They may not have the power of regular printers, but portable printers more than make up for it with mobility and convenience. Business professionals might use one for printing on the go, and students or teachers can print assignments on-campus or off.

Best Portable Printer Overall: Epson Workforce WF-110

A printer specifically designed for mobile professionals is the Epson Workforce WF-110. It’s compact and weighs in at an impressively lightweight 3.5lbs. It isn’t much more trouble than carrying most laptops and features an internal battery that can print up to 50 pages per charge while on the go.

The printing speed is relatively low when running off the battery, but it is sufficient for such a small machine. Its 5,760 x 1,440 dpi is a good resolution for a portable printer, and the quality is excellent, with quick-dry pigmented inks contributing greatly to the crisp, clear text and vibrant colors.

Best Budget Portable Printer: Canon Pixma TR150

The Canon Pixma TR150 is widely regarded as an excellent portable printer. It’s small and compact, and together with its light weight of 4.5lbs, it’s a standout option. It’s easy to carry in a backpack and ideal for those needing frequent printing while on the go.

Speeds are decent, while color graphics and photo quality (up to 8.5 x 11 inches) emulate many premium mobile printers. It also features a 1.44-inch OLED display that is easy to navigate. The best thing is that you get all this at an unbeatable price, while ink costs are also quite affordable.

Best Portable Thermal Printer: Phomemo M02S Mini Bluetooth Pocket Printer

A portable thermal printer like the Phomemo M02S Mini is a very affordable and compact device that you can use to print lots of things directly from your phone, including receipts, memos, labels, lists, and even photos. However, printing is black and white only, or blue if you purchase Phomemo’s special thermal paper.

It’s also a good option for kids. The uber-cute envelope design is appealing, and children can print their drawings and basic graphics for scrapbooking or make sticky labels for crafts.

While it does claim to be pocket-sized, it’s unlikely you’ll fit it into your jeans. However, it is ultra-compact and lightweight and easily fits into a small bag or pouch.

Best Portable Photo Printer: Canon Selphy CP1300

Although the Canon Selphy CP1300 is a bit chunkier than other photo printers in the Canon Selphy range, it’s still portable and has the benefit of printing 6 x 4-inch photos.

On top of being well-priced, there’s no need for messy inks since the printer uses dye-sublimation technology. This tech uses heat on a dye-coated ribbon to produce some fantastic images. Color photos have depth and vibrancy, with sharp details retained in highlights and shadows.

The CP1300 only connects wirelessly with Wi-Fi Direct and Canon’s Selphy Photo Layout app. You can also connect via USB to your laptop or camera and insert a memory card directly into the printer.

Best Portable Printer and Scanner: HP OfficeJet 250

The HP OfficeJet 250 offers some excellent premium features, including a second fold-out tray for 600 x 600 dpi scanning and a color LCD touchscreen. Additionally, it comes with a large, long-lasting battery that charges within 90 minutes.

The print rate is also pretty good for a portable inkjet. The OfficeJet 250 prints around ten pages per minute and doesn’t seem to discriminate between AC or battery power. Print quality is excellent, with the bright and vivid colors on photos, particularly pleasing.

Setup is also easy, and the HP Smart app makes things simple. In fact, the app is so easy to use that you may even find it preferable to the printer touchscreen.

FAQ

Q: Are portable printers worth it?

Portable printers usually cost less up-front than traditional printers. However, the long-term running costs may be higher, and print quality and speed are generally better in a conventional printer. That’s not to say portable printers offer poor quality, and if portability is your primary concern, the convenience provided often balances out the quality difference.

Q: Do portable printers need ink cartridges?

No, not all portable printers need ink cartridges. Laser printers use dry toner powder cartridges, which can work out cheaper in the long run.

Zink (zero ink) printers use a particular type of paper with embedded ink crystals that negate the need for ink cartridges. They are good choices for printing instant photos but are not designed for printing text.

In contrast, thermal printers are suitable for printing text and basic graphics but don’t offer great photo-printing quality.

Q: Are inkjet or laser printers better?

In terms of portability, inkjets have the edge. They are usually smaller, lighter, and more compact, making them much more suitable for use on the go. They also require less juice, meaning you can power them from portable sources, such as a power bank. Inkjets also print more vibrant photos.

However, laser printers are much faster, especially when printing monochrome, and they produce sharper text. They are ideal for important documents because of their fade- and water-resistant prints.

Cost-wise, laser printers are generally more expensive. However, as laser printers use dry toner powder instead of ink, running costs are less expensive.

Q: Does a portable printer need special paper?

Portable Zink and thermal printers require special paper. Regular inkjet and laser printers are more versatile.

Q: How do inkless portable printers work without ink?

Inkless portable printers use various technologies. Zink printers use paper that has been embedded with dye crystals. The printer heats the crystals, causing them to rise and blend together to create images.

Printers with dye-sublimation technology use heat to vaporize dye from a ribbon onto specially coated paper. Thermal printers also utilize heat, which is used to burn text and images onto the page. They are excellent for simple text and graphics, but burning doesn’t produce color.

Q: Can thermal printers print in color?

Thermal printers are usually limited to black and white. This is down to the burning technique they use to print. However, some thermal printing techniques can add a little color. Specialized thermal label printers use multiple heat elements or special ribbons with different colored coatings, allowing for a limited color palette.

Thermal transfer printers are another option. They use heated ribbons to transfer colored wax to the paper. However, they are fairly uncommon and tend to be quite expensive.