A printer that fits in your pocket

Small and light, LG's new wireless printer is being touted as the ideal companion for mobile lifestyles

Never did one think of laying one's hands on a printer small enough to be carried in a pocket. But then, technology never fails to surprise. And the latest gizmo by LG, the Pocket Photo PD233, a wireless printer capable of printing photographs stored on smartphones or tablets in a matter of seconds, is proof enough. The device uses thermal sublimation technology and requires special 7.5 x 5 cm paper to get the job done. Compatible with both Apple and Android devices, the Pocket Photo is being advertised as the ideal companion for mobile lifestyles.

Design and build
At 12 cm long, 7 cm wide and 2 cm thick and weighing 210 gms, the device is small and light enough to fit into a pocket. The minimalist design gives the gadget a certain iPhone-like appeal, albeit with a thicker body and somewhat granular feel due to the tiny squares and hearts that adorn the surface.

The model we tested is compatible with iOS and Android and boasts Bluetooth, USB and NFC connectivity, though not all models have these features. It is not difficult to sync your mobile devices with this handheld printer. However, before you start printing you have to download the free Pocket Photo app, available both at App Store and Google Play.

Unlike standard laser and inkjet printers, the LG Pocket Photo has no internal memory; it only prints two photos at a time. We suggest you avoid trying to insert more than ten pieces of photo paper at once, else you will end up jamming the device, which is painful to fix.

Performance
Once you are through with pairing the device to your phone, files are sent to it over Bluetooth. While the time taken to print your picture depends on the size of the file, most prints take between 30 and 40 seconds. With high hopes from this LG product after it did well in all the previous stages, we find printer somehow failed to deliver in terms of print quality. Prints appeared washed out, and appeared to have a warmer cast compared to the original.

Our verdict
The printer scores in terms of portability and convenience. The concept, however, isn't exactly new (Dell had launched a similar device years ago, but it was discontinued).

Since the Pocket Photo does not use ink or toner, there's no need to replace cartridges. The Pocket Photo allows you to print photos from your smartphone in a matter of seconds via Bluetooth and LG's accompanying app is quite useful. Details in the printed image are notable for its small print-out size, but with colour accuracy swinging towards a dull warm cast and there being no way to correct this, this really hurts the overall performance of this printer.

The printer costs Rs 14,999 with 10 sheets and a set of 30 additional sheets at a price of Rs 1,099. One needs to go in for some serious analysis on the cost front and figure out whether this pocket-size device is worth burning a hole in your pocket.

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 72.4 (w) x 120.9 (h) x 24.0 (d) mm
Weight: 212g
Bluetooth/NFC enabled.
Apps work with iDevices and Android phones.
Print size: 2" x 3"; 313 dpi.
mini USB charging port.
500 mAh 7.4V Li-Polymer
Z 2.0 (Non-Sticky Back) ZINK printing paper.

THE GOOD

• Bluetooth/NFC enabled for wireless printing
• Zero Ink printing
• Easy to use

THE BAD

• Expensive
• Small size of prints
• Limited only to iOS/Android devices