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When we go to events, we often use our phones to take pictures and share them on our social media. But, unfortunately, we forget most of them, and the memories they captured get buried until the next time we scroll through our photo galleries. But what if you printed those beautiful photos and shared copies with family or friends?
There’s no doubt that physical photos have a way of eliciting deeper emotions the moment you look at them. This is the beauty of having a portable photo printer to print photos you capture with your smartphone.
This is why we prepared this guide for the best portable photo printers out there. So, if you want to choose one but feel confused, continue reading to know all about our top 5 picks.
Comparison Table
Product
Weight
Dimensions
Connection Type
1. Canon SELPHY Square QX10
16 ounces
4.02 x 1.23 x 5.65 inches
Wi-Fi
2. Kodak Step Instant
8.9 ounces
6.26 x 3.74 x 1.5 inches
Bluetooth
3. Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay Hybrid Instant Camera
Luckily, we’ve reviewed the best portable photo printers to help you make your decision. So let’s have a look at them.
1. Canon SELPHY Square QX10 – Best Overall
Canon SELPHY Square QX10 is a compact and portable photo printer that’s ideal for printing photos right from your smartphone or tablet. And if you want to print pictures with a taste of creativity, this printer has got you covered. It turns your photos into 2.7” x 2.7”, 2.6” x 2.6”, or 2.4 x 2.4” prints, making it a handy device for printing lasting memories.
Thanks to the free Canon SELPHY Photo Layout App, you can add fun templates, stickers, and filters to your prints. And it’s a slam dunk to use the app. After installing it on your smartphone, you can connect it to your printer and choose the customizable labels and borders or any other creative features without needing additional software.
Moreover, you don’t need to worry about the quality of your photos; the prints come with a clear resolution and accurate color reproduction. In addition, the print papers are slightly sticky so that you can stick your beautiful photos on your fridge, wall, or locker door.
And when connecting this printer to your smartphone, you don’t have to use cables or wires. Instead, the printer relies on Wi-Fi to connect to your device.
Pros:
Durable
Exceptional print quality
Long-lasting prints
Cons:
Can’t print via PC
A bit heavy
Bottom Line
Canon SELPHY QX10 tops our list of the best portable photo printers. It produces long-lasting photos with exceptional print quality.
2. Kodak Step Instant – Best Customizable
If you’re looking for a portable printer that’ll allow you to easily customize your photos, Kodak Step Instant Photo Printer is your best bet. Using this printer requires fewer steps, making the process less time-consuming. In addition, when connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth, you’ll have your print in less than 60 seconds.
The printer also comes with superb zero-ink technology, meaning that you don’t have to worry about inks and ink cartridges. With a Zink 2” x 3” sticky back paper that comes with embedded dry crystals, you can print high-quality pictures even when working on a budget. Plus, the printer produces durable photos that are resistant to rips, moisture, and smudges.
And if you want to edit your photos, this printer has something for you. It comes with the customizable Kodak App that you can download and install on your smartphone. The app will come in handy when customizing your photos with cool stickers, funny texts, stunning filters, and exciting borders.
Because it’s lightweight, you can also use this compact printer comfortably during your outdoor activities. Plus, it comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that allows you to print 25 photos when the battery is fully charged.
Pros:
Easily customizable
Compact
Lightweight
Cons:
Can’t Connect to Wi-Fi
Bottom Line
Kodak Step Instant Photo Printer is your go-to option if you’re looking for a portable printer that’s good at customizing your photos.
3. Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay Hybrid Instant Camera – Speedy Pick
Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay is both a camera and a printer. This is why we’ve included it on our list, as you can use it to capture and print pictures instantly. It prints photos taken from its camera or those from your smartphone.
Moreover, this printer has top-notch features that’ll take your printing experience to another level.
For instance, you can attach any recorded sound to your picture by converting the sound to a QR code. Then, you can scan the code with your smartphone to playback the sound. This way, you’ll use the photos to relive your happy moments.
What’s more, Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay can print up to 100 photos per single charge. Also, the printer will take about 12 seconds to print your image with all the features you want in your picture. In addition, you can recharge the battery using the USB for approximately 2-3 hours, so you won’t spend a whole day waiting for a recharge.
And when it comes to connectivity, you can easily connect your smartphone to this camera via Bluetooth.
Pros:
Doubles up as a camera and a printer
Has a playback option
Prints in 12 seconds
Cons:
Needs more photo editing options
Costly per print
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a high-speed portable photo printer, Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay would be your choice. You can use it to print a high-quality photo in about 12 seconds.
4. Kodak Mini 3 Retro – Most Comfortable
If you want a photo printer with an ergonomic design, you should go for Kodak Mini 3 Retro Photo Printer. This printer comes with the Kodak 4Pass Technology, which helps you print stellar photos with high-end quality. For example, you can print 3 x 3-inch pictures in layers of ribbon and laminated to ensure your photos remain waterproof and fingerprint-proof.
When printing, you’ll enjoy using the customizable Kodak App, a practical and easy tool to print flawless photos. You can download the app on your Android or iOS devices and connect it to your printer.
And when it comes to speed, you’ll just click a button and have your photos printed in less than 50 seconds. In addition, you can enjoy printing up to 25 photos on a fully charged battery.
Regarding connectivity, you’ll need to connect the printer to your mobile device via Bluetooth and start printing beautiful pictures.
Pros:
High-end photos
Ergonomic design
Easy to hold
Easy to use
Cons:
Lack of Wi-Fi
Bottom Line
Kodak Mini 3 Portable Photo Printer is ideal if you’re looking for high-quality prints and an easy-to-use, comfortable portable photo printer.
5. Fujifilm Instax Mini Link – Lightweight Pick
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link Smartphone Printer can be your right pick when looking for a sleek and lightweight photo printer that you can easily carry anywhere you go. Thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, this printer conveniently allows you to print cool, crispy images. In addition, it’s pretty easy to fit it in your palm.
Plus, you can customize your photos with various fun and colorful frames. You just have to download the printer’s free, user-friendly Instax Mini Link App on your smartphone.
It’s worth mentioning that the app comes with two modes – fun mode and print mode. You can use the fun mode to connect up to five smartphones and print photos from different devices. In print mode, you can choose options such as simple print, video print, and Instax camera.
Moreover, your printer has a motion sensor that’ll come in handy when taking the best quality pictures. You can zoom in or out to take your best shots. Also, the printer will take about 12 seconds to print a photo and about 90 seconds of development time.
Pros:
Small in size
Easy to hold
Produces high-quality images
Easy Bluetooth setup
Cons:
Small image format
Not compatible with desktops or laptops
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a speedy, lightweight photo printer, Fujifilm Instax Mini Link will be the way to go. You’ll only remember you’re carrying it in your backpack or purse when in need of some prints.
Factors to Consider When Buying Portable Photo Printers
If you’re wondering what to consider when buying a portable photo printer, worry less because we’ve done the work for you. Here are a few factors you should consider before buying your photo printer.
Battery Life
If you use your photo printer for outdoor activities, you may consider one that has longer battery life. This way, you’ll be able to print several photos before the need to recharge the battery.
Print Methods
A portable photo printer that uses dye sublimation when printing can take a lot of time to print each sheet. Instead, you may go for one that uses Zink technology for printing. With Zink printing paper, you can have high-quality printed photos in a few seconds.
Photo Format
When looking for a portable photo printer, you may consider choosing your ideal photo format. So, look for a printer that allows you to use a companion app for customizing your photos to a size that you want. In most cases, portable photo printers will print photos with different sizes like 2.7 x 2.7, 2 x 3, and 3 x 3 inches.
Connectivity
It would help if you considered the connectivity options when buying portable photo printers. For example, a printer that requires the use of a USB cable may not be practical, considering that you’ll need to carry the cable wherever you go.
However, a printer with built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity can be your best choice. This way, you can easily connect to your device and print photos while on the go.
Durability
You need to look for a compact portable photo printer that doesn’t break easily. Similarly, you’ll need to choose a photo printer that prints durable copies that won’t get damaged easily by water or fingerprints.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does a Portable Printer Work Without Ink?
Portable photo printers use Zero Ink technology to print. They apply heat to Zink printing papers, which are heat-sensitive papers. The heat helps to recreate your photos without the need for ink. These papers have magenta, cyan, and yellow dyes.
How Do I Maximize My Portable Printer’s Battery Life?
If you want your battery to last longer, you can minimize the time your portable photo printer remains on when not in use. In addition, you can charge your printer when you’re not using it.
Do I Have to Use Special Papers for Printing With a Portable Photo Printer?
Certainly yes. Any other printing papers from the nearby local shop won’t work with a portable photo printer. The papers need to have the Zink layers to make it possible for the heat to do its magic and produce images.
Final Thoughts
By now, you must have an idea of the best portable photo printers out there that’ll print some memorable pictures. To make things easier for you, here’s a quick recap of our top three picks.
Without a doubt, our best overall is the Canon SELPHY QX10. It uses Wi-Fi and should be your go-to option if you’re willing to print high-quality, long-lasting images.
And if you’re looking for a printer that’ll easily customize your photos, Kodak Step Instant would be your best bet.
Finally, if you want a printer that doubles as a camera and produces your photos quickly, Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay will do the job.
