What is the Best Small Portable Printer in 2024?

What is Small Portable Printer?

A small portable printer is a compact, lightweight device designed to facilitate printing outside of a traditional office or home setup. These printers prioritize mobility and ease of use, often featuring wireless connectivity options such as Bluetooth or WiFi to print from smartphones, tablets, or laptops. They typically run on battery power, making them ideal for those on the move, small portable printers cater to a range of needs, from professionals seeking efficiency outside the office to students and hobbyists looking for creative outputs on the go.

 

How to Find the Best Small Portable Printer for You?

Identifying "the best" portable printer hinges on individual needs and usage scenarios. The perfect printer for one may not suit another, as preferences vary widely in terms of print quality, battery life, size, and connectivity options. Thus, aligning your specific requirements with the features of a portable printer is key to finding your ideal match.

 

Choose Based on Usage Scenarios

Your intended use significantly influences the choice of a portable printer. Different scenarios like travel, photography, work, or DIY projects necessitate specific features for optimal performance.

 

Best Portable Printer for Travel

For travelers, portable printers must be lightweight, compact, and versatile. Here's our top pick:

(Image Credit: Fujifilm Instax)

FujiFilm Instax Mini Link 2

1. Price: $99.99
2. Dimension: 3.6 in × 1.4 in × 4.9 in
3. 3 Colors: Soft Pink, Clay White and Space Blue
4. Connectivity: Bluetooth
5. Advantages: Compact and elegantly designed with 3 color options. Instax Mini Link 2 Printer prints 2” x 3” photos with vintage and stylish touch at fast speed and with high-quality output. Can print photo from video. Frames, filters, sketches and stickers can be added prior to printing.

 

Best Portable Printer for Photography

For photography enthusiasts, choosing a portable printer means looking closely at print speed, quality (resolution, color accuracy, range), and portability. Our pick:

 

(Image Credit: Fujifilm Instax)

Instax Square Link Smartphone Printer

1. Price: $125~$140
2. Recording method: 3-color exposure with OLED.
3. Film used: FUJIFILM instax SQUARE instant film.
4. Connectivity: Bluetooth
5. Main advantages: Compact and lightweight design, print square photos, AR Print App Feature for adding QR codes to printed photos, and the INSTAX CONNECT App for photo and message sharing.

 

Best Portable Printer for Workplace

In a workplace environment, especially one that requires mobility like construction sites, food packaging, or logistics, portable handheld printers are invaluable. Here is what we recommend:

 

Bentsai B35 Handheld Printer

1. Price: $700
2. Printer Type: Thermal Inkjet
3. Weight: 460g
4. Print Height: 2.5mm-25.4mm
5. Can print text, number, date, codes, logos and more
6. Support variable data printing including QR code and barcode
7. Material Compatibility: Porous and non-porous
8. Ink options: Black, white, yellow, blue, red, green

Bentsai B35 portable handheld printer is a versatile solution for small character inkjet labeling and coding as it can be used on a wide range of materials to produce high-quality and durable prints. The ability to print 1-inch tall makes it more versatile than the 0.5-inch printers. The B35 handheld printer can also be mounted to a bracket and a conveyor for auto printing to enhance efficiency.

 

Best Portable Printer for DIY

DIY enthusiasts and street artists prioritize portable printers that offer compact sizes and creative and playful designs and shapes. Here is a product tailored for DIY projects:

Bentsai B10 Mini Handheld Inkjet Printer

1. Printer Color: Black, yellow, white
2. Weight: 195g super light weight
3. Dimension: 4.33"x54"x1.57"
4. Print Size: 2.5mm-12.7mm
5. Ink Type: Inkjet
6. Connectivity: WIFI

Bentsai B10 extremely lightweight and portable, offers WIFI connectivity for easy operation, and prints directly on various surfaces for a wide range of DIY projects and business labeling such as DIY phone case, ear pods, personalized items, print temporary tattoo, label QR code or barcode, making expiry dates, etc.

 

Choose Based on Price Range

Your budget plays a crucial role in selecting the right portable printer. Whether you're looking for an affordable option for casual use or a high-end printer for professional needs, there's a wide range of products available to suit different financial plans.

 

Under $350

At this price range, portable printers are generally suitable for DIY projects, photo printing, label printing. They offer a balance between affordability and functionality, making them ideal for personal use and business operations.

(Image Credit: KODAK)

KODAK STEP Instant Mobile Photo Printer

1. Price: $69.99
2. Printing Technology: Zink Technology
3. Connectivity: iOS or Android Smartphone, Tablet or Similar Device [Via Bluetooth or NFC]
4. Battery: Prints 25 sticky-backed photo on a full charge

This Kodak printer is small enough to fit in your palm and weighing less than a pound, offers quick setup and produces stunning, peel-and-stick prints perfect for enhancing fridges, laptops, lockers, scrapbooks, notebooks, and more.

 

Between $350 and $600

Printers in this price range are more suited for specialized tasks such as food packaging production, warehouse labeling, and barcode printing. These devices offer enhanced durability and functionality for professional use.

Bentsai BT-HH6105B2 Handheld Inkjet Printer Gun

1. Price: $530
2. Weight: 450g
3. Print Height: 2.5mm-12.7mm adjustable
4. Resolution: 300 / 600 DPI optional
5. Material Compatibility: Porous and non-porous
6. Can print text, logo date, number, logo, QR code and barcode, etc.

This handheld date code printer weighs light and comfortable to grab. Great for small character on-the-go-printing with its ability to print text, date, logo, QR code and barcode at 12.7mm maximum on any porous, semi-porous and non-porous substrates.

 

Over $600

High-end portable printers are designed for industrial and commercial use, providing continuous printing capabilities and high-quality output. They are typically used in logistics, small manufacturing plants, and other industrial sectors, requiring a higher investment for superior performance.

Bentsai B85 Wide Format Handheld Inkjet Printer

1. Price: $2,199
2. Print Height: 5mm to 100mm adjustable
3. Text Lines: 1-40 lines adjustable
4. Resolution: 300 DPI
5. Can print text, logo date, number, logo, QR code and barcode, etc.
6. Variable data printing to print text, QR code and barcode
7. To be use on porous and non-porous materials
8. Product: View BENTSAI B85

Bentsai B85 large character handjet portable printer is the leading portable inkjet printer that prints up to 4 inch tall with 4 printheads. The ink dries fast and can be used on both porous and non-porous materials for large character printing.

 

In Conclusion

The best small portable printer for you in 2024 depends on your specific needs, usage scenarios, and budget. Whether you're a traveler, photographer, small business owner, or DIY enthusiast, there's a portable printer out there that can meet your demands. By considering the factors outlined above, you can make an informed decision and find a printer that enhances your productivity and creativity on the go.