Google Drive has long included a document scanner, but it was often overlooked, leading users to pay for third-party apps that do the same job for free. Google is now addressing this with a significant redesign that makes its scanner competitive with paid alternatives. However, one requirement stands out: your phone needs at least 8GB of RAM.
Smart Batch Scanning: A Game Changer
Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat shared a screen recording on X, highlighting the new Smart Batch Scanning feature. Instead of capturing one page at a time, users can move their phone over a stack of documents, and scans automatically accumulate at the bottom of the screen. Drive then sorts them into separate documents, streamlining the process significantly.
Improvements Beyond New Features
The update focuses on fixing common scanning issues. Auto-Best Frame discards blurry shots and retains clear ones. Duplicate Detection ignores accidentally scanned duplicate pages. The interface has been decluttered, adding a pause button, a photo picker, a cleaner viewfinder, and removing the beaker icon from the corner.
Why Older Phones Are Excluded
The 8GB RAM requirement stems from Google's decision to process scans entirely on the device rather than on servers. This ensures fast, private scanning that works offline but demands capable hardware. The same scanner is also appearing in Files by Google, as both rely on Google Play services. The rollout has begun.
