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 are three top picks:

(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.
6. Product: View at Amazon

 

(Image Credit: Phomemo)

Phomemo M110 Bluetooth Label Maker

1. Price: $57.99
2. Connectivity: Bluetooth
3. Label Size: 20mm~50mm
4. Rich templates: Clothing labels, price labels, cable labels, jewelry labels, address labels, folder labels and more
5. Support Excel batch printing
6. Advantages: Ink-less printing with adjustable paper holder and automatic label detection to minimize paper jams and misalignments. Rich pre-set and customizable templates for various uses.
7. Product: View at Amazon

 

(Image Credit: Phomemo)

Phomemo M08F-Letter Portable Printer

1. Price: $159.99
2. Dimension: ‎66 x 1.6 x 12.2 inches
3. Printer Type: Inkless thermal printer
4. Cost-effective: Only thermal paper needs to be replaced. Each thermal paper costs only $0.12
5. Connectivity: Bluetooth printing for iOS and Android. (PC devices only works with USB connection)
6. Versatility: Print PDF, Word, Images, Web. Can print A4 size paper

Phomemo M08F-Letter Portable Printer combines cost-efficiency and versatility, featuring Bluetooth and USB connectivity, inkless thermal printing, and the ability to print a wide range of formats including A4 size with affordable cost in consumables.

 

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. Here are three standout products:

 

(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.
6. Product: View at Amazon

 

(Image: Polaroid)

Polaroid Hi–Print 2x3 Photo Printer

1. Price: $99.99
2. Paper type: Hi-Print Paper.
3. Print size: 2.1 x 4 in.
4. Connectivity: Bluetooth.
5. Main advantages: Pairs easily with smartphones, comes with a simple and effective companion app, and is notably compact for easy portability.
6. Product: View at Amazon

 

(Image Credit: Canon)

Canon Ivy 2 Photo Printer

1. Price: $98.48
2. Paper type: Zink.
3. Print size: 2 x 3 inch
4. Connectivity: Bluetooth.
5. Main advantages: Prints directly from smartphones or tablets via the Canon Mini Print App, uses ZINK (Zero Ink) technology for convenient printing, and offers improved print quality and connectivity over its predecessor.
6. Product: View at Amazon

 

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 are three recommended products:

 

(Image Credit: EBS)

EBS 260 Handjet Printer

1. Price: $5,500
2. Print Height: 0.276" to 2"
3. Resolution: 16 dots per inch (dpi)
4. Printable Content: Variable fields such as date, time, expiry dates, sequential numbering and universal counter
5. Material Compatibility: porous and non-porous substrates
6. Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, USB.
7. Main advantages: High end machine for extensive use, on-board color touch-screen controller for easy adjustments, built-in laser guidance for precise message positioning, and compatibility with a wide range of surfaces, great for outdoor and industrial use.

 

(Image Credit: SNEED-JET)

SNEED-JET® TITAN T7 HANDHELD PRINTER

1. Regular Price: $1,247.50
2. Ink Colors: Black, white, yellow, blue, red, green.
3. Resolution: 600 DPI
4. Print height: 1.2mm to 12.7mm
5. Can print variable data barcodes and can print from a list file
6. Text Lines: 1-8 lines of programmable text.
7. Battery: 10-hour continuous print, 20-hour standby
8. Main advantages: Can print at the smallest font 1.2mm. High-quality prints, lightweight design, and long battery life for extended use on a wide range of porous and non-porous surfaces.

 

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 are three products tailored to DIY projects:

 

(Image Credit: Phomemo)

Phomemo E975 Embossing Label Maker

1. Price: $22.99
2. Printer Type: Inkless thermal printer
3. Features: Easy to start, comes with a sturdy 48-character wheel.
4. Embossing Label Type: Resistant to water, abrasion, temperature, grease and fading
5. Advantages: Crafted with pre-cut dividers for enhanced usability of tear-off tabs at low price, Phomemo E975 Embossing Label Maker is perfect for kitchen utensils, documents, wrapped presents, photo albums, and DIY projects, they make organizing an engaging activity.

 

(Image Credit: Niimbot)

Niimbot B21 Bluetooth Label Maker

1. Price: $65.99
2. Printer Type: Inkless thermal printer
3. Battery Life: 4 hours continuous working after 1.5 hours charging.
4. Compatibility: IOS, Android, Computer (Pad is not compatible)
5. Rich Templates: 20+ fonts, 1000+ icons, 100+ borders are provided
6. Main advantages: Offers a wide range of template design options through the free app, can use many label including transparent film for loads of creative design on journaling and labeling. Labels are long-lasting, waterproof, and self-adhesive.
7. Product: View at Amazon

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 is 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: MUNBYN)

MUNBYN RealWriter 941 Bluetooth Upgraded Thermal Label Printer

Price: $189.99

Resolution: 203DPI & 300DPI

Print Speed: 150 mm/s (5000+ labels/day)

Connectivity: Bluetooth printing for iOS and Android. (PC devices only works with USB connection)

Multi-platform Compatibility: Supports almost all major shipping platforms, including UPS, USPS, FedEx, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, PayPal, etc.

Munbyn P941B thermal label printer prints at fast speed and is compatible with a wide range of shipping platforms to meet business owners’ needs for printing shipping labels.

 

(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.

Product: View at Amazon

 

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.

 

(Image Credit: SNEED-JET)

SNEED-JET® TITAN T6 HANDHELD PRINTER

1.     Regular Price: $499

3.     Resolution: 300 DPI

4.     Print height: 1.2mm to 12.7mm

5.     Text Lines: 1-8 lines of programmable text.

6.     Battery: 10-hour continuous print, 20-hour standby

Compare with the SNEED-JET T7 handheld printer, the T6 printer has only 300 DPI and cannot print variable data or from a list file. But it still has many of the basic features to fulfill printing needs at much lower budget.

 

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

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.

 

(Image Credit: EBS)

EBS 250 Handjet Printer

1. Price: $3,800
2. Print Height: up to 1.06"
3. Weight: less than 2 pound
4. Printable Content: Variable fields such as date, time, expiry dates, sequential numbering and universal counter
5. Material Compatibility: porous and non-porous substrates

The EBS-250 Handjet Printer stands out for its convenience and versatility in industrial marking and coding tasks with its ability to print on objects of different shapes and materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and cardboard, without direct contact.

 

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.

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