When it comes to the need to buy an ID card printer to fulfill your service, most people are inclined to consider those big brands despite their much higher pricing. So mature and advanced are the manufacturing techniques of those non-branded printer companies that it can be a smart move to consider buying card printer machines from them at a much lower price, of course, without compromising the quality.

Today, we'll do a comprehensive comparison between the Brady ID card printer and the Masung ID card printer with their highlights and specifications provided below:

The Brady PA1321-K ID card printer's highlights:

Application:

Facility identification, general identification, healthcare and hospital labeling, and security identification.

Dimensions:

9.528 in. H x 8.465 in. W x 16.063 in. D

Print Resolution:

300 dpi

Color Printing Capability:

Full Color

Print Technology:

Thermal Transfer

Key points and features of the Brady ID card printer:

• Unmatched speed meets unrivaled security. Streamline ID card production, fight fraud and safeguard sensitive data with the PA1300 Series ID Card Printer.

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• Enables the on-demand printing of high-security ID cards, ideal in education, government, and healthcare environments.

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• Prints 160 full-color cards (single or double sided) per hour for fast, flexible ID printing.

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• 300 dpi resolution ensures crisp, clear images and text for professional-grade cards.

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• A 100-card load capacity allows large-batch printing and saves reload time.

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• HoloKote® secure surface watermarks and HoloPatch® gold seal ensure every card is impossible to counterfeit.

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• Digital Shredding™ protection ensures data disappears from the printer after every job.

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• Single Line Encoding allows secure data transfer between the printer and your organization’s data center.

Lastly, the specifications of the Brady PA1321-K ID card printer:

Dimensions	9.528 in H x 8.465 in W x 16.063 in D
Height	9.528 in
Width	8.465 in
Depth	16.063 in
Display Size	2.362 x 0.748 in
Weight	10.98 lb
Application	Facility Identification, General Identification, Healthcare and Hospital Labeling, Security Identification
Connectivity Options	Ethernet, USB 2.0 Type A host port (1 back)
Display Type	Monocolor LCD Screen
Keyboard Type	None
Plug Type	US
Power Supply Voltage	110 - 240 V
Operating System	Mac OS 10.10.x, Mac OS 10.7.x, Windows® 10, Windows® 11
Color Printing Capability	Full Color
Print Resolution	300 dpi
Print Technology	Thermal Transfer
Languages Available	English (US)
Includes	(1) Cleaning Kit (3633-0053), (1) CMYK Film (PA300YMCKO), (1) Dual Sided Card Printer (PA1321), (1) Power Cord, (1) Quick Start Guide, (1) USB Cable, (500) Vinyl ID Cards for PA1111 and PA1321 Printers (C60-VINYLB) Model PA1321
California Prop 65	Prop 65WARNING: Risk of cancer and reproductive harm from exposure to Lead.
REACH SVHC Status	Part contains an SVHC
REACH Candidate List Date	27 June 2024
Country of Origin	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
RoHS Compliance Status	Compliant with Directive 2011/65/EU and 2015/863
UNSPSC	45101519

The key points & features of the Masung MS-S22K ID card printer:

• It is a professional, high-volume ID card printer machine designed for vibrant, high-definition, dual-sided printing.

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• The PVC card printer uses high-resolution (600 dpi) dye-sublimation technology for exceptional image and text clarity with full-edge coverage.

• PVC card printer
  

• Built for durability and efficiency, it features an all-metal movement and a high-speed print engine.

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• It offers great versatility by supporting various card materials, including PVC, ABS, PET, and PC, and includes a bend correction module.

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• Operation is simplified through an intuitive 3.5-inch color touchscreen and user-friendly, Microsoft Office-like design software.

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• It provides flexible connectivity options, including USB, Ethernet, and an integrated card hopper for streamlined production.

Specifications of the Masung MS-S22K ID card printer:

Model	MS-S22K
Specifications	376 × 160 × 207 (mm), 6.8Kg
Interfaces	USB & Ethernet & RS232
Input Capacity	100 cards(Standard 100 pcs/High capacity input hopper 400 pcs/ Locking card input hopper 200 pcs)
Print Speed	Monochrome printing: 3~5 s per card(single-sided) / 7~12 s per card(dual-sided); Full-color(YMCKO) printing: 20 s per card(single-sided) / 42 s per card(dual-sided).
Card Material	PVC / Composite PVC / Other material upon request and validation
Power	100-240V, 50-60Hz
Print Dimension	ISO CR80 (53.98mm×85.60mm), edge-to-edge printing
Print Resolution	300dpi × 300dpi（300 dpi × 600 dpi, 300 dpi × 1200 dpi print resolution optional）
Memory	128MB
Print Method	Dye sublimation (Direct-to-card)
Card Thickness	0.3-1.05mm
LCM Display	Chinese: 8 characters per line, 2 lines / English: 16 characters per line, 4 lines / Multi-language
Operation System	Driver: support Windows XP/7/8/10 , Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016, Linux, Android Card design software: ICARDE, support Windows® XP/7/8/10 (32 or 64 bit)
Operating Condition	1. Regular running temp.: 15℃-30℃(59-86℉), 20%~65% RH non-condensing 2. Lowest / Highest running temp.: 0℃(32℉) / 40℃(104℉), 20%~65% RH non-condensing
Storage Condition	Temp.: -5℃-70℃(23-158℉), 20%~70% RH non-condensing
Certificates	CCC, FCC, CE, ROHS, BIS

Executive Summary

The Brady PA1321-K is a security-focused, enterprise-grade printer designed for organizations where card authenticity and data protection are paramount (e.g., government, high-security facilities). It emphasizes robust security features and reliability.

The Masung MS-S22K is a versatile, high-volume production printer that prioritizes print speed, media flexibility, and operational efficiency.  Above all, it’s highly customizable and aimed at occasions and scenes that need to produce a large number of high-quality, durable cards quickly (e.g., corporate campuses, event badges, high-traffic institutions).

Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

Feature	Brady PA1321-K	Masung MS-S22K	Winner & Analysis
Print Speed	160 cards/hour (single/double-sided). (~22.5 sec/card double-sided).	42 sec/card double-sided (full-color). Offers faster monochrome speeds.	Masung MS-S22K. It is significantly faster for full-color, dual-sided printing, making it better for high- volume batches.
Print Resolution	300 dpi	300 dpi (standard), with options for 600 dpi and 1200 dpi.	Masung MS-S22K. The optional higher resolutions provide the potential for exceptionally crisp text and more detailed images, a key advantage for photo IDs.
Print Technology	Thermal Transfer	Dye Sublimation (Direct-to-Card)	Tie (Application Dependent). Dye-sublimation (Masung) is superior for high-quality, full-color photographic images. Thermal transfer (Brady) can be more durable but is often associated with monochrome or simpler color printing.
Input Capacity	100 cards (standard)	100 cards (standard), with optional hoppers up to 400 cards.	Masung MS-S22K. The availability of high-capacity and locking hoppers is a major advantage for uninterrupted, high-volume printing and secure card storage.
Security Features	HoloKote® watermarks, HoloPatch® seal, Digital Shredding™, Single Line Encoding.	Standard printer security. 3.5-inch color touchscreen.	Brady PA1321-K (by a wide margin). Brady's integrated, overt security features are in a different league, designed to prevent counterfeiting and protect sensitive data. This is its core strength.
User Interface	Small monochrome LCD (2.36")	3.5-inch color touchscreen.	Masung MS-S22K. The modern, intuitive touchscreen provides a much better user experience for on-printer configuration and status monitoring.
Connectivity	USB, Ethernet	USB, Ethernet, RS232	Masung MS-S22K (slightly). The inclusion of RS232 is a legacy advantage for integration with certain access control systems or industrial environments.
Media Flexibility	Implied: Primarily PVC.	Explicitly supports PVC, ABS, PET, PC.	Masung MS-S22K. It clearly states compatibility with a wider range of card materials, including more durable plastics like Polycarbonate (PC), which is used in government IDs.
Card Thickness	Not Specified	0.3 - 1.05mm	Masung MS-S22K. The specified range shows it can handle a wider variety of card stocks, from thin to thick.
Build Quality	Not specified, but implied by brand reputation.	Explicitly "all-metal movement".	Masung MS-S22K. An all-metal internal mechanism is a significant indicator of durability and longevity, especially under high-volume use.
Warranty	3 Years	1 Year	Brady PA1321-K. A 3-year warranty demonstrates superior confidence in product reliability and offers greater long-term peace of mind.
Software	Not detailed.	Dedicated software (ICARDE) with MS Office-like interface, image library, and database connectivity.	Masung MS-S22K. The described software sounds more modern, user-friendly, and feature-rich, which is a critical part of the card creation workflow.
Key Differentiator	Unmatched Security. It's a secure ID issuance system, not just a printer.	Speed & Versatility. Built for high-volume, high-quality output with modern usability.	N/A

Detailed Analysis & Recommended Use Cases

Brady PA1321-K: The Security Sentinel

Strengths:

Top-Tier Security: The HoloKote and HoloPatch features are overt, physical security measures that make cards extremely difficult to replicate. Digital shredding is a critical data protection feature for sensitive environments.

Strong Brand & Warranty: Brady is a well-established, trusted name in identification. The 3-year warranty is exceptional.

Enterprise Reliability: Designed for stable, reliable performance in critical environments.

Weaknesses:

Slower print speed.

Outdated user interface (small monochrome screen).

Less flexibility in media types and card thickness.

Ideal For:

Government Facilities: Where official credentials require anti-counterfeiting measures.

Nuclear Plants & Defense Contractors: Where data and physical security are non-negotiable.

Financial Institutions: For high-security employee access cards.

Universities/Colleges: For highly secure faculty, staff, or research lab IDs.

Masung MS-S22K: The Production Powerhouse

Strengths:

High Speed & Volume: Faster print speeds and large input hopper options make it ideal for churning out hundreds of cards efficiently.

Superior Print Quality: Dye-sublimation technology and optional 600/1200 dpi resolution ensure professional, photographic-quality results.

Durability & Flexibility: All-metal construction, support for various materials (including durable PC), and a bend correction module.

Modern Usability: The color touchscreen and user-friendly software significantly improve the operator experience.

Weaknesses:

Lacks the advanced, built-in anti-counterfeiting security features of the Brady.

Shorter (1-year) warranty.

Ideal For:

Large Corporations & Campuses: Needing to issue thousands of high-quality employee or student IDs.

Events & Conferences: For fast production of vibrant, temporary or attendee badges.

Healthcare Systems: For issuing large volumes of staff and patient IDs where photo quality is important.

Any high-volume environment where print speed, media flexibility, and operator ease-of-use are the primary concerns.

Conclusion

The choice between the Brady PA1321-K card printing machine and the Masung MS-S22K card printing machine is clear and depends entirely on your organization's primary need.

Choose the Brady PA1321-K if your absolute highest priority is security and fraud prevention. You are buying a secure credential issuance system.

Choose the Masung MS-S22K if your highest priorities are speed, volume, print quality, and modern usability. You are buying a high-performance card production machine.

For most standard commercial, educational, and event-based applications, the Masung MS-S22K offers better performance, flexibility, and value. For high-stakes security environments, the Brady PA1321-K is the specialized, uncompromising tool.