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Great memories deserve to be preserved forever, and what better way to do that than printing them like the good old days.
If you’re the type of person who likes to take photos with their iPhone, a photo printer would be an excellent companion for you.
In this guide, we’ll help you choose the best photo printer for the iPhone by reviewing some of the most promising models on the market.
Alright, now that we’ve gone through the highlight specs for each printer, let’s explore their capabilities with a more in-depth approach.
1. Fujifilm Instax Mini Link – Best Overall Pick
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link packs many tricks up its sleeve. It’s very stylish and compact and features 2 modes: print mode and fun mode.
Print mode allows you to edit and print photos in less than 12 seconds. Got a moment in a video that you want to print? This printer lets you do just that.
Fun mode, on the other hand, lets you connect the printer to your friends’ iPhones.
You can even add a touch of fun to your photos with hanging clips and colorful picture frames.
The Fujifilm Instax connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth. It’s also equipped with a motion sensor that enables you to zoom in or out to capture a photo by simply tilting the printer. You can even turn the printer upside down to reprint photos.
What We Like
Fast
Compact design
Prints Instax Mini shots
Easy to set up
2 printing modes
What We Don’t Like
High running costs
No USB port
Bottom Line
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link is one of the best iPhone photo printers out there. It prints in a few seconds, and the Bluetooth setup finishes in the blink of an eye.
2. KODAK Step – Runner Up
The KODAK Step photo printer is one of the most compact photo printers on the market. It can fit in your pocket just like your iPhone. It’s pretty lightweight, too.
With the ZINK zero-ink technology, this printer doesn’t rely on expensive toner and ink cartridges.
The color accuracy is top-notch. Not to mention, you can retouch your photos before printing with the editing suite that comes with this printer.
Battery life is quite robust; you can print up to 25 photos on a single charge, which should be enough for most users. As for connectivity, the KODAK Step supports NFC and Bluetooth, giving you more options to print your photos.
The cherry on top is that this printer comes with free ZINK paper right in the box.
The only downside is the printer’s build quality.
What We Like
Low printing costs
Works with Bluetooth and NFC
Compact and lightweight
Good battery life
Comes with printing paper
What We Don’t Like
Poor build quality
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a portable and efficient photo printer for your iPhone that supports NFC and Bluetooth, the KODAK Step photo printer would be your best bet.
3. HP Sprocket Portable – Best Ergonomic Design
The HP Sprocket Portable photo printer combines portability and ergonomics into a single design.
It features zero ink technology that ditches the conventional cartridges and toners in favor of sticky-back photo paper with colors embedded right inside them.
Moreover, it comes with a free retouching app that lets you add filters, flair, and frames to your pictures.
The HP Sprocket can be connected via Bluetooth to multiple devices at the same time so that you and your friends can print your photos together. There are LED lights that identify who is printing.
The rechargeable battery has enough juice for you to print up to 35 photos on a single charge.
Our only complaint is that the HP Sprocket is a bit slow as it requires a full minute to print a single photo.
What We Like
Portable and ergonomic design
Multiple connections
Economic operation
Comes with a free HP app
Good battery life
What We Don’t Like
Slow printing speed
Bottom Line
The HP Sprocket Portable is portable, economic, and great for use with friends.
4. HP Sprocket Studio – Best Premium Choice
The HP Sprocket Studio can print stunning smudge and water-resistant 4×6” photos on the go. It boasts a smart design that enables you to take it anywhere without compromising functionality.
What’s more, it connects to your iPhone quickly with Bluetooth, so you can print your photos in the blink of an eye.
The battery is capable of providing enough power for up to 30 photos on a single charge.
You also get a free companion app and connect it to your social media accounts to share your photos easily. You can even use it to edit your photos and create collages.
The HP Sprocket Studio carries a hefty price tag, though.
What We Like
Portable
Supports Bluetooth
Good battery
Free companion app
Smudge and water-resistant prints
What We Don’t Like
A bit expensive
Bottom Line
The HP Sprocket Studio is an excellent pick for people who want to be able to print high-quality photos from their iPhones.
5. KODAK Smile – Best Budget Pick
The Kodak Smile is an affordable portable photo printer that utilizes Zink Zero Ink technology for top-notch quality and cost-saving.
It integrates a unique pop-up design that lets you transform the pocket-size form into a wedge to load it up with photo papers.
The photos can be printed on sticky-backed paper, so you can put them up on walls, laptops, or dashboards.
The printer works with Bluetooth, so you don’t have to use a cable with your iPhone. The printer also comes with an app that allows you to add quick filters and edit the photos’ colors and lighting.
The only downside is that this printer may jam paper more frequently than other models.
What We Like
Practical pop-up design
Comes with an editing app
Zero Ink technology
Works with Bluetooth
What We Don’t Like
Frequent paper jams
Bottom Line
If you’re searching for affordable yet functional photo printing, the Kodak Smile photo printer won’t disappoint you.
How to Pick the Best Photo Printer for iPhone
There are many considerations that you need to keep in mind when shopping for a photo printer for your iPhone. These include:
Speed
The first thing you need to consider when deciding on a photo printer for your iPhone is speed. Since you’ll be using this printer for printing on the go, you’d want your photos to be printed quickly.
Some printers can push out photos in a matter of seconds.
Connectivity
Most portable photo printers work with Bluetooth and give you the option to connect your iPhone with a USB cable. A few models have NFC connectivity, which is more convenient than Bluetooth.
Design
iPhone photo printers are often used when out and about. So make sure that the printer is small enough to be carried on the go.
Some photo printers can even fit into your pocket. Nevertheless, it depends on how and where you intend to use the printer.
Running Costs
If you intend to print many photo printers from your iPhone, consider getting a photo printer with low running costs.
Many portable iPhone photo printers implement zero-ink technology, which, as its name implies, doesn’t require you to load up the printer with ink. This results in a more economical operation.
Battery Life
How many photos do you need to print from your iPhone every day? If you need to print lots of photos every day, make sure that the printer’s battery can handle it.
As a general rule of thumb, most photo printers can print anywhere from 20 to 40 photos on a single charge. So, if you have heavy printing needs, opt for a printer on the higher picture count.
Paper Cost
If a photo printer costs you a fortune to run, you’ll probably be less encouraged to use it frequently. On the other hand, if you only need to print a couple of pictures every once in a while, paper cost shouldn’t be much of an issue.
However, if you think that you need to use it on a daily basis, make sure that the printer uses cheap photo paper.
Print Quality
There’s no point in printing your photos if the end result is going to be disastrous. Not all photo printers will give you the same color consistency and sharpness in your photos.
One way to tell whether a printer would print high-quality photos or not is to check some samples from other users on the web.
Photo Size
Generally speaking, most portable photo printers for the iPhone print on 2×3” or 4×6” paper. However, 2×3” can be too small for some people, so if you want your pictures to be a bit bigger, go for a printer that can print 4×6” photos.
Editing
Who doesn’t like to add some cool filters and effects to photos before printing? That’s why many photo printers come with professional retouching apps that enable you to edit your photos and add filters and frames.
These apps are optimized for the particular photo printer you use, ensuring that the editing process doesn’t affect print quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are No-Ink Photo Printers Any Good?
Zero Ink photo printers are definitely worth it. They’re very easy to use and won’t cost you much to run. The paper can be somewhat expensive in particular models, but they’re still cheaper than conventional ink cartridges.
How Many Photos Can a Portable Photo Printer Print?
Portable photo printers can print up to 40 photos before requiring you to charge them. But, of course, this number varies from one model to the other.
How Do I Print High-Quality Photos From My iPhone?
Here are some tips that can help you shoot and print higher-quality photos using your iPhone: Shoot your photos at max resolution Retouch your photos with professional editing apps to maintain sharpness and quality Make sure that your photos are printing-optimized Use AirPrint for your photo printing needs Use high-quality paper
Does Apple Have a Photo Printer?
Currently, Apple doesn’t offer any printers. However, it does have a cloud printing service called Apple AirPrint. It lets you print from all of your Apple devices conveniently without requiring cables.
What Printers Work With Apple AirPrint?
Many printers from HP, Kodak, Epson, Canon, and more brands work with Apple AirPrint. If a particular model works with Apple AirPrint, you’ll probably see it in the printer’s description or feature list.
How Do I Get My iPhone to Recognize a Printer?
To make your iPhone recognize your printer, follow these steps: Open Settings and select “Bluetooth” Locate your printer in the “My Devices” list Tap the information icon (letter i) and choose “Forget this device” Navigate to “Settings” and open the “Bluetooth” settings to attempt reconnecting your phone
How Does AirPrint Work on an iPhone?
To use AirPrint on your iPhone, you need to connect it to the same network that your printer is connected to. You can then tap the action icon (pointing arrow icon) and select “Print”.
Final Verdict
So that was our two cents on the best photo printer for the iPhone.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link is a great all-around choice for most users. It’s speedy and easy to set up and use. Not to mention, it comes with powerful editing software.
On the other hand, you can opt for the Kodak Step if you need a more portable printer that also works with NFC. Its running costs are very low, too.
Finally, take a look at the Kodak Smile if you’re on a tight budget. It’s super easy to use and even comes with a free editing app.
