You’ve already decked your team out with iPhones and iPads, ensuring device coherence across your entire workforce. There’s just one problem – your RFID scanners aren’t compatible with iOS. So, even though you have most of your systems running through iOS, your RFID functionality is siloed off to the point where that it’s creating bumps in your workflow. Unitech aims to solve that problem with the RP902 MFi iOS RFID scanner, a revamp of its standard RP902 that’s compatible with iOS.
- Ranking
- Specifications
- Pricing
- Pros and Cons
- Display, Cameras, and Scanners
- Operating System and Programs
- How to Purchase
- Markets and Applications
- Review
- Power and Batteries
- Accessories and Add-Ons
Product Ranking
iOS compatibility is just one of the many reasons why the RP902 MFi RFID scanner excels. It also has the TagAccess software, allowing users to write new RFID tags as well as scan existing tags without changing devices. Combine that with exceptional portability (it fits right in your pocket) and a 2-meter range and you get an extremely versatile RFID scanner.
Ranking – 9.5/10
Product Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
| Screen Size | 0.96 Inches |
| RFID Reading Distance | 2m |
| RF Power Output | 27 dBm |
| Weight | 0.23 Pounds |
| Drop Protection | 1.2m |
| Sealing Certification | IP65 |
| Operating Temperature | 14 to 122 Degrees Fahrenheit |
| Battery | 1,150mAh Lithium-Ion (Rechargeable) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| RFID Compatibility | UHF (865MHz to 928Mhz Range) |
Product Pricing
You won’t have to break the bank to deck your team out with a fleet of RP902 MFi scanners, with the device typically landing in the $350 to $400 range. However, that depends on a few factors, including where you buy the scanner and any additional features or add-ons you include. For instance, buying adaptors, a neck lanyard, and a battery cover may bring the price closer to $500.
Making the most of the customizability is the main reason why getting an exact quote for your RP902 MFi is crucial. That’s where the experts come in. As well as helping you to price up your device and any accessories you buy, an expert can also ensure you’re not mistakenly buying the base RP902, which doesn’t have iOS compatibility.
Pros and Cons
Let’s start with the most obvious pro for the RP902 MFi – it’s compatible with iOS devices.
Previous versions only worked with Android and Windows-based phones and tablets, whereas the RP902 MFi works with both. No matter what equipment your people have, they can scan RFIDs and port the data over without running into workflow hiccups. Then, there’s the combination of a lightweight and small size. Unitech advertises the RP902 MFi with an image of a feather, and at less than a quarter of a pound, that image is pretty accurate. Slotting it into your pocket isn’t an issue, either, as the scanner measures just 4.29 x 2.00 x 1.10 inches. Finally: functionality. The RP902 MFi is capable of running up to 75,000 scans from a single charge, more than enough to cover the daily needs of most users.
On the downside, it’s not quite as rugged as many of Unitech’s other products. It has IP65 certification, guaranteeing a good level of water resistance and dust protection. But it would have been nice to see IP67 certification. Its drop protection of 1.2 meters is also solid, though it’s not spectacular. The device should hold up if dropped by somebody in a standing position while they’re on the floor, but it’s less likely to manage a drop from an elevated position.
Display, Cameras, and Scanners
If you’re looking for an RFID scanner that has a built-in camera then you’ll have to look elsewhere – the RP902 MFi doesn’t have one. That’s par for the course with these types of scanners because most don’t use them to take photographs. But if you’re looking for something that combines a camera, barcode scanner, and RFID scanning, you’re better served by one of Unitech’s rugged tablets or mobile computers.
Speaking of scanners, the device comes with one – a UHF RFID scanner that’s capable of handling a frequency range between 865MHz and 928MHz. That’s enough to match most RFID output standards, including those in the U.S., the E.U., and China, making this a versatile scanner that can handle international shipments. It can also handle most major classes of RFID tags, including ISO 18000-6C and EPC Global Class 1 Gen 2 tags, again enhancing its versatility.
The information pulled from a tag is displayed on a 0.96-inch display. That gives you the basics, and you can port the scanning results to your Android or iOS device to get more details.
Operating System and Programs
It’s not the operating system built into the device that you need to consider. It’s the compatibility with other OS on different devices that makes the RP902 MFi stand out, and it delivers in spades in this area. The MFi designation clues you into the fact that the scanner’s results can be ported over to systems running iOS. But it hasn’t lost the Android or Windows compatibility of the base RP902. No matter what OS you use, you should find the RP902 MFi sends scan results seamlessly to any device it connects to via Bluetooth.
As for programs, there’s one that stands out – TagAccess.
By pairing the RP902 MFi with a device that’s running TagAccess you can read and write RFID tags on the fly, using the scanner to get and send the information. It’s a powerful piece of kit that puts the power to edit and even deactivate tags in the palm of your user’s hand.
How to Purchase the Unitech RP902 MFi RFID Scanner
On the surface, it seems like purchasing the RP902 MFi RFID Scanner should be simple. But there’s an issue you need to confront – there are two versions of the RP902. One has MFi certification, which makes it compatible with iOS, while the other is only compatible with Android operating systems. To ensure that you’re buying the right version of the RP902 for your needs (and the devices your people use) you should always speak to an expert. They’ll ensure you get the correct version of the device, along with any accessories you may need.
Markets and Applications
There are many reasons why you may use RFID scanning ahead of barcode scanning. RFID scanners (such as the RP902 MFi) can often read RFID tags at a larger distance than barcode scanners can read barcodes. RFID scanners also don’t need to have a perfect line of sight with their tags, and they can read information must faster than barcode scanners. It’s for these reasons that RFID scanners have become common for the following markets and applications:
- Aerospace – Airplane manufacturers create thousands of parts for planes, all of which they need to track for inventory and safety purposes. RFID tags and scanners enable that tracking.
- Healthcare – Hospitals need to keep track of patients. They also need to be able to access their records quickly, facilitating more efficient treatment. RFID tags installed into wristbands worn by patients, coupled with scanners to read them, makes storing and accessing patient data simple.
- Warehousing – Given that RFID is often faster and easier to use than barcode scanning, many warehouses implement the technology to enable real-time tracking of their inventory.
- Manufacturing – The aerospace industry is far from the only manufacturing sector that makes use of RFID scanners. Any company that creates a lot of parts can use RFID to track their inventory and store information about their products more easily.
- Customer Service – If your customer service team has no idea how much inventory is available, they can’t provide accurate information to your customers. RFID scanning solves that problem thanks to the previously mentioned real-time scanning capabilities.
- Hotels and Hospitality – Think about the number of things the average hotel has to track. Guests, staff, and inventory (such as towels and uniforms) are all things that RFID scanning can track. In addition to making hotels more efficient, RFID scanning makes it easier to track and report thefts.
Unitech RP902 MFi RFID Scanner Review
You’ve seen the specifications, and now you’re wondering what the RP902 MFi delivers when it’s in action. This review digs into its main features to highlight what makes the device stand out from the many other scanners available.
Thousands of Scans in a Matter of Hours
The RP902 MFi can complete 75,000 scans in just 12 hours.
Let’s repeat that – 75,000 scans in 12 hours. A single charge of its battery is enough to empower your people to scan huge chunks of your inventory, without delays caused by the need to recharge or because the scanner simply can’t hold up to the workload. The most efficient companies take advantage of this spectacular scanning potential by purchasing multiple batteries, allowing them to switch batteries around and keep the scanner going into six figures.
Exceptional Operating System Compatibility
The “MFi” tag in the product’s name isn’t just a fancy piece of branding. It’s a recognized certification from Apple that tells you that the RP902 MFi is made with iOS in mind. In other words – it’s compatible with the iPhones and iPads that your people use as part of their work every day.
But don’t let that tag fool you. The original RP902 worked with Android and Windows devices, and the RP902 MFi is no different. So, think of the Apple compatibility as an addition, rather than a replacement, making this RFID scanner so versatile that it works with any OS your company might install.
Tackle RFID Tasks with TagAccess
Track inventory. Read and write tags. Delete outdated tags and lock tags that you don’t want to keep scanning. All of these features are available through the RP902 MFi because it’s built to be compatible with the leading RFID scanning software TagAccess.
That compatibility empowers your people and your scanner, allowing them to do more than point a scanner and read information from a tag. They get control. And with the iOS software development kit (SDK) that comes with the RP902 MFi, you can create and customize your own RFID applications (with the help of TagAccess or without) to create a scanning workflow that’s unique to your company.
Pair However You Want
The RP902 MFi offers two ways to pair your scanner with your mobile devices – USB cable or Bluetooth 5.0.
Both support snap-and-go pairing, which is a type of pairing available on iOS devices that allow you to plug in, connect, and get to work. There’s no complicated messing around with system configurations to get the scanner working. Just an immediate and uninterrupted link that ensures your people can get on with the job without having to worry about tech.
Sealed and Protected
Ruggedness isn’t a hallmark of the RP902 MFi, but that doesn’t mean that Unitech has neglected to protect the device. It’s built to withstand drops of up to 1.2 meters, more than enough assuming your people use the scanner while standing at ground level.
It also has IP65 certification. Dust will never be a problem because the device is perfectly sealed to prevent dust ingress. As for water, the RP902 MFI isn’t waterproof, so you can’t submerge it, but it can handle getting sprayed with low-pressure water jets. So, you’re safe to use it in the rain as long as you don’t drop it into any puddles.
Power and Batteries
The RP902 MFi comes equipped with a 1,150mAh lithium battery that outputs 27dBm of power – more than enough for most types of RFID scanning. That battery is impressive, too, capable of running for 12 uninterrupted hours before it needs recharging. In those 12 hours, you can scan up to 75,000 tags, making the RP902 perfect for inventory management and cycle checking.
Better yet – the battery is replaceable with spare batteries that Unitech offers. If you need your scanner to run for more than 12 continuous hours (as you may if you have cycling day and night shift workers), the ability to swap out batteries on the fly makes the R902 MFi the versatile scanner your non-stop workforce needs.
Accessories and Add-Ons
Versatility is the name of the game for Unitech when it comes to the RP902 MFi scanner. That’s why it offers several accessories and add-ons that make the scanner easier to use in various applications. Speaking to an expert helps you learn more about the following accessories, so you can decide whether you need them:
- Universal 5V/2A Adaptor – Coming with a set of plugs to cover the U.K., the E.U., and several other territories, this adaptor is the perfect add-on if you need to take your R902’s global.
- Neck and Wrist Lanyards – As convenient as it is to have a scanner that slides easily into your pocket, loose pockets may lead to the scanner falling out or getting pilfered. Both the neck and wrist lanyards that Unitech offers keep the scanner secured to the person using it, protecting your investment.
- Replacement Battery – If you want to keep your RP902 MFi running for 24 continuous hours, a replacement battery gives you an extra 12 hours of juice. You can cycle out the batteries, recharging the one that isn’t in use so your scanner never has to stop working.
- RP902 One-Slot Charging Cradle – Though it calls itself a “one-slot” cradle, this charging dock has slots for both your scanner and a spare battery, giving you a two-in-one charging option.
- RP902 Battery Cover – Battery covers can get damaged or lost, which is where this replacement cover comes in. It’s also a great accompaniment to your spare battery.
Talk to an Expert
The best way to ensure you get the RFID scanner that’s right for your business needs is to talk to an expert. Do you need a scanner that’s compatible with iOS? An Energy Electronics expert can tell you more about the RP902 MFi and its many features. Best of all – our experts respond to any queries you have within one business hour. Get in touch to learn more about the RP902 MFi, as well as other RFID scanners that may be better fitted for your needs.
