Earlier model comparisons
Brother PT-1810 vs PT-1280: 18 mm TZ and a case, or a compact keypad?
The discontinued Brother PT-1810 and PT-1280 both put a physical QWERTY keyboard on the machine, but they are not interchangeable tape choices. If you are comparing an available used unit with a machine you already own, decide by the exact TZ/TZe cassette evidence and line-width limit before weighing templates or price.
Choose the PT-1810 for wider original TZ and three lines
The PT-1810’s exact U.S. product page and original 1800/1810 guide document Brother TZ widths of 6, 9, 12 and 18 mm. The guide allows up to three lines on 12 or 18 mm tape; 6 mm is one line and 9 mm is two. Its two-row, 12-character LCD, 51-key QWERTY keyboard and stamp-stencil mode make it a more capable desk console for longer office labels. The PT-1810 package listed by Brother includes a case, one TZ tape, six AA cells, a tape separator and the user guide. That package history applies to PT-1810, not the PT-1800, which the manual says has the same functions but not the PT-1810 carrying case.
Do not translate that wider media range into TZe compatibility. The original manual explicitly says to use TZ tapes only, and its instructions are the relevant cassette evidence for this older 1800/1810 platform.
Choose the PT-1280 for its smaller routine, not for 18 mm tape
The PT-1280 is limited to 12 mm in both its old TZ specification and its later Brother-confirmed TZe plan. Its original guide says two-line labels need 9 or 12 mm tape. It has a one-line 15-character screen, six preset label-length formats and three Favorite keys. It is a smaller machine; the PT-1810 is the choice when a wider 18 mm original TZ label or the three-line format is the actual need. Conversely, someone who already uses newer TZe cassettes may find the PT-1280’s exact Brother TZe FAQ more useful; that later confirmation does not apply to PT-1810.
Both are earlier equipment with manual cutters
Neither is the right answer if a current phone app, computer-connected batch workflow or automatic cutter is non-negotiable. The PT-1810 takes six AA batteries and supports an optional AD-60 adapter; the PT-1280 uses six AAA batteries and its own documented AD-30/AD-24 adapter route. These are not package guarantees for second-hand listings. Check the exact cassette bay, working cutter, screen and battery compartment, then verify the included adapter and tape separately. Read the PT-1810 assessment and PT-1280 assessment for source-specific limits before relying on a used machine.