Whenever I hear about printers, I automatically think about those chunky peripherals with which I’m on a race against time to use its ink before it dries up. I rarely win. On top of this deceptively difficult battle, there’s a saying that I got used to which goes something like this: “better buy a new printer than buy a new ink cartridge”. That’s because refilling an ink cartridge can often cost as much as a printer itself.

As such, for my occasional printing purposes, I venture out of my mancave to a printing store. But the device under review today aims to radically disrupt my whole concept of a printer.

Indeed, measuring 5.12*1.22* 0.94 inches and weighing 0.4 pounds, the Selpic P1 is the smallest and lightest printer that I’ve ever seen. It’s small enough to fit in my pocket or penholder, but large enough to not be confused with a pen (phew!).

It uses water-based ink, offers 600 DPI resolution and is equipped with 300 nozzles, each of which can eject 18 million drops per second. An additional advantage of the Selpic P1 is that it is completely portable and wireless. This is made possible thanks to its built-in 7-volt lithium-polymer battery, that powers it for around 3 hours of working time. So goodbye chunky wired printers, hello handheld Selpic P1!

For some more detailed spec info on the Selpic P1, click on the image below to see it in full size:

Getting ready with the P1 is quite easy. Insert the cartridge, download the companion app, pair the device and press the button to start printing! It works almost like a highlighter, save for the fact that the receiving surface will accommodate more than just a thick line. Indeed, via the app, you can type in whatever you want to print, or import graphics externally and print it out.

There are 8 cartridge colors advertised, but the Selpic P1 holds only one cartridge at a time. So no elaborate graphics with a wide palette of colors. But you can still try printing out your thesis! Indeed, during my test, I found it best to use the P1 for printing texts. With the app, you can change fonts and sizes, and printing will happen as you scroll across the printing surface. The retail version apparently comes with a ruler for in-line printing but the sample I received did not come with one. This will extend the ability to print better-looking texts with the device.

As for graphics, it’s a bit tricky as the P1 will print only what’s visible within the in-app area. Zooming in will crop part of the image, so getting a perfect graphic will be quite challenging, if not impossible.

For those with busy (or lazy) hands, the app supports text-to-speech as well. A more figuratively handy feature is that of the printer’s battery life indicator within the app.

Another nifty feature is that the P1 can print on a wide range of surfaces. The company advertises that it supports printing on paper, metal, textiles, plastics, wood, leather, and other porous materials. I tried on paper and textile with great results as you can see below:

However, when printing on special surfaces, like the laminated box in which the Selpic P1 came in, the quality was a bit murky, owing to the surface itself. Moreover, since the device uses water-based ink, the prints will dissolve when in water.

Regarding the ink, you might have noticed that the P1 uses a proprietary Selpic cartridge which can be quite a hassle to get a hold of. At the time of writing, the device is available at an Early Bird price of $99 and additional cartridges coming at a discounted $39. Otherwise its regular price is at $59, which is a bit pricey.

Another hiccup I noticed is that even if the P1 is advertised as an on-the-go device, a carry case is missing in its packaging. Sure, it fits in your bag or penholder and has a sturdy build, but given the tiny and fragile innards of this tech, a hard case wouldn’t be amiss.

Nevertheless, the pre-retail version that I received worked as advertised and frankly impressed me with its versatility, especially considering its size. Those bulky things that were etched into my memory as printers have a thing or two to learn from the Selpic P1. Sure, the latter has some caveats such as the need for additional tools for in-line printing, proprietary cartridges and the quality not being consistent on all surfaces.

But this wireless and compact device delivers and impresses. You might not use it to print some official document but for adding a personalized touch to your gear or test some logos and designs on the go, the Selpic P1 is a worthy contender for your next gadget buy. It might appeal more to artists, DIY hobbyists or a niche of minimalist aficionados, and for this audience, it will be a justified buy. As for me, I’m already thinking of working on some personalized DIY business cards with the Selpic P1.

Indiegogo campaign

Interested in the Selpic P1? The Indiegogo campaign is now live, with 94% of its goal reached and around a month left to back it. Head here for more details.