Kodak Step Slim Instant Printer review

Worth When Reviewed

€107.99

Kodak’s Step Slim on the spot printer is a thinner and lighter model of the Kodak Step. Nonetheless, it nonetheless has all of the bells and whistles of the primary mannequin. 

Like many different moveable picture printers, the Step Slim makes use of Zink paper. While it doesn’t have any new-fangled options to make it stand out from the gang, it definitely received’t break the financial institution – and it’s extremely easy to make use of. 

Design and Construct 

The core distinction between this printer and the Step is its skinny construct. The Step Slim is ‎2.29cm thick, while the common Step is 2.54cm thick. It additionally weighs ‎240g, 64g lower than the common mannequin. This makes it a lot simpler to slide right into a pocket or a really small bag. 

You get a sturdy and durable construct with a white plastic end and curved edges – the printer solely comes within the one color possibility. The underside edge has two yellow and black striped stickers which might be peeled off for those who would like a less complicated look.  

There are two LEDs on the printer, one for the facility and one for if you end up charging it, in addition to a button for turning it on and off. The prints are loaded by sliding the entrance panel up – a comparatively easy motion if you get the cling of it. Photos print out of the underside of the system.  

App and Options 

To print pictures, you’ll need to obtain the accompanying Kodak Step app, which is offered without spending a dime on each iOS and Android. There’s the choice to arrange a login with Kodak, however you’ll be able to nonetheless use all of the options with out having to do that.  

Upon getting downloaded the app, you simply have to pair the printer together with your telephone – one thing I had no points with. The printer has integration with pictures out of your telephone’s picture library, from Google Images and out of your social media profiles corresponding to Fb and Instagram.   

There are a number of methods you’ll be able to customise photographs earlier than you click on print. You possibly can select to have a portrait or panorama orientation, and you may crop photographs to go well with the scale of the Zink print.  

You possibly can add varied Instagram-style filters, and alter the saturation, brightness and color temperature utilizing the varied color sliders. In case you desire one thing a bit funkier, you’ll be able to add frames, stickers, textual content and drawings.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

There’s additionally the choice so as to add a number of photographs to a collage. Nonetheless, the scale of the prints are fairly small, so the outcome is probably not very spectacular.  

The app itself can also be not essentially the most intuitive. For instance, the extra detailed color temperature choices are solely obtainable to make use of within the ‘print preview’ part, quite than the ‘edit picture’ part. I additionally discovered it to stutter at occasions, particularly when printing a picture.  

That apart, the sections are all laid out cleanly, and the textual content is vivid and huge – making it very best for accessibility.  

Print High quality 

Images on the Kodak Step Slim take underneath a minute to print. The system makes use of Zink paper for its photographs, that means that there is no such thing as a want for an ink cartridge – the picture is straight printed onto the sticky-back paper. 

The advantage of these prints is that they’re comparatively low cost. Nonetheless, the small print should not as crisp as what you can find on actual movie from the likes of Instax and Polaroid, they usually don’t have that ‘classic really feel’ that rivals do.  

If that isn’t an excessive amount of of a priority, then you’ll nonetheless get comparatively vivid colors and a good quantity of element from Zink prints. Nonetheless, at 2x3in, they aren’t the biggest pictures on the block. These are finest for sticking in a pockets, or for utilizing in a scrap e-book. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Battery Life 

The Kodak Step Slim can print as much as 25 photographs on one single cost. I didn’t have sufficient movie with the intention to max out the printer’s battery life, however I did print a full pack of Zink paper and nonetheless had loads of juice to spare. 

Like its sister product, the Kodak Step Slim solely prices by way of the accompanying Micro-USB cable – fairly outdated tech at this level. It could be good to see future printers from Kodak outfitted with the extra extensively used USB-C ports.  

Worth and Availability 

The Kodak Step Slim prices $79.99/£79.99. Within the US, it’s obtainable from Amazon and Kodak, while UK readers can get their fingers on it from Amazon and Kodak as properly. Amazon presents some bundles with the printer.

The Step Slim prices an additional $10/£10 over the common Kodak Step, however it has the identical battery life, makes use of the identical app and there’s no distinction within the print high quality.  

If you wish to get a transportable printer for the bottom potential value, then it is smart to go for the Step over the Step Slim. If, nonetheless, you intend on utilizing this printer on the go usually and wish to slip it right into a pocket with no trouble, then that is the mannequin for you.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

In fact, moveable printers additionally rack up ongoing prices as properly. Thankfully, Zink is likely one of the most reasonably priced prints at 50c/50c per sheet. To match, Instax Mini prints value round 98c/75p per sheet.  

You may also take a look at our guides to the very best moveable printers and on the spot cameras.  

Verdict 

The Kodak Step Slim is a transportable printer that lives up its identify, with a skinny construct that’s nice for utilizing on the go. It’s simple to function and received’t break the financial institution. Plus, the accompanying Zink prints are comparatively low cost as properly.  

The pictures aren’t fairly as spectacular as actual movie choices from the likes of Instax and Polaroid, and the companion app has just a few minor points. It’s additionally barely costlier than the common Kodak Step. 

Nonetheless, if portability is the primary issue for you when selecting an on the spot printer, then it is a dependable and reasonably priced possibility.  

Specs

• ‎2.29 x 8.26 x 12.45cm
• 240g
• Lithium steel battery
• Micro-USB charging
• Printing pace: Underneath 60 seconds
• Print measurement: 2x3in
• Makes use of Zink paper
• USB cable included
• Bluetooth