Nowadays, snapping any kind of picture, be it a selfie or otherwise, is super easy – just take your phone out of your pocket and you’re all set! However, sometimes it’s super fun to have some physical photos you can hold as well!
You can decorate your room by putting them on display or give them to someone special as a tiny but meaningful gift meant to awaken nice memories of your time together.
But printing pictures can be quite the hassle and even time-consuming if you’re doing it with a normal printer.
Not to mention that you may not even have or want one – they’re big, stationary and need to be connected via wires to a computer so they’re not the most practical. Furthermore, they need ink cartridges, which dry up fairly quickly and have to be refilled periodically
However, thanks to inkless, Wi-Fi print technology, printing your favorite pictures in a matter of moments, anywhere and at any time has never been easier!
Besides, these devices are not much bigger than your phone so they are very convenient and portable.
The Polaroid aspect ratio is also the best in terms of nostalgia and aesthetics so you can rest assured that, if you hang them up, your bedroom is going to resemble a Pinterest board.
Portable photo printers are small enough for you to put them in your pocket and take them around as opposed to the usual desktop or mobile printers.
They require little to no setup and the pictures are usually very high quality even when taken with your phone camera.
These types of printers are very popular, which also means there are many options out there, varying in features and princes.
Naturally, this also means it may be difficult to purchase your first one since you may have no idea what they offer or if they are worth the money. You might want to consider what kind of pictures you want to print since these devices come with special paper. The usual size is 2×3 but there are some that can print bigger photos so if you prefer a larger pic, take that into consideration.
Something else you can look out for is whether or not the printer uses Zink technology. What this means is that it does not need any ink to print out your images.
Instead, the ink is held in the special paper and via pressure-printing, the image appears.
A similar technology is Dye sublimation, which is actually preferable if you want a more vibrant and clear photo.
Finally, some of the printers on the market come with special features such as filters and editing options you can use and apply before printing your preferred image.
Now that you have a general idea of why you might want to get a portable photo printer and things you should look out for in order to make the perfect choice for you, here are 10 of the best ones out there!
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link Printer
This is one of the smallest models, making it perfect for travelling and any other kind of outing!
Furthermore, the app it comes with allows you to customize your prints with captions and a variety of filters, making it a super fun option. Not only that but, you can buy printing paper that comes with designs on it, giving your pics even more personality.
Something you might love or hate about it is the fact that the images develop a few minutes after being ejected from the printer, which means you can shake the pic and blow on it to speed up the process just like in the case of a vintage Polaroid camera.
It’s a nostalgic feeling for some but if you are more impatient, then this is not for you.
HP Sprocket Photo Printer
Using the app with the same name, this device can print out 2 x 3 inch pictures directly from your iOS or Android phone or tablet.
All you need is a simple Bluetooth connection and you can take this smartphone-sized printer everywhere!
Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer
The third option is great if you care a lot about the quality of the image! It may be tiny but the photo is super crisp and clean, the colors vibrant and smooth.
The visual quality this Zink Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer possesses is almost unrivaled by any other device and the printing speed is impressive as well, taking only about 15 seconds.
Furthermore, the app it comes with has a pre-set filter, stickers and frames to name just a few of the features – all easy and fun to use.
Kodak Dock Plus Portable Instant Photo Printer
The Kodak Dock Plus Portable Instant Photo Printer gives you a number of connectivity options and it’s nearly just as portable as most printers on this list!
You can either connect it to your device via Bluetooth or plug your phone into the dock if you want to speed up the printing process.
Another great feature is the Kodak 4Pass technology, which laminates every pic on its way out.
Furthermore, if you want slightly larger pictures than usual, this is the product for you!
The only real downside is that it uses ink but you can decide for yourself whether that’s a deal breaker or not!
Lifeprint 2×3 Portable Photo and Video Printer
The Lifeprint 2×3 Portable Photo and Video Printer is one of the smallest and lightest out there at only 7 ounces.
It takes around 30 seconds to print each photo, which is pretty impressive, and even uses Zink so you can rest assured that this product is nothing if not convenient!
All you need to do is load the special paper and there is nothing else you have to worry about.
Unfortunately, you can’t have it all. The resulting pictures are not the best quality, coming out rather soft and muted as far as colors and small details are concerned.
On the other hand, the app it comes with has loads of customization options, including a very special one that allows you to turn a photo into a short clip via augmented reality! How fun is that?
Furthermore, the device comes with its very own social network that allows you to easily share pics and clips with other users!
Fujifilm INSTAX Share SP-3
What’s different about this one is that it transfers your images to actual film instead of using Zink paper.
It uses Wi-Fi to achieve this and seems ideal for printing out your Instagram pics due to its 2.4 x 2.4-inch aspect ratio.
As for the app, it allows you to make a collage, add filters, text and split the photo, among other things.
Zink Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer
This entry on the list has a very quick charge time in addition to being one of the smallest portable printers out there.
At full charge, it is able to print no less than 50 pictures and comes in blue, white, black, yellow and red so you can pick your prefered color!
As for the quality, the lines are very clear and the colors seem alive.
Another big plus is that it only takes 15 seconds to print a photo.
Harry Potter Magic Photo and Video Printer
If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a great novelty item to own! Just imagine the magic it’s going to bring into your life as well as the compliments you will definitely receive from fellow Potterheads!
The app includes a feature that can make your photos move (using AR) just like in the stories and you can even customize it with your house crest!
Aside from the fun design, you might also want to know that it uses Zink technology and connects to your device via Bluetooth!
Canon SELPHY QX10
The Canon SELPHY QX10 does not use film or Zink but dye-sublimation printing which could be an extra step you might not want to take if you need something simple and hassle-free.
However, if you’re not too bothered by it requiring ink, you will be pleased to know that it produces much better images with accurate and vibrant colors.
Due to the fact that it prints one layer of color at a time, the full printing process can take about a minute, which is a bit longer than most portable printers.
But the final result is worth it more often than not since the images are so crisp and clear.
Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer
The last entry on our list comes with a mini-LCD screen and allows you to print pictures of different sizes all while not compromising too much on the portability and visual quality!
Regardless of its many wonderful attributes, the Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer is not for everyone since it uses ink so you’ll find yourself having to replace it.
Not only that but, it is also quite expensive so if you’re not willing to invest a lot of money in a portable printer you might want to pick another option.
