Medit iE Announced – i900 Scanning Technology at a More Accessible Price Point

Medit has launched the Medit iE today, a 'new' wired intraoral scanner priced at $10,999 USD.

Here's the thing. On paper, it is basically an i900. Medit says the iE uses the same third-generation optical engine, and it shares the i900 classic's weight, dimensions, and field of view.

The difference is everything around the scanner. The iE is set up for everyday scan and send, so it drops All-on-X scanning, comes with a shorter warranty, and moves software Medit used to include into paid add-ons.

With scanner prices continuing to fall, it is frankly great to see Medit compete using its best engine rather than an older platform. A similar move to what the company did with the i600 many years ago. 

I tested the scanner last month. Lets get into all the details

Medit iE at a Glance

• Price: $10,999 USD - crazy value. 
• Connection: Wired, USB 3.1 Gen 1 with a 2.0 m detachable cable
• Scan engine: Third-generation optical engine with 10-bit imaging, which Medit says is the same as the i900
• Field of view: 18 × 15 mm with 30 mm scan depth
• Speed: Up to 70 FPS, with HD Scan and no powder required - no FPS limits like i600 had back in the day.
• Size and weight: 165 g, 223.4 × 36.7 × 35.3 mm - same as the i900
• Tips: Large and medium, autoclavable up to 150 cycles
• Included software: Case creation, scanning and lab orders through Medit Link. That's it. No apps.
• Realtime Intelligence $2,000 USD one-time add-on (AI reading your scans and informing you of any issues - read more here)
• Not available: All-on-X (SmartX) and Medit Link Express (iPad scanning app)
• Warranty: One year, extendable to five years in total

What Is the Medit iE?

Medit's tagline for the iE is "Start with Medit. Evolve with Medit." In plain terms, it is a scan and send scanner that you can add software to later, on the same Medit account.

The spec sheet makes one thing clear. At 165 g and 223.4 × 36.7 × 35.3 mm, with an 18 × 15 mm field of view, the iE matches the i900 classic iDD has already reviewed.

So this is i900 hardware in a different configuration, not a brand new intraoral scanner.

The visible changes are minor. The body is light grey, and there is a single scan button, similar to the i900 classic rather than the touch controls of the original i900.

Medit says the "E" stands for Evolve. The idea is that you start with the basics and grow into the rest of the Medit ecosystem when your practice is ready.

To me, this is pure market competition at its finest. We now get access to an i900 for a fraction of the cost. The tech in the i900 is very solid, and it's one of the most accurate scanners on the market. 

The Same Scan Engine as the Medit i900

According to Medit, nothing was taken out of the scanning. The iE uses the same optical engine, 10-bit imaging, metal-scanning filters, adaptive anti-fogging, and fast preheating as the i900 series.

That matters because we know the i900 well. In our testing and in published literature, it is one of the most accurate scanners on the market; the larger scanner head is also a real step up from earlier Medit scanners such as the i600. You can read more in our Medit i900 review.

I personally tried the Medit iE to see how it scans. It felt exactly like an i900, as expected.

What You Don't Get With the Medit iE

The scanning engine is the same as the i900's, but the package around it is different. 
Here is how the iE compares with the i900 Classic:

A few of these deserve more explanation.

• SmartX and Medit Link Express can't be added later. Medit is clear that these aren't available on the iE at all. If All-on-X is anywhere on your horizon, start with an i900.
• Realtime Intelligence costs $2,000 USD. It checks your scan and prep quality as you scan, flagging problem areas before you send the case. It is a one-time license rather than a subscription, and there is no trial. On the i900 family, it is included, as we covered in our Realtime Intelligence launch article.
• App access depends on what else you own. A first-time Medit buyer pays for the Essential App Bundle and Model Builder. If another Medit scanner is already on your account, those stay free, and adding an iE doesn't reduce what you can access. Therefore, iE is a great additional scanner option for those who may already have an i900.
• The warranty is shorter. One year comes standard, against three on the i900 series. Medit Shield extensions can take it to five years in total, but you need to buy the extension while the original warranty is still active, and conditions vary by market.
• A few convenience features are gone. There is no Smart Shade Guide and no Air Mouse.

Where the Medit iE Fits in a Falling Scanner Market

When I started reviewing intraoral scanners, the entry point was around $25,000 USD. Today you can buy a capable scanner for a fraction of that, and the pressure on established brands keeps growing. 

In terms of the market, this is how the Medit iE fits:

• Medit iE: $10,999 USD - i900 engine, scan-and-send configuration
• Shining 3D Aoralscan ELF: $11,999 USD - full software suite included 
• Alliedstar AS260: $8,995 USD - Alliedstar's entry-level option
• TRIOS Core: $12,400 USD - 3Shape's entry-level option
• Medit i900 Classic: $15,999 USD - Real-time Intelligence and SmartX (all-in-x workflow) included

At $10,999 USD, the Medit iE sits only slightly above the Medit i600 ($10,500 USD), but with Medit's flagship engine inside. This is frankly crazy value from Medit. 

Putting the flagship engine into an entry-level configuration is a smart response to the Chinese brands, and it puts the iE in direct competition with the Shining 3D ELF. Aggressive move by Medit.

Medit hasn't said publicly how the iE affects the i600 and i700. It will be interesting to see whether they stay in the lineup. For the rest of the range, see our Medit scanner comparison.

Who the Medit iE Is For

The iE is a good fit for these practices.

• A practice buying its first scanner, not interested at all in apps, and just wants to scan and send to the lab
• An existing Medit practice adding a second or third unit for a hygiene or exam room. You keep the same account and interface; there's no retraining, and your existing app access carries over.
• Practices switching brands that want Medit's ecosystem without paying for workflows they won't use

Look at the i900 series instead if you need any of the following.

• All-on-X or full-arch implant scanning
• Real-time Intelligence or in-house design from day one
• Wireless scanning or iPad patient consultations
• A three-year warranty without buying an extension

Final Thoughts on the Medit iE

I think the Medit iE is a very smart move from Medit.

Medit has taken the scanning experience of the i900 and stripped the package back to the essentials. At $10,999 USD, that makes the iE very compelling. After trying it myself, there really isn't much more to say about the scanning experience. It feels like an i900 because, fundamentally, that's what it is.

The bigger story here is what this says about the intraoral scanner market. Flagship-level scanning technology is becoming available at prices that would have seemed impossible only a few years ago, and competition is clearly accelerating that trend.

For clinicians, that's a very good thing.  Thanks for reading. If you have any questions about the Medit iE, leave them below.

P.S. iDD is a distributor of Medit and all leading IOS brands in Canada, Australia, and NZ. Check out of shop here.