Datalogic Skorpio X5

Datalogic Skorpio X5 is an Android mobile computer in the classic form factor with a physical keypad, designed for intensive warehouse work. It is made by Datalogic, an Italian company based in Bologna, so it is equipment from a European manufacturer. The Skorpio X5 combines a touch display with a keypad, fast scan engines reading from up to 20 m, and battery swapping without switching the device off. In our view it is one of the best value-for-money mobile computers for goods receipt, picking, transfers and dispatch in a WMS.

Key features

• Physical keypad: 28, 38 or 47 keys: numeric, functional or alphanumeric. Quantities and locations are entered faster than on a touch screen, also with gloves.
• Four scan engines: linear imager, standard 2D, mid-range 2D and 2D XLR, which reads large labels from up to 20 m. The Green Spot indicator projects a green spot onto the code after a good read.
• Pistol grip or handheld version: the grip relieves the wrist during hundreds of scans per shift, while the handheld version is lighter and easier to put in a holster.
• Hot-swappable battery: standard 3500 mAh or extended 6200 mAh battery. In multi-shift work the battery is swapped on the go, with no restart and no data loss. A wireless charging option is also available.
• IP65, 1.8 m drops onto concrete, 1000 tumbles from 1 m, operation from −20 to +50°C: the device handles dust, water, drops from a forklift and work in unheated warehouses. The XLR version is protected by an additional rubber boot.
• 4.3-inch display with Gorilla Glass 3: touch-enabled and scratch-resistant, though with a lower resolution (800 × 480) than smartphone-style devices. For warehouse apps with large buttons and clear lists, it is enough.
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (octa-core), 3 or 4 GB RAM, 32 or 64 GB storage, microSD up to 256 GB: smooth WMS apps through the whole shift.
• Android with Google services, upgradeable to Android 13: Android 13 is the currently supported version, with regular firmware releases from the manufacturer. The device is Android Enterprise Recommended.
• Wi-Fi 5 with MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C: a stable connection in large halls and pairing with mobile printers. NFC is not available on the XLR version.

Skorpio X5 in the warehouse

In a typical WMS process the operator scans the location and the item, then enters the quantity. The physical keypad speeds up that last step and reduces errors, especially with gloves and in the cold. With the XLR version a forklift operator reads labels on high racks without leaving the seat. Hot swap pays off where devices pass from hand to hand between shifts.

The Skorpio X5 is not the lightest: it weighs from 488 g for the handheld version to 665 g for the XLR pistol grip. In return you get the ruggedness and ergonomics of a classic warehouse terminal at a lower price than many competitors in this class.

How to choose a variant

• Scan engine. Standard 2D for scanning in hand at the rack and on the table. Mid-range 2D when some labels are higher up. XLR for forklift operators and high-bay storage.
• Keypad. 28 numeric keys are enough for quantities and location codes. Choose 47 alphanumeric keys when the operator often types text, for example delivery notes.
• Pistol grip or handheld. A pistol grip for intensive scanning through the whole shift. The handheld version for lighter tasks and two-handed work.
• Battery. For more than one shift choose the 6200 mAh battery and spare packs in a multi-slot charger.