The iDprt SP410 Thermal Label Printer ($139.99) is primarily a shipping label printer, but you can also use it for several other applications, such as barcode and QR code printing. Much like the Editors’ Choice–winning Arkscan 2054A-LAN Thermal Shipping Label Printer ($259), it’s fast and inexpensive to use. The 2054A-LAN has several networking and connectivity options, and it comes with excellent label-design software, so it remains our pick for professional label printing. Nonetheless, the SP410’s simplicity and low purchase price make it well suited for small businesses that regularly ship packages or have other label printing needs.
A Simple Starter Model
At the entry level for commercial label printing, the competition is stiff, so you can make fairly nuanced buying decisions based on your budget and printing needs. With the SP410, you even get your choice of a black or white chassis.
Measuring 6.2 by 6.4 by 10.9 inches and weighing 3.8 pounds, the SP410 is similar in size and weight to a few competitors, including the 2054A-LAN mentioned above. Others, such as Epson’s LabelWorks LW-700P and Brother’s QL-820NWB (another Editors’ Choice), are significantly smaller and lighter. All those competitors have multiple connectivity options, including Ethernet and Wi-Fi. In contrast, the SP410 supports only USB. It’s a good fit for a single workstation in a small mailroom or a home office.
The USB and AC power ports are located on the back of the chassis, as is the paper input slot. The only real physical control is a combination power toggle and status LED located on the top. Printed labels are fed out of the face of the machine.
Two blue latches, one on each side of the chassis, allow you to open the device for loading paper. The SP410 supports both rolls and folded stacks of label media up to 5 inches thick and ranging in width from 2 to 4.7 inches. That’s wider than any of the above-mentioned competing models can handle.
If you want to use rolls, you’ll need to purchase a paper tray to hold them. The same tray can also hold stacked media but isn’t required for that.
The SP410 supports both die-cut and continuous-length labels. It automatically senses the media size and configures itself accordingly.
The maximum monthly duty cycle is 10,000 prints, which is a lot of labels. If you actually send that many packages, you’ll probably need a much more powerful label printer.
Clear and Fast Printing
iDprt rates the SP410 at 6 inches per second (ips), or 360 inches per minute. Label printer manufacturers use different kinds of measurements to rate printer speeds, so comparisons are challenging.
Like the Arkscan 2054A-LAN, the SP410 prints at 203 dots per inch (dpi), and its output quality is good. Epson’s LW-PX750PCD’s resolution is 180dpi. If you need higher resolutions, Brother’s QL-800 series supports several resolutions up to 600dpi, but the 200dpi range is more than adequate for most labels.
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In our tests of the SP410, text came out well shaped and easy to read, even at smaller sizes. The graphics that we printed showed few jagged edges and little to no streaking, and fills were solid and attractive. Given that this is essentially fax imaging technology, we have no complaints about the SP410’s print quality.
Running Costs as Low as $0
The SP410 ships with drivers that provide a basic interface and let you create and print rudimentary labels. It should work with most Windows and macOS programs. Most importantly, it supports label printing apps from FedEx, UPS, USPS, and most other global shippers. The printer recognizes media size and type and sends that information to the app you’re printing from, a nicely streamlined process.
This inkless thermal printer doesn’t use ink or toner, so if you ship packages via a company that provides both label software and media for free, your running costs will be zero. If your shipper doesn’t supply free blank labels, or if you’re using the SP410 to print file-folder tab labels or container content tags, standard generic die-cut and continuous-feed labels cost about $17 per pack of 500. That comes out to about 3.3 cents per 4-by-6-inch label, which doesn’t beat free, but if your print volume is relatively low, it’s livable.
Basic Labels, No Frills
A low purchase price and low to no running costs make the iDprt SP410 an extremely budget-friendly label printer for small and home offices. The Arkscan 2054A-LAN remains our Editors’ Choice for its extensive feature set and software, but the SP410 performs its one task easily and well.
