The HP Sprocket is undoubtedly one of the most popular photo printers out there. It’s a small device that you can use to get instant sticky photos printed out, which makes the perfect gift for anyone who likely to use stickers around their bedroom.
However, whilst the Sprocket is popular, there’s also another version called the Sprocket Plus. This is supposedly better than the original, but what are the differences between them? Let’s look at how the Sprocket Plus has been improved.
HP Sprocket vs Sprocket Plus
The primary difference between the two is that the Sprocket Plus prints larger photos than the original version. As well as this, it also has a larger battery, is a little heavier and improved Bluetooth as well.
Of course, the Sprocket Plus is also a little bit more expensive than the original too, but not by much. As portable photo printers go, both the original Sprocket and the Plus version are both pretty reasonable.
These are the main ways that these two models are different, but that’s not all you need to know. Let’s look at the Sprocket and then the Plus release afterwards.
HP Sprocket
Print Size: 2×3 inches | Battery: 500mAh | Weight: 168 grams | Bluetooth: 3.0
Known for being one of the top photo printers out there, the Sprocket has proven to be a worthy competitor to other similar models like the Polaroid Zip (check out Spacehop’s Guide to Photo Printers).
First released back in 2016, there have been different variations released since the original. They all use the same Sprocket app, and they have the same ability to print quality photos. This is their major selling point.
It’s worth mentioning that the Sprocket isn’t really what you’d call a “real printer” – it’s specifically designed for one section of the market.
You can print out small and cute sticker photos for you to put on your wall or wherever else you like – it’s the perfect gift for a young girl or teenager who loves to decorate their journal.
The Sprocket is pretty lightweight, and can easily be taken out with you on long days out. You can connect to it via the HP App, which is pretty intuitive for both iPhone and for Android too. The print quality isn’t the highest in these sort of devices, but it’s not intended to be either.
As standard with these kinds of printers, the price of them device itself is actually pretty cheap. Where the brand make up their money is in the photo paper that you need to print, which can cost more than 40p ($0.50) per photo. As you can imagine, the costs for this can add up pretty quickly.
You can connect to the Sprocket via Bluetooth, and it’ll take between 40 and 50 seconds to print an image out. Overall, it’s considered to be a pretty competent option for those looking for a lightweight, small photo printer.
HP Sprocket Plus
Print Size: 2.3×3.4 inches | Battery: 900mAh | Weight: 205 grams | Bluetooth: 4.0
For the most part, the two models are quite similar to each other, and the Plus is based on the design of it’s predecessor. As you’d expect on any improved device, it’s essentially bigger and better than the first model – bear in mind this is going to be more expensive too.
Although they are very similar, there are some pretty key differences where the Sprocket Plus has been improved compared to the original version. Here are a few of them.
Conclusion
Overall, these two photo printers are very similar to one another, and although there are some differences between them, there’s only one thing that really matters.
The Sprocket Plus prints larger photos than the original Sprocket, with them being around 15-20% bigger. This is the only real reason for you to opt for the Plus over the previous release.
