Mia's Review: LG Pocket Photo 2 (LG POPO PD239)

Just like countless of people (girls, especially?) out there, I've always have this obssession with instant camera but never ever get my hands on one because.... oh well, just because! 

Recently after Airmeli asked for people to join her in getting Fujifilm Instax Share, I've decided to do some mini research on such instant photo printer that can be connected and printed via smartphone using bluetooth or NFC connection.

And viola! Here's what I've laid my hands on.

LG Pocket Photo 2, in pink! They do carry this Hello Kitty limited edition, but I'm not a fan... So, yup. Pink is great. 

Although much pricer as compared to a basic instax camera, these instant photo printer allows you to choose which photo to print, and also allows you to edit your photos however you like them to turn out, before you print them out in hardcopy. Awesome, isn't it? 

Want to know how much of an upgrade this 2014 version of LG Pocket Photo 2 is compared to its predecessor? 

First up, the zink photo paper capacity in the printer is upgraded from 15 pieces to 30 pieces per load. It also has faster charging time of just 1 hour to a full charge. Most important of all, the photo quality is now of dpi 313 x 600, instead of just 313 x 400 in the older version. This version is also smaller at 76 x 126 x 20mm and weighing just 221g! It's smaller (but heavier) than my Samsung Note 2! Lastly, the latest version supports both Android and iPhone unlike the older version(s), which has separated machine model for different operating systems. 

Just showing how small the printer is. It's really just palm sized, very handy. You can easily just pop this into your bag and print pretty selfies and other photos on the go. 

The package came along with the charger (if you actually own a Samsung Note 2, you can use back the same charger), a technical manual in Korean, and a packet of 5 pcs Zink Photo Paper. No worries if you don't understand the manual, getting this printer to work is totally idiot-proof you do not need a manual in the first place. :)

Here's the only English instruction I've found in the entire box, teaching me which side up the zink paper should be placed in the printer. 

 After that, head over to the playstore (or apple store for iPhone users) and download the LG Pocket Photo app. From here, we can edit the photos by adding frames & memo, choosing filters and doing basic photo editing like tweaking the brightness and contrast. 

 

Showcasing some of the frames you can find in the app itself. :) 

After you're done with all the editing, just tap the printer icon and you will be prompted to complete the transmission and then simply wait for the photo to be printed! I didn't time the printing, but it took a couple seconds. 

Giving you an idea of how the photo will look like. Do not expect the colour pay off to be as fabulous like the photo you develop from your dslr camera. Like other inkless, instant photo printer, the colour of your photo will be dimmer and slightly faded. 

I've also noticed the same problem of the diagonally opposite corners of the printed photos curling upwards to give the piece of photo an unwanted (imo) curvature, which is pretty frustrating for me. I'm pretty sure the paper was loaded perfectly flat and straight. It came out perfectly flat and straight in printing as well. But after a few minutes, both the photos I've printed curled up in the same manner at the diagonally opposite corners.

It's pretty much an eyesore to me, for I will prefer to pin these photos up on my photo cork board, and these curvature will just make the entire board looks.... unsightly. :( 

I can't be sure if it's a 'common defect' of all zink paper, or is it really just a defect with this particular pack of paper I've loaded in. Fellow LG POPO users, do share your comments down below if you're facing the same issue of the curvature, or not. :)

LG Pocket Photo 2 is available on qoo10.com.sg

Till then,

Mia