GBC Inspire+ A3 vs Fellowes Spectra A3
By Seb Clark, Editor, UniDoc Solutions·Updated
The GBC if you laminate a few times a year; the Fellowes if you do it weekly — its jam-release lever and dual heat settings earn the extra £18.
Side by side
| GBC Inspire+ A3 Laminator | Fellowes Spectra A3 Laminator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £44.99 | £62.64 |
| Speed | A3, 80-125 micron, ~3 min warm-up | A3, 80-125 micron, 4 min warm-up |
| Brand | GBC | Fellowes |
| Color | White | Black and Grey |
| itemDimensions | Height 2.362204722 inches, Length 5.511811018 inches, Weight 4.188782978 pounds, Width 17.5196850215 inches | Height 3.06299212286 inches, Length 6.37401574153 Inches, Weight 3.7699046802 Pounds, Width 18.49999998113 inches |
| PartNumber | 2104512 | 5738401 |
| Model | 2104512 | 5738401 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 Yr |
| Key points |
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| Best for | The best-selling A3 laminator in the UK — the one to buy if you ever need A3. | Home offices and classrooms doing A3 posters and A4 notices regularly. |
Which should you buy?
Same job, same A3/A4 pouch sizes, same 80–125 micron range. The GBC Inspire+ A3 is the UK's best-selling laminator at about £45: one heat setting, two rollers, no frills, nearly 700 reviews at 4.6★. The Fellowes Spectra A3 is around £63 and adds the two things that make laminating less annoying — a release lever so a misfed pouch can be pulled back out instead of scraped off the rollers, and separate 80 and 125 micron settings so thick pouches come out clear.
For a home that laminates the odd sign or school project, the GBC is plenty. For a classroom, office noticeboard or anyone who has ever had a pouch wrap itself around a roller, the Fellowes.