ConsFirst / Label makers / Compare
Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube vs Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Label Maker
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on print quality & durability of labels, app/keyboard. Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Label Maker wins on reliability.
The biggest complaint about the Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube is wastes tape on every label; for the Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Label Maker it's screen is hard to read. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube | Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Label Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in label makers | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Bluetooth app | Keyboard |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 6% | 7% |
| Overall score | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Print quality & durability of labels | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Tape cost & choice | 2.5 | — |
| App/keyboard | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Reliability | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $35 · $$ $35–80 · $$$ over $80. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube
- Wastes tape on every label
Wirecutter says it adds about 2.5 cm of blank tape at the start of each label, which margins can't remove, so labels can look off-center. Amazon's summary also notes concerns about excessive tape waste.
- Expensive refills
Wirecutter says replacement tape starts at $14 a roll, twice the PT-N25BT's $7 refills. Amazon owners disagree on value, and some find it overpriced.
- Finicky Bluetooth, especially on iPhone
Wirecutter says it must be manually reconnected to Bluetooth with each use. Amazon's summary says Bluetooth works well with Android phones, but iOS users report mixed experiences.
Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Label Maker
- Screen is hard to read
The Spruce says the screen is difficult to read when the unit lies flat on a table, and it previews text only in a standard font. Amazon's summary says multiple owners find the display hard to see, especially in low light.
- No power adapter in the box
Amazon's summary says the power supply is a problem because the label maker doesn't come with a power adapter.
- Value is debated
Amazon's summary says opinions on value are mixed, with some owners calling it a waste of money.
Who should pick which
Pick the Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube if
Designing labels on your phone instead of a tiny keyboard
Carrying in a bag
Creative labels (1,000+ symbols and phone fonts)
Skip it if: You hate wasted tape; You want cheap refills; You want a keyboard or a rechargeable battery
Pick the Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Label Maker if
A simple keyboard label maker with no phone needed
Pantry and storage-bin labels
Lots of fonts, frames and symbols
Skip it if: You want to design labels on your phone; You need labels wider than 1/2 inch; You'll use it in dim light (screen is hard to read)
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