Top 20 Best Portable Photo Printers Of 2024

Before learning about the essential factors for choosing a portable photo printer, you need to determine the type of device you want to use.

Inkjet

Inkjet printing technology first appeared in the twentieth century and was gradually perfected and popularized in the 1950s. Currently, inkjet printing is still a popular technology on civil models.

Inkjet printing is a technology that uses the principle of pushing ink droplets onto paper and plastic substrates.

By the above treatment, the device can reproduce a digital image without the printing plate coming into contact with the printing surface.

Besides the advantages in processing methods, inkjet printers still have some disadvantages.

First, because inkjet ink is a liquid, your prints may be damaged when exposed to steam or water. Second, inkjet printer ink is quite expensive. Besides, you also have to maintain the printer cartridges regularly.

Finally, the speed of devices using this technology is not outstanding, especially for laser printers.

Dye sublimation

Dye sublimation is a printing technique that uses dyes to create a transition between two solid and gaseous states. Devices that use this printing technique use special ink.

This printing technique makes devices with sharp image quality and vivid colors. 

One product that uses outstanding dye sublimation printing technology is the Kodak Mini 2 Retro, the best portable printer model available today.

Laser

Laser printing creates graphics using a laser beam to scan original text and images. Then, the device will apply an electrostatic digital printing process, using heat to fuse text and images.

Compared with traditional printers, this mode of operation has dramatically shortened the time and increased the printer's capacity.

The most significant advantage of this printing technology is that it produces high-quality prints. Whether it's monochrome or color printing, devices using this technology can get the job done pretty well.

The laser also helps to improve the printing speed. You can print large quantities of images without taking too much time.

However, the biggest drawback of laser printing devices is that they are often quite expensive and have a rather bulky design. For the same reason, not many mobile photo printers use laser printing technology.

• Kodak Mini 2 Retro - Best for Overall

• KODAK Step Mini - Best for Bluetooth Control

• Canon IVY Mini Photo - Best for Smart Connection

• HP Sprocket Portable - Best for Speed

• Eschen Portable - Best for Longevity

Once you've thought carefully about the type you're going to use, it's time to learn about the critical factors to consider when looking for a mobile printer:

Batteries

A low-cost model may not include a battery. You need to consider the cost you need to spend to buy more batteries and whether it fits your budget.

In case the device comes with a battery, you need to take care of the battery life. The average battery life of a mobile device today is 8 to 12 photos.

You certainly don't want to travel with a device that runs out of battery just when you need to print an important document. Therefore, consider buying a spare battery or carrying a charging cable throughout the journey.

Size & Weight

A mobile printer model should be small and light enough in size and weight. 

You can choose to pocket mini printer models like HP Sprocket. These devices weigh less than 7 lbs, making them easy to store in a suitcase or backpack.

Connection

Today's mobile printer models support connection via USB physical port and wifi and Bluetooth wireless methods.

You can use the wifi connection to connect the device to your mobile phone or tablet. But in addition to wifi, an ideal model must have an advanced option that offers wifi Direct. 

This additional technology will allow your printer to connect to other devices without needing a router or wifi network to support it.

For example, KODAK Step Wireless Mobile Photo supports control via Bluetooth, NFC, and some other practical methods. All you need to do to control this device is to connect to smart devices via Bluetooth or NFC and print photos instantly.

Paper Handling

The level of paper consumption and handling of a mobile photo model will depend on processing speed and operating costs.

A small, portable printer model will have a relatively slow paper loading mechanism and not too much paper consumption. 

However, a product that is too small in size will not have enough space for large ink cartridges. Also, because of this shortcoming, the cost you have to pay for each photo will be higher.

Printer size

Simply put, the smaller the printer size, the more limited the maximum image size you can get.

Cheap mobile photo printers usually only support printing a single image size. So it would help if you were sure about your desired image format.

The 3''x3'' size will be pretty suitable for the needs of printing portraits or selfies. Whereas if you usually shoot landscapes, you need models that support images with a broader format.

Some other mobile models now support 4''x6'' image sizes. In particular, some other ultraportable products, such as the KODAK Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini, also support printing images of 2''x3''.

Technology

Regarding printing technology, the three that stand out the most are Zink, instant film, and sub-dye. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.

For example, zink printing technology will use heat to change the color of an image. This one is not the best but has the lowest price. Besides, these devices can also provide images resistant to damage.

A secondary dye printer will require you to use special paper and dye with the three primary colors cyan, yellow and red. The requirements are pretty strict, but these devices will return the highest quality images.

Instant film printers can deliver images in the shortest possible time, but the formats are usually relatively small. For the same reason, the cost per photo will be slightly higher than average.

Finding the best portable photo printer is not difficult. All you need to consider is the type of product you want to own, weight, connectivity, and battery power.

For each of these criteria, you will find the most fantastic product. Regarding weight, the Kodak Mini 2 Retro will make a strong impression. 

Meanwhile, in terms of connectivity, devices that support USB and wifi and Bluetooth connections like KODAK Step will not disappoint you.

Hopefully, the above suggestions and guidelines have been helpful enough for you to make your own choices.

You're sure to be satisfied with your choice and get plenty of high-quality photos wherever you are. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to contact me via email to get the most prompt response.

Thank you for reading!

In addition to the device's size and printing technology, there is quite a lot of other interesting information related to the mobile photo printer. And here are some interesting facts like that.

1. Are portable photo printers worth it?

Mobile photo printers are beneficial, especially when you travel or work.

Despite its smaller size and weight, this mobile device can also perform most of the tasks of larger models.

With the advantages mentioned above, this type has become the choice of many individuals, from amateurs to professionals.

2. How do I choose a photo printer?

Paper width is one of the factors you need to consider when choosing a photo printer. An ideal product will allow users to print images on paper widths from 13 - 15'' while saving maximum ink.

3. What type of printer is available for photos?

Inkjet printers are one of the ideal options for printing photos. This type of device can meet user needs, from professional users to serving daily needs.

Inkjet printers also deliver relatively high-resolution images that can satisfy the most demanding photographers.

Of course, you need to pay more if you want a perfect quality one. If budget is an issue for you, consider cheaper options.

In the end, your intended use is still the most important, and make this criterion the top priority before making a decision.

4. Is a photo printer the same as a regular printer?

Photo printers are not the same as regular printers. This device uses fewer cartridges than professional printers, not delivering the maximum resolution you are always looking for.

5. Do photo printers also print documents?

You can use photo printers to print text documents.