3D Scanner Comparison

NavVis MLX vs Leica BLK2GO: Handheld SLAM Scanner Comparison

An expert comparison to help you choose the right equipment for your project.

Feature	NavVis MLX	Leica BLK2GO
Range	Up to 50m	0.5–25m
Accuracy	5mm local, 1 sigma (dedicated test environment)	6–15mm relative (20mm absolute indoor)
Point Rate	640,000 pts/sec	420,000 pts/sec
Camera	4 × 12 MP panoramic + 2 × 2 MP visual odometry	12 MP + 3 × 4.8 MP panoramic
SLAM	LiDAR SLAM augmented by visual odometry	Continuous SLAM
Weight	3.6 kg (incl. battery)	0.65 kg (0.775 kg incl. battery)

Pricing shown reflects average US rates — indicative ranges, not a quote. Actual costs vary by location based on local market conditions, regulations, and project logistics — both within the US and internationally. Get a custom quote

Option A NavVis

NavVis MLX

Premium Handheld Mobile Scanner

The NavVis MLX is a handheld mobile scanner built on a 32-layer LiDAR, capturing 640,000 points per second out to 50m. NavVis publishes 5mm local accuracy in a dedicated test environment (1 sigma), and pairs four 12 MP panoramic cameras and two 2 MP visual-odometry cameras with LiDAR SLAM. The cost of that capability is mass: at 3.6 kg it is the heavier of the two handhelds by a wide margin.

Pros

50m operational range — twice the BLK2GO reach
Publishes 5mm local accuracy (1 sigma) in a dedicated test environment
640,000 pts/sec — roughly 52% more points per second than the BLK2GO
Four 12 MP panoramic cameras plus two visual-odometry cameras
Supports physical ground and wall control points to constrain absolute accuracy
Excellent for tight spaces and one-handed operation

Cons

Heavier than the BLK2GO (3.6 kg vs 0.775 kg with battery)
45-minute battery that cannot be swapped mid-scan
Mass becomes a factor over long continuous capture sessions

Best For

Tight mechanical roomsCeiling voids and crawl spacesQuick high-accuracy captureProjects that will be tied to survey control

Option B Leica

Leica BLK2GO

Handheld SLAM Scanner

The Leica BLK2GO is a 0.775 kg handheld SLAM scanner designed for continuous walkthrough capture at walking pace, recording 420,000 points per second with a 12 Mpixel camera and a three-camera 4.8 Mpixel panoramic vision system. Leica publishes 6–15mm relative accuracy, 20mm absolute position accuracy indoors and a 0.5–25m range — but the low mass makes long, uninterrupted walkthroughs far less tiring than a heavier unit.

Pros

Walk-through scanning at walking pace
Ultra-portable handheld at 0.775 kg with battery — about 4.6× lighter than the MLX
Fast continuous capture with a natural operator workflow
Low fatigue over long, multi-floor walkthroughs
Simple to deploy for preliminary and repeat visits

Cons

25m range — half the NavVis MLX's 50m
Looser accuracy than tripod scanners, and behind the MLX at 6–15mm relative
Not for precision work
Lower panoramic imaging resolution than the MLX's four 12 MP cameras

Best For

Quick interior documentationTight spaces navigationReal estate walk-throughsPreliminary surveys

Our Expert Verdict

Depends on Your Needs

The NavVis MLX leads on every capture metric — twice the range, a tighter published accuracy figure (5mm local versus 6–15mm relative), 52% more points per second, and higher panoramic imaging resolution. The Leica BLK2GO answers with one number that matters just as much in handheld work: 0.775 kg against 3.6 kg. Handheld scanning is carried, not set up, so operator mass budget is a real constraint rather than a footnote. Pick the MLX when the data has to be defensible or the space is large; pick the BLK2GO when the job is a fast, room-by-room interior walkthrough.

Choose NavVis MLX if...

Choose the NavVis MLX when range and accuracy carry the project — larger interiors, plant and mechanical spaces, ceiling voids, and any capture that will be tied to physical control points. Its 50m operational range means open volumes such as warehouses and atria need fewer passes.

Choose Leica BLK2GO if...

Choose the Leica BLK2GO for fast interior documentation where the operator is walking continuously for long stretches and 25m of reach is sufficient — residential and small commercial walkthroughs, preliminary surveys, and repeat visits where speed and low fatigue beat millimetres.

Download the Spec Sheets

Original manufacturer documents, free with no email required — verified against each manufacturer's live copy.

NavVis MLX

Current datasheet (v2409) (PDF) · 0.1 MB

Source: navvis.com ↗

Leica BLK2GO

Source: shop.leica-geosystems.com ↗

Browse the full library: Equipment Spec Sheets & Downloads →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Leica BLK2GO specification applies?

Leica currently publishes two BLK2GO sheets; the 2025 shop sheet states 6–15 mm relative accuracy, the 05/2021 datasheet ±10 mm indoor. The figures quoted here are from the currently published shop sheet.

What is the biggest difference between the NavVis MLX and the Leica BLK2GO?

Weight against reach. The MLX has twice the operational range (50m versus 25m) and a tighter published accuracy figure, but the BLK2GO weighs 0.775 kg with its battery against the MLX's 3.6 kg. Over a full day of continuous handheld capture, that is the difference an operator actually feels.

Which handheld scanner is more accurate?

The NavVis MLX. NavVis publishes 5mm local accuracy (1 sigma) in a dedicated test environment; Leica publishes 6–15mm relative accuracy and 20mm absolute position accuracy indoors for the BLK2GO. Both figures are local or relative, and both manufacturers state that absolute accuracy depends on the environment. NavVis also supports physical ground and wall control points to constrain absolute accuracy, though it publishes no number for the result.

How much heavier is the NavVis MLX?

The MLX weighs 3.6 kg against 0.775 kg for the BLK2GO with its battery — roughly 4.6 times heavier. For short bursts this is irrelevant; across a full day of continuous handheld capture it is the main ergonomic difference between the two.

Which captures more points per second?

The NavVis MLX, at 640,000 points per second against 420,000 for the BLK2GO — about 52% more.

Which produces better imagery?

The NavVis MLX. It carries four 12 MP panoramic cameras (plus two 2 MP visual-odometry cameras), while the BLK2GO pairs one 12 Mpixel camera with a three-camera 4.8 Mpixel panoramic vision system. Where colourised point clouds or panoramic imagery are part of the deliverable, the MLX has more to work with.

Can either of these replace a tripod-mounted laser scanner?

Not for precision work. Both are SLAM handhelds quoted in millimetres of relative accuracy rather than the sub-3mm figures of survey-grade terrestrial scanners. They are best used for speed and coverage, with a terrestrial scanner brought in for areas that need tighter tolerance.

Equipment Used

Professional Equipment In This Comparison

The professional equipment in this comparison, compared spec by spec. Specifications shown are the manufacturers' published figures. Models THE FUTURE 3D operates are identified on their own pages.

NavVis

Flagship

NavVis