Review of the Zebra QLN420 Mobile Printer

A popular choice for mobile label and receipt printers, the Zebra QLn420 is the premium model of Zebra’s QLn thermal mobile printer series.

As Zebra’s third generation of QL printers, the QLn420 enhances business tasks and boosts productivity with its user-friendly interface and easy to navigate LCD screen. It is capable of displaying proactive alerts for faster and more convenient maintenance.

A lightweight, yet durable label printer, it can print up to 4” wide and has the largest battery capacity of the QLn series. 

With all of that being said, The QLn mobile printer is a discontinued line. However, those looking to purchase one can find used models online starting around $550 and climbing as high as $1000, depending on the seller.

New, upgraded Zebra models are available for those looking to purchase a more current Zebra thermal mobile printer.

Let’s find out if the Zebra QLn420 lives up to its longtime popularity.

Mobile printers like the Zebra Ln420 are geared toward increasing workplace performance. They are able to easily integrate into already existing programs and operate for faster and higher quality printing.

Unlike desktop printers and industrial printers, which can only work from one established location, mobile printers have the ability to print wherever a print job is needed. 

Sometimes referred to as portable printers, Zebra mobile printers allow for labels to be printed in any setting whenever necessary. This on-the-go ability makes mobile printers an asset to businesses where workers are constantly on the move. 

Industries like warehouses and factories use mobile printers for labeling goods and raw materials, as well as barcoding for inventory and display complaint guidelines. These Zebra thermal printers can also be mounted onto tow motors for additional mobility.

They can also be found in transportation and logistics industries for inventory management and cross-docking efficiency. 

These printers are also beginning to find their way into the retail industry. There they act as retail barcode printers, operating to print labels and tags for tasks like inventory, receiving, and reverse logistics.

The Zebra QLn420 is a direct thermal (DT) printer and is only able to print on direct thermal materials. Direct thermal labels already have ink embedded inside the label material so there is no need for a ribbon. 

The QLn420 prints labels with a gap sensor, a small space between each label, or timing mark, a black line between each label. These are marks or gaps notify the printer when one label ends and the next begins. While the default setting is fixed for timing mark labels, gap sensor labels work equally as well and at a more affordable price. Users will simply need to re-set the media type from timing mark to gap sensor.

Because of the small size of this printer, only roll labels with a .75″ core can be used. This means Zebra mobile printers do not support fanfold labels.

Not sure where to buy labels for your Zebra QLn420? Shop smithcorona.com where we carry various sizes of Zebra compatible labels, or you can give us a call at 1-800-875-7000.