HP Sprocket Review

Technology

Image quality is decent and certainly better than what you’d typically get out of most instant cameras. HP recommends a minimum resolution of 818x1258 for photos, but even with high-resolution photos taken straight from a DSLR, it’s impossible to get prints to look exactly like the source image. This is more to do with the limitations of thermal printing technology than the printer itself. The ZINK sheets have a fixed density of 313x400 dots per inch, so no matter how high the resolution your source image might be, the final output is limited to the resolution of the paper. The colour tone of the printed photos was always on the warmer side in our samples, and we noted that finer details and skin tones were not reproduced very well. Don't expect your prints to look like regular photos.

HPSprocket photos ndtv HP Sprocket

When inspected up close, you can see fine horizontal and vertical lines in the prints, and these are most apparent in photos that have fine gradients. We tried adjusting colour tone and brightness to compensate for this but the results were less than satisfactory. There are some fun sticker templates and frames from Disney, which should let you have some fun.

The Sprocket gets a bit warm with use, but it never overheated during our review period. Battery life is pretty decent, and we managed to print all 10 of our test sheets on a single charge, with power left to spare.

Verdict

The asking price of the HP Sprocket is a bit on the high side, but considering the cost of the printing sheets, it’s actually a more economical option than the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9. HP is retailing the ZINK sheets on Amazon priced at Rs. 539 for a pack of 20 sheets, which works out to about Rs. 27 per print. If you get the 50-pack, then that will cost you Rs. 1,249, which works out to about Rs. 25 per sheet. This is nearly half the price you’d end up paying for a refill of instant camera film. You get one pack of 10 sheets in the box, which means the printer is good to go as soon as you unpack it, making it a fun gift.

The HP Sprocket is targeted mostly at millennials and families, for whom having a physical snapshot of important moments could be important. It's is a fun device to have around the house, and the app lets you add some neat, creative effects to your photos. You can either pin up your prints, or use them as stickers.

Price: Rs. 8,999

Pros