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Credit:
Reviewed / Mike Yawney
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Credit:
Reviewed / Mike Yawney
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This compact portable photo printer makes it easy to print on the go with above-average image quality. Read More
Targeted toward teens and tweens, this portable photo printer is easy to use and quick to print. Read More
This sleek portable printer is easy to set up and use. Editing options a-plenty, but color accuracy can be a bit off. Read More
The perfect printer for those who like to have fun with their photography. Classic Polaroid-style photos give it a nostalgic feel. Read More
This printer offers fast prints with the ability to turn photos into videos through its app. Unfortunately, print quality isn't great. Read More
These days, smartphones are the go-to device for capturing memories, and social media is the default place to share them. Still, a few of us love printing those “Kodak moments” to share with family and friends. That’s where portable photo printers come in, allowing you to instantly print photos from your phone on the go.
Unlike the best inkjet printers and laser printers, these instant portable photo printers are small enough to stuff in a coat pocket or purse, require little setup, and can print high-quality, physical copies of photos taken with your smartphone, anywhere you go. It's almost like carrying around an old-school instant camera with you, everywhere you go.
After extensive time researching and testing, the best portable photo printer is the Polaroid Hi-Print (available at Amazon for $84.59) . It creates crisp, colorful prints, and its easy-to-use app makes using it a joy.
The Polaroid Hi-Print's crisp colorful photos and easy-to-use smartphone app won us over.
Compact design
Prints quickly
Poor battery life
Easy setup
Quick printing
Great companion app
Poor color accuracy
Many options to edit photos
Unique developing process
Takes time to develop photo
None that we could find
Poor customer service
Instructions conflict with product operation
Unable to print photos
We spent weeks researching and testing the portable photo printers featured in this guide.
We began each test by determining ease of setup and compatibility with iOS and Android devices. We connected each portable photo printer to a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and an iPhone 12 Pro Max.
We then used both smartphones to snap a large variety of photos to test with our lineup of portable printers. On the Galaxy S21 Ultra, we took photos with the 108MP wide-angle camera, along with the 10MP telephoto lens. On the iPhone 12 Pro Max, we tested shots taken with the phone’s 12MP camera system. Once the shooting was complete, we selected an image from each of the following groups:
Next, using each printer’s companion app, we applied an image filter to our photos. We then printed the altered photo, to see how the images compared.
Finally, in addition to assessing print quality, we looked at how easy each of the printers was to use. We considered set up, overall useability, companion app functionality, battery life, durability, and the overall user experience.
There are a few factors you should consider.
The devices we tested a variety of different printing techniques. Three of the printers used dye sublimation, which uses heat to transfer ink from film sheets to photo paper. This process takes time. Each sheet of photo paper passes through the printer four times to lay down each layer of color before the final print emerges.
Others used Zink technology. Zink paper is embedded with dye crystals that change color once heat is applied.
Finally, the Fujifilm Instax uses the classic “Polaroid” technique: developer fluid is stored within the edges of the photo paper. Once a photo leaves the printer, the developer fluid saturates the photo and begins to produce an image.
Each of the print methods mentioned above come with extras you’ll need to buy. That may mean a two-in-one style cartridge with paper and ink included. It may also mean skipping ink for a special paper, like Zink or the classic Polaroid-style film.
No matter which system you choose, photo paper isn’t cheap. Single prints can set you back anywhere between 50 cents and one dollar. Shop around for your refill ink and paper. With patience, you can find deals online, and you can save money if you buy multiple packs at once in bulk.
Portable photo printers typically print a single size of photo: 3 x 3, 2.7 x 2.7, and 2 x 3-inch prints. While the larger 3 x 3 sizes work well for portraits and selfies, the wider 2 x 3 format is more appropriate for landscape photography.
If what you want to print isn’t well-sized to your printer paper, you can always crop your photos using apps on your smartphone, including your photo printer’s companion app.
None of the printers we tested offered exceptional battery life. Most could only print between 8 and 12 photos before needing a charge. If you want to print additional photos, you will need to carry a portable charger along.
Mike Yawney
Contributor
For more than 20 years Mike Yawney has shared his love of technology across television, radio and print publications.
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