question about barcode scanner and scanning an lcd screen (cell phone screen or laptop monitor)

Sadly, problem isn't tackled easily. Some scanners work VERY good, some work only with a lot of fiddling (retrying, other angles etc). If it's a matte LCD, it already helps a lot (because more and more often, people now want to scan off their shiny glass phones).
I guess a specialized shop would be the best way to help/advice you, even let you try a few models. And hopefully your situation doesn't change too much (different LCD screens? Maybe even glossy tablets/phones?). That's because if you decide on a model (and maybe pay dearly for it), and you suddenly change the screens, it could be that you have non-functional scanners now.

thanks for the info, the only LCD I would be scanning is my laptop screen (17 inch hp laptop but the display isnt matte, its a touch screen laptop so it has a digitizer over the screen which may make it harder to read?) and my cell phone is a samsung galaxy s5. I would not be scanning customers phones or all different types of phones, I would mostly use it for scanning my laptop LCD and once and a while on my cell phone. It is only for personal use in helping me organize barcodes we use for my work.

I do not have a shop in my area that sells them so unfortunately I may have to order them in order to test them. The two I mentioned seem to work pretty good on this review but they are expensive.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNdywV61yXQ

Just tested a CINO Fuzzyscan F560-BSU on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (as it's similar to your SGS5, shiny glossy corning glass) and it works perfectly. So now you have the option from the Expert above, and this one.
You can also conclude the higher versions like the F680 will work even better.
If you can't find both, check the specs of the ones you can get, and compare every bit of information with the specs pages of the two scanners types.
For instance, if you find something that also says this (or better), you can buy it with almost 100% insurance it will scan correctly:

Optical System       High performance Linear Imaging Engine
Print Contrast      20% minimum reflective difference
Minimum Resolution      Typical 3 mil (code 39, PCS 0.9)
Working Distance       More than 13 inches on 100% UPC/EAN symbols
 Up to 18 inches on 20 mil Code 39
Light Source      630nm visible red LED

I recently got a free barcode scanning app for my tablet - a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Manatee+Works&hl=en

It works pretty well, it probably got about 80% of the sample codes on the wiki page here, across many different code types:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode

May work better than a conventional reader as it uses the camera, not reflected light?

thanks for the info. I looked both models up that were mentioned and both are priced on the high end, over $100. I was trying to spend around $30-$40 if I can.

Also I have an app that scans the barcodes and it works well but I would rather just use a dedicated barcode scanner but thanks for the idea of using an app.

I found a ccd barcode scanner on amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Ariic-Wireless-Barcode-Scanner-Reader/dp/B00CWSSHOY/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1420685173&sr=8-14&keywords=ccd+barcode+scanner

it does not say the resolution but it is only $30 and has a ccd sensor.  We only need to use the barcode scanner for about 10 minutes every day so it is not like we need a very expensive unit. So is it likley that the one I found on amazon will work? Or is it better to buy the $100 machine even though we are using it in very low volume?

thanks for the info!