Tube Printers: Brother vs Canon vs Letatwin

With different brands of marking tube (or ferrule) printers out there, we consolidated the few essential features of the various tube printers available in the market to, hopefully, help you make a more informed decision on which printer is most suitable for you.

When thinking about these printers, there are two distinct categories: lower-end models and higher-end models. One way to think about this is similar to deciding whether to purchase a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro. If you simply wish to possess a machine that is able to perform the basic computer functions, go for the Macbook Air. However, if you wish to make use of more advanced and computer-intensive software such as Photoshop or code on the computer, you would be well-advised to take up the Macbook Pro.

 For the comparisons below, do note that the yellow highlighted boxes indicate that the specific printer has an edge over the other printers in that specific feature. 

Lower-End Models

From the specifications alone, it can be seen that the Brother PT-E800T presents a clear performance advantage over the Canon and Letatwin printers. It possesses greater print resolution, faster print speed, a wider range of possible tape widths and can accommodate a greater tube size.

However, the PT-E800T, due to its weight and lack of keyboard (it has to be connected to a PC via USB for printing), has lower portability and is recommended for indoor use. If you are looking for a cheap tube printer for office use, the PT-E800T would be a great choice in terms of its performance. However, if portability if a key consideration, you would be better-placed in considering the Canon MK-1500 and Letatwin LM-380E. 

Higher-End Models

In terms of the higher-end models, a similar trend can be observed. The Brother PT-E850TKW carries better specifications in terms of print resolution, print speed, variety in tape widths and connectivity. However, the PT-E850TKW, which has its own keyboard, allows for greater portability as compared to its sister PT-E800T model.

Nonetheless, if weight is a key consideration, the PT-E850TKW may not be so suitable. You can then look at the Canon MK-2600 or the Letatwin LM-390A as they are lighter and would be more suitable for your needs.

Nonetheless, in your purchasing process, you should consider which tube printer feature is the most important for you. Is it print resolution? Is it important that it can accommodate a variety of tube sizes or is portability a key consideration for you? With this in mind, it would make it much easier to identify which specific feature is the most important to you and decide which tube printer can best provide this feature. 

If you have any feedback or questions about the tube printers or us in general, please feel free to drop us an email at bestprice@kehjihou.com :)