Brand comparison
Differences between Opticon and ZKONG
If your shortlist has come down to these two, the table below puts everything recorded in the catalogue side by side. We do not declare a winner — which difference matters depends on your store's scenario, and we do not know that scenario.
Measurable differences
Screen size range
Colour capability
Communication
Battery life (years)
Cold-rated models
IP protection class
Price band
Models with NFC
Full comparison
| Opticon | ZKONG | |
|---|---|---|
| Models in catalogue | 2 | 4 |
| Screen size range | 2.1″ – 11.6″ | 2.13″ – 7.5″ |
| Colour capability | 3 colours | 2 colours, 3 colours, 4 colours |
| Communication | 2.4 GHz proprietary | Bluetooth LE 5.x |
| Battery life (years) | 5 | 4 – 5 |
| Cold-rated models | 0 / 2 | 1 / 4 |
| IP protection class | IP54 | IP5X, IP63 |
| Price band | Economy, Premium | Economy, Mid, Upper |
| Mains-powered models | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 |
| Models with NFC | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4 |
| Market position | Tier-2 · Specialist | Tier-2 · Specialist |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japonya | Hangzhou, Çin |
| Founded | 1976 | 2015 |
| Management platform | Opticon ESL Server | ZKONG Cloud |
| Sells in Türkiye | — | — |
Opticon
Draws on its heritage in barcode scanner manufacturing to offer an integrated solution in store hardware. SE series labels consume energy only during radio transmission and display refresh. The family comprises eight models from the SE-214 to the SE-1160R and uses IEEE 802.15.4-based 2.4 GHz (2405-2480 MHz) communication.
Strengths
- Works within the same ecosystem as the barcode terminals
- One of the few manufacturers that publishes its specifications openly, model by model
- An RGB LED with adjustable frequency and duration on every model
- Battery life of up to 5 years; 2,000 labels per base station on the SE-214
Watch-outs
- IP class and operating temperature are not stated on the product pages - confirm per project
- Software features are basic - not suited to advanced merchandising scenarios
- NFC is not standard; it is offered as an option
ZKONG
A manufacturer spreading quickly with a BLE-based, low-infrastructure-cost solution. The Blade series is positioned across fourteen sizes between 1.8 and 10.2 inches with body thicknesses of 9-13.6 mm, and the Shield series with its high-resistance plastic housing and freezer variants (ZK21SF, ZK26SF). Model codes and resolutions are published openly on the manufacturer's site.
Strengths
- A low total cost of ownership
- Simple and inexpensive infrastructure through BLE
- A very wide size range and resolution tables published model by model
- Short lead times
Watch-outs
- Bulk update time may lengthen in dense label environments - measure it in the pilot
- Protection class is IP63 on most models; for wet areas choose the IP66 variant specifically
- Battery life figures are not published publicly
- Enterprise SLA and long-term support level vary by partner
How solid is this comparison?
10 fields are estimated across Opticon records, with 2 sources attached. For ZKONG: 18 estimated fields and 6 sources. Estimated fields are derived from class averages and are marked individually on product pages; where the two brands differ sharply in how much is estimated, the comparison is unequal by the same degree.