Today we’re going to be unboxing a scanner I’m really excited about - the TRIOS 5. This is one of the very first units in New Zealand, which took some time to get here due to the massive demand for the scanner after its launch.
The TRIOS 5 was officially released by 3Shape in an online event in September 2022. It was an epic launch event with tons of details about 3Shape's new flagship scanner. The TRIOS 5 thankfully, is a total upgrade to the TRIOS 4, and it's been completely redesigned inside and out.
3Shape says this product will take scanning to the next level. Unlike the TRIOS 4, which should have been really called TRIOS 3.5, as it was only an incremental improvement over the TRIOS 3.
The TRIOS 5 on the other hand, has an entirely new optical engine inbuilt. The company says the TRIOS 5 has been in development for 4 years and they have made over 50 improvements to the TRIOS 5 compared to older generation scanners.
We’ve done a full unboxing video for you to enjoy, but if you prefer to read, you can view the full transcription below.
3Shape TRIOS 5 Intraoral Scanner Price
The TRIOS 5 has a recommended retail price of 26,000 USD.
With the release of the TRIOS 5, the company has also taken the opportunity to rethink its scanner pricing in this competitive market. There has been a reduction in the cost of all TRIOS models. And remember, 3Shape offers a subscription-free option for their scanners called TRIOS Only. So the company is dead-serious about staying competitive.
TRIOS 5 Laptop
Here today I have the pod or laptop version of the TRIOS 5. This comes with a Dell Performance laptop. So as we open this up, you can see that the TRIOS 5 comes with a Dell Performance laptop.
It's a nice laptop. It comes with a charger. There’s not really much else to say about it, pretty standard stuff.
3Shape Move Scanner Cart
Keep in mind that there's also the 3Shape Move version of the scanner, and that's one of my favorite scanner carts on the market. Currently, however, the TRIOS Move is not available for the TRIOS 5 because they are improving the hardware in it to be able to support it.
It will be available later in 2023.
TRIOS 5 Scanner Unboxing
Here's the TRIOS 5 box in all its glory. It features really nice presentation by 3Shape.
3Shape has included a hundred of these barrier sleeves that you can slide over the scanner in an effort to improve hygiene - something that’s really important in a post-pandemic world.
On the box, you can see it says 3Shape TRIOS Care.
So for those of you who don't know, TRIOS Care is like the subscription option for the scanners, and that is like a support and servicing package. This is included with every new 3Shape scanner.
And once this runs out, you can stop the subscription and then go to TRIOS only, making this a subscription-free scanner. So if we open it up. Let's see what we find.
And once again, this is some really high-end packaging. I love how all the scanner companies are really kind of outdoing themselves on how they present their products.
TRIOS 5 Docking Station
This is the docking station. 3Shape has taken the opportunity to really rethink hygiene for their scanners. There's a really big push to make these scanners and all the parts as hygienic as possible. The docking station is made out of basically one piece of this rubber, and it can be easily cleaned.
TRIOS 5 Scanner
This is a TRIOS 5 in all its glory, and I have to say, it's just a really good-looking scanner. Super high-tech, super futuristic. What you can see here is we've got this protective cover. The other thing that's included in this box is five scanner tips.
TRIOS 5 Scanner Weight
Now, one thing to note is that the TRIOS 5 is 30% smaller and 20% lighter than the TRIOS 4.
So this is a significantly smaller scanner and it's actually very ergonomic.
This scanner weighs 299 grams - with the battery installed.
That makes it one of the lightest scanners on the market.
TRIOS 5 Batteries
Here we have the new TRIOS 5 batteries, and just like the TRIOS 4, there's a little tag here that you rip off. It exposes these metal contacts. It just fits in the back like so.
So, that is the TRIOS 5 with the battery in place. Now a couple of cool things about these batteries. You have these little indicator marks on the end here, and these aren't charged because I just opened up the scanner. But when they are charged, you can just tap the back, and it will show you how much battery life the battery has, which is really cool just to check without having to turn everything on.
So once again, the company gives you three batteries included with the TRIOS 5. Now, a couple of things about these batteries.
Anyone who has had a TRIOS 4, will know that the battery life in that scanner was actually pretty lacking. It was actually quite a weak point for that scanner. Now, 3Shape has completely taken this information on board.
One of these batteries they say will last an entire day or up to 66 minutes of scanning.
That is a huge improvement over the TRIOS 4 and something that was badly needed.
The other thing is that finally there's a sleep mode, so when the scanner is not in use the battery and the scanner will go into a sleep mode, and this helps preserve battery life.
One interesting thing, however, is that the company is so confident in these batteries, and again, they give you five of them, that there's no longer a dummy battery included with the TRIOS 5.
So, if these batteries ran out, you used to be able to plug in a dummy battery that plugs directly into the cart or the laptop and allows this to be used as a wired scanner, that was in the TRIOS 4.
In this product, there's no dummy battery, so you need to ensure that you have at least one battery always charged; otherwise, you can't use the scanner.
TRIOS 5 Scanning and Navigation Button
One interesting thing about the TRIOS 5 - which might have some inspiration from other companies - is the scanning button, and now we have this navigation button.
So this button underneath allows you to navigate the software without having to touch the laptop or the screen. And that's basically it. There are no other buttons, it's just a very slick design.
TRIOS 5 Scanning Tips
Here we have the scanning tips for the TRIOS 5.
And just like every other 3Shape scanner, they just slide on. The TRIOS 5 comes with 5 scanning tips in total.
A couple of interesting things that the company has done: they have opted for a completely closed design. This is a very big push by the company to be a lot more hygienic with their scanners. They don't want any openings, they don't want any vent holes where bacteria can live.
These scanner tips can be autoclaved up to a hundred times. And for those of you who know about the TRIOS 4 Smart Tips, you'll notice this doesn't really look like a Smart Tip, and that's because those are no longer made for the TRIOS 5. These are just standard scanning tips.
One interesting thing is that they have sapphire scratch-resistant glass here. And they can only be placed in one direction. So this is not a reversible scanning tip. It can only be placed in one direction, and it clicks on and clicks off.
So that's the TRIOS 5 with a scanner tip in place and the battery. The one last thing that we see in the TRIOS 5, which is a new addition compared to other 3Shape TRIOS models, is this LED ring.
TRIOS 5 LED Feedback Ring
3Shape has included haptics and a LED ring to give the user as much feedback as possible while they're scanning.
What that means is that if you're scanning and you lose your position, an LED light will come on to tell you that you've lost your scanning position or that the scanner is not continuing.
And also, it will vibrate, giving you feedback.
TRIOS 5 Charging Station
We of course have a charging station. And this is very similar to the old charging station of the TRIOS 4. You simply put the batteries in like this.
And as you can see, it's a dual-charging station, so at the same time, you can charge two TRIOS 5 batteries.
For the TRIOS 5, 3Shape have enabled fast-charging of their batteries.
So if you charge for one hour, you can get up to 80% battery life, and if you charge for two hours, you will go up to a hundred percent battery life. As I explained prior, there is no dummy battery with the TRIOS 5. So it is critical that you always have one of these batteries charged up and ready to go. On the off chance that the battery that you're using goes flat.
What else is included with the TRIOS 5?
Here are some miscellaneous items included with the TRIOS 5 intraoral scanner:
A USB with a 3Shape logo - this includes the user manual and the software required.
3Shape Dongle - Anyone who's familiar with the 3Shape software knows these dongles are basically your licensing tool.
A TP link adapter - To plug in your laptop and communicate with the TRIOS 5.
A step-by-step installation guide for the TRIOS 5.
And that's basically everything that you get with the TRIOS 5.
Conclusion
I have to say, 3Shape products always look great. I mean, this looks like some sort of Apple unboxing or something. They're so stylish and have a very high-end, high-tech feel about them.
I'm super excited to start testing the scanner and we will share with you everything in our full review coming really soon.
If you have any questions about the TRIOS 5, leave them in a comment below.
Thanks for reading!