TRIOS 5 vs Aoralscan 3
Verdict. TRIOS 5 and Aoralscan 3 are level on the overall Data Index (7.5 vs 7.5). On the 3 axes where both have evidence, TRIOS 5 wins 1, Aoralscan 3 wins 1 and 1 is tied. Clearest gaps: spec disclosure (TRIOS 5 5.0 vs 3.3) and price clarity (Aoralscan 3 9.0 vs 8.0).
Table view
| Axis | TRIOS 5 | Aoralscan 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Regulatory | 6.0 | no data |
| Price clarity | 8.0 | 9.0 |
| Spec disclosure | 5.0 | 3.3 |
| Accuracy evidence | no data | no data |
Axis by axis
- Openness 10.0 vs 10.0 tie
- Regulatory 6.0 vs – no data
- Price clarity 8.0 vs 9.0 Aoralscan 3
- Spec disclosure 5.0 vs 3.3 TRIOS 5
- Accuracy evidence – vs – no data
TRIOS 5 or Aoralscan 3: which should you choose?
The price gap is the story: Aoralscan 3 lists at $10,999, TRIOS 5 at $25,900 (3Shape's own pages also show $26,700). The $14,900 difference buys 3Shape's ecosystem and brand rather than a different file format: both export open files and neither requires a subscription.
TRIOS 5 is wireless, 299 g with three batteries, with a free TRIOS Only tier after year one. Optional TRIOS Care costs $219 a month if you want support, warranty and express replacement, and some planning software is a paid add-on. Aoralscan 3 is from Shining 3D, in market since 2021, with fewer published specifications.
Over five years TRIOS 5 with TRIOS Care costs about $36,400 ($25,900 plus $219 a month after year one) against $10,999 for Aoralscan 3, before any service plan on the Aoralscan, so the question is what support and ecosystem are worth to you. If your labs and aligner partners already work in 3Shape, TRIOS 5 saves friction; if you only need clean open scans, the cheaper scanner is hard to ignore. See our TRIOS 5 review.
Reviewed under the standards of our Editorial Board
What our reviews say
TRIOS 5
A light wireless scanner with a published price of about $26,000, open export and no mandatory subscription after year one.
Strengths- Published price: $25,900 on the product page when we checked
- No subscription required after the first year: owners can move to the free TRIOS Only tier
- Wireless, 299 g including battery, with three batteries supplied
- Two different prices on 3Shape's own pages ($25,900 and $26,700)
- TRIOS Care costs $219 a month after year one if you want support, warranty and express replacement
- Some planning software is a paid add-on
Side by side
| TRIOS 5 | Aoralscan 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Data Index | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Category rank | #3 of 21 · Intraoral scanners | #2 of 21 · Intraoral scanners |
| List price | $25,900 | $10,999 |
| Pricing transparency | Public starting price | Public starting price |
| Subscription required | No | No |
| Open export | Yes | Yes |
| Type | Intraoral scanner | Intraoral scanner |
| In market since | 2022 | 2021 |
| Markets | US | — |
| Data completeness | 91% | 91% |
Choose TRIOS 5 if…
- Practices that want a premium scanner without being tied to one aligner brand or lab
- Buyers who want to see the price and options before talking to a dealer
- Offices that value wireless scanning and simple infection control
FAQ
Is TRIOS 5 better than Aoralscan 3?
TRIOS 5 and Aoralscan 3 are level on the overall Data Index (7.5 vs 7.5). On the 3 axes where both have evidence, TRIOS 5 wins 1, Aoralscan 3 wins 1 and 1 is tied. Clearest gaps: spec disclosure (TRIOS 5 5.0 vs 3.3) and price clarity (Aoralscan 3 9.0 vs 8.0).