Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
Scan vs XREAL
Where Scan and XREAL differ
| Compare | Scan ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £48.98 | $299 |
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 720Higher | 240 |
| Warranty | 3 yearsHigher | 1 year |
| Wireless peripherals | YesHas it | No |
| Markets | GB | US |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Scan scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.4.
- Highest refresh rate (Hz) is higher at Scan: 720 vs 240.
- Warranty is higher at Scan: 3 years vs 1 year.
- Wireless peripherals: only Scan.
- Support channels: only Scan offers Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only XREAL offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Scan: 1986 vs 2017.
- Products: only Scan offers Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop.
- Products: only XREAL offers Portable monitor, Gaming monitor, Docking station.
- Panel types: only Scan offers Ips, Va.
Our verdict on each
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.
XREAL
XREAL suits shoppers who want a portable screen that follows a laptop or a console between rooms, and who will accept a cable to make it work. Entry pricing of $299 at XREAL keeps the outlay close to general monitor money rather than premium display money, and the format saves desk space.
Score breakdown
| Area | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 8.0Entry price of $299 ranks 32 of 33, with cost reading 8. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherEntry pricing of £48.98 across laptop, gaming laptop and desktop, with build to order and an extended warranty on top. | 8.7Top refresh of 240 Hz across pc, playstation and xbox, with an offer score of 8.7. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher3 years of cover, a 14 day returns window and support on email, chat and phone. | 8.8Warranty of 1 year, support through email, help centre and community, trust score 8.8. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Monitors | 16 of 45 | 35 of 45 |
| VR headsets | 7 of 16 | 14 of 16 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | China |
By the numbers
| Fact | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 720 | 240 |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year |
Sources behind this comparison
Scan
- scan.co.uk: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
XREAL
- us.shop.xreal.com: 6 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- xreal.com: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc | Portable monitor, Gaming monitor, Docking station |
| Panel types | Ips, Va, OledCovers more | Oled |
| Legal entity | Scan Computers International Ltd | XREAL, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | China |
| Founded | 1986Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Community |
Cameras and drones
| Fact | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Top video resolution | 8k | Not confirmed |
| Flight time (min) | 23 | Not confirmed |
| Weight (g) | 126 | Not confirmed |
| Stabilisation | Yes | Not confirmed |
Gaming gear
| Fact | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile | Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile |
| Battery life | 70 hours | Not confirmed |
Electronics stores
| Fact | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Computers, Audio, Gaming, Cameras | Not confirmed |
| Return window | 14 days | Not confirmed |
| Extended warranty | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Click and collect | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Scan | XREAL | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 720highest quarter | 240below the median | 280 |
| Warranty | 3 yearshighest quarter | 1 yearbelow the median | 2 years |
Median across 41 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
XREAL
Pros
- Platform support of pc, playstation and xbox means a single purchase covers desktop, console and phone, which suits people who switch machines.
- Panels are oled, so buyers get top picture quality in a bag friendly shape rather than settling for a desk only screen.
- Top refresh rate of 240 Hz ranks 14 of 24 among monitor brands, a strong showing for a portable format.
Cons
- Wireless is no, so every session needs a cable to the host device, which limits how freely the panel can move.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no voice line for buyers who want to talk a setup problem through.
- A 1 year warranty puts panel repairs on the buyer once that term ends, while longer terms exist elsewhere in the same ranking.
Who each suits
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.
XREAL
Who it suits
- Shoppers who move between a laptop, a console and a phone and want the same display everywhere.
- Buyers who want OLED picture quality without giving up a desk of their own.
- Anyone working away from a fixed desk who needs a large screen that packs away.
Who should look elsewhere
- Desk-first shoppers who never travel are better served by Scan, whose range centres on monitor, gaming monitor and docking station and skips portable panels.
- Anyone who wants input devices in the same order should check AOC, which lists monitor, gaming monitor and portable monitor.
- Buyers who prefer one seller for displays, docks and input gear are well covered by ALTERNATE, which carries monitor, gaming monitor and portable monitor.
Country by country
| Country | Scan | XREAL |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
XREAL
What does the entry price get me?+
The entry figure of $299 covers XREAL hardware, and the catalogue spans portable monitor, gaming monitor and docking station. Money goes on a display you connect yourself rather than on a service with a recurring charge, so the outlay happens at checkout instead of each month.
Does XREAL work without a cable?+
Wireless is no, so the screens take their picture over a wired link and draw power the same way. In return you get stable output with no pairing step to fight, but the panel stays tethered to whatever host device you plug it into.