The Best DNA Sequencers of 2026

Selecting the right instrumentation is critical for laboratory professionals navigating the landscape of genomic research and clinical diagnostics. Modern DNA sequencers have shifted beyond simple base calling, now offering integrated multiomics, increased speed, and long-read capabilities that expand experimental possibilities. This guide examines five prominent models defining the market in 2026, evaluating their throughput, accuracy, and operational efficiency to assist facilities in optimizing their genomic workflows.

Quick Summary

• Best Overall: Element Biosciences AVITI24 — Delivers Q40+ accuracy and simultaneous multiomics at a cost-effective price point.

• Best On A Budget: Oxford Nanopore PromethION 2 Solo — Provides access to high-output nanopore sequencing with a compact footprint.

• Best For Speed: Illumina MiSeq i100 — Offers rapid turnaround times with run completion in as little as 4 hours for urgent samples.

• Best For Throughput: Illumina NovaSeq X Plus — The industry standard for population-scale genomics and high-volume data generation.

• Best High-End Option: PacBio Revio — Combines high-fidelity long reads with high throughput for complete genome assembly.

AVITI24 – Element Biosciences

Price Range: ~$289,000 (Base system)

Best For: Most Versatile

Category: A flexible benchtop system merging high-accuracy sequencing with cyto-profiling capabilities.

Key Specs

• Read Lengths: 2 x 75 bp, 2 x 150 bp, 2 x 300 bp

• Output: Up to 3 billion reads per run (High Output)

• Accuracy: >90% Q30; >80% Q40 (Cloudbreak chemistry)

• Multiomics: Integrated analysis of DNA, RNA, proteins, and cell morphology

Performance & Applications

The AVITI24, fully rolled out in 2025, offers a distinct approach to benchtop utility by combining a genomic sequencer with a cell profiler in a single unit. Its proprietary Avidity sequencing chemistry minimizes reagent consumption, allowing laboratories to achieve costs below $1 per gigabase while maintaining data quality. Beyond standard NGS applications like whole-genome and exome sequencing, the system’s Teton CytoProfiling capability allows researchers to map RNA and protein expression directly to cell morphology, making it suited for oncology, immunology, and drug discovery workflows where spatial context is required.

MiSeq i100 – Illumina

Price Range: ~$49,000

Best For: Best For Speed

Category: An entry-level benchtop sequencer optimized for rapid turnaround and operational simplicity.

Key Specs

• Run Time: 4 to 16 hours (depending on output)

• Output: Up to 100 million reads (30 Gb)

• Storage: Room-temperature reagent shipping and storage

• Analysis: Onboard DRAGEN FPGA for real-time secondary analysis

Performance & Applications

Released to address the need for immediate insights, the MiSeq i100 reduces the time between sample loading and final data generation. The inclusion of XLEAP-SBS chemistry enables runs to finish 4 times faster than previous MiSeq generations, a useful feature for clinical research settings requiring urgent pathogen identification or rapid quality control of libraries. Its room-temperature reagents eliminate thawing time and simplify logistics, while the streamlined one-touch workflow supports small labs or core facilities handling targeted gene panels, small genomes, and amplicon sequencing with minimal hands-on time.

Shop Illumina on LabX

PromethION 2 Solo – Oxford Nanopore Technologies

Price Range: ~$27,955 (Starter Pack)

Best For: Best On A Budget

Category: A compact, modular sequencing unit bringing high-yield nanopore technology to individual labs.

Key Specs

• Flow Cells: Runs up to 2 PromethION flow cells independently

• Read Length: Short to ultra-long (>4 Mb)

• Real-Time Data: Immediate access to data streams during sequencing

• Direct Sensing: Direct DNA/RNA sequencing with methylation detection

Performance & Applications

The PromethION 2 (P2) Solo changes the traditional cost structure of high-throughput sequencing by decoupling the fluidics hardware from compute modules, utilizing an existing powerful workstation instead. This architecture allows smaller laboratories to generate terabases of data previously associated with factory-scale centers. The device is effective for applications requiring long reads, such as de novo assembly, structural variant detection, and direct methylation calling without bisulfite conversion. Its ability to run flow cells individually provides flexibility for variable sample volumes, making it a viable choice for agile research groups focused on complex genomic regions.

Shop Oxford Instruments on LabX

NovaSeq X Plus – Illumina

Price Range: ~$1,250,000

Best For: Best For Throughput

Category: The primary ultra-high-throughput production sequencer for population-scale studies.

Key Specs

• Output: Up to 16 Tb per run (Dual flow cell)

• Reads per Run: Up to 52 billion

• Throughput: Capable of sequencing ~20,000 genomes per year

• Logistics: Ambient-temperature shipping for most reagents

Performance & Applications

Designed for national genome initiatives and large commercial service providers, the NovaSeq X Plus maximizes data density and operational scale. It features simplified high-density flow cells and optimized optics that lower the cost per genome, expanding access to large-scale whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The platform supports high data demands, such as deep sequencing for liquid biopsy development, single-cell experiments requiring high read counts, and extensive agricultural genomic surveys. Its onboard DRAGEN integration ensures that the large volume of raw data is processed efficiently, mitigating bioinformatic bottlenecks typical of this production level.

Shop Illumina on LabX

Revio – PacBio

Price Range: ~$779,000

Best For: Best High-End Option

Category: A long-read sequencing system delivering high-fidelity (HiFi) reads at scale.

Key Specs

• Read Accuracy: 99.9% (HiFi reads)

• Output: Up to 360 Gb per 24-hour run

• Read Length: 15–20 kb average

• Native Calling: Simultaneous 5mC methylation detection

Performance & Applications

The Revio system addresses the historical throughput limitations of long-read sequencing, offering a fifteen-fold increase over its predecessor, the Sequel IIe. By parallelizing reaction monitoring across 25 million zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs), it enables the routine sequencing of up to 1,300 human genomes annually with high completeness. This system is effective for resolving difficult-to-sequence regions, phasing haplotypes, and characterizing complex structural variants often missed by short-read technologies. While PacBio's newer Vega system brings HiFi to the benchtop, the Revio remains a primary platform for high-throughput production environments generating reference-quality genomes.

Comparison Table

Conclusion: Selecting the Best DNA Sequencer for 2026

The landscape of DNA sequencers in 2026 reflects a divergence into specialized capabilities, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether a laboratory prioritizes the speed of the MiSeq i100, the multiomic versatility of the AVITI24, or the high output of the NovaSeq X Plus, current options allow for alignment between instrumentation and experimental goals. Investing in the correct platform ensures that facilities can meet the increasing demands for accuracy, speed, and data complexity inherent in modern genomics.

_{This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.}