Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
ProtoArc vs Scan
What sets them apart
| Compare | ProtoArc ReviewVisitVisit | Scan ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $17.99 | £48.98 |
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 60 | 720Higher |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 yearsHigher |
| Markets | US, CA, GB, DE, FR, IT, ES, JPCovers more | GB |
Same on both: Wireless peripherals (Yes).
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Key differences
- Scan scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Highest refresh rate (Hz) is higher at Scan: 720 vs 60.
- Warranty is higher at Scan: 3 years vs 2 years.
- Founded is lower at Scan: 1986 vs 2021.
- ProtoArc is available in 7 more countries.
- Products: only ProtoArc offers Keyboard, Mouse, Portable monitor.
- Products: only Scan offers Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop.
- Panel types: only Scan offers Va, Oled.
- Markets: only ProtoArc offers US, CA, DE.
Our verdict on each
ProtoArc
ProtoArc suits shoppers who want a keyboard, a mouse and a portable monitor from a single seller at the budget end of this list. Entry at $17.99 makes it a low cost way to fill a desk, and the 60 Hz refresh ceiling keeps it aimed at documents and calls.
Scan
Scan suits buyers who want one UK store for a machine built to order plus the monitors, headsets and controllers that go with it, with 3 years of cover on its own systems. The trust side scores 9.8, and the 14 day returns window is the number worth holding on to.
Score breakdown
| Area | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8Entry price of $17.99 ranks 4 of 33, and the cost part scores 9.8. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.1Wireless keyboards and mice, 60 Hz portable monitors and a 2 year warranty support an offer score of 9.1. | 9.2HigherEntry pricing of £48.98 across laptop, gaming laptop and desktop, with build to order and an extended warranty on top. |
| Trust | 8.0Founded in 2021 with email, chat and phone for support, the trust part scores 8. | 9.8Higher3 years of cover, a 14 day returns window and support on email, chat and phone. |
Pick ProtoArc if, pick Scan if
Pick ProtoArc if markets matter most.
Pick Scan if highest refresh rate (hz) and warranty matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Monitors | 2 of 46 | 17 of 46 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 60 | 720 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years |
What we checked
ProtoArc
- protoarc.com: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Scan
- scan.co.uk: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Keyboard, Mouse, Portable monitor | Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc |
| Panel types | Ips | Ips, Va, OledCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Scan Computers International Ltd |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2021 | 1986Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Cameras and drones
| Fact | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Top video resolution | Not confirmed | 8k |
| Flight time (min) | Not confirmed | 23 |
| Weight (g) | Not confirmed | 126 |
| Stabilisation | Not confirmed | Yes |
Gaming gear
| Fact | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile |
| Battery life | Not confirmed | 70 hours |
Electronics stores
| Fact | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Not confirmed | Computers, Audio, Gaming, Cameras |
| Return window | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Extended warranty | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Click and collect | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ProtoArc | Scan | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 60lowest quarter | 720highest quarter | 280 |
| Warranty | 2 yearsabove the median | 3 yearshighest quarter | 1.5 years |
Median across 42 listed brands.
Pros and cons
ProtoArc
Pros
- ProtoArc's $17.99 entry price ranks 4 of 33 brands, near the front of the field.
- A 2 year warranty outlasts the 1 median warranty across the brands here.
- Wireless is offered across the keyboard and mouse range, so a desk can be set up cable free.
Cons
- The 60 Hz refresh ceiling ranks 22 of 24, the weakest of ProtoArc's placements.
- Portable monitor panels are limited to ips, so there is no OLED or mini-led option in the range.
- The keyboard, mouse and portable monitor list stops at portable monitors, so full-size and gaming monitors come from AOC or ALTERNATE instead.
Scan
Pros
- Scan builds to order, so a machine can be specified part by part rather than picked from a fixed shelf range.
- Cover on its own systems runs 3 years, and Scan ranks 1 of 34 brands compared on warranty length.
- The store spans laptops, gaming laptops, desktops, gaming PCs and mini PCs, so a household can do its computing in one basket.
Cons
- Trading is limited to GB, so delivery, returns and warranty claims stop at the UK border.
- Operating systems listed are Windows and Linux, so a buyer after a Mac or a ChromeOS machine finds nothing on the shelf here.
- Graphics choices are limited to nvidia, amd and intel, so anyone after Apple silicon hardware has to look elsewhere.
Who each suits
ProtoArc
Who it suits
- Shoppers filling a small desk who want a keyboard, a mouse and a portable monitor from one seller, matching keyboard, mouse and portable monitor.
- Buyers in the United States, CA and GB who want low entry pricing rather than the wider monitor mix AOC lists in monitor, gaming monitor and portable monitor.
- People who prefer to pick up the phone or open a chat, since email, chat and phone covers both.
Who should look elsewhere
- Gamers chasing high refresh rates: the 60 Hz ceiling sits well under the 270 median here.
- Shoppers who want a full-size or gaming monitor, since ProtoArc's keyboard, mouse and portable monitor ends at portable monitors while AOC lists monitor, gaming monitor and portable monitor.
- Buyers after a peripherals and docking station mix in one place, which ALTERNATE covers in monitor, gaming monitor and portable monitor.
Scan
Who it suits
- UK buyers who want a PC specified to their own parts list instead of a fixed configuration.
- Shoppers who want a laptop, a desktop, a mini PC, a monitor and a headset from one seller under a single returns window.
- Gamers who want nvidia, amd and intel graphics options and controllers for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile in the same order.
Who should look elsewhere
- GEEKOM, whose mini pc and laptop range is the compact computer route when that is all you need.
- CyberPowerPC, whose laptop, gaming laptop and desktop list is a tighter gaming machine route for a buyer who only wants rigs.
Country by country
| Country | ProtoArc | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Japan | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
ProtoArc
What does ProtoArc make?+
The catalogue is built around keyboard, mouse and portable monitor. That mix is unusual among the brands on this list, since most display sellers here stay with monitors. A shopper can cover a desk, from typing to a second screen, inside a single brand, which also keeps one support contact and one warranty policy in play.
How much do ProtoArc keyboards and mice cost?+
ProtoArc's entry price is $17.99, which puts it near the front of the price field. That lowest figure comes from the keyboard and mouse range, so a portable monitor sits above that starting point. Buyers after the cheapest way to equip a desk will find the lowest shelf price of the brands compared here.
Scan
What does a Scan computer cost, and does the price change later?+
Prices are set per product rather than as a subscription, and the entry figure across the store is £48.98. Nothing recurs, so the amount committed at entry is the amount that stands later, with no renewal charge added afterwards. Budget for the machine itself rather than for a cycle of payments.
Can Scan build a computer to my own parts list?+
Scan builds to order, so a machine can be specified part by part instead of being chosen from a fixed shelf range. That suits buyers who already know the graphics card and memory they want. Ready configurations drawn from laptop, gaming laptop and desktop sit alongside it for anyone who would rather take a finished build.