We all love to take photos. But not each of them can be found when we want to see it, or when the time is right. Only if we can print it just the moment we take it, then can it last a lifetime.
Whether we keep it in the closet or in the attic, we can easily find it and take a walk on memory lane. So, I am gonna tell you about the best portable photo printer you can find nowadays. If you can find the right one to carry with you, I hope none of your memories will ever be lost.
Why You Should Use a Photo Printer
A photo printer is a tool you use to print out your precious memories. Electronic devices can malfunction, get hacked, or can get stolen. Whether you can recover it or not, whether you have a cloud account for uploading real-time photos or not, printing is the best option to keep your memories safe.
And a photo printer prints at that quality which enhances the beauty of your photos. Normal color printers can also print photos but the quality can be compromised.
The best option is a photo printer. Most of them weigh less than a laptop, and you can easily carry them in your backpack. An extra cartridge of photo paper will do the trick to give you the best output possible. So, at any event or social occasion, this is the best choice you can make.
How to Buy the Best Portable Photo Printer
You can buy the best portable photo printer if you focus on the following points:
Weight
A portable photo printer should not weigh more than one kilogram. Otherwise, you cannot carry it everywhere you go. A portable photo printer under one kilogram can be easily taken to your office, home, or a party. The lighter, the better. But not all of the lighter printers have the same option.
Connectivity
Most popular portable photo printers use Bluetooth connectivity. Some of them can connect to only one device, while others can connect to multiple devices all at a time. Besides Bluetooth, goo printers can connect to Wifi and USB too. The easier the connectivity, the better.
App
Some portable photo printers have apps for Android or iOS just for printing. Others have apps that can also edit and filter the photos according to the need of the user. The more user-friendly the app, the better.
Best Portable Photo Printer in 2023
There are many portable photo printers available on the market right now. But they come in different shapes and ease of access. Some of them print 2.4 x 2.4-inch photos. Bigger ones print 4 x 6 inches photos. The most available printing size is 2 x 3 inches, I guess. Each and every one of them has its own specialties.
So, I have decided to categorize them according to shapes for your better understanding. Besides, I will also tell you about the apps they use so that you can get the most benefits from this blog.
| Serial | Printer | Why We Loved It |
| 1 | KiiPix Smartphone Photo Printer | Lowest Operating Cost |
| 2 | Kodak Dock & Wi-Fi Portable Photo Printer | Best Multifunction Printer |
| 3 | Canon Selphy CP1300 | Best Quality Output |
| 4 | Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer | Most Lightweight |
| 5 | Fujifilm Instax SP-3 Mobile Photo Printer | Easiest Installation |
| 6 | HP Sprocket Portable Printer | Best Connectivity |
| 7 | Polaroid Hi-Print | Best All Over |
Best Portable Photo Printer (Bigger Size)
KiiPix Smartphone Photo Printer
This is technically a bigger portable photo printer that can print 3.4×2.1 inches photos pretty clearly. It does not need any wifi or Bluetooth to connect to smartphones and print them. In three easy steps, you can get high-quality pictures:
Figure 1 You can print with KiiPix Smartphone Photo Printer in Three Simple Steps
Step – 1: Get the cartridge that already has the photo paper and color set inside and install it carefully with the printer. DO NOT forget to get the protective film out with the dial.
Step – 2: Set up the printer by opening the lids and putting the cover on them. Get your smartphone. Make sure the auto lock is off and open the picture. Add any filters or edits you like.
Step – 3: Put the phone aligned with the camera on the cover facing the camera. Use the shutter button to scan. Take out the photo using the dial.
The printer does not require any external power source. So you need no batteries or cords with it.
Although it is quite big, the printer, along with one pack of cartridges, cannot exceed more than half a kilo. And the quality is super good.
Pros
- Can Print different sizes of photos.
- The quality of photos is enhanced
- Do not need batteries to run
- Do not need Bluetooth or WiFi to connect to the phone for printing photos
- Cartridges hold both color and paper
- No need to use any app for printing
Cons
- Quite big to carry
- Photos are directly scanned and printed, not suitable for everyone
Comment on Price
The price is under $40. You can use the FUJIFILM Instax Mini Film cartridge with this printer. It is quite good as a printer which does not need any electrical connection, cord or external power. The price is quite low because of its lack of connectivity through Bluetooth, Wifi, or USB. You can only take photos through its lens from your mobile phone. But it saves cost because it does not need any extra power due to lack of connectivity.
2. Kodak Dock & Wi-Fi Portable Photo Printer
This is a good quality multifunctional photo printer. You can use direct access to your android or iOS device and print directly from it. All types of colors or filters can be adjusted with it.
The cartridge can print up to 120 photos once installed.
Even you can charge your device with this printer.
The printing can be done for 4 x 6 inches photos which are quite big. But there may be borders at the top and bottom.
You need an adapter to charge the printer unlike the KiiPix printer as there are many electrical functions attached to it.
The whole package is nearly one kilogram.
Because of so many functions and possibilities, it is quite handy and comfy in every way.
Pros
- You can connect through wifi or direct connectivity with ports
- Can connect to both Android and iOS devices
- Can print larger size photos of 4 x 6 inches
- Uses an app to print and also you can edit the photos with the app
- Sublimination technology and lamination layer give high-quality images
- You can use this printer to print high-quality stickers too
Cons
- The weight is nearly one Kilogram
- Needs a power source, uses an adapter
Comment on Price
Apart from weight and power source, this is one of the best portable printers out there. It will cost you around $130-$140. You need to use Kodak Zink photo paper with the printer. Each cartridge has 50 sheets. Because of connectivity through multiple ways like USB, Wifi, Bluetooth, and app functions the printer costs this much.
3. Canon Selphy CP1300
Canon Selphy is one of the most popular portable photo printers on the market and there are several reasons behind it. Although it does weigh around two pounds still it is cherished by many. I have personally used it for my work.
This one is very handy, and a travel case is included in the package.
Whether you are using an Android or iOS device, you can connect to it via Wifi. DYE-SUB technology is used to print the best photos possible with this printer.
Each cartridge consists of 108 sheets which is larger than most of the other photo printers. This is the best option available with this particular printer. All the pages are 4 x 6 inches for your big-size photos with a photo printer.
Pros
- Can be used through Wifi or direct connection, even USB
- Android and iOS both types of devices can print with this printer
- The cartridge have 108 sheets with 3 color ink of high quality
- The papers are original photo papers with lamination for giving mini-lab output
- Printed photos can stay upto 100 years
Cons
- Need constant power support
- Weighs around 2 pounds
Comment on price
The price is less than $200. But according to efficiency and effectiveness, this is one of the best photo printers in the market. You can use Canon – KP-108IN 3 color ink cassette with this printer. Because it has high connectivity, possibly the highest quality sublime printing with lamination, and easy-to-access from Canon, this is one of the top quality printers. That is why it may cost a lot.
Best Portable Photo Printer (Smaller Size)
After the bigger-size portable photo printers, I will now tell you about the best smaller-size portable photo printers. For portability, it is really good to carry on small-size printers. They also come with different functions. You have to choose the best one from them.
1. Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer
This is one of the most basic photo printers like KiiPix. It is good to carry anywhere you want.
The printer uses Bluetooth for connectivity with your Android or iOS device and you get a borderless photo within no time. The resolution is also quite high and better than other portable photo printers comparatively.
It is really really handy as the printer is less than 200 grams in weight. The printing size is 2 x 3 inches. Each cartridge has 50 sheets in them.
So, you can consider the printer before trying all the other printers on my list, as it is one of the basic ones. But yes, you will need an adapter to connect to a power source.
Pros
- One of the lightest and most basic portable photo printers, less than 200 grams
- Prints 2 x 3 inches photos
- You can print borderless photos with this printer easily
- Can connect via Bluetooth to both android and iOS devices
Cons
- Can only connect via Bluetooth
- Need a power source for printing
Comment on Price
The printer is quite reasonable in price. You can have it for under $80. The cartridge of Zink photo papers is also very cheap. 50 sheets of Canon Zink Photo paper which costs under $25 can be used for printing with this printer. Compared to the big size printers
2. Fujifilm Instax SP-3 Mobile Photo Printer
This printer is popular for speedy printing. But it does have some catches.
You can print 2.4 x 2.4-inch photos with this printer, but the photos will have a white border. This is similar to the old polaroid photos taken with polaroid cameras.
The printing is done with OLED technology, which ensures quality but you may not get high-quality lamination with the photos.
Still, it has got rechargeable batteries which ensures the portability of the printer from home to the office. Especially, the weight is less than 350 grams which makes it quite light.
Each of the cartridges has 10 sheets for easy installation. The app can print social media photos directly for your comfort.
Pros
- A very lightweight and comfortable installation is integrated
- Provided with rechargeable batteries
- Cool outlook, a source for good eyes
- Can print with very high-speed
Cons
- Cannot print borderless photos
- Connects only via Bluetooth
Comment on Price
It will cost you more than $200. But as for portability, it is quite a good printer. The cartridge, Fujifilm Instax Mini Film is also quite cheap, less than $40 for 50 sheets.
3. HP Sprocket Portable Printer
HP has a lot of variety in its printer line. All of them are great in different ways. HP Sprocket Plus is one of the top-quality photo printers from HP. You can print 2 x 3 inches photos with this printer without any problem. The print can be borderless and high-quality as you need.
It also uses Zink photo papers which are cheap and available everywhere.
The most important feature of the printer is that you can connect multiple devices via Bluetooth with this rechargeable printer which makes it different from other portable photo printers.
That is why it can become the best portable photo printer for you if you want.
Pros
- High-quality borderless Zink printing
- Can connect to multiple Android and iOS devices at the same time
- Rechargeable batteries are used for operating.
- Less than 200 grams in weight
- The app can customize your photos as you like
Cons
- Charge time is up to 90 minutes
Comment on Price
The printer will cost you less than $80, while the HP Photo Paper Cartridge will cost you less than $10. Each cartridge has 20 sheets of paper.
Honorable Mention
Polaroid Hi-Print
Polaroid is the original brand in the genre, and I thought I must mention the best portable printer from them for you to know. I cannot categorize it with the other printers as this is the best choice for me among every one of the portable photo printers out there. Maybe this can become the best portable photo printer for you too.
Polaroid Hi-Print uses Dye-Sublimation technology, which is the best technology for printing high-quality photos.
It can only be used with polaroid paper and cannot be worked with Zink papers.
As for portability, it uses rechargeable batteries for operation. The printing size is 2×3 inches.
Pros
- Original portable printer from Polaroid, who were the actual makers of polaroid cameras
- Uses rechargeable batteries for operation
- Prints high-quality sublimation technology photos
- Can print within 50 secs
- Can connect via Bluetooth
Cons
- Cannot print with Zink papers
Comment on Price
The price is lower than $90. This is a good offer for a DYE-SUB technology portable printer. Even the cartridge of 40 sheets is under $40. You have to use Polaroid Hi-Print 2×3 inch paper for this.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best instant photo printer?
These are the best portable photo printers available in the market in 2023:
- KiiPix Smartphone Photo Printer
- Kodak Dock & Wi-Fi Portable Photo Printer
- Canon Selphy CP1300
- Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer
- Fujifilm Instax SP-3 Mobile Photo Printer
- HP Sprocket Portable Printer
- Polaroid Hi-Print
2. How do I choose a portable printer?
If you want to use a portable photo printer, you need to work on – what kind of photos you want. You can go for high-quality sublime printing or Zink photo paper printing. Some of the printers need adapters while some of them run on rechargeable batteries. You have to find out which one is the best for you.
3. Does a portable printer need ink?
Ink is included in the cartridge of portable photo printers. At least, for most of them. You do not need to carry ink for printing with portable photo printers.
4. Which printer is widely used as a portable printer Why?
Bluetooth portable photo printers are very popular everywhere. As all types of smart devices have this feature for connectivity, this is one of the best solutions when it comes to a portable photo printer.
Conclusion
At this point, you should understand that all printers have their own pros and cons. And the price variation also matters for everyone. So, you need to choose the best one thinking about what kind of need you have – professional, personal, social, or both. Then you can choose the right one for your best memories.
Meta
If you are looking for the best portable photo printer, you must know why you want it. It can be for a social gathering or for best-quality printing. If you know it then you can select.
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