That's effectively tied with the D210, faster than the P-touch Cube's 0.46ips, and a bit slower than the Cube Plus's 1.2ips.
I timed a 4.6-inch label with the text "PCMag: Label Test" at 6.4 seconds, or 0.72ips, not including the time for manual cutting. A one-button Clear command would have made the device much easier to use.īrother rates the PT-D202 at 20mm per second, or 0.78 inches per second (ips). More annoying is that the only way to clear the current text from the LCD is by backspacing one letter at a time or using the menu's Clear option, which takes a minimum of five button presses. However, it's readable in most lighting conditions, and the lack of a backlight extends battery life. One potential issue for the PT-D202 is that the LCD lacks backlighting. Two notable menu choices are options to save up to 30 label definitions to reprint as needed, and 12 additional layouts in one-, two-, and three-line formats. Other controls include a Menu button, navigation buttons for working through the menus, and the Print button. Brother's claim that the templates are of particular interest for home use is arguable they can be useful both at home and in a small office. The choices include four with two lines of text, one with a single text line framed by decorative lines above and below, and one that prints the text in portrait orientation, to be read from top to bottom. Four buttons above the alphanumeric keys let you select fonts, add frames, insert symbols (from a menu of 622), and choose from six predefined text layouts called Templates. The keyboard includes both Shift and Shift Lock keys. Shop with care.Ĭreating and printing labels with the PT-D202 can be as simple as turning the printer on, typing in some text, hitting the Print button next to the 15-character LCD, and pressing the manual cutter to trim the label when it's finished printing. In addition, the list Brother provided of compatible tape types is slightly different from the list on the website, which includes a 18mm tape cartridge that's too wide for the printer. Unfortunately, the website doesn't make it as easy as it should be to browse the list of tapes. The PT-D202, like the D210, offers standalone printing only.
Others, including the DYMO LabelManager 500TS ($199.99), add a keyboard and screen so you can use them on their own in addition to printing from an external device.
Some label makers-including the Brother P-touch Cube ($59.99) and the Brother P-touch Cube Plus ($99.99), both Editors' Choice winners-are just printers, requiring you to define labels and initiate printing from your PC or a mobile app. What distinguishes the PT-D202 from many printers for plastic labels is that it's a completely self-contained system. That's just enough distinction to make the PT-D202 worth a separate look. According to Brother, the most important difference is in the built-in templates: The versions in the PT-D202 are specifically aimed at home use.
The PT-D202 costs $10 more, but it comes with six AAA batteries, which are a separate purchase for the PT-D210, and the tape in the single included cartridge is twice as long. Both are standalone label makers with QWERTY keyboards, and they're very similar in size and shape. The Brother P-touch Home Personal Label Maker PT-D202 ($44.99) is so similar to the Brother P-touch D210 (an Editors' Choice award winner in 2015) that it takes some effort to find the differences.
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