Rongta PN81 Portable Thermal Printer Review

Oddly enough I don’t own a printer.  I have lots of label printers.  However, every once in a great while I need to print something.  Every time I go in the big box stores I eyeball the printers but hate that “cheap printer, expensive ink” game.  Imagine my surprise when Rongta contacted me to review their Rongta PN81 A4 Portable thermal  printer.

It can be purchased at Amazon currently for $99.99. Use coupon code  EJPWZGEC until 26 September for 20% off.

The PN81 uses rolls of thermal paper and comes with one roll which makes it ready to use.   A USB C cable, and a USB drive and manual are also included.  It is extremely simple to use which should make this blog entry short and concise.

No more than I print, the PN81 is perfect for my needs.  If I do print something it is some kind of document to sign which means black and white is all I need.

Since it is a thermal printer no ink is ever needed and it does not require proprietary rolls of thermal paper to be utilized.

Connectivity

There are essentially two ways to connect the printer.

• USB C connection (drivers need to be downloaded for Mac and Windows)
• Bluetooth via the SoPrint app for IOS or Android

Oddly enough I was able to get the SoPrint app working with MacOS perfectly even though it isn’t designed for it.

Also, of note is that you cannot just connect the Rongta PN81 to bluetooth to your computer.  Mine connects on MacOS Sonoma but only stays connected for a second.  It does not show up on a Bluetooth scan on my IOS devices.  It also does not show up on a Windows 11 Bluetooth scan.

Seems that you have to use the app for it to work or a direct USB connection.  The only way to use it on a windows computer is via USB connection.

Manual

The manual is short and sweet and helpful.  It can be downloaded here.

Operation

Super simple. One button on top.  Hold for 3 seconds to turn on or off.  The manual shows the light status of the printer.  Other than that to change paper rolls you need to unlatch the top cover by using the Open Cover Key button on the right side of the printer.  A USB C connector is located on the left side.

Printing

Maybe the only downside to the Rongta PN81 is that printing is relatively slow.  For me this means it is useful at home but maybe not as much in a high volume production environment. Then again it is battery powered and charged via USB so you could take it on the road or it could be right at home in the warehouse.

Here is a quick video of me printing a single page table.  It took somewhere between 45 and 50 seconds to print.   However, the 300 dpi resolution looks really good on the included thermal paper.

You may have heard some clicking in the video.  Not sure what that is all about but the printer works fine.  Again, it is slow but just perfect for me for the infrequent amount of printing we do here at our house.  As soon as I broke it out and started testing my wife asked me to print an itinerary for her.  It also took just less than a minute.

Who Is This For?

Me, for one.  Before I retired I traveled extensively.  I’d have loved to have had the PN81 in my suitcase on business trips.   People don’t print as much as they used to.  Given long intervals between prints with an inkjet printer your ink may dry up before you get your monies worth.  A thermal printer bridges this gap perfectly.

Also as I noted above the SoPrint app works on MacOS even though it isn’t supposed to.

So if you are a Mac, IOS, or Android user the app is functional.  If you have a Windows computer the only way to use the PN81 is to be tethered to your computer via USB.  If you require mobility and portability this may not be a great fit in a Windows only environment.

Every Road Warrior should have one of these though.

Closing Thoughts

The Rongta PN81 is extremely useful in my home.  I do wish it were a true BlueTooth printer which worked cross platform without needing an app though.   There doesn’t seem to be a specific travel case for it although I almost guarantee something on Amazon would fit this.  I have seen a thread or two discussing cases for this printer.

I recommend the Rongta PN81 for home and travel use.  Also for lower demand office environments.   And THANK YOU Rongta for not making it use proprietary RFID chipped paper rolls.