,000 USD - a $4,000 extra over the wired i700. 

While it would improve functionality and ease of use, it’s up to you as an individual to decide if wireless capabilities are worth an additional $4,000. 

Medit i700 Wireless Specifications

The Medit i700 Wireless is practically the same as the wired iteration, without the need for a 2-meter cable. It has the same scanning capabilities as the i700, yet it is heavier. This is because the battery in the i700 Wireless contributes to the weight, but it’s still a comfortable device to hold and use. 

To me this is the scanner to buy if you love wireless tech. Otherwise just go wired. 

Medit i700 Wireless System Requirements 

Here are the system requirements for the i700 wireless scanner, view them on Medit’s support site.

Medit i700 Wireless Review

Because the Medit i700 Wireless is just a wired version of the existing i700, a lot of what we wrote in our Medit i700 review applies. Check it out here.

Comparing Medit i500, i600, i700 and i700 Wireless

It’s difficult to definitively recommend a scanner as it will always come down to the individual dentists’ needs, budget and preferences. However, in summary:

• i500 - you should only buy this if i600 is not available in your market. 
• i600 - your go-to Medit scanner on a budget. The same optical engine as i700 but capped at 35 FPS and no HD mode.
• i700 - the best Medit has to offer. 70 FPS. 
• i700w - wireless technology for those that love it.

The i600 is fantastic if you’re just getting started in digital dentistry, only plan on scanning and sending to your lab or need something more affordable.

The i700 - both wireless and standard - are great if you’ve been doing digital impressions for a while and want to have a more advance scanner that has all the functionality that Medit can offer.

Fundamentally the i600, i700, and i700 wireless scanners all share the same optical technology, optical engine, and scanning tips, and therefore accuracy.

It’s worth noting that because all of Medit's latest software update you don’t need to have the newest, top-of-the-line processor, you can get away with purchasing a slightly less robust computer and in the process save yourself over $1500. But if you can afford a higher end computer go for it because it will help speed up other 3D rendering tasks.

We’ve created a table below so that you can easily compare all the new Medit scanners and their specifications and features.

Medit Comparison Table:
i500 vs i600 vs i700 vs i700 Wireless