We tested five label makers with a variety of price points and functionality. Two of those models –the Brother P-Touch Cube Smartphone Label Maker ($40) and the more abrasive DYMO LabelWriter 450 Turbo Thermal Label Printer ($73)–offer enhanced digital capabilities: they connect by Bluetooth to your phone (Brother) or USB cable to your PC (DYMO), capabilities that let you play around with your images and templates, if that’s your thing. The Labelwriter 450 Turbo from DYMO can also print postage and produce up to 71 labels in one minute. None of these I have required to print.
In order to use the sleekly designed Brother P-Touch Cube, you need to download the special P-Touch app, which right there is a deal-breaker for me, what with my can-I-just-pick-it-up-and-use-it rule. This model is perfect If you’re interested in the concept of creating labels right from your smartphone.
The last model we tried was the DYMO LetraTag ($18) that came with an alphabetical keyboard, a loud and slow-running printer, and low-quality labels with paper backings that were difficult to peel off.
dymo label maker