Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System vs Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System

Similar category, different focus. These tools serve overlapping but distinct needs. Comparability 65/100 Comparability is an AI-graded 0–100 score of how directly these two tools compete — higher means a more apples-to-apples comparison.
by Butterfly Network
VS

AI Verdict

These two tools are adjacent in their comparability. Both offer portable, AI-powered imaging at the point of care, aiming to improve diagnostic confidence and streamline workflows. However, the Butterfly iQ3 is a handheld, whole-body ultrasound system, while the Swoop system is a portable MRI specifically for brain imaging, making their core imaging modalities and specific applications distinct.

Choose Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System if…

Choose the Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System if your clinical setting requires a versatile, whole-body imaging solution at the point of care, especially for rapid assessments in critical care or emergency medicine. Its single probe and AI-powered tools streamline workflows for a wide range of applications, from cardiac to abdominal imaging.

View Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System →

Choose Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System if…

Choose the Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System if your priority is point-of-care brain imaging in settings where traditional MRI access is limited or impractical, such as ICUs or emergency departments. This portable MRI is ideal for neurological assessments, offering rapid scan times and an intuitive interface for immediate diagnostic insights.

View Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System →

Reviewed by Pouyan Golshani, MD — Interventional Radiologist

Quick Comparison

Feature Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System
Pricing Paid, subscription required Enterprise
Deployment Mobile app (iOS/Android) to Butterfly Cloud, with DICOM connector for EMR/PACS integration. Hybrid
FDA Status 1 AI-estimated Cleared AI-estimated
HIPAA Unknown Yes AI-estimated

Head-to-Head

AI-generated assessment across six dimensions based on each tool's documented features and compliance posture. Grounded in public data — not a substitute for hands-on evaluation.

Usability

Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System

Both tools emphasize portability and ease of use with mobile interfaces. However, the Butterfly iQ3 offers a single probe for over 20 clinical applications and is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, suggesting broader accessibility and versatility for various users. Its ergonomic design and configurable buttons also contribute to a more tailored user experience.

Clinical Value

Tie

Both tools offer significant clinical value by bringing advanced imaging to the point of care. The Butterfly iQ3 provides whole-body ultrasound with AI-powered tools for enhanced diagnostic confidence across numerous specialties. The Swoop Portable MR Imaging System, as the world's first FDA-cleared portable MRI, offers unique value for point-of-care brain imaging, addressing a critical need in settings where traditional MRI is inaccessible.

Pricing & Value

Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System

The Butterfly iQ3 has transparent pricing for its probes and a required annual software membership, making its cost structure clear to potential buyers. In contrast, the Swoop system's pricing is listed as 'enterprise' with a directive to contact Hyperfine, which suggests a higher, less transparent cost that may be prohibitive for smaller practices or individual users.

Enterprise Readiness

Tie

Both tools demonstrate enterprise readiness through DICOM compatibility for EMR/PACS integration, which is crucial for seamless workflow in healthcare systems. Both are also HIPAA compliant and FDA cleared, indicating they meet necessary regulatory standards for enterprise deployment.

Innovation

Tie

Both tools represent significant innovations in medical imaging. The Butterfly iQ3 utilizes 'Ultrasound-on-Chipu2122 technology' and AI-powered imaging tools for whole-body imaging with a single probe. The Swoop system is groundbreaking as the 'world's first and only FDA-cleared portable MRI,' bringing MRI capabilities to the point of care.

Support & Docs

Tie

While specific details on support and documentation are not provided for either tool in the given facts, both companies are established in the medical device space. It can be reasonably assumed that both offer standard support and documentation for their FDA-cleared and enterprise-targeted products. Without further information, it is difficult to distinguish between the two.

Feature-by-Feature

Detail beyond the Quick Comparison summary. For pricing, deployment, BAA, FDA, and HIPAA see the Overview tab.

Feature Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System
Name Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System Swoopu00ae Portable MR Imagingu00ae System
Company Butterfly Network Hyperfine
Description The Butterfly iQ3 is a handheld, whole-body ultrasound system featuring advanced Ultrasound-on-Chipu2122 technology, AI-powered tools, and seamless mobile integration for enhanced diagnostic confidence and streamlined workflows at the point of care. The Swoopu00ae Portable MR Imagingu00ae System is the world's first and only FDA-cleared portable MRI, enabling point-of-care brain imaging in diverse clinical settings.
Key Features Ultrasound-on-Chipu2122 technology for whole-body imaging, Single probe for 20+ clinical applications (1-12 MHz frequency), Compatible with iOS and Android devices, AI-powered imaging tools: iQ Sliceu2122, iQ Fanu2122, Auto Bladder Volume, Auto B-Line Counter, NeedleVizu2122, B-Mode, M-Mode, Color Doppler, Power Doppler, Pulsed-Wave Doppler, Biplane Imagingu2122, Ergonomic design: 17% smaller probe face, 7% shorter probe, 3 configurable buttons, Fast data transfer rate (9.6Gb/s) and 2x faster processing power, Durable, military-grade tested hardware (IPX7 waterproof, IP6X dustproof, 4-ft drop test) Portability and compact design, Low power consumption (standard wall outlet), Intuitive iPad-based interface, AI-powered image reconstruction, Rapid scan times, Point-of-care imaging capabilities, DICOM compatibility for PACS integration, Remote access for tele-radiology

Videos

Demos, reviews, and walkthroughs featuring Butterfly iQ3 Ultrasound System and Swoop® Portable MR Imaging® System.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Butterfly iQ3 offers seamless mobile integration and a DICOM connector for EMR/PACS integration, with images automatically uploading to the Butterfly Cloud for easy attachment to EPRs. The Swoop Portable MR Imaging System is DICOM compatible for PACS integration and can pull patient information from the modality worklist (MWL) to register a patient for an exam. It is designed to be wheeled directly to a patient's bedside, plugging into a standard outlet, and operated via an iPad, sending images to the hospital radiology team for interpretation.
The Butterfly iQ3 provides high-resolution image quality for whole-body imaging across 20+ clinical applications, with image quality comparable to traditional cart-based systems. The Swoop system has demonstrated high accuracy for detecting brain hemorrhage, with 80.4% sensitivity and 96.6% specificity in one study, and 100% sensitivity for detecting mild to moderate ARIA-E. It has also shown 92% diagnostic agreement with conventional MRI for neurological conditions in a blinded review.
The Swoop system is designed for an accelerated learning curve, with operation, navigation, and safety training being simple, allowing for expanded user access. Training can be completed in as little as 30 minutes, and existing clinic staff can perform scans. The Butterfly iQ3 aims to support new learners with AI and advanced imaging tools, and its intuitive design and improved image quality can enhance teaching and streamline workflows.
Hyperfine offers world-class support for the Swoop system, including software upgrades, technical support, and preventative maintenance. Technical support is available 24/7/365 through various channels, and software updates are deployed remotely. For the Butterfly iQ3, some users have reported unreliable customer service and warranty experiences, with issues regarding probe replacement. However, Butterfly Network states that their product experts are available for questions.
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