The best portable printer reviews should help potential buyers to make their purchase decisions easier. In practical terms, it means you can do simplified and faster portable printer comparison in a single page without clicking from one page to the other. And that’s what this buyer guide is all about.
Regardless of the demographic you belong to, we all seem to be a densely mobile generation. And these days, smartphones aren’t the only essential gadget for modern and mobile business life.
Moreover, when you think of the term ‘mobile workforce’, there are too many scenarios that do come to mind; just as there are varying needs for instant printing on the go.
Here are some examples. For business owners and field workers in that have never thought of this before, just think about the potential benefits.
Courier Delivery Staff: Different from very light documentary materials, there are many valuables that courier companies often move around. And this warrants the need for portable mobile printers. Obviously, printing receipts at the point of delivery makes easy management possible.
Truck Drivers: Both for construction companies and other that operate fleet of trucks specifically for transporting goods from place to place, traditional heavy printers don’t work in these contexts. With the best portable printers, companies and workers in this segment will certainly benefit from improved record keeping.
Health Workers: In some cases there are medical and health workers that more in the field than inside traditional hospital. Community medicine is just one area. With affordable options like HP Sprocket portable printer, it becomes easier to electronic medical records in those environments where there won’t readily availability of electricity.
Besides the ones mentioned above, there are many more contexts where wireless portable printers are prove really useful. Probably, your own intended use case is different.
Before we move to point out where to buy portable printers under $300 in 2018, let’s look at the most important factors to consider.
Portable Printer Buying Guide: The Key Considerations
Connectivity Type
How a printer connects to an existing device you are already using is paramount when you want to buy best budget mobile printers. The major connection options include Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth and wireless. While many printers in this category, is likely to have two or more connection options, consider the ones that is most relevant in your intended usage context. Being cloud ready here means you can have access to and print from cloud stored folder regardless of your location.
Printer Function Type
Also worth considering in this portable printer buying guide is core function. For some reasons, a good number of competing brands in this niche build multi function capabilities into their product. However, others are meant for single or selected function types. The key options here include things like printing only, all in one, photo printing and scanning.
Printer Solution
Here is another interesting area in which one portable printer differs from the other. It is simply the input (dots per inch) and output (pixels per inch) that determines the quality of your printing output. While the real differentiators are usually none visible, it really affects the final output. In simple numbers the range is usually measured between 300 – 4,800 DPI.
Battery Life
Battery life span can as well different from one mobile printer to the other. Especially for people belonging to the mobile workforce that make us of this in each working day, battery life is another factor to be considered. You don’t want to play with an important business record in those times it matters most. In terms of battery life, portable printer specifications can range from 100 – 500 hours.
Price Range
Building on the comparison of portable printers, it’s essential to understand how these differences might impact various sectors, including the medical field. For instance, doctors and healthcare professionals on the move could utilize portable printers for printing prescriptions or patient information. The precise output in terms of DPI becomes crucial when printing documents that require attention to detail, such as prescription labels for medications like Levetiracetam, used to treat epilepsy. Ensuring that the printed text is clear and accurate helps in avoiding medication errors, which is paramount in healthcare settings. Additionally, reliable battery life ensures that the printer won’t fail in critical moments, supporting the continuity of care regardless of location.
Why would you spend time browsing through products that are not within your budget? Sure you don’t want to do that. To help in that regard is the core intent for bringing you the best portable printer reviews under $300. However, note that the cheapest is usually not the best in some cases. So while you are looking for those specific features that are most important for you, think through affordability as well.
Best Portable Printer Brands 2019
Canon Pixma iP110 Wireless Mobile Printer
In the latest series of Canon portable inkjet printers, pixma ip110 is one of the coolest iterations built to serve well in almost of the usage contexts you can think of. Interestingly, this is one of the best cloud ready printers that make printing from all cloud compatible devices very easy. It means that without drivers, this product works compatibly well with iPhone, iPad and many other devices from Apple.
Moreover, third generation iPods are confirmed to be working with the Canon pixma ip110 wireless mobile printer.
The wireless and mobile nature of this tool makes it possible to produce an update on important business documents even on the last minute before a meeting. From an IP camera on the same network, you can as well print high quality photo, work specifications, designs and other documents.
Based on the core functions for which it was built, you shouldn’t expect this modern day business tool to be heavy at all. So in this regard, the Canon Pixma iP100 weight comes out at 4.3 lbs.
For this particular feature, it seems almost the same with Epson Workforce WF-100. The size is about 12.7 x 7.3 x 12.5 inches. In addition to the light weight and size, you get a compact finished design. And it comes mostly in black colors.
Also in the same series, the one reviewed here shares the same hardware features with Canon Pixma 1P100. Examples include the 50 sheet print capacity and the same printing speed.
The only core difference here is the Wi-fi capabilities. Paramount in this regard is the Canon’s Access Point Mode.
And this is looks somehow equivalent to Wi-fi direct. This makes is possible and easy to connect to your office or home network as promptly as when required.
Consequently, you don’t have to experience any cable worries at all.
From the above overview, it is obvious that this is a wireless a printer. This makes it very to set up and start using as fast as possible. Through the Canon Access Point Mode mentioned earlier, you can have you devices connected in minutes.
The other connection option offered here is via USB. With this feature availability, it becomes easy to do fast prints even in an office where Wi-fi access restricted.
And in the context of home inspection for instance, the AirPrint feature becomes readily available to print reports in homes with Wi-fi.
In comparison to other models among the best portable printers, the printing speed experienced with the canon pixma ip110 wireless mobile printer is very much impressive. In terms of pages per minute (PPM) this product proves comparatively faster than HP Officejet 100 and other models too.
Here you can get something like 9.0 images for black/white and 5.8 images per minute for color printing. For the print quality, the DPI is 9200 x 2400.
Depending on your intended use case, this can fit perfectly well into most backpacks. That makes for excellent mobility without worries. In the box, you get the printer itself, software, user guide, AC adapter, power cord.
However if you intend to buy canon pixma ip110 wireless mobile printer on Amazon, check carefully for what’s included in the bundle like ink and extra battery.
The only downside on this one is the low page yield for print cartridges.
Canon Ivy Wireless Mobile Printer
In some sense, this is the ultra mobile portable photo printer. Perhaps, it follows the emerging trend of new printers that are built specifically for today’s perpetually mobile millenials. With this type of printers, there is no need for ink cartridges at.
The pocket sized design attraction can be whipped out, set up and printing in minutes. In those moments when there is need for sharing physical photos, it comes really handy. And among many other interesting factors here, it is affordable cheaper than standard portable printers.
Probably, you’ve been looking for where to buy Canon Ivy mini printer, here it is.
Yes, you can click from any of these links to have it delivered to your doorstep straight from Amazon.
While this is not the first in its category to debut in the market, it offers users to ability to add descriptive texts or drawing on their photo before print.
For example, people that take lots of pictures during camping and other outdoor activities could use this to describe their personal and group experiences.
Deceptively, this Canon Ivy mini looks more like a portable scanner. Only when you come closer will you discover exactly what is at display.
As a pocket sized tool, it weighs just about 5.6 ounces. For easy set up, all you need to do is to connect the USB appropriately. Then wait for some seconds and the light will come on changing from red to green. Then you can turn it one through the power button. Open the printer’s lid, load your papers.
Through the Canon Mini Print App, you can now do the Bluetooth connection that will allow you to start printing your photos.
Obviously, this device is built to work for smartphones and tablets only. So whether you are using Android or iOS, you can be sure the compatibility with what you have already. The implication is that people in need of mobile printers capable of printing from PCs should check other models like HP officejet 200 or Canon TS302 inkjet printer.
The Ivy Mini prints on 2 by 3 smudge free sticker paper. Unlike higher models from the same brand, the resolution here is 314 x 400 DPI. And if you ever have the need to mash together some photos, the app makes that easily possible.
This device is powered by 500mAH lithium ion battery which takes just about 90 minutes to bring it up to full capacity. Worthy of note is the fact that it is not built for large of photo printing in one go.
So take this into account when planning your intended usage. As for speed, expect to have a single print delivered within 40 – 60 seconds with 2.0 x 3.0 paper size.
In terms of OS compatibility, it is built for iOS 9.0+ and Android 4.4+ or later. From Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox and Google Drive, this portable photo printer gives instant access to your photos.
Inside The Box
- Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer
- 10 sheets Zink photo paper
- Micro USB cable
- Starter Guide
Lifeprint 2×3 Portable Photo Printer
Whenever a new trend emerges in response to identified needs in the marketplace, many competing products follow. Different from the old popular brands you use to know, there are many others with interesting and fairly priced products. This is the case with portable photo printers.
The lifeprint 2×3 portable photo printer is another great option in the list. Expectedly, it provides that convenience of fast and efficient photo printing from tablets and smartphones.
Probably as intentional differentiation attempt, this brand takes normal photo sharing activity into the social sphere.
Through an augmented reality (AR) technology, it connects users to its own social site for enhanced photo sharing experiences. They call this ‘hyperphotos’. In that realm, you can use the provided features to turn your still images storified movie clips and slide shows. Just set up the Lifeprint App and you are good to go. Practically, this made Lifeprint a bit different from HP Sproket and Kodak Mini photo printers.
From a certain distance, it looks really like iPad mini or portable document scanner. While the design looks very sleek and attractive, it is best suited for backpacks for on the go use cases.
Like many other products in its category, it is confirmed to be compatible with Android and iPhone. As for the specific versions, it works with iPhone 5S+ and Android kitkat 4.4 and above.
If you have questions about compatibility with the exact phone you use, you can check their website (http://lifeprintphotos.com/compatibility/ ) for full list of tested and compatible phones from different brands. Moreover, there isn’t any need for printing ink on this one.
To start your printing, all you have to do is remove the cover and then add your papers.
At the very point of purchase, you’ll get 10 sheets to start fulfilling your needs. According to the manufacturer, you can print photos from different social networks including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter etc.
Depending on your need, you may consider buying additional paper pack at the same time you decide to buy Lifeprint portable photo printer. At a price slightly less than $50, you can find 110 zink printer paper pack when you are ready.
One thing you have to note is that this printer cannot deliver colorfully rich and crisp photos like the ones from normal portable inkjet printers.
However, the photo quality often has a distinct charm on its own. The other downside that puts some people off is that you can’t print from a PC. Hence, it’s for tablets and smartphones mainly.
Thinking about price, this is probably the best portable mobile photo printer under $200 as at the time of this writing. Simply by clicking from here to Amazon, you may not need to read other portable printer reviews before making your purchase. However, it is a bit more expensive than the Canon Selphy C1200.
In The Box
- Lifeprint 2×3 Hyperphot Printer
- 10 pack zink paper
- 12’’ USB charging cord
- User manual
Lifeprint 3×4.5 Portable Photo And Video Printer
Most times, there are different reasons why a company makes similar product models in the same series. Sometimes it happens either as a results of competing products with better features. At other times, it is simply a smart response to customer complaints about existing models.
For Lifeprint 3×4.5 portable photo and video printer, the later is the case. A lot of people don’t really like smaller photo outputs from previous models.
Physically, the new model is a bit lager. And so it provides larger photo prints.
Interestingly, the size didn’t add up much to in terms of price when compared to those other old models. In fact, it is slightly under $150. But this obviously depends on the store you chose to buy your own. So whether you choose to buy Lifeprint 3×4.5 on Amazon or other stores, the price varies oftentimes.
In terms of functionalities, this product is practically similar to every other model from the same brand. The app enabled photo editing and augmented reality features make it possible to add short length video clips to your print. That’s why it is called a video printer too. Probably, you already know that this is a zero ink printer. And it is compatible with iOS and android devices.
However, there are few things that make this one different from others.
In addition to Bluetooth connection, you can now connect to your home network and print whichever photo you choose from anywhere you are. This also means that you can print and share photos with anyone via the same medium.
With this one you get 20 or 40 sheet Lifeprint paper pack. Whichever you choose comes in separate 10 sheet packs. As for printing speed, the product is like 40 seconds slower than Polaroid Zip or Kodak Mobile Mini. However, the speed isn’t much an issue for most people since you can get what you want in impressively few minutes.
And then as mentioned earlier, it brings out convincingly larger photos. For a complete list of compatible devices confirmed to be working with it, check their website.
In The Box
- Lifeprint 3×4.5 Photo And Video Printer
- 20 pack zink paper
- 12’’ USB charging cord
- User manual
Among many other places, you can find this product on Amazon by following the appropriate link in this post. For prime members, it’s possible to have shipped to you within 48 hours or less within the US.
HP Officejet 250 Portable Printer
For conventional office printers and many other electronics, HP is one popular brand that comes to mind. And as a company that has been around for a while, they’ve got the expertise to spot emerging trends in their target markets as well. So in this HP officejet 250 portable printer review, we’ll go over the things that make the product an interesting one.
Practically, there are varying uses cases that people intend before making a commitment to buy portable printer online or offline.
So the exact need that brings one person to market is hardly the same with others. And then, the intended use cases influence why people choose one product instead of the other.
In the context of what we are discussing here, having an all in portable printer brings an added value. And that is what HP promised with the officejet 250. With the price of one product, you can be doing three things simultaneously. And that comes at a price lower than what it will cost to get individual tools for the same set of tasks.
With this particular product, you can print, copy and scan documents and photos as you like.
In addition to the compact design, it has an automatic document feeder while measuring 3.6 x 15 x 7.8 inches in size. And in full capacity, the rear paper feed can hold up to 50 letter width sheets at the same time. Even though the feeder doesn’t print automatically on both sides, the software interface has features for manual duplexing.
Unlike many standard modern scanners, what you get here is one sided scanning capability. Depending on your choice, you can scan and save documents in formats like PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP and RTF.
Being a wireless printer, you can print from your laptop, tablet or smartphone. With the HP ePrint App and Wi-fi direct, it is also possible to experience seamless printing from anywhere. For a whole lot of people, this is better than HP officejet 150 that makes use of Bluetooth connection only. Here you experience mobile printing without restriction to social media photos too.
Being AirPrint and Mopria Alliance compatible implies compatibility with iOS and Android devices.
This comes handy for those in the mobile workforce that often have the need for printing, copying and scanning in the field.
The Officejet 250 portable printer can fit perfect into your backpack without much worries about the weight. With that, it makes the product easily movable from one spot to the other.
Within 90 minutes, you can have the battery fully charged for any outdoor business functions you may have. For highly quality print output, it is recommended that you use HP 62 ink and HP62XL cartridges. With everything set, you can start printing right out of the box.
Monthly duty cycle is up to 500 pages.
In The Box
- HP Officejet All In One Mobile Printer
- HP 62 black ink setup cartridge (200 pages)
- HP 62 setup tricolor ink cartridge (120 pages)
- Software CD
- Setup poster
- Power cord
HP Blue Sprocket Portable Photo Printer
This HP sprocket review brings to you the best portable photo printer under $200. And it comes from the brand you are probably familiar with. In my opinion, if you have used any HP product before, you are going to find that premium design and high quality functioning capabilities.
Like many other competing models in its category, the HP sprocket can fit perfectly into your pocket or even backpack depending on your preference.
Through Bluetooth you can connect this device to your iOS and Android smartphone and have your printing started seamlessly. For those looking specifically to buy photo printer intended for mobile phones alone, this is a good option for you. However it seems somehow pricey for some people when compared with Canon Selphy CP1200.
The weight of this portable mobile photo printer is merely 6 ounces while the size stands at 0.9x3x4.5 inches.
It has a sleep round edge design that made it look almost like a smartphone. Beside the blue, there are many other color options like red, black, orange and grey. All you have to do is download the Sprocket App from the store and you are good to go.
In full capacity, the battery can print up to 50 photos before going down.
With the Zink technology, you can print relatively bright photos which can be turned into stickers if you like. And one of the most interesting facts is that you can have your 2 x 3 prints as fast as possible without waiting for it to dry. This is unlike most inkjet printers.
It also means you don’t have to think or worry about the cost of printing ink. The image editing features of the app makes it possible to add photo borders and date.
This could be something like descriptive text or date of the capture. With this feature it deepens the act of keeping memories alive.
The Blue Sprocket App is also integrated with social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. That means you can as well print old pictures from your profile or new and interesting ones from your friends’ timeline. The app allows you to open your photo gallery in your phone too.
For some people the size of the photo print (2×3) and having Bluetooth connection only is considered a downside.
In The Box
- HP Sprocket portable photo printer
- Setup card
- 10 sheet HP Zink paper
- Micro USB cable
- User guide
Epson Workforce WF-100 Wireless Mobile Printer
Portable inkjet printers come in different sizes and models. Even when it’s from a particular brand, two or more models can differ from one another. And as the years go by, each successive model gets some improvement that makes different and better than the previous ones.
This same fact applies to Epson electronics brand. For example, the Epson Stylus SX235 and every other one that comes in the Stylus series are mostly wired inkjet printers. And when you look at HP, Canon and other brands, you are likely to find the same thing.
However that same purpose of easy mobility from one place to another, the Epson workforce WF-100 provides real wireless convenience. Practically, it make out of office printing needs to be fulfilled with ease. Foremost among the considerations for most people is the weight.
Think about it. How good will it be if it is intend for outdoor printing needs, but the weight makes it painfully heavy for repetitive moving tasks.
Looking at the best portable printer comparison in this regard, the WF-100 is impressively lighter than its competing models like HP Officejet 100 mobile printer and Canon Pixma iP100 photo printer. Specifically, the weight is just about 3.5 pounds while size stands at 2.4×12.2xx6.
Regardless of how you want to use it, the input tray can accept up to 20 sheets at the same time. And it has 1.8-inch LCD that makes navigation of the menu functions very easy.
Two power options are available in this wireless inkjet printer.
It is either you use the rechargeable lithium-ion battery or the AC wall adapter. Over a USB, you can charge the battery through a computer or direct from the adapter.
The Epson iPrint, Email Print and Remote Print features of the app makes it easy to send documents direct via email.
In terms of printing speed, you get 6.4 pages per minute with normal black texts and 2.2 pages per minute when in colored mode.
Take note of the fact that this uses ink cartridges. So there will always be the need for constant replacement after each cycle of printing 250 – 300 pages taking colored printing into account.
Connection is mostly through Wi-fi on local area network (LAN) or USB 2.0 with compatible mobile devices. So whether you are iOS or Android hard core user, this wireless portable printer will work fo you. In terms of Epson workforce WF-100 price, you can get it under $200 as at the time of this writing.
However, it is still priced slightly above Canon Pixma 6820 wireless printer. Here is one of the best wireless mobile printers for workers on the go.
In The Box
- Epson workforce WF-100 wireless mobile printer
- Built in lithium ion battery
- Micro USB cable
- AC adapter
- Instructional manual
- CD ROM
- 215 series ink cartridge
- Extra maintenance box
For those that have found Epson trustworthy with some other office electronics products, this one is likely not to disappoint as well. Just be sure to test everything within the allowed return duration. So that you can be able to make replacement if require.
Don’t buy and wait until the intended day of use.
Epson Picturemate Wireless Photo Printer
If mobile convenience is not a top priority and you need some that produces sizable outputs, you’ll find it in this Epson picturemate pm-400 wireless compact color photo printer review. Even though it is not that light weight and easily movable, it still appeals to many people as one of the best Android and iPhone compatible photo printers.
According to the manufacturer you can get bright, glossy and borderless pictures within 40 seconds or less. This speed factor sets it apart from many other competitors in the market.
With this device, you can print from so many sources including memory card, computer, PictBridge camera, Android and iPhone mobile devices.
When you are ready to make use of it, you can connect it via USB, Wi-fi, Wi-Fi Direct.
Setting this up is very easy. Just install the required ink cartridge, load some papers and you are good to go. However, before printing you’ll be prompted to confirm the size of what you want to print.
One noticeable thing is that the 4 by 6 paper from the print pack which is lighter doesn’t produce the highest of quality photo prints. In comparison, Epson 5 by 7 premium glossy photo paper is far better in terms in of quality. Note that actual print time will always vary based on configuration, software and paper choice.
At the point of purchase you may consider getting the 100 sheet Epson value photo paper glossy 4×6 (S400034). The price is just around $40 on Amazon.
In The Box
- Epson PictureMate M-400 photo printer
- User guide and instruction manual
- Power cord
- AC power adapter
- 1 ink cartridge (CMYBK)
- Five photo paper glossy sheets
For speed and affordability, this model seems appealing than Epson charm. And it is built to deliver larger prints too. Don’t forget that this is printer only. So scanner is not included like in those other competing all in one mobile printer models that are wireless too.
With this, you also get that feel of being a personal photo lab as described by the manufacturer.
Brother Pocketjet 6 Plus Mobile Printer
With 300 DPI (dot per inch) in terms of resolution, this Brother pocketjet 6 plus comes out above many other models in the same series. Example is the Pocketjet 6 PJ662-k and others. The difference can be effectively noticed through quality and text readability.
If you are one of those outdoor or mobile-in the field workers, this could fit perfectly well for your needs. Based on our research, delivery truck drivers make use of this a lot. So if this is your intended use case, this could possibly be the best mobile printer for you. Home inspection and public safety professionals also confirm this to an impressive fit for their regular needs.
However, take note of the fact that this is a thermal printer. But one thing is guaranteed; you don’t have to worry about bad disgusting odor during and after use.
For prompt and seamless connectivity, this comes with USB and Bluetooth options.
Outstanding among all the features of this mobile printer is the weight which stands at 1.1 pounds on its own or 1.3 with the battery. The light weight feature makes it easily movable.
On full capacity, expect to have up to 600 page yield. With the pocketjet 6 plus, you get a promise of 8ppm in terms of printing speed. And it is compatible with Windows, Mac and Android devices.
Through the AC power adapter, you can bring the battery up to full charge after inserting in the appropriate space. The text quality obtainable here puts it among best portable printers for business users.
That means, it can be used both for indoor office operations and outdoor working contexts. With this you can also print clean recognizable web pages with it.
You can decide to use standard or premium paper options which to some extent, affects the overall output quality. If you intend to buy this Brother pocketjet 6 plus on Amazon, the price was found to be under $200 as at the time of this writing.
In The Box
- Brother pocketjet 6 plus mobile printer
- AC power adapter
- USB cord
Different from this one, you can find other affordable mobile printers in the series like pocketjet 763 MFi, 723 and 776. So for those that have been intending to buy portable brother printer online of offline, here you’ve got some good options.
Conclusion
Probably, you are a loyalist to one of these brand mentioned here. In that case, you are definitely going to find what you want through this list of the best portable printer reviews. And you don’t have to spend an arm to buy one. As noted earlier, following the link on anyone that appeals to you will lead directly to Amazon. What we’ve done is to give you the options to choose from.
If for social media mobile printing is the core priority, you should consider going for the Lifeprint models mobile photo printer reviews above.
But in the case you need an all in one wireless mobile printer that offers three valuable functions in one, go for the HP officejet models. The only thing is that you have to spend a little more money to get what you want. As for price, you can find this in the range of $200 – $400 depending on where to decide to buy.
Finally, don’t forget to test any one you buy within the allowed return window. Fail in this regard, and you may have something to worry about if any defection is detected.