Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Slim and sturdy construct
- Reasonably priced working prices
- Easy to make use of
Cons
- Not as inexpensive because the Kodak Step
- Zink paper not as spectacular as rival prints
- App has a number of bugs
Our Verdict
The Kodak Step Slim has an incredible transportable construct, and is extraordinarily simple to make use of. It’s not fairly as inexpensive as the unique Kodak Step, but it surely nonetheless stays aggressive within the total market.
Value When Reviewed
$79.99
Greatest Costs As we speak: Kodak Step Slim Prompt Printer
$79.99
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 transportable photograph 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 gained’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 in the event you would favor an easier look.
There are two LEDs on the printer, one for the ability and one for if you find yourself 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 hold of it. Photos print out of the underside of the system.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
App and Options
To print photographs, you’ll need to obtain the accompanying Kodak Step app, which is accessible totally free on each iOS and Android. There may be the choice to arrange a login with Kodak, however you may nonetheless use all of the options with out having to do that.
After you have downloaded the app, you simply have to pair the printer along with your telephone – one thing I had no points with. The printer has integration with photographs out of your telephone’s picture library, from Google Photographs and out of your social media profiles equivalent to Fb and Instagram.
There are a number of methods you may customise pictures earlier than you click on print. You may select to have a portrait or panorama orientation, and you’ll crop pictures to go well with the dimensions of the Zink print.
You may add varied Instagram-style filters, and alter the saturation, brightness and color temperature utilizing the varied color sliders. In the event you favor one thing a bit funkier, you may add frames, stickers, textual content and drawings.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
There may be additionally the choice so as to add a number of pictures to a collage. Nonetheless, the dimensions of the prints are fairly small, so the outcome might not be very spectacular.
The app itself can 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, somewhat than the ‘edit photograph’ part. I additionally discovered it to stutter at instances, particularly when printing a picture.
That apart, the sections are all laid out cleanly, and the textual content is brilliant and enormous – making it superb for accessibility.
Print High quality
Photographs on the Kodak Step Slim take beneath a minute to print. The system makes use of Zink paper for its pictures, which means that there isn’t any want for an ink cartridge – the picture is instantly printed onto the sticky-back paper.
The advantage of these prints is that they’re comparatively low-cost. Nonetheless, the main points aren’t 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 brilliant colors and a good quantity of element from Zink prints. Nonetheless, at 2x3in, they aren’t the most important photographs on the block. These are finest for sticking in a pockets, or for utilizing in a scrap ebook.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Battery Life
The Kodak Step Slim can print as much as 25 pictures 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 through the accompanying Micro-USB cable – fairly outdated tech at this level. It might be good to see future printers from Kodak outfitted with the extra extensively used USB-C ports.
Value 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 affords 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 conveyable printer for the bottom attainable price, then it is smart to go for the Step over the Step Slim. If, nevertheless, you intend on utilizing this printer on the go typically and need to slip it right into a pocket with no problem, then that is the mannequin for you.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
After all, transportable printers additionally rack up ongoing prices as properly. Thankfully, Zink is among the most inexpensive prints at 50c/50c per sheet. To check, Instax Mini prints price round 98c/75p per sheet.
You may also take a look at our guides to the perfect transportable printers and on the spot cameras.
Verdict
The Kodak Step Slim is a conveyable printer that lives up its identify, with a skinny construct that’s nice for utilizing on the go. It’s simple to function and gained’t break the financial institution. Plus, the accompanying Zink prints are comparatively low-cost as properly.
The photographs aren’t fairly as spectacular as actual movie choices from the likes of Instax and Polaroid, and the companion app has a number of 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 this can be a dependable and inexpensive possibility.
Specs
- 2.29 x 8.26 x 12.45cm
- 240g
- Lithium metallic battery
- Micro-USB charging
- Printing pace: Underneath 60 seconds
- Print dimension: 2x3in
- Makes use of Zink paper
- USB cable included
- Bluetooth