2022 Mixtiles Review
- What is Our Photo Tile Shootout?
- Mixtiles Review: How Easy is It to Order?
- Mixtiles Review: Print Quality
- Mixtiles Review: Construction
- Final Thoughts
I reviewed Mixtiles art photo tiles way back in 2019, and at that point, the concept was neat, but the quality wasn't there.
In fact, one of the three tiles I ordered was completely unusable because the ink was smeared. That lack of quality control turned me off, so my review back then was a big thumbs down. There were other issues as well - the colors weren't terribly accurate, and the image detail seemed to be a little off.
But three years is a long time, and Mixtiles could be vastly different than they used to be. So, I'm back with a 2022 Mixtiles review to see if things have changed!
In the video above, I give you a complete review of these photo tiles. Tune in and see if these photo tiles are for you! For your convenience, I've included a blow-by-blow of the video below.
Want an alternative to Mixtiles? Check out my detailed Snaptiles review and if you want to see a head-to-head comparison, go here.
Table of Contents
What is Our Photo Tile Shootout?
This review of Mixtiles is part of our larger photo tile shootout. So, what is this shootout, exactly?
The concept is simple: I order photo tiles, open them on camera, provide a real-time review and inspection of the tiles, and then rate them, so you have the scoop on how good (or bad) the photo tiles are.
The point of this shootout - like our metal print shootout and canvas print shootout - is to do all the dirty work for you so you can make an informed decision about which photo tiles you buy.
While other websites simply rip information off from the photo tiles manufacturers' sites, we actually get hands on these things, take them for a spin, and give you real-world feedback on them.
Since photo tiles are becoming more and more popular, it's more important than ever to provide this kind of information, that way you get the best photo tiles for your money.
Mixtiles Review: How Easy is It to Order?
The Mixtiles website is clean and easy to navigate, which makes ordering so much easier.
As you can see above, you simply click the "Let's Go" button to get the party started to create your Mixtiles art.
From there, you upload your images to the site and go about selecting the desired options.
Mixtiles gives you loads of options in terms of frame colors and styles. You can also choose different border styles and widths to customize each tile to your liking.
While 8"x8" photo tiles seem to be the most popular, there are tons of other sizing options, as shown above.
Standard shipping is included, so you can make your purchase without that added expense. Faster shipping is available for a fee.
All in all, the ordering experience couldn't be better!
Mixtiles Review: Print Quality
These photo tiles are three for $48.00, so if you're expecting a gallery-quality print, you'll be disappointed. However, that doesn't mean you should set your expectations too low because you want to get some value for your money.
The image quality of these Mixtiles art prints is just okay. I wasn't expecting an ultra-high-resolution print, but I was expecting the resolution to be a little bit better than it is. I don't mean to imply that the prints are pixelated, because they aren't. However, there is a softness to the images that occurred during the printing process, because the image files I uploaded were high-resolution, sharp, and detailed.
On the color front, the colors seem to be a little flat. They're lacking some of the punch they had in the original file, though I wonder if that has something to do with the flat finish on the print itself. Whatever the case, I could see a marked difference in the saturation and vibrance of the colors in the prints versus what they looked like in the original image files.
At the end of the day, the detail and sharpness of the image were a little better than the overall colors. I don't think I'd rate the detail and sharpness as being spectacular, but they certainly aren't terrible, either.
I liked the presentation of the image, too, given that the frame is pretty well made (more on that next).
Mixtiles Review: Construction
Each Mixtile comes with a black plastic frame and sticky tape on the back to mount it to the wall.
As I mention in the video at the beginning of this article, the plastic frames feel, well, plasticky and cheap. BUT...again, these frames are commensurate with the price point. Besides, it's necessary for these prints to have lightweight plastic frames since the only thing keeping the print on the wall is some double-sided tape. You can't have a thick, heavy wood frame holding these tiles together if you want them to stay on the wall for any length of time!
Now, these frames aren't going to hold up to a ton of wear and tear, but they aren't intended to do so. The black frame offers a nice contrast to the white border, which in turn gives the print a little more visual appeal (as opposed to the print extending all the way to the frame). Of course, Mixtiles offers various options here in terms of frame colors and the width of the border around the image. This allows you to create your very own Mixtiles art piece that speaks to your needs and wants, which is a nice touch.
The frame appears to be a single piece of molded plastic. The print inserts into the frame and is backed by a piece of foamboard, and all of it is locked together with another molded plastic piece on the back.
As you can see in the screenshot above, the frame is pretty complex. In the video, you can see me struggling a bit to deconstruct it to inspect how it's made.
Truthfully, the construction of the frame is on point - the image sits nicely in the frame, and there's no creases or waviness to the image at all. From that point of view, these photo tiles offer a nice presentation for your images. If the image quality was improved, these photo tiles would be so much better!
Want an alternative to Mixtiles? Check out my detailed Snaptiles review!
Mixtiles Art: Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a fun little print to hang in your kid's room or another informal space in your home, this isn't a bad option. As I mention in the scorecard portion of my video, these Mixtiles art prints are perfectly fine for what they are - but don't expect a super high-quality print!
The ability to move these prints around is certainly a big bonus. My tests of the tape backing seem to support the notion that the tape has improved over the years. We'll see if any of the prints end up on the floor in the coming months!
Again, the print quality isn't going to blow you away, but you have to bear in mind that these prints aren't intended to be showcased in the Louvre. For what they are intended to be - a fun way to display some of your favorite snapshots - Mixtiles art does the trick just fine.
If Mixtiles seems like an intriguing option for you, head over to their website to begin your order!
