Head to head
Brother CUBE Plus vs PT-D600 (2026)
Brother CUBE Plus vs PT-D600: phone-designed portability against a desktop keyboard machine, both printing 24 mm TZe.
#2 in our rankings · Best app-based
Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT
Best for: Home, retail and craft labeling where phone-designed, wider labels are worth a premium.
#5 in our rankings · Best desktop keyboard
Brother P-touch PT-D600
Best for: Office desks producing varied labels all day, including barcodes and multi-line 24 mm labels.
Our recommendation
Buy the CUBE Plus if you label in many places and design happily on your phone: it is portable, rechargeable and wide. Buy the PT-D600 if labeling lives at one desk: its keyboard, color display and PC editor make varied office labels faster with no phone involved. Same 24 mm tape, opposite philosophies.
Input and display
The CUBE Plus has no screen or keys; everything happens in Brother apps or desktop software. The PT-D600 carries a QWERTY keyboard and a full-color display that previews tape color, so it prints standalone in seconds.
Portability and power
The CUBE Plus is a small rechargeable cube made to move room to room. The PT-D600 is a 2.1-pound desktop unit that ships with an AC adapter (batteries optional), built to sit at a workstation.
Label complexity
The PT-D600 prints up to 7 lines and leans into PC-designed barcodes and logos. The CUBE Plus counters with phone conveniences like voice-to-text and rich templates for retail and craft labels.
Choose Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT if…
- You label in different rooms or at events
- You prefer designing on your phone
- You want a rechargeable, cable-free printer
Choose Brother P-touch PT-D600 if…
- Labeling happens at one office desk
- You want keyboard speed with a color preview
- You print multi-line or barcode labels from a PC
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT | Brother P-touch PT-D600 |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Premium | Premium |
| Tape system | Brother TZe, up to 24 mm widths | Brother TZe, up to 24 mm widths |
| Input | Bluetooth via phone or tablet apps; USB to desktop | QWERTY keyboard plus PC and Mac via USB |
| Battery | Built-in rechargeable Li-ion | - |
| Cutter | Automatic | - |
| Included | 24 mm black on white starter tape and premium glitter gold starter tape | 24 mm starter tape, AC adapter, USB cable |
| Display | - | Full-color backlit graphical display |
| Lines per label | - | Up to 7 lines |
| Best for | Home, retail and craft labeling where phone-designed, wider labels are worth a premium. | Office desks producing varied labels all day, including barcodes and multi-line 24 mm labels. |
| Skip if | You want a built-in keyboard for phone-free use, or the cheapest cost per label. | You need portability, since this is an AC-powered desktop unit first. |
Strengths and limitations
Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT
Strengths
- Bluetooth design and print from phone, tablet or desktop using Brother Design and Print, iPrint and Label, or P-touch Editor software.
- Prints TZe tapes up to 24 mm (about 1 inch) wide, double the handheld ceiling, including premium glitter and matte tapes.
- Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery and automatic cutter in a compact cube body, with two starter tapes in the box.
Limitations
- No keyboard or screen of its own; a phone or computer is mandatory for every label.
- Premium hardware price, and wide TZe tapes are the priciest refills in this guide.
- 180 dpi-class print resolution is lower than the sharpest desktop label printers.
Brother P-touch PT-D600
Strengths
- Full-color backlit display previews the actual tape color and label design before printing, reducing wasted tape.
- Prints up to 7 lines on TZe tapes up to 24 mm wide, standalone from its keyboard or designed in P-touch Editor from a PC or Mac.
- Fast output with an automatic tape cutter, AC adapter and USB cable included in the box.
Limitations
- Desktop size and weight (about 2.1 pounds) suit a fixed desk, though batteries allow occasional moves.
- Premium price overlaps the CUBE Plus; choose based on keyboard versus app preference.
- TZe wide tapes carry the usual Brother refill premium.
How they fit the wider field
- Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT: ranked #2 (Best app-based) in The Best Label Makers. Read the full Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT review.
- Brother P-touch PT-D600: ranked #5 (Best desktop keyboard) in The Best Label Makers.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Questions, answered
Do they use the same tapes?
Yes, both print Brother TZe tapes up to 24 mm, so an office can run one of each on a shared refill shelf.
Which prints better-looking labels?
Output technology and tape are the same family; the difference is design workflow. The PT-D600 color display prevents wasted tape by previewing the real tape color.