The Best Printer Deals This Week*
- Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer — $59.00 (List Price $79.99)
- Epson Expression Home XP-5200 Wireless All-in-One Color Printer — $79.99 (List Price $129.99)
- HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer — $169.99 (List Price $224.99)
- Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw All-in-One Laser Printer — $363.03 (List Price $449.99)
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M182nw Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer — $328.90 (List Price $429)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
At first blush, the thought of a fully portable printer, designed to run on battery power, may seem like a total oxymoron: Carry your Canon? Haul your HP? Truth is, only a few current portable printers can serve as the kind of all-purpose printing tool you might picture when you think of a typical desktop printer. But like most tech today, printers have seen some serious diversification and specialization. Now, you can find a wealth of portable printers that aren't all-purpose but do a single thing well.
We've outlined below our top picks among portable printers we've tested. Read on for our labs-tested favorites, followed by the buying basics you should know when choosing one. Also note: At the very end of this article is a detailed spec breakout, in chart form, of our top choices.
Table of Contents
Canon Pixma TR150 Wireless Portable Printer
Best General-Use Inkjet Portable Printer
Why We Picked It
The Canon Pixma TR150 Wireless Portable Printer is one of the most portable and most capable inkjet printers available. Just 4.5 pounds without its optional battery, or 5.1 pounds with it, it's smaller and lighter than its closest competition, if only by a small amount in most cases, and it delivers equal or better performance.
As with most other portables, the TR150 offers output quality well within the range you would expect from an inkjet. But it also delivers top-tier print speed for a portable model. On our tests, it was more than twice as fast on our business-applications suite as any of its competition, and just 4 seconds behind first place for photos, at 50 seconds each. It helps, too, that its cost per page is competitive, and its 50-sheet paper tray is more than enough for most printing needs on the road.
Who It's For
Anyone who needs a portable all-purpose printer on the go should at least consider the TR150, whether they need to connect by Wi-Fi Direct to mobile devices, by USB 2.0 to a PC, or by Wireless PictBridge to cameras that support it. However, one feature its competitors lack will pique road warriors who need to print output at a customer site. You can create up to five templates, save them to the printer, and then print directly from the control panel when needed. That's a neat trick that lets you print an application, a consent form, or a flyer for a potential customer without connecting anything to the printer.
PROS
- Small footprint
- Excellent print quality, especially photos
- Robust mobile device support
- Possible to save predefined templates onboard
- Optional detachable battery
CONS
- Slow output
- Lacks support for flash drives
- Somewhat high cost per page
- Rechargeable battery is pricey
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Wireless, USB, PictBridge |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | Legal |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 2 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 9 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 5.5 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | 500 pages per month |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 50 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 15.1 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 7.6 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One Printer
Best All-in-One Inkjet Portable Printer
Why We Picked It
The HP OfficeJet 250 All-in-One Printer is the only current AIO portable inkjet we know of, but that's not the only reason we've included it here. It impressed us enough when we reviewed it to earn an Editors' Choice award for a portable printer, with its ability to scan and copy being only one reason why.
Along with typical text quality for an inkjet, the OfficeJet 250 offers at least slightly above-par graphics and photos. It was also faster on our tests than most print-only portables. And while it can't print two-sided documents automatically (a limitation shared by its single-function competition), it offers manual duplexing, which lets you print one side, then reinsert the pages in the 50-page ADF to print the other side. The simplex (single-sided) scanner offers a separate 10-sheet ADF for scanning and copying. Connection choices include USB, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct, which lets you print from iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as PCs.
Who It's For
A portable AIO is of obvious interest to anyone who needs to both scan and print (including for copying) while on the go. But even within that group, it's not for everyone. If you usually need scanning only or printing only, you could be better off with a separate printer and scanner, to let you carry just the one you need on a given trip. But if you usually need both scanning and printing, the OfficeJet 250 will be less cumbersome to set up. Even better, it may be lighter that the combined weight of two units.
PROS
- Portable.
- Scans and copies.
- Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB connectivity.
- Rechargeable battery.
- 50-sheet input tray.
- 10-sheet ADF.
- Output quality worthy of a desktop inkjet.
- High claimed page yields for print cartridges.
- Lighter than its predecessor.
- Fast photo printing.
CONS
- Lacks a USB cable.
- Heavier than most laptops.
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | All-in-one |
| Color or Monochrome | 1-pass color |
| Connection Type | USB, Wireless |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | Legal |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 2 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 7 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 10 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | 300 pages per month |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | 500 pages per month |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 50 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | NA |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 15.6 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | Sheetfed |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | 8.5" x 14" |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | 600 pixels per inch |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Brother PocketJet PJ883
Best Portable Thermal Printer
Why We Picked It
Portable thermal printers are a niche type. They are commonly used for applications that require printing in a vehicle—from receipts in a delivery truck to tickets in a police car. But their light weight and small size also make them good choices for everything from printing a roofing proposal at a potential customer's kitchen table to using simply as a highly portable printer for anything you might need to print on the go. The PocketJet PJ883 comes from a long line of Brother portable thermal models that do this one thing well: give you clean monochrome output from anywhere. This unit delivers highly flexible connectivity (via USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or Bluetooth), and the output quality is better than you would expect from the print technology.
Who It's For
It's decidedly not for anyone who needs color output, but the PJ883 is great for traveling salespeople or contractors who need to generate documents, bills, or agreements on the spot. Brother also offers lesser, lower-cost models for folks who don't need to pay the premium for the PJ883's plethora of connection types. (Sometimes, just a USB will do.)
PROS
- Smaller and lighter than mobile inkjets
- Surprisingly good output quality
- Prints via USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Bluetooth
- Thermal paper eliminates any need for ink
CONS
- Pricey
- Monochrome printing only
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Monochrome |
| Connection Type | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | Legal |
| Number of Ink Colors | 1 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 0 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | N/A |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 13.5ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 1 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 6 to 9 cents per page |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | N/A |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Canon Selphy CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer
Best Portable Photo Printer for 4-by-6-Inch Snapshots (Dye Sub)
Why We Picked It
Most fully portable photo printers today offer wallet-size or slightly larger prints, so if you want a 4-by-6-inch picture size, which the Canon Selphy CP1500 offers, you have limited choices. Fortunately that doesn't mean you have to make compromises. The latest in the long-running Selphy line of portables, the CP1500 in particular delivers a solid feature set; drugstore-grade photo quality, courtesy of its dye sub technology; and a reasonably low running cost, at a bit above or below 30 cents per 4-by-6-inch photo. (The cost covers both the paper and required dye rolls.)
The CP1500 weighs 2.5 pounds with the paper cassette and its dye roll inserted, but not the optional battery, which can print up to 54 photos per charge, according to Canon. This model can print from an SD or microSD card, a USB thumb drive (you get a Type-C, not Type-A, port for that), an iOS or Android phone or tablet, or a macOS or Windows PC, and it can connect via USB cable or Wi-Fi.
In our tests, it took the CP1500 a bit less than a minute to print each sample photo, complete with a protective coating. And the dye sub picture comes out fully waterproof, without needing drying time, and with a long promised lifetime, rated at 100 years.
Who It's For
The CP1500's 4-by-6 inch picture size, image quality, and long life for its prints are aimed at producing photos likely to wind up displayed in a frame or saved in an album, and the image quality is easily suitable for that. If you're looking for a printer exclusively for wallet-size photos or sticking to various objects, you can use the CP1500 for those as well, but you'll have to cut the photos down to size after printing, and depend on refrigerator magnets, glue, and push pins to make them stick.
PROS
- Solid photo print quality
- Low running costs (for 4-by-6-inch media)
- Supports multiple paper sizes with inexpensive tray option
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Prints from USB and SD card memory devices
- Optional battery
CONS
- No Windows or macOS software (companion apps are phone-oriented)
- Photo paper stock provided in packs of consumables is thin
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Wi-Fi, USB-C |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 4" x 6" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 1 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 41 seconds per print |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 20 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | NA |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 29 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Kodak Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer
Best Portable Photo Printer for Wallet-Size Snapshots (Zink-Based)
Why We Picked It
Printers for wallet-size photos are among the most portable printers today, and this Kodak model serves as a prime example of why. One big advantage it has over printers for larger photos is that keeping the photo size to 2 by 3 inches means the chassis can be trimmed down. The Step Instant measures all of 1 by 3 by 5 inches (HWD) and weighs just under a pound. As with much of its competition, it's designed as a phone and tablet accessory, offering Bluetooth and NFC as the only connection options, printing strictly from iOS and Android phones and tablets.
The printer uses Zink technology, which creates images by heating dye crystals embedded in the paper, without the ink cartridge or dye ribbon some other portables use (another slimming factor). Cost per print is reasonable, at around 50 cents, and the print speed is right-on among Zink printers we've tested, at around a minute a snap. The print quality is also on par among Zink-based printers, which is to say that the prints make for nice stickers and casual snapshots to share, but output from dye sub and inkjet printers tends to look a tad sharper.
Who It's For
Thanks to smartphones, almost nobody carries photos in wallets today, but there are plenty of other ways to use a wallet-size picture—from scrapbooking to sticking it on a locker door or notebook cover. Using Zink technology makes the sticking part easy, since you get an adhesive sticky back on the pictures, under a protective layer you can peel off (or not). And, of course, if you want to keep a picture in your wallet, it will let you do that as well.
PROS
- Low purchase price and competitive running costs
- Good output quality
- Multiple bundles available
- Supports NFC
CONS
- Only wireless (no USB) connectivity
- No support for Windows or macOS laptops or desktops
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth, NFC |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 2" x 3" |
| Number of Ink Colors | |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 1 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 1 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 20 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 50 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 50 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
HP Sprocket 3x4 Instant Photo Printer
Best Portable Photo Printer for 3-by-4-Inch Snapshots
Why We Picked It
The key question for choosing any portable snapshot printer is whether it can print the photo sizes you want. That makes the HP Sprocket 3x4 a good candidate if you want photos up to 3 by 4 inches and no larger. Like most of its competition—including the Kodak Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer, our current top pick for wallet size (2-by-3-inch) photos—the Sprocket 3x4 is small and light, includes a built-in battery, connects without wires (using Bluetooth, in this case), and is reasonably inexpensive.
Who It's For
If the Sprocket 3x4's output is the right size for your needs, and you appreciate that its paper has adhesive on the back (with a peelable backing, so you can stick the photos wherever you like), it could easily be your best choice.
PROS
- Prints 3.5-by-4.25-inch photos on sticky-back photo paper
- Light (less than a pound, with battery)
- Prints from Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth
- Prints from your device's gallery and your Instagram, Facebook, Google accounts
- Sprocket App lets you take photos, as well as edit and print them
CONS
- Typical middling Zink output quality
- Finding features in the print app can be a challenge
- All photos print with white borders
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 3.5" by 4.5" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 0 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 0.88ppm (68 seconds/photo) |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | NA |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 10 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 50.4 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 50.4 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Kodak Mini 3 Retro
Best Portable Photo Printer for Square Snapshots (Dye Sub)
Why We Picked It
For a photos with a square aspect ratio printed at just bit larger than wallet size, it's hard to beat the Kodak Mini 3 Retro. The printer weighs just shy of a pound, measures 1 by 5 by 4 inches (HWD), and prints 3-by-3-inch photos using dye-sub technology and a four-pass ribbon, with the last pass laying down a clear projective coating. As is typical of dye sub printers, the picture quality is a clear step above what you'd expect from competing printers that use Zink technology. Kodak promises a long life for the prints, too, rating them at up to 100 years.
Like many small-format portable photo printers, the Mini 3 Retro is basically a smartphone and tablet accessory. It connects by Bluetooth only, and it supports only Android and iOS devices. The onboard battery is rated for 25 prints on a charge. In addition to its high-quality output, the printer also offers a fast print speed and a low cost per print—for this category of printer, at least. We measured it at 43 seconds when printing edge to edge, and a few seconds faster when printing with a border. The most economical packs of ribbon and paper we could find at this writing work out to 33 cents per print.
Who It's For
The Mini 3 Retro's 1:1 aspect ratio—the ratio of width to height—for its photos will be of particular interest for Instagram users, thanks to the square shape being one of the preferred choices for Instagram Photos. The shape is also common on other social media sites for their profile pictures. Having the same aspect ratio for the printer will let you print those photos without needing to crop them first, although it also means you'll need to take the time to properly crop photos that use other aspect ratios before printing them with the Retro.
PROS
- Fine photo quality in 3-inch square print format
- Prints both borderless and bordered photos
- Comes with enough consumables for 68 photos
CONS
- Bluetooth only; no Wi-Fi connectivity
- Android or iOS only; no Windows or macOS support
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 3" x 3" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 1 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 1 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 1 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 90 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 30 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 30 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Epson LabelWorks LW-PX300
Best General-Use Portable Label Printer (Light Duty)
Why We Picked It
Our top pick for light-duty standalone printing of industrial-style labels, the LW-PX300 can print on any of 81 continuous tapes. Choices include standard plastic (polyester), silver matte, strong adhesive, vinyl, fluorescent tapes, and magnetic tapes (think: refrigerator magnets). These come in a variety of colors, and in widths ranging from 6mm (0.24 inch) to 18mm (0.71 inch). Even better, the printer doesn't cost a lot. It lists for just $59 for the printer itself or $80 for the LW-PX300VP kit, which adds a hard-shell carrying case, a rubber case cover to help protect against damage, and an AC adapter you can use instead of six AA batteries when you're near a power outlet.
Designed for desktop or handheld use, the LW-PX300 offers a QWERTY keyboard, a comfortable shape for handheld thumb-typing, and a 1.8-pound weight with batteries. A backlit LCD makes it easy to see menu options and the label you're creating or about to print. It's strictly a standalone printer, but its firmware includes features like being able to store 50 labels to print as needed. And Epson's lifetime warranty means that unless you outgrow it, you'll likely never need to buy a new one.
Who It's For
If you need moderate or heavy-duty printing, you'll want a printer that's a little faster, and perhaps one that prints from a computer or mobile device. But for light-duty printing, the LW-PX300's wide choice of tapes and affordable price—alone or as part of the LW-PX300VP kit—can make it a compelling choice for small businesses and hobbyists. Quite simply, it will give you lots of label flexibility without having to spend a lot of money to get it.
PROS
- Affordable, industrial-style labeling
- Easy-to-use handheld design with QWERTY keyboard
- Tape choices include plastic, vinyl, magnetic, and fluorescent up to 18mm
- Saves up to 50 labels in memory for easy reprinting
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Noticeably slow print speed
- Doesn't connect to a PC or mobile device for printing
- Batteries not included
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Monochrome |
| Connection Type | None |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 18mm roll |
| Number of Ink Colors | 1 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 0 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | N/A |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 6 mm / 0.24 inches per second |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 1 cartridge roll; sizes up to 30 feet |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | varies with width and label length |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | N/A |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Epson LabelWorks LW-PX900PCD Deluxe Kit
Best Industrial Portable Label Printer (Heavy Duty)
Why We Picked It
There are heavier-duty label printers than the LW-PX900, but they aren't handheld portables. The printer is available by itself with an AC adapter, but we'd recommend the LW-PX900PCD Deluxe Kit, which adds a rechargeable battery, a hard-shell carrying case, and two industrial magnets that let the printer stick to any handy ferromagnetic surface. Either choice comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Whatever type of industrial labeling you need, odds are that the LW-PX900 has a tape for it, with roughly 150 choices in widths from 4mm to 36mm (0.16 inch to 1.42 inches), and more than a dozen different types of tapes, most of which come in an assortment of colors as well as widths. For standalone printing, the LW-PX900 offers a QWERTY keyboard and onboard options that, among other features, let you add bar codes or any of 859 symbols to your labels as well as store up to 100 label definitions. It can also print from a Windows PC using Epson's Label Editor program, which is one of the most capable label programs we've seen.
Who It's For
Nearly any business that needs to print a lot of labels on a regular basis, particularly while on site at a job, should find the LW-PX900 worth considering, assuming it prints the type of labels you need, starting with the right width. If you need wider labels than it can print, you'll need to look elsewhere, and if you can get by without its widest labels, you might save a bit with another choice. But if the 1.42-inch width is the right size, or you need to label lots of cables (say, in a data center), the LW-PX900PCD Deluxe Kit is likely the printer you want.
PROS
- Has a keypad and memory for standalone printing, plus label app for Windows PCs
- Supports many label types and materials, in sizes up to 1.42 inches wide
- Can cut labels without cutting the backing, leaving a continuous strip
- Lifetime warranty, and tested to 4-foot drops
CONS
- Too heavy for comfortable thumb typing
- No macOS print app or driver available
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Monochrome |
| Connection Type | USB |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 36mm roll |
| Number of Ink Colors | 1 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 0 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | N/A |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 35mm / 1.38 inches per second |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 1 cartridge roll; sizes up to 30 feet |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | varies with tape type, width, and label length |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | N/A |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Colop e-mark
Best "Rubber Stamp"-Style Portable Printer
Why We Picked It
The Colop e-mark, which you hold in your hand while printing and drag over the page you're printing on, is less a portable inkjet printer than a portable printhead, with your arm serving as the printer mechanism. It functions as the digital version of a rubber stamp. But more important, it's a major improvement over that stamp. It can hold three imprint designs in memory at once, and each can be up to 5.9 inches long. And you can easily switch among them as needed.
The e-mark lets you print in color, thanks to its use of a tricolor cartridge, and lets you both create and change the stored imprints whenever you like, using an app on your PC or Android device that's similar to a standard label-printer app. As with a rubber stamp, you can print on any surface that can accept ink. Unlike a rubber stamp, the e-mark is powered by a battery, but it can deliver hundreds of prints on a single charge.
Who It's For
The most obvious reason for getting the e-mark is to replace two or three rubber stamps you use regularly, to take up less space. But don't overlook its ability to replace a label printer for light-duty use, particularly in cases where you can print on something directly rather than paste a label on it. The app even includes a numbering generator that will let you create imprints that update themselves automatically, so you can, for example, stamp objects in serial-number order.
PROS
- Prints on lots of different materials.
- Sleek, miniature body.
- Easy-to-use design and print apps for PC and mobile.
- Good print quality.
- Low running costs.
CONS
- Expensive.
- Quirky Android software.
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Wireless, USB |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 0.55" x 6" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 3 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 1 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | N/A |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | N/A |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | Not rated |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | Not rated |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Choosing the right category of portable printer for how you print is usually easy. (If you want to print photos from your phone on the go, for example, you'll probably start by looking for a compact photo printer.) But it's still worth knowing what those categories are before you begin shopping. The four main classes of portable printer are (1) all-purpose printers, (2) photo printers, (3) label printers, and (4) monochrome thermal printers.
Let's take a look at each. (We'll also serve up some tips on how to pick the right one for the job at hand.)
All-Purpose Portable Inkjet Printers
It's not hard to find standard inkjet printers that are small and light enough to take with you on a business trip or vacation, so you can print a letter- or legal-size document in your hotel room before a meeting, or print photos of a family picnic. To count as "portable" for purposes of this roundup, however, the printer also needs the ability to run on battery power, at least as an option. The battery will let you print anywhere, including in your car or while on that picnic, with no AC outlet in sight. These true portables are rare, but they do exist—Canon, Epson, and HP have a handful. Their offerings even fall into two subcategories: single-function printer, and all-in-one printer.
These all-purpose printers are all inkjets. To the extent that you need to check out and compare basics like print quality, print speed, paper capacity, maximum duty cycle (how much you can print per month without risking damaging the printer), and whether the printer can duplex (print on both sides of the page), choosing among them is similar to choosing any all-purpose printer. But there are also some special considerations for portables.
SIZE AND WEIGHT. Any printer is portable if you have a big enough truck! The question is whether it's small and light enough to carry easily, particularly if you want to pack it in a suitcase or backpack. Weights for current all-purpose inkjet models range from 3.5 pounds to a little less than 7 pounds. Keep in mind, also, that if you don't need to bring the battery on a particular trip, you can shave off as much as half a pound. So check the weights both with and without batteries. (And if you might go without batteries, factor in the power cord or adapter.)
BATTERIES. In most cases, the battery isn't included in the base price, so if you want to use the printer on battery power, be sure to check whether one is included at the prices you're basing comparisons on. Also look for the battery life expressed in pages. Depending on how much you print on an average page, you may not get as many pages per charge as promised, but the higher the rating, the better. And because you don't want to be sitting in your car with a dead printer battery just when you need to print something for a meeting, consider buying a second battery, so you have a charged spare to fall back on.
CONSUMABLES AND PAPER HANDLING. This area also encompasses factors such as speed and running cost. The potential range of print quality across portable inkjets is comparable to what you would expect from any other inkjet. However speed, paper handling, cartridge capacity, and running cost are not. The small size of a portable printer is necessarily tied to slower, lighter-duty print and paper-feed mechanisms, as well as limits on how much paper can fit in the tray. Smaller printers also don't offer enough room for large ink cartridges, which leads to a higher cost per page.
For each of these issues, be prepared to adjust your expectations, making your comparisons to other portable models, rather than to inkjet printers in general. For example, an auto-duplexing mechanism, which is common for full-size inkjets, adds size and weight. So expect support for manual duplexing, at best, with the printer first printing all odd-numbered pages, then making you reinsert the stack before printing the other side of each sheet. (We cover all these areas in our reviews.)
CONNECTIONS. Most all-purpose portable printers offer both Wi-Fi and USB for connections. Some support PictBridge, as well, for printing photos directly from cameras that support the spec. If you want to connect cable-free via Wi-Fi, make sure the printer supports Wi-Fi Direct. And if you might need to print straight from your phone or tablet, make sure the printer also supports mobile printing with your specific device.
PORTABLE ALL-IN-ONES. Portable AIOs are even rarer than portable single-function printers. Don't expect a lot from the scanner in the way of paper handling or other scan capability. If you won't need scanning on every trip, consider pairing a printer-only portable with a portable scanner, so you can lighten the load on trips that won't need scanning.
Photo Printers: Portable Models
Portable photo printers are just what the name indicates: printers that are designed to work on battery power and are strictly for churning out snapshots. The key differentiator for these printers is the size of the prints.
Dedicated snapshot (or small-format) printers are limited to printing at smaller than letter size, and often at only one or two specific sizes. As we point out in our more general roundup of photo printers, these models are less centered on printing from a computer than on printing photos from whatever the source, and most are meant as standalone consumer gadgets. Their focus is on ease of use and on printing snapshots from smartphones.
PHOTO AND PRINTER SIZE. For obvious reasons, the smaller and more portable the printer, the smaller the maximum size photo it can print. Typical sizes are wallet size (roughly 2 by 3 to 2.5 by 3.5 inches), 4 by 6 inches, and Instagram-style square prints. Most models support just one of these. The printers themselves can weigh as little as a few ounces if limited to wallet-size photos or as much as three or more pounds for models that can print on 4-by-6 stock. Sizes can range from small enough to fit in a pocket or purse to large enough to need a backpack or briefcase.
BATTERIES. Compared with printers for 4-by-6-inch photos, smaller snapshot printers are more likely to include rechargeable batteries in their base price. But be sure to check, in either case, when comparing prices between printers and when ordering. Also check how many photos you can print on a full charge.
PRINT TECHNOLOGY. Virtually all portable photo printers use one of three technologies, and inkjet technology, notably, is no longer on the list. (Epson offers an inkjet for photos up to 5 by 7 inches, but it doesn't qualify as "fully portable" by our definition for this roundup, since it works only with AC power.)
The three current portable photo printer technologies are (1) Zink, which is short for Zero Ink, (2) instant film, the same as for instant cameras, and (3) dye sublimation, usually referred to as dye sub. Zink printers use special paper with embedded chemicals that create the image by changing color when heated. Dye sub printers also use special paper, but in combination with a dye-infused roll consisting of repeating panels that typically include the three primary colors (cyan, yellow, and magenta), plus a clear panel to add a protective coating. Printing each photo requires a separate pass for each panel. (Fun fact: They aren't really using dye sub technology, which is used for dyeing fabrics. They're technically "thermal dye transfer printers." But that doesn't stop anyone from calling them dye subs.)
OUTPUT QUALITY AND SPEED. One consideration when choosing a technology is that dye sub and instant film offer better quality than Zink, which is best reserved for photos that are destined to sit in your wallet, be taped to a locker door, or be pinned to a bulletin board. Beyond that, be sure to check our reviews for comments about each printer's photo quality. Speed is not much of an issue for any of these printers (as they're designed to output one or two prints at a go), but you'll want to confirm that for any printer you're considering. Our reviews include our timed results.
COST PER PHOTO. It's easy to compute the cost per photo for these printers. Zink paper, dye-sub supplies, and instant film all come in packs that deliver an exact number of photo prints. Dividing the cost per pack by that number tells you the cost per photo. If you're trying to decide between one printer with a low initial price and another with a higher price but a lower cost per photo, you might want to consider the total cost of ownership as well. Dividing the additional cost for the more expensive printer by the savings per photo for that printer will tell you how many photos you'll have to print for the lower cost per photo to save you money over the printer's lifetime.
CONNECTIONS. Some portable photo printers offer a USB connection and can print from a computer. Most are designed primarily to print wirelessly from phones or tablets using manufacturer-supplied apps. Older models often include Wi-Fi Direct, and also PictBridge, to print from cameras that support it. But for printers that are designed to work with smartphones, Bluetooth is the most common connection method supported.
Portable Label Printers
You'll actually see two types of label printers, also known as label makers, on the market. At the risk of oversimplifying a bit, some print paper labels that work best for applications like addressing envelopes and labeling file folders. Others print plastic labels that work best for applications that need more rugged labels, ranging from labeling cables in a data communications center or behind your computer to labeling an outdoor mailbox. The label types are a bit broader than simply paper in one case and plastic in the other, but "paper or plastic" is one handy way to think about them. Another is "office" versus "industrial" label printer.
Most label printers in the paper or office category are meant to sit on a desk. They're small enough to carry easily, but with rare exceptions aren't designed to work on battery power, so not fully portable. On the other hand, printers for plastic, or industrial-type, labeling come in both portable and AC-power only models. Here's what you need to know about them.
FIRST, CONSIDER THE LABEL TYPE. The most important issue for any label printer is whether it can print the type of labels you need at the sizes you need them. Inexpensive models aimed at home use might include tapes with photo-safe, acid-free adhesive, for example, while more expensive models meant for heavy-duty use will likely have more types—including vinyl tapes, heat-shrink tube tapes for cables, and magnetic tapes—but nothing suitable for photos.
Label length isn't usually an issue, since most printers use continuous rolls that you cut to size. But tape width is. Check that the printer can handle the widths you need. Also, keep in mind that the sheer number of choices isn't as important as the number of tape types, since many choices will just be different colors. Make sure there's an appropriate type of tape for your needs in the size or sizes you need it.
STANDALONE PRINTING (OR NOT). Label printers can print from one or more of three sources: By themselves as standalone devices; from a PC, usually connected by USB cable or through a network; or from phones and tablets, connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Standalone printing requires a built-in keyboard in either QWERTY or ABCD layout, and usually a one- or two-line LCD to preview what you type before you print the label. Features typically include built-in settings for creating different formats and onboard memory for storing labels you print repeatedly.
Printing from PCs and mobile devices is usually handled by manufacturer-supplied label apps. For PCs, the printer may also come with a driver to print from virtually any program with a print command. But note that setting the right page size and orientation for programs not designed for label printing can be a challenge. Using them can also mean doing without some features most label-printer programs offer, notably bar codes and QR codes.
For most portable use, a built-in keyboard or an app for a mobile device is usually the best choice, depending on which you prefer, but being able to design labels on a PC will let you use a full-size keyboard. If you have any doubts about which approach works best for you, pick a printer that offers more than one option. Also be sure to check the ease of use and range of features for both standalone printing and for apps.
HANDHELD OR NOT. Almost any label printer with its own keyboard will let you enter text while it's sitting on a flat surface. Most are shaped either to let you hold them in one hand while entering text with the other, or to hold in both hands and thumb-type. Pick the approach you're most comfortable with.
BATTERIES. Prices for some portable label printers don't include batteries, so check before buying. Also look for which kind of batteries the printer uses: rechargeable, standard, or either. For those that use rechargeable batteries, consider whether you need an extra, so you can have a spare charged battery handy when needed.
OUTPUT QUALITY AND SPEED. Output quality is not much of a concern for label printers. Resolutions for most range from 180dpi, which is suitable for most purposes, to 360dpi, which will make even small fonts crisp and readable. Print speed isn't usually a concern either, unless you're printing a lot of labels in one session and need to use them right away, in which case, waiting 10 seconds for each 4-inch label can feel like an eternity.
Because the label rolls are generally continuous, the time per label depends on the length, and the printers are rated in millimeters (mm) per second or inches per second (ips). Actual speed in our tests is usually slightly slower than the rating, but print time isn't the only factor to consider.
When using continuous rolls, you have to cut the labels at some point. Some printers have manual cutters, which means you need to take extra time for cutting. For printers with automatic cutting, turning off the auto cutting speeds up print time, but costs even more time later to cut each label off the strip. If you will be regularly printing a lot of labels at once, a key feature to look for is automatic cutting with half cuts, which cuts through the label itself while leaving the carrier strip untouched. This not only keeps the labels conveniently on a single strip, but it makes it far easier to peel each label off, by eliminating the time needed to poke at an edge for each to get the peeling started. In short, extra print time spent for automatic half-cutting can save far more time later.
COST PER LABEL. The cost per label for continuous rolls varies with the length of each label you print. If you want to compare running costs between competing models, divide the cost per roll by the number of inches in the roll, to get a comparable cost per inch. Be sure to do the calculation for the types and widths you plan to use.
SPECIALTY "RUBBER STAMP" PRINTERS. A small subcategory of label printers can substitute for rubber stamps. These are basically handheld inkjets that use a single cartridge, which could be your choice from a selection of single-color cartridges or a tricolor cartridge.
Portable Monochrome Thermal Printers
Start with an old-fashioned fax machine that prints on thermal paper (that is, without ink), throw out the parts that handle faxing, and what you're left with is a basic monochrome printing mechanism. Add your choice of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB connections, a battery, and a driver for your PC's operating system or an app for your mobile device, and you've got a portable, monochrome thermal printer.
Resolutions for these printers can be as low as 203 by 200dpi, which is fine for 10- or 12-point text, but can leave smaller fonts and graphics looking a little ragged. However, it's not hard to find models with 300dpi resolution, which is at the lower end of laser quality. And unlike the paper you may remember from fax machines, paper for many thermal printers is available in cut-sheet and fanfold formats, as well as rolls.
Some portable monochrome thermal printers are built around thermal wax transfer technology. Instead of using thermal paper that changes color in response to heat, these printers use standard paper and a ribbon that's coated with black wax. Heating the ribbon melts the wax, which then sticks to (transfers to) the paper.
Because the printheads are so similar between both types of thermal printers, the output quality is similar as well. The key practical difference between the two types is that you have to buy special paper for the more common thermal printers, but don't need ribbons, while you have to buy ribbons for the thermal wax transfer printers, but don't need special paper. Note that the ribbons retain what amounts to a negative image of anything you print, which means that if you're printing anything meant to be private, you need to be careful where you discard them.
Neither type of printer in this category can substitute for an inkjet if you need color printing, but most are smaller and lighter than portable inkjets. The smallest we've seen weigh just a smidge more than a pound and measure 1.2 by 10 by 2.2 inches (HWD). And because they don't use ink, the only running cost is for the paper. Note that batteries may be optional, and necessarily add weight, so check whether the battery is included, how many pages it can print, and how much it costs. If you don't need to print in color, and you need the lightest printer possible, thermal monochrome printers are well worth considering.
So, What Is the Best Portable Printer to Buy?
One key recommendation for all of these categories: By its nature, a portable printer is likely to suffer more physical abuse than one that sits on a desk. Be sure to check the warranty and consider extending it if you can. And note that at this writing, Epson's LabelWorks printers include a lifetime warranty, which is hard to beat. For printers for business use, also check to see if there's an overnight-replacement option and whether you can take advantage of it even when traveling.
Whatever you're looking for in a portable printer, one of the models above and below is likely a good fit. In addition, be sure to check out our portable choices for best photo printers and best label makers. And if you're looking for a lightweight, standard printer you can press into service as a quasi-portable with AC power only, take a look at our overall top printer recommendations and our picks for top inkjet printers.
