by We live in a world where pictures are a godsend in helping us express what we’re thinking and feeling. Most of us put them up online these days, but sometimes you want to preserve those images in a way that you can touch and even hang on your wall. That’s where these portable instant photo printers come into play. These will give you speedy prints, with zero hassle.
Instant and rechargable
Canon Selphy Square QX10
Staff Pick
Canon’s latest Selphy instant printer is easy to fit into your bag or even your pocket and prints 2.7-by-2.7-inch photos that are rated to last up to 100 years using a dye-sub technology. The Selphy Layout app lets you add stickers and filters, and the built-in battery means you won’t have to go scrounging for AAs when it runs out of juice.
$150 at Amazon
Instant and rechargeable
HP Sprocket (2nd Edition)
The HP Sprocket connects to your phone via Bluetooth and prints 2 x 3-inch borderless photos with lightly adhesive backs. You get 10 sheets of paper in the box, and just like the Canon CX10, you can add stickers to your photos before printing. Your friends can connect as well, and there are even different LED lights to denote who’s printing.
$100 at Amazon
Print from videos
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link
The Instax Mini Link lets you print not just photos, but stills from any videos you’ve taken. It’s also chock full of orientation-based actions, allowing you to turn the printer upside down, press the power button to reprint your last photo, or lay the Mini link horizontally to activate Fun Mode, which lets your friends connect and print in different styles.
$100 at Amazon
Easy print
Kodak Smile Instant Printer
The Kodak Smile uses Zink Zero Ink technology for its 2 x 3-inch prints, with a sticky backing that makes it easy to put photos on your wall, laptop, anywhere your heart desires. There are no buttons on the Smile. Instead, it’s controlled entirely through your phone, and you can create augmented reality videos that play when you scan your photos.
$100 at Amazon
Impressive editor
Polaroid ZIP Instant Printer
Polaroid uses the same Zink Zero Ink technology as Kodak, with 2 x 3 prints and an easy-to-use app that features a full-blown photo editor. That means that along with filters and borders, you can adjust your brightness, color temperature, and even create collages of multiple photos. Of course, each print comes with a sticky backing.
$80 at Amazon
One touch print
Kodak Dock & Wi-Fi Portable 4×6″ Instant Photo Printer
While it may not be as small as other printers, that doesn’t make this printer any less portable. Furthermore, with this printer, you’ll be to charge and print pictures at the same time, simply by connecting your phone to the dock that comes with the printer. You won’t need to worry about the quality of your images either, as these 4×6 prints are fade-proof, waterproof, and long-lasting.
$100 at Amazon
Relive your favorite moments with a physical print
If there’s anything the resurgence of instant printers and cameras has taught us, it’s that people still love having physical copies of their favorite photos. These instant printers make creating those physical copies as easy as possible, with Bluetooth connectivity and prints that are made to last for years to come.
If we were buying right now, we’d strongly recommend the Canon Selphy Square QX10, which prints square photos that can last for as long as a century. It comes in a variety of colors, and Canon has a long-running legacy of high-quality printing with vibrant colors. The QX10 is relatively compact and easy to tuck into a pocket or bag, and it’s built to withstand drops and the elements.
For a bit less money, you can pick up the Polaroid ZIP or the Instax Mini Link. Either prints out fun, tiny photos with adhesive backings and has plenty of built-in editing tools for stickers, borders, and so on. Whichever printer you buy, the important thing is that you go out and make new memories as often as possible!
