TLDR Review: X-Acto Mighty Mite Sharpener
Verdict
The X-Acto Mighty Mite Electric Pencil Sharpener offers quick, precise sharpening in a compact design with useful safety features and a solid warranty. However, its light build causes stability issues during use, and it struggles with colored or thicker pencils, sometimes jamming or sharpening unevenly. If you primarily need a sharpener for standard pencils and prefer something small and portable, this is a decent choice—but expect regular cleaning and occasional frustration. For users looking for a heavier, more stable sharpener or better performance with colored pencils, you might consider alternatives with larger reservoirs and stronger motors.
- Top pro:
- Sharpens standard and colored pencils quickly and efficiently, producing durable, precise points without frequent breakage.
- Top con:
- Lightweight design causes the sharpener to move during use, leading to instability and uneven sharpening.
Pros
- •Sharpens standard and colored pencils quickly and efficiently, producing durable, precise points without frequent breakage.
- •Compact, lightweight design makes it easy to place on a desktop and convenient to move if needed.
- •Safety plug feature adds a layer of protection by preventing children from unplugging it.
- •Transparent removable reservoir allows easy monitoring and cleaning of shavings.
- •Uses a traditional power cord, eliminating the hassle of batteries.
- •Comes with a substantial 10-year limited warranty, offering peace of mind regarding durability.
- •Pencil saver feature prevents over-sharpening, which is especially useful for kids or students.
- •Consistent performance reported after several months of use, with fast and powerful sharpening action.
Cons
- •Lightweight design causes the sharpener to move during use, leading to instability and uneven sharpening.
- •Hole size is tight for some pencils, particularly Venus brand, colored pencils, and charcoal, sometimes causing jamming or squared-off tips.
- •Shavings reservoir is small, fills up quickly, and can be messy to empty, with the front piece prone to coming loose and spilling shavings.
- •Some users report unreliable operation, with it working properly only about 10% of the time for certain units.
- •Sharpens off-center occasionally, resulting in more exposed wood than lead and uneven sharpening.
- •Sharpener motor may fail after around two years of regular use.
- •Colored pencils can break tips inside the sharpener, requiring manual tapping to clear jams.
- •Not well-suited for pencils of varying diameters beyond standard size.
- •Previous versions of similar X-Acto sharpeners reportedly had better longevity and maintained sharpness longer.
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How ShopSavvy makes money
How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from 1 retailer in ShopSavvy's price data, most recently seen Oct 3, 2026.
Download ShopSavvy App
Compare prices across tens of thousands of stores, set price alerts, watch for deals by keyword, and much more.
Install ShopSavvy Browser Extension
Compare and track prices automatically while you shop online at thousands of websites.
