Portable photo printers available in 2020 – 2024 are compact, easy to use, and transform your clicks into physical keepsakes within seconds.
Portable photo printers vary in size, working mechanism, and print quality. While several use 2” x 3” Zink paper, others can produce 4” x 6” photo prints on the go.
Some printers use specialty instant films instead of paper.
Many professional photographers use portable photo printers to produce small photo prints on the spot for their clients. Some use these devices to create photo albums, wall art, or vacation journals.
Many businesses and individuals use them to hand out photos during exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, etc.
Whatever your reasons for buying a portable photo printer in 2020 – 2024, you should make an informed decision.
Here in this post, we wish to help you with precisely that.
Top 7 Portable Photo Printers Comparison Chart
Here are our top-rated picks for portable photo printers for creating photo albums, wall art, or vacation journals, as well as our favorite budget-friendly options.
Table Of Content
- Top 7 Portable Photo Printers Comparison Chart
- HP Sprocket Select
- Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer
- HP Tango X
- Kodak Mini 2 HD
- Canon Selphy CP1300
- Epson WorkForce WF-110
- Polaroid Originals Polaroid Lab
- How to Choose the Best Portable Photo Printer
- How Does a Portable Photo Printer Work?
- Inkjet Printers
- Laser printers
- 3D Printer
- How We Tested
- Conclusion
Let’s take a look at the top seven portable photo printers in 2020 – 2024
HP Sprocket Select
- Print 30% larger photos in an instant – Connect with the HP Sprocket app using Bluetooth, and...
- Exclusive fashionable photo features – Curate your photos with the HP Sprocket app, and access...
- Personalize your prints – Take a picture of your own doodles and turn them into custom stickers,...
This portable photo printer delivers reasonably good quality for a pocket printer. Since Sprocket Select uses specialty (sticky-backed) paper, it does not require ink/dye cartridges. Loading the 20-sheet role is easy.
This ink-free portable photo printer connects only via Bluetooth. Printing your smartphone clicks is easy and hassle-free.
With a page speed of 1 page-per-minute (ppm), HP Sprocket Select is relatively slow. But you can always create good-quality wallet-size (2.3” x 3.4”) prints on the go. It can print 30% larger photo prints compared to the original HP Sprocket printer.
You can use the HP Sprocket app to edit and print photos quickly. Alternatively, you can learn to process images without learning Photoshop or Illustrator.
The built-in rechargeable battery can produce about 30 prints per charge. The device’s micro-USB port allows for battery recharging.
An LED light serves as a battery-status indicator or print-job-status indicator. HP Sprocket Select is a great choice for those looking to buy a portable photo printer for journaling. However, running costs are on the higher side.
Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer
- Form factor: Copy
- Printer technology: Thermal
- Print from Bluetooth and social media
An inkless photo printer like the HP Sprocket Select we discussed above, Canon IVY Mini, can produce one 3.4” x 2.1” photo print with a maximum resolution of 314 x 400 dpi in about 25 seconds. Weighing just 158 grams, IVY Mini is so small that it can fit in the palm of your hand.
The device uses Bluetooth to print via the Canon Mini Print App. You can print photos directly from your device memory or the Internet, and you can also edit or enhance photos before you print them.
Since this portable printer works with your tablet or smartphone, no control panel or user interface exists. It is powered by a single lithium-ion battery that can be charged using a micro-USB connector. An LED light indicates the charging status.
HP Tango X
Positioned as a smart home printer, HP Tango X can be your portable printer of choice due to its compact size. HP Tango X is a multi-function consumer-grade photo printer that can print, copy, and scan.
This four-color inkjet printer uses two ink cartridges. High-yield HP printer cartridges are optional. Although this printer is HP Instant Ink Ready, it is advisable to buy compatible printer cartridges to keep printing costs under control.
It supports dual-band Wi-Fi and voice-activated printing. This portable photo printer can produce about eight color prints and 11 monochrome prints per minute.
Kodak Mini 2 HD
- EASY PRINT TECHNOLOGY Mini Smartphone Printer Lets You Print 2. 1 X 3. 4” Photos Direct From...
- WIRELESS CONVENIENCE NFC One Touch for Android Launches Kodak App to Print in Seconds; Also...
- HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS Innovative 4 PASS D2T2 Dye Transfer Method Produces Beautiful, Detailed...
Nearly the size of a smartphone, Kodak Mini 2 HD is highly portable. You can carry it around in your pockets and print 2.1” x 3.4” photos directly from your Android or iOS devices.
One of the best portable photo printers in 2020 – 2021, Kodak Mini 2 HD, produces beautiful-looking and detailed color portraits and B&W photos through dye sublimation thermal transfer technology that dries instantly.
The manufacturer claims that fade-proof and water-proof photo prints made with this portable photo printer can retain their sheen for up to 10 years.
The Kodak Photo Printer App allows you to crop photos, apply filters, add stickers, and use templates.
The device uses a lithium-ion battery which can be charged through a micro-USB port. It can print about 20 photos per charge. This portable photo printer takes around 50 seconds to print a wallet-size photo.
Canon Selphy CP1300
- Not only will your photos be instantly dry, but they will also look great for up to 100 years4 and...
- Enjoy the simplicity of connecting your smartphone and tablet with ease, through the Canon print...
- The sleek, portable design lets you bring the SELPHY CP1300 with you and with the optional battery...
Known for its expressive colors and brilliant skin tones, Canon Selphy CP1300 is an incremental upgrade to CP1200. The print quality has improved considerably in this version.
A portable photo printer on a budget, the Canon Selphy CP1300 is known for its low printing costs compared to other portable photo printers popular in 2020 – 2021, such as the HP Sprocket.
This portable Wi-Fi photo printer can print high-quality photos from your camera or smartphone anytime. You can also print directly from your camera’s memory card or USB.
The device features a 3.2” LCD screen. The battery pack is optional. The battery can print up to 54 photos per charge.
Epson WorkForce WF-110
- Epson printing system is designed to be used exclusively with Epson Genuine Cartridges. Use of...
- Flexible battery charging — Choose from a variety of charging options, including via USB and AC...
- Built-in battery — a rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers dependable performance in a small...
A compact mobile printer, the Epson WorkForce WF-110 can be easily carried in bags or briefcases for printing photos on the go.
An AC adapter or USB can recharge the printer’s built-in lithium-ion battery. An additional accessory battery (optional) can handle even greater print volume.
The device features a 1.4” color LCD and supports hands-free, voice-activated printing. Marketed towards business travelers, Epson WorkForce WF-110 can print 4” x 6” borderless photos, contracts, invoices, PowerPoint handouts, and more.
The printer uses pigment ink and supports resolutions up to 5760 x 1440 (optimized) dpi.
Polaroid Originals Polaroid Lab
- The Polaroid lab converts digital photos on your phone to real Polaroid prints through the Polaroid...
- Original Polaroid picture Format for all of your photos.
- The 3 element lens system converts digital photos to analog like magic.
An ideal portable photo printer for on-the-go snapshot printing, Polaroid Originals Polaroid Lab produces instant photo prints from your smartphone screen.
The optical lens and smartphone screen are used via the Polaroid App to expose an instant film to produce the print. You can also print images stored on your phone.
The film, however, is pricey. If you love Polaroid prints, you might love this portable printer, available in 2020 – 2021
How to Choose the Best Portable Photo Printer
If you need to print many pictures, you will need a printer with a larger ink capacity. You can also consider how much money you want to spend on your printer.
If it is a lot of money, a good idea is to get a printer with more ink.
If you want to print high-quality, large-sized prints for presentations, you must buy a printer with an autofocus feature. The best printers can create crisp and appealing prints.
If you want to print many photos at one time, look at the options of photo printer models before buying anything.
If you need to print many pictures, you should buy a printer with good resolution. If the printer is terrible, pictures might not print out or be blurry.
You also need to consider the size of the printer. Some printers can hold many pictures, while others only have room for one or two prints.
The best way to find the best portable photo printer is to take time and think about what you want. Get a high resolution if you plan on using your printer for creative artwork.
If you want to print photos for personal use, your camera should have an auto-focus feature. This will make it easier to adjust the focus when you move the camera around.
After that, you can find a printer with great features. The printers may last a long time and produce good-quality photos.
How Does a Portable Photo Printer Work?
Portable printers are a good idea. They can print photos from your computer or the printer if you don’t have space for a big one.
There are two types of portable printers: those that use a card reader and those that connect to your computer wirelessly. You must ensure the printer is compatible with the photo you want to print.
Your printer type changes the kind of pictures you can print. Some printers are connected to your computer with a USB cable, while others need to be plugged into the computer with a serial port cable and then hooked up to the printer. When you send a picture from your digital camera to the printer, it is stored on the computer until it is ready to be sent.
Some printers have a card reader that lets you scan the card before sending it. Receiving a photo used to be on paper, but now it is usually done with the internet.
A woman who has her own home business benefits greatly from having a printer because she doesn’t want to waste time looking for an ad in different places.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers print on paper with droplets of ink. They are easy to use and the most popular type of printer. They come in many sizes, such as small and inexpensive consumer or expensive professional printers.
Laser printers
Laser printers are the best way to print. They are newer and more popular than other methods. Laser printers can do high-quality work on all sorts of things, like pictures and text on paper.
3D Printer
When you compare price and quality, it might be a good idea to consider 3D printers. They are new, but there are many advantages compared to old technology. For example, the printer is only for one-time use, so your operating costs decrease.
You can also replace them less often because they do not break as easily. The main advantage is that 3D printers are inexpensive, which means you will get more for less money with this type of printer.
How We Tested
We researched portable photo printers and tested them. When you compare other printers to these, you will find many differences. One is the portability factor. It’s essential to have a portable printer, especially when you are taking photos on the go.
These devices are beneficial because they are small, easy to transport, and can be taken with you on trips. They are also easy to set up.
As you can see, portable photo printers have several advantages. They are like standard printers with everything, including toner and paper. But there are some downsides, too. We’ll show you how we tested the different types of portable photo printers in this guide.
Conclusion
Portable photo printers are helpful for many reasons. They are perfect for people and small businesses. For example, they often want to do something other than talk or laugh when people get together.
You can use a portable photo printer to make cards and invitations with the same style and feel as your regular ones. This way, you can send many invitations to many people simultaneously!
Not all mobile photo printers are the same. Some are not very good or have problems that you do not want. When looking for a portable printer, transferring photos from one device to another should be easy.
If you want to print a document on any computer, you need a portable photo printer. It will save space and time. Some models print more pages than others.
Make sure that your printer can handle the number of copies or other prints you need to make quickly enough to not interfere with your work.
