When it comes to tiny mobile printers, there are two models that sit at the top of the list. One is the Pentax PocketJet3 Plus. The other is Brother’s MW-120 Mobile Printer With Serial Port. The PocketJet3 Plus has a list price of $449, but it can be found on Amazon for only $382.
The MW-120 has a list price of $404.99, but it can be found on Amazon for only $180. There are plenty of new PocketJet3 Plus units available, but there are only four new MW-120 units available. The PocketJet3 Plus began selling in May of 2005 and Brother’s MW-120 began selling about a year later.
What does this important fact tell you? Being that Brother’s model came out nearly a year later, that should be a great hint as to the difference in quality and features. Brother essentially took what Pentax had and made it better. Not only that, but it’s also much cheaper. If you’re shopping for new units on Amazon, the difference is over $200.
The MW-120 can handle five different types or paper media. Paper changes are quick and easy. You won’t need to feed individual papers because A7 paper is fed from its own cassette. It’s also an extremely quiet machine because of a stationary print head.
A built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery allows for long-lasting use. There are three interfaces: USB, serial, and IrDa. The dimensions for the MW-120 are 6.3 x 3.9 x .07 inches and it weighs only 10.6 ounces. This is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, making it one of the easiest to transport mobile printers in the world.
The MW-120 is capable of printing from laptops, as well as pocket PCs. The only negative for this unique machine is that it’s unable to print full-size paper. That said, there’s an upside to this. Paper prints from the MW-120 won’t curl.
The one potential advantage the PocketJet3 Plus holds over the MW-120 – and it’s a big one for some – is that it’s capable of producing full-size prints. Whether that capability is worth $200 is up to you.