| | Platform\instrument | Throughput range (Gb) | Read length (bp) | Strength | Weakness |
| | Sanger sequencing | | ABI 3500/3730 | 0.0003 | Up to 1 kb | Read accuracy and length | Cost and throughput |
| | Illumina | | MiniSeq | 1.7–7.5 | 1 × 75 to 2 × 150 | Low initial investment | Run and read length | | MiSeq | 0.3–15 | 1 × 36 to 2 × 300 | Read length, scalability | Run length | | NextSeq | 10–120 | 1 × 75 to 2 × 150 | Throughput | Run and read length | | HiSeq (2500) | 10–1000 | 1 × 50 to 2 × 250 | Read accuracy, throughput, low per sample cost | High initial investment, run length | | HiSeq 3000/HiSeq 4000 | 105–1500 | 2 × 50 to 2 × 150 | Read accuracy, throughput, low per sample cost | High initial investment, run and read length | | NovaSeq 5000/6000 | 2000–6000 | 2 × 50 to 2 × 150 | Read accuracy, throughput, low per sample cost | High initial investment, run and read length |
| | IonTorrent | | PGM | 0.08–2 | Up to 400 | Read length, speed | Throughput, homopolymers | | S5 | 0.6–15 | Up to 400 | Read length, speed, scalability | Homopolymers | | Proton | 10–15 | Up to 200 | Speed, throughput | Homopolymers | | Ion GeneStudio S5 prime System (ion 550″ chip) | 10–50 | Up to 200 (2 runs in one day) | Read length, speed, scalability | Homopolymers |
| | Oxford nanopore | | MInION | 0.1–1 | Up to 100 kb | Read length, portability | High error rate, run length, low throughput | | GridION X5 | 50–100 | Up to 1000 kb | The GridION X5 offers real time, long-read, high-fidelity DNA and RNA sequencing. | High error rate | | Pacific BioSciences | | PacBio RSII | 0.5–1 | Up to 60 kb(Average 10 kb, N50 20 kb) | Read length, speed | High error rate and initial investment, low throughput | | Sequel | 5–10 | Up to 60 kb(Average 10 kb, N50 20 kb) | Read length, speed | High error rate | | Sequel II | 9–13 | Up to 160 Gb | Read length, speed | Initial investment |
|
|
