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Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube vs Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected 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 #4 of 8) and scores better on app/keyboard, reliability. Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker wins on tape cost & choice.
The biggest complaint about the Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube is wastes tape on every label; for the Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker it's bluetooth must be reconnected every time. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Brother P-touch PT-P300BT Cube | Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in label makers | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Bluetooth app | Keyboard |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 6% | 13% |
| Overall score | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Print quality & durability of labels | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Tape cost & choice | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| App/keyboard | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Reliability | 3.5 | 3.0 |
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-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker
- Bluetooth must be reconnected every time
Wirecutter says it has to be manually connected to the app each time you turn it on, and the connection takes a couple of minutes. Amazon's summary says Bluetooth connectivity gets mixed feedback, with several owners reporting poor connectivity.
- Batteries and adapter not included, and batteries run down
It needs six AAA batteries or an AC adapter, and neither comes in the box (Wirecutter, PCMag). PCMag lists the adapter at $23.49. Amazon owners say the batteries run out quickly.
- Wastes tape, and only one tape width
Wirecutter says it wastes up to 2.5 cm of tape per label unless you use chain printing, and its long-term tester calls it 'a lot of plastic waste'. PCMag's main con is that it supports only one width and type of tape (12mm), and the included starter tape is about half length.
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-N25BT Personal Connected Label Maker if
Home organizing on a budget with durable labels
People who want both a keyboard and a phone app
Cheap refills (about $7 per 13-ft tape)
Skip it if: You need wider tapes or specialty tapes; You want a rechargeable battery; You have large hands (the keyboard is cramped)
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