The short answer

The RealScan SG10 is the world's most compact FBI Appendix F certified optical fingerprint scanner—standing at just 80mm tall. But size is only half the story. Rebuilt around a next-generation optical system and USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface, the RealScan SG10 captures and transfers fingerprint data dramatically faster than its predecessor. In large-scale enrollment programs where millions of citizens pass through capture stations, even a few seconds saved per person compounds into hours—and ultimately determines whether a program meets its registration targets or falls behind. The RealScan SG10 was designed to compress both the hardware and the time it takes to use it.

If you need a tenprint live scanner that performs at the highest certification level, processes fingerprints faster under real-world throughput pressure, and fits inside a mobile enrollment kit, an eGate pedestal, or a self-service kiosk, the RealScan SG10 was built for exactly that.

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The problem we set out to solve

For over a decade, the RealScan-G10 was the benchmark. Deployed in 130+ countries across national ID programs, voter registration systems, border checkpoints, and criminal identification workflows, it earned its reputation as one of the most reliable FAP 60 scanners on the market.

But the world changed. Governments began rolling out mobile enrollment programs that reach citizens in rural and remote areas. Border agencies started integrating biometric capture directly into automated eGate lanes where every millimeter of space matters. Kiosk manufacturers demanded scanners that could disappear into their enclosures rather than dominate them.

The industry needed a FAP 60 scanner that maintained uncompromising image quality while dramatically reducing its physical footprint. That was the engineering challenge behind the RealScan SG10.

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What makes the RealScan SG10 different

1. A completely redesigned optical system

This is not a minor refresh. The RealScan SG10 features an entirely new optical architecture developed from the ground up.

Traditional FAP 60 scanners rely on tall optical prisms to minimize image distortion—but taller prisms mean bulkier hardware. Xperix's engineering team drew on its experience developing the BioMini Slim series to solve a longstanding trade-off: how to lower the prism height without introducing unacceptable distortion. The result is a proprietary prism design paired with advanced image distortion processing that delivers full FAP 60 compliance in a dramatically smaller package.

At 80mm in height, the RealScan SG10 is the lowest-profile optical tenprint scanner in its certification class.

2. USB 3.2 Gen 1 with USB-C

The RealScan-G10 used USB 2.0. The RealScan SG10 jumps to USB 3.2 Gen 1—delivering data transfer speeds more than ten times faster. For high-resolution fingerprint images at 500 ppi across four-finger slaps and rolled prints, this speed advantage translates directly into shorter capture-to-processing cycles.

The USB-C connector also addresses a practical pain point: universal compatibility with modern hardware. No adapters, no legacy cable management.

3. True Plug & Play

On Windows, the RealScan SG10 requires no driver installation. Connect the cable, and the scanner is operational. For large-scale deployments where IT teams are provisioning hundreds of enrollment stations, eliminating the driver installation step saves meaningful time and removes a common source of support tickets.

4. IP65 ingress protection

The previous generation carried an IP54 rating. The RealScan SG10 raises that to IP65—fully sealed against dust ingress and protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction. For field deployments in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asian monsoon seasons, or dusty Middle Eastern border facilities, this upgrade directly extends device reliability and lifespan.

5. AI-based presentation attack detection (PAD Level 1 & 2)

The RealScan SG10's liveness detection algorithm uses artificial intelligence to distinguish real fingers from spoofs made of clay, rubber, silicone, glue, paper, film, and other materials. It is compliant with ISO/IEC 30107-3 at both PAD Level 1 and Level 2, as independently tested by BixeLab. In an era where identity fraud is becoming more sophisticated, this is not a nice-to-have—it is a baseline requirement for any serious identity program.

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Who this is for

National ID & Civil Registration — Governments issuing national identity cards, birth certificates, or social security credentials need scanners that can be deployed at scale across both urban enrollment centers and mobile field kits reaching remote populations.

Border Control & Immigration — The RealScan SG10's low profile makes it ideal for integration into eGate systems and automated border control lanes where space is at a premium and throughput requirements are measured in seconds per traveler.

Voter Registration & Verification — Election commissions conducting biometric voter registration need rugged, portable equipment that operators can carry into the field and set up quickly—without worrying about driver installations or dust damage.

ePassport Issuance — Passport offices require FBI-certified tenprint capture for ICAO-compliant biometric enrollment. The RealScan SG10 delivers that certification in a footprint that fits modern counter designs.

Mobile Enrollment Programs — Any program that puts biometric capture hardware into a kit—whether for refugee registration, healthcare enrollment, or financial inclusion initiatives—benefits from the RealScan SG10's combination of compact size, low power draw, and plug-and-play setup.

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The bottom line

The RealScan SG10 is not a cosmetic update to the RealScan-G10. It is a ground-up redesign that solves the central tension in tenprint scanner engineering: how to shrink the hardware without shrinking the capability.

For procurement officers evaluating their next tenprint scanner, the question is straightforward. If your deployment requires FBI Appendix F certification, FAP 60 compliance, and robust presentation attack detection—and if your operating environment demands portability, modern connectivity, or space-efficient integration—the RealScan SG10 delivers all of that at 80mm tall.

That is why this product exists.

Want to see the RealScan SG10 in action? Contact our team or visit the product page for full specifications and documentation.