Datalogic GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC vs Datalogic GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP: Specification Comparison
Both the Datalogic GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC and GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP are handheld 2D area imager barcode scanners from the Gryphon I family, targeting retail, warehouse, healthcare, and logistics environments. They share the same fundamental device class, scan pattern, IP52 rating, and wired interface options, making them genuine cross-shop candidates for buyers evaluating a step-up within the same product line. The comparison centers on Bluetooth generation, symbology breadth, physical size, and battery specification differences that may influence deployment decisions.
In This Guide
Which scanner covers more barcode formats and scan scenarios?
Both units deploy a 2D area imager with omnidirectional scan patterns and read the core symbology set: QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, Code 39, UPC, and EAN. The GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP extends that baseline with Code 128, GS1-128, GS1 Digital Link, and Digital Watermarking support — symbologies the GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC specs do not list. GS1 Digital Link is increasingly adopted in retail and healthcare for extended product traceability data embedded in 2D codes, and Digital Watermarking supports emerging packaging formats. Both scanners provide Datalogic Green Spot good-read confirmation. The GBT4500 specs note postal and composite code support explicitly; the GBT4600 specs do not list postal codes. Buyers who need GS1 Digital Link or Digital Watermarking must select the GBT4600; buyers with postal-code workflows should confirm GBT4600 support with the datasheet.
How do the Bluetooth version and battery specs compare for cordless operation?
The GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP uses Bluetooth 5.2 Classic and Low Energy (LE) with HOGP keyboard emulation, while the GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC specifies Bluetooth 4.0. Bluetooth 5.2 offers improved range, throughput, and LE Audio capabilities versus 4.0, and HOGP keyboard emulation on the GBT4600 simplifies HID-class pairing to tablets and thin clients without drivers. Both units share the same wired interface set: USB, RS-232, and Keyboard Wedge. On battery, the GBT4500 lists 3,250 mAh in its primary battery field. The GBT4600 presents a conflict in its specs: one field shows 250 mAh while another reads 3,250 mAh Lithium-Ion — buyers should verify against the official datasheet before assuming capacity. Neither spec sheet states a rated battery life in hours or shift cycles.
Which unit is lighter and more rugged for extended daily use?
The GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC is lighter at 222 g versus the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP at 240 g — an 18 g difference that may matter in high-scan-rate environments where cumulative fatigue is a factor. Dimensionally, the GBT4500 measures 64 × 160 × 89 mm compared to the GBT4600's 66 × 165 × 94 mm, making the 4500 marginally more compact across all three axes. Both scanners carry an IP52 rating, providing equivalent protection against dust and low-angle water spray. The GBT4600 additionally specifies a 0.5 m drop rating to concrete; the GBT4500 specs do not list a drop rating. The GBT4600 also notes a high-speed dual-core processor, a spec absent from the GBT4500 listing. For environments with frequent accidental drops, the GBT4600's documented drop tolerance is a meaningful differentiator.
Which should you choose: the GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC or the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP?
Our take: The GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC is the stronger choice when weight and compactness are the primary ergonomic drivers and the required symbology set does not include GS1 Digital Link or Digital Watermarking. Key spec deltas: the GBT4500 is 18 g lighter (222 g vs. 240 g) and smaller in every dimension (64 × 160 × 89 mm vs. 66 × 165 × 94 mm), and the GBT4600 lacks a listed postal-code symbology. Conversely, the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP is the better fit for deployments requiring Bluetooth 5.2 with LE and HOGP keyboard emulation, broader symbology coverage including Code 128, GS1 Digital Link and Digital Watermarking, and a documented 0.5 m drop rating — all unspecified on the GBT4500. Healthcare and enterprise logistics buyers adopting GS1 Digital Link or thin-client HID pairing should select the GBT4600; traditional retail or warehouse scanning against standard 1D/2D symbologies on Bluetooth 4.0-capable hosts can be served by the lighter, more compact GBT4500.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | Datalogic GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC | Datalogic GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP |
|---|---|---|
| Series | Gryphon I 4500 | Gryphon I 4600 |
| SKU | GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC | GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP |
| Scan Engine | 2D Area Imager | 2D Area Imager |
| Scan Pattern | Omnidirectional | Omnidirectional |
| Weight | 222 g | 240 g |
| Dimensions (W × L × H) | 64 × 160 × 89 mm | 66 × 165 × 94 mm |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 Classic & LE |
| HOGP Keyboard Emulation | — | Yes |
| Wired Interfaces | USB; RS-232; Keyboard Wedge | USB; RS-232; Keyboard Wedge |
| IP Rating | IP52 | IP52 |
| Drop Rating | — | 0.5 m to concrete |
| Battery Capacity | 3,250 mAh | 3,250 mAh Li-Ion (verify: one spec field shows 250 mAh) |
| 1D Symbologies | Code 39; UPC; EAN | Code 128; Code 39; UPC; EAN; GS1-128 |
| 2D Symbologies | QR Code; Data Matrix; PDF417 | QR Code; Data Matrix; PDF417 |
| Additional Symbologies | Postal; Composite | GS1 Digital Link; Digital Watermarking |
| Warranty | 5-Year Limited | 5-Year Limited |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC or the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP?
The GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC is the stronger choice when weight and compactness are the primary ergonomic drivers and the required symbology set does not include GS1 Digital Link or Digital Watermarking. Key spec deltas: the GBT4500 is 18 g lighter (222 g vs. 240 g) and smaller in every dimension (64 × 160 × 89 mm vs. 66 × 165 × 94 mm), and the GBT4600 lacks a listed postal-code symbology. Conversely, the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP is the better fit for deployments requiring Bluetooth 5.2 with LE and HOGP keyboard emulation, broader symbology coverage including Code 128, GS1 Digital Link and Digital Watermarking, and a documented 0.5 m drop rating — all unspecified on the GBT4500. Healthcare and enterprise logistics buyers adopting GS1 Digital Link or thin-client HID pairing should select the GBT4600; traditional retail or warehouse scanning against standard 1D/2D symbologies on Bluetooth 4.0-capable hosts can be served by the lighter, more compact GBT4500.
Is the GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC or GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP better for healthcare deployments?
Based on the provided specs, the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP is better aligned to healthcare use. It adds GS1 Digital Link and Digital Watermarking symbologies increasingly used in healthcare traceability, carries Bluetooth 5.2 with Low Energy and HOGP keyboard emulation for driverless pairing to clinical tablets, and has a documented 0.5 m drop rating. The GBT4500 specs do not list those symbologies or a drop rating, and its Bluetooth 4.0 lacks LE. Both share the same IP52 environmental rating.
Do both scanners work with the same host interfaces for wired connections?
Yes. Both the GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC and GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP list identical wired interface options: USB, RS-232, and Keyboard Wedge. Either unit will integrate with the same legacy and modern host systems over wired connections without requiring different cabling or interface adapters.
Which scanner is lighter and easier to use for all-day scanning shifts?
The GBT4500-BK-DGM-WLC is lighter at 222 g versus 240 g for the GBT4600-HC-BTK1-HP, a difference of 18 g. It is also smaller across all three physical dimensions (64 × 160 × 89 mm vs. 66 × 165 × 94 mm). For operators performing high-volume scanning over full shifts, the GBT4500's lower weight and more compact form factor offer a modest ergonomic advantage, provided its symbology set and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless meet the deployment's requirements.
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