Wouldn’t it be convenient to print photos from your phone on a device that’s about the same size but thicker? Portable photo printers let you print pictures while you’re still in the moment, enjoying an event or party. Of course, there are still some nice quality instant cameras if you prefer the retro vibe, but your phone takes better photos.
The best camera is the one that’s with you, and sometimes the best photo printer is a portable one. These devices are compact, easy to use, and transform your digital selfie into a physical keepsake. While many portable printers use the same 2 by 3-inch Zink paper with similar quality, some accept photo paper as large as 4 by 6 inches. Others use actual instant film instead of paper, and there are pros and cons to both methods.
Canon SELPHY QX20
The Canon Selphy QX20 uses dye-sublimation printing, which requires paper and ink. Canon keeps it simple by bundling the perfect amount of ink with each pack of paper so you don’t have to worry about running out of either too early.
The Selphy QX20 produces better quality print with more accurate colors than Zink or instant film. In my Canon Selphy QX20 review, we found pictures to be crisp and vibrant with good color fidelity in most cases, nearly as good as a much larger inkjet printer.
It’s a four-part process that takes 40 seconds for each print. That sounds slow, but feels fast since you get to see the picture take form one color at a time as it prints. The results are often well worth the wait. The Selphy QX20 accepts two sizes of sticker paper: 2.7-inch square paper and 2.1 by 3.4-inch portrait paper.
Prints are durable and water-resistant thanks to an overcoat that’s applied after cyan, magenta, and yellow colors and Canon says photos can last for up to 100 years under ideal conditions.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 is very fast, printing 3.4 by 2.1 inch pictures in just 10 seconds. It blends digital technology with chemical film by printing onto Instax mini film. Like other Instax printers, the Mini Link 3 transfers photos from your phone onto real film, complete with old-school instant-film colors so you don’t even need to bother with digital filters unless you want a particular look.
The Instax Mini Link 3 comes with a creative mobile app that lets you create photobooth-style collages, add stickers, and print from videos. A Fujifilm added a thoughtful feature that lets you use the Instax Mini Link 3 as a remote shutter. You can take a photo by pressing the power button. Large LEDs on the body signal the status of the printer with colorful pulses.
You’ll get truer colors with dye-sub or Zink printers, but Fujifilm Instax provides a unique retro look you might enjoy.
Canon Ivy 2 Mini
The Canon Ivy 2 Mini holds 10 sheets of 2 by 3-inch Zink sticker paper that contains dye crystals, so you don’t have to worry about ink. The Ivy 2 Mini’s colors aren’t as rich as you’d get from the Selphy QX20 printer, but Canon has improved skin tone accuracy compared to the original Ivy Mini. It’s about the same size as your phone but thicker at 0.8 inches and weighs 5.6 ounces.
In 50 seconds, you can print pictures any photo from your phone, including your favorite Instagram and Facebook photos. The mobile offers plenty of ways to spice up your photo with frames and stickers customize and print your pictures.
Paper comes in packs of 20 or more sheets but the printer holds enough for 10 photos at a time. After 20 prints, you’ll need to recharge. The Ivy 2 Mini has improved quick charging so you’ll get a full battery in just 45 minutes.
Lifeprint Ultra Slim
Want something more than a static print? Lifeprint calls its Ultra Slim photo printer a photo, video, and GIF printer that brings photos to life. You can scan prints with the mobile app to watch AR “Hyperphotos” that move. It’s just 0.75 inches thick, one of the thinnest portable printers you’ll find. The footprint is 3 by 4.5 inches so you can fit it into a large pocket or easily tuck it into a bag.
Lifeprint uses Zink technology to quickly output 2 by 3-inch pictures wherever you go. Hyperphotos work with photos you print from Apple Live Photos, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The app can add filters, text, memes, and stickers for more visual flair. The Lifeprint Ultra Slim is even more compact than the original.
Canon Selphy CP1500
The Selphy CP1500 is a great choice if you want a portable, but high-quality printer, that can serve multiple purposes. It can print standard 4 by 6-inch pictures or smaller 2.1 by 2.1-inch square photos that fit in your wallet. The Selphy CP1500 is a versatile printer that can print from a computer, tablet, or phone, as well as from an SD card, or USB drive.
The Selphy CP1500 is big for a portable printer, measuring 5.2 by 7.2 by 2.3 inches and weighing about two pounds. That means there’s enough room for a 3.5-inch color display that shows a preview of images and a menu of printer controls.
Like the QX20, the Selphy CP13500 is a dye-sub printer that creates vibrant, water-resistant photos on glossy photo paper or sticker paper. While it’s a portable printer it comes with an AC adapter for power. If you want to go completely wireless, you’ll have to invest $50 in the optional battery pack.
HP Sprocket
The HP Sprocket photo printer is an older model but it still offers quick prints and good value to get started with portable printers. In just 20 seconds, it can print 2 by 3-inch photos directly from your phone or tablet using the app by the same name. The printer works with both Android and iOS, and all you need is a Bluetooth connection.
The Sprocket is roughly the size of a phone and weighs a mere 6 ounces, allowing it to fit just about anywhere. The accompanying mobile app lets you to customize your photos before you print so you can make the most of HP’s 10-sheet packs.
HP recently launched new models that we’ll be reviewing soon, so check back for an update on the latest Sprocket portable printers.
Polaroid Zip
The Polaroid Zip uses different technology than the old instant Polaroids, but it’s just as fun. This is an older model that remains popular, offering up 2 by 3-inch prints from your phone. The resulting photos are waterproof, tear-proof, and have a sticky back that allows you to place your photos anywhere you’d like.
The Polaroid app for either iOS and Android opens up more possibilities, giving you a means for enhancing your photos on the go. The travel-friendly printer is pocket-sized, too, and weighs just 6.6 ounces. Note that the Polaroid Zip uses a micro-USB cable and requires a USB-A charger.
How to choose a portable photo printer
There are some important considerations to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a portable photo printer: size, weight, print quality, print size, battery life, and cost.
Size and weight are important since you’ll be carrying the printer with you. A lightweight printer quickly begins to feel heavier if you’re lugging it up a hill or on a long walk. Likewise, a printer that looks small on a counter might take up too much room in your bag or backpack.
While better quality photos are always preferred, you might be willing to sacrifice a bit of sharpness and saturation to keep costs low or to enjoy a slimmer design. That’s a very personal decision and everyone will have a different set of criteria.
Portable printers make relatively small pictures. but that doesn’t mean they have to be tiny and square. Some models can handle standard 4 by 6-inch photo prints but that’s the largest you can get with printers this small. You’ll need a fast, high-quality, desktop photo printer to print borderless letter-size or poster-size prints.
Battery life limits how long you can use a portable printer, so you should consider how many photos you expect to print on an outing and whether it’s compatible with plug-in power. Being able to keep printing could be an essential feature if you want to hand out pictures to a everyone at a big event.
The price of a portable photo printer matters but might not matter as critical as the cost per print. At around 50 cents per picture, supplies will cost as much as the printers after a few hundred prints.
The printers in this list find a good balance between cost, size, battery life, and quality, while offering a variety of options. Whether you choose an inexpensive, lightweight Zink printer or invest in a high-quality dye-sublimation printer, these models should provide good value for your money.
