Price the refills
A low device price can hide expensive proprietary label rolls. Compare the cost per useful label, available sizes and whether you can reliably buy replacements in your region.
Check the app
Many pocket label makers depend on a mobile app. Look at permissions, account requirements, recent updates and export options. A printer is less useful if the app becomes difficult to use or disappears.
Match the material
Paper labels suit different jobs than water-resistant synthetic labels. Heat, moisture, oils and curved containers can expose weak adhesive or fading quickly.
Design for readability
Tiny decorative fonts look attractive in a preview and fail on a shelf. Use clear type, strong contrast and enough white space to recognize the label at the distance where it will be used.