3D Scanner Comparison

Trimble X9 vs Leica BLK360 G2: Mid-Range Survey vs Compact Imaging Scanner

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

Feature	Trimble X9	Leica BLK360 G2
Range	0.6–150m Premium / 0.6–80m Core	0.5–45m @ 78% albedo
Accuracy	2.3mm @ 10m / 3.0mm @ 20m	4mm @ 10m (8mm @ 20m per Leica TLS chart 06.26)
Point Rate	Up to 1,000 kHz (Premium) / 500 kHz (Core)	Up to 680,000 pts/sec
Field of View	360° × 282°	360° × 270°
Camera	3 coaxial, calibrated 10 MP cameras	Four 13 Mpixel — 104 MPx per setup
IP Rating	IP55	IP54
Weight	6.045 kg (incl. battery)	0.85 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 Trimble

Trimble X9

Highest Accuracy Mid-Range Scanner

The Trimble X9 is a mid-range terrestrial laser scanner built around accuracy rather than portability. Trimble publishes 2.3mm @ 10m and 3.0mm @ 20m 3D point accuracy, a 0.6–150m range and up to 1,000 kHz in the Premium configuration (500 kHz and 80m for Core), across a 360° × 282° field of view. Three coaxial 10MP cameras produce full panoramic imagery, automatic self-leveling removes manual tripod leveling from the setup routine, and an IP55 rating makes it the more weather-tolerant of the two instruments compared here.

Pros

High accuracy at 3.0mm @ 20m — roughly 2.7× tighter than the BLK360 G2 at the same distance
150m range in the Premium configuration covers building exteriors, yards and large open interiors
Up to 1,000 kHz capture in the Premium configuration — about 47% faster than the BLK360 G2
Automatic self-leveling (±10° survey grade) saves setup time at every station
360° panoramic imaging from three coaxial 10MP cameras
IP55 rating tolerates more demanding site conditions

Cons

At 6.045 kg it is roughly 7× heavier than the BLK360 G2
Shorter range than the flagship X12 (150m vs a 250m effective working range)
Slower point capture than the X12 (up to 1M vs up to 2.187M pts/sec)
Tripod-and-case workflow is less suited to stair-heavy or tight-access buildings

Best For

Precision engineering workHeritage preservationForensic scanningMedium-sized facilitiesProjects with a defensible tolerance requirement

Option B Leica

Leica BLK360 G2

Ultra-Portable Professional Scanner

The Leica BLK360 G2 trades range and tolerance for portability and imagery. At 0.85 kg including its battery it is among the most portable professional scanners in its class, completing a full dome scan and LDR spherical image in under 20 seconds at its coarsest resolution setting (50mm point spacing at 10m), at up to 680,000 points per second. Four 13 Mpixel cameras produce a 104 MPx spherical image per setup. The trade-offs are a 45m range at 78% albedo and 4mm @ 10m 3D point accuracy.

Pros

Ultra-portable at 0.85 kg — carries up stairs and through tight access without a case crew
Fastest station cycle in this comparison: under 20 seconds at the coarsest resolution setting
One-button operation shortens operator training
104 MPx spherical image per setup from four 13 Mpixel cameras
Visual Inertial System pre-registers scans in the field
Well suited to tight interior spaces the X9 cannot be set up in

Cons

Limited 45m range — under one third of the X9 Premium configuration
Looser accuracy (8mm @ 20m per Leica's TLS chart vs 3.0mm @ 20m)
Leica publishes no battery runtime figure for it
Narrower operating temperature window (0°C to +40°C vs −20°C to +50°C)
IP54 rather than IP55

Best For

Interior scanningReal estate documentationRapid interior captureTravel-friendly projectsImagery-led deliverables such as panoramic walkthroughs

Our Expert Verdict

Depends on Your Needs

These two scanners are not competing for the same job. The Trimble X9 is the instrument you bring when the tolerance has to hold up to scrutiny — 3.0mm at 20m across a 150m range in the Premium configuration. The Leica BLK360 G2 is the instrument you bring when access, speed and imagery matter more than millimetres — 0.85 kg, a sub-20-second station cycle at its coarsest setting, and a 104 MPx spherical image. On accuracy the X9 wins outright at the same distance; on portability the BLK360 G2 wins by about seven times. The right answer is set by the deliverable, not by the spec sheet.

Choose Trimble X9 if...

Choose the Trimble X9 when the tolerance is contractual — engineering surveys, forensic documentation, heritage recording, and any deliverable where 8mm at 20m is not close enough. Its 150m Premium range also covers exteriors and large open interiors the BLK360 G2 cannot reach in a single setup.

Choose Leica BLK360 G2 if...

Choose the Leica BLK360 G2 for interior-dominant work where access is awkward, station counts are high, and rich spherical imagery is part of the deliverable. Its 0.85 kg weight and sub-20-second station cycle make it far more practical for occupied buildings, stairwells and tight mechanical spaces.

Download the Spec Sheets

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

Trimble X9

Spec sheet — PN 022516-728A-G rev 09/25 (PDF) · 0.6 MB

Source: geospatial.trimble.com ↗

Leica BLK360 G2

Spec sheet — 1040380en - 02.26 (PDF) · 0.1 MB

Source: leica-geosystems.com ↗

Browse the full library: Equipment Spec Sheets & Downloads →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scanner is more accurate, the Trimble X9 or the Leica BLK360 G2?

The Trimble X9 is more accurate. Trimble publishes 2.3mm at 10m and 3.0mm at 20m 3D point accuracy. Leica publishes 4mm at 10m on the BLK360 G2 spec sheet, with 8mm at 20m appearing in its TLS comparison chart (06.26). Compared at the same 20m distance, the X9 is roughly 2.7 times tighter.

How much further does the Trimble X9 reach?

The X9 Premium configuration has a 150m range against 45m at 78% albedo for the BLK360 G2 — a little over three times the reach. That difference matters most on building exteriors, yards, and large open interiors where the BLK360 G2 would need many more setups.

How much lighter is the BLK360 G2?

Substantially. The BLK360 G2 weighs 0.85 kg including its battery against 6.045 kg for the Trimble X9 — roughly seven times lighter. That is the single biggest practical difference between the two on site.

Which one has the better camera?

The BLK360 G2. It carries four 13 Mpixel cameras producing 104 MPx per setup, while the X9 uses three coaxial 10 MP cameras for its 360° panoramic imaging. If photorealistic imagery is a deliverable rather than a colourisation aid, the BLK360 G2 leads.

Which scans faster?

It depends on what you measure. The X9 has the higher point rate — up to 1,000 kHz in the Premium configuration versus up to 680,000 pts/sec. The BLK360 G2 has the faster station cycle, completing a full dome scan in under 20 seconds at its coarsest resolution setting (50mm at 10m, LDR image). On dense interior projects with many short setups, the BLK360 G2 usually finishes the day sooner.

Can the BLK360 G2 be used outdoors?

Leica states it is designed for indoor and outdoor use, rated IP54 and specified for 0°C to +40°C, so it can work outdoors within those limits — but the X9 is the more robust choice at IP55 and −20°C to +50°C. The bigger outdoor constraint is the BLK360 G2 range of 45m, which forces many more setups on open sites.

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.

Trimble

Current

Trimble