Brother P-touch Cube Plus PT-P710BT Label Maker: features and who it suits

The Brother P-touch Cube Plus PT-P710BT is a small, battery-powered label maker that connects to a phone, tablet or computer over Bluetooth. Instead of typing on a built-in keyboard, you design the label in an app and send it to the printer, which prints it on laminated tape and cuts it off.

How it works

Brother says the Cube Plus prints labels up to 24mm (about 1 inch) wide from Apple or Android devices or a desktop. For phones and tablets, it points to two free apps, P-touch Design&Print and Brother iPrint&Label, and a wireless connection is needed. For desktops, P-touch Editor connects by the supplied USB cable and can pull in database information to print labels in bulk, such as names from a spreadsheet.

Designing on a phone brings useful features, and Brother mentions spell check and voice-to-text. It also says the apps include fonts, frames and symbols, and can use most Google and Apple font libraries.

Templates

The apps include pre-designed templates for the home and home office, and newer templates aimed at retail stores and craft businesses. For example, you might make product labels for handmade goods, or organise a pantry or cable box.

Tape types

The printer uses P-touch TZe laminated tape up to 24mm wide. The listing names many colours, patterns and finishes, including Premium Glitter and Premium Matte tapes, and gives tape-type compatibility that includes:

• standard laminated
• flexible ID
• extra strength adhesive
• acid free
• tamper evident
• non-laminated iron-on fabric

Laminated tape typically resists smearing, so labels tend to stay legible on items that are handled often. Different adhesives and finishes suit different surfaces, so match the tape to the job.

What is in the box

According to Brother, it comes with:

• one black on white starter tape, 0.94 in (24mm) x 13.1 ft (4m)
• one black on premium glitter gold starter tape, 0.94 in x 6.5 ft (2m)
• a built-in lithium-ion battery
• a USB cable

An automatic cutter gives clean full cuts, so labels come out the length you set. The unit measures 5.0 x 2.6 x 5.0 inches and weighs 1.4 lb, small enough for a desk or a bag.

Who it suits

It is a good match for people who prefer designing on a phone, craft sellers who want product labels, and home offices that label folders, cables and storage. People who want a stand-alone device with its own keyboard may prefer another type of label maker.

What to check before you buy

• Whether your phone, tablet or computer works with the Brother apps; check the supported operating system versions on the maker's site.
• Which tape widths and colours you need, since replacements are bought separately.
• How you plan to charge the built-in battery and how long a session will run.
• Whether you need to print in bulk from a desktop with the USB cable.
• The surfaces you'll label, and which adhesive suits them.

The short version

• Bluetooth label maker for TZe tape up to 24mm wide.
• Works with free Brother apps on Apple and Android, plus P-touch Editor on a desktop over USB.
• Built-in Li-ion battery and automatic cutter.
• Two starter tapes and a USB cable included.
• Templates for home, office, retail and craft use.

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