Star mPOP Review UK — All-in-One Receipt Printer & Cash Drawer

The Star mPOP is a genuine product concept rather than a compromise hardware bundle: an all-in-one receipt printer and cash drawer that takes up the footprint of one unit rather than two. For the right use case, it's the most elegant solution on the counter.

The mPOP combines a thermal receipt printer and a cash drawer in a single unit — the printer mechanism sits on top, the cash drawer is integrated below, and the whole assembly is significantly more compact than a separate printer and drawer side by side.

It connects to an iPad via Bluetooth or USB, opens a Bluetooth connection to the iOS device, and the cash drawer opens automatically on cash sale completion through any compatible POS app.

There's also a practical bonus that's often overlooked: the mPOP includes a USB hub on the rear. You can connect a barcode scanner directly to the mPOP, and it passes through to the iPad. For a compact retail setup, this eliminates a separate USB connection and keeps the counter tidy.

It's worth being honest about what it isn't: the mPOP is not a high-volume hospitality printer. It's designed for lighter-duty commercial use — a boutique shop, a market stall, a compact café, a single-terminal pop-up retail point. For a busy restaurant running continuous printing through a service period, the TSP143IV is the right specification.

One number worth noting: 150mm/second. The mPOP's print speed is lower than the Star TSP143IV (250mm/sec) and Epson TM-M30III (250mm/sec). For a café or boutique retail environment with moderate transaction volume, 150mm/sec is perfectly adequate — receipts print quickly. For a high-volume hospitality environment processing orders continuously: this is a constraint.

At 150mm/second, a standard retail receipt prints in about 1.5–2 seconds. For most small business environments, this feels fast enough. It's only in comparison to a TSP143 at 250mm/sec that the difference becomes noticeable.

Print quality at 203 dpi is clean and consistent — the same standard as other Star thermal printers. Receipts are legible, barcodes scan, logos print clearly.

The 58mm paper variant is worth thinking about carefully. 80mm is the standard receipt width, and 80mm rolls are widely available at good prices. 58mm paper is narrower, slightly cheaper, but also limits how much information fits per line — which matters for itemised kitchen tickets. If you're printing anything more than basic customer receipts, specify the 80mm variant.

The integrated cash drawer is the feature most buyers approach with lowest expectations and are subsequently surprised by. It's a proper drawer — three-position lock, separate till compartments, solid mechanism. It doesn't feel like an afterthought added to make the product concept work.

The drawer opens via the same RJ11 mechanism as standalone drawers. It also includes an additional RJ11 port, so if you have a legacy setup that requires a separate external cash drawer, you can daisy-chain it — a thoughtful detail.

The mPOP pairs with iOS via Bluetooth in the same way as other Star printers. The critical setup note — which catches people out — is that you must select mPOP specifically from the printer model list in Shopify POS settings. The mPOP uses a different communication protocol from the TSP143 series. Selecting a different Star model variant produces no output.

Pair the mPOP in iOS Bluetooth settings first, then go to Shopify POS → Settings → Hardware → Printers → Add printer → Star Micronics → mPOP. The USB hub on the rear allows a barcode scanner to be connected directly to the mPOP and passed through to the iPad — no additional Bluetooth pairing needed.

For the complete Shopify setup guide covering all Star printers, see how to connect a Star printer to Shopify POS.

Boutique retail: The mPOP's compact all-in-one design looks professional on a small boutique counter and keeps cable runs minimal.

Market stalls and pop-up retail: One unit to set up, one unit to pack down. Bluetooth connectivity means no cable tethering the printer to the iPad.

Compact café or food-to-go: Works well for moderate transaction volumes in a tight space. Pair with a Bouncepad Core Counter Twist Mini for a complete compact setup.

Event retail: Exhibitions, trade shows, temporary retail points. The mPOP is easy to set up quickly and doesn't require a separate cable run for the cash drawer.

Secondary till point: A primary setup running a TSP143IV as the main printer, with an mPOP as a secondary till for lower-volume transactions.

High-volume restaurants during service. Any environment where print speed is a genuine constraint. Multi-terminal setups that need network-connected printing. These all point toward the Star TSP143IV instead.

For the full comparison between Star's range, see the Star Micronics product guide.

What paper does the Star mPOP use?

80mm thermal receipt paper (for the 80mm variant) or 58mm (for the narrower variant). Specify 80mm for anything beyond basic receipts. Stocked at Commandear.

Can I connect a barcode scanner to the Star mPOP?

Yes — the mPOP has a USB hub on the rear. Connect a USB barcode scanner to it and it passes through to the iPad as a connected device. No separate Bluetooth pairing required.

Does the Star mPOP work with Shopify POS?

Yes — officially supported. Select mPOP specifically from the model list in Shopify POS settings. See how to connect a Star printer to Shopify.

How does the mPOP cash drawer open?

Automatically on cash sale completion in any compatible POS app. The drawer mechanism is triggered by the POS app through the integrated connection — no separate RJ11 cable needed.

Is the mPOP good for a busy restaurant?

For moderate volume: yes. For a busy restaurant running continuous printing during service periods: the lower print speed (150mm/sec vs 250mm/sec on a TSP143) may be a constraint. Specify a TSP143IV for high-volume hospitality.

The Star mPOP is stocked at Commandear alongside the full Star Micronics printer range. For complete Shopify-ready bundles, see POS starter kits. Questions? Contact us