The holidays are prime time to get together with your loved ones, and take lots of pictures. While you can easily snap them on your phone and post them directly on social media, there’s something special about a printed photo.
This inventive little device doesn’t require much space and lets you have physical photos of your memories in moments. It’s great to have while hosting a party and also makes for a great gift for anyone in your life who loves taking pictures or making collages or scrapbooks.
Like most things on the web, there are an onslaught of options for portable photo printers, making it hard to choose the best one. Whether you’re looking for one for yourself or looking to buy one as a gift, we asked some of our favorite scrapbookers, photographers and lifestyle content creators about their favorite mini printers.
“I believe printing out photos is such an intentional act because we want to remember those moments tangibly,” Adriana Penberthy, scrapbook and craft journal content creator, told HuffPost. “Mini printers ensure that the quality of our memories isn’t lost.”
To grab your own mini printer before the holidays go full swing, here’s what we and our photo-loving friends recommend.
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Scrapbooker Adriana Penberthy recommends the Canon Selphy CP1500, calling it a "powerful" printer. "The colors are spot on, the quality is crisp, and the printer adds on a layer of protection when printing to ensure your photos will last a lifetime — it’s the best!" she said.
This same model has been recommended by shopping managing editor Emily Ruane, who used it years ago while assisting a casting director. Per Ruane, the small but mighty machine printed large quantities of crisp, sharp headshots almost instantly. "The printing method ensures that pictures come out totally dry and water-resistant and you can easily print from your phone or computer using Wi-Fi, AirPrint, USB connection or just by sticking your camera’s memory card right into a port on the printer," she said.
There's been a major resurgence of instant-print photos, largely led by the ever-popular Fujifilm Instax camera, which prints adorable mini photos (measuring about 2 inches by 2.5 inches) in that classic film look. (We're using "Polaroid" as shorthand here, as these aren't Polaroid-branded products — those are coming further down our list.)
If you love the film of old-school photos but don't have a film camera or want to turn any iPhone photo into a cute print, Ear Kit founder and TikTok user Amanda Harper Fink and scrapbooker Angelica Manchau both recommended the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link, which prints digital photos on Instax film.
"The Mini Link printer is great if you love that vintage aesthetic," Harper Fink told HuffPost. "And you can reverse-engineer your favorite iPhone photos onto Instax film."
Harper Fink, who makes remarkable scrapbook-like "junk journals" owns a few mini printers and said this one is a favorite.
"It’s such a fun way to bring memories to life!" Manchau added.
Fujifilm Instax also makes a compact portable square printer that connects instantly to your phone with Bluetooth. Use the Instax app to edit and adapt your pictures before they print and enjoy the old-school style of the square frames. Enjoy the rechargeable battery and easy carrying compact size and watch your photos print in around 90 seconds.
Looking to print a photo that's going to go into a frame? We got you. lifestyle content creator Lesly Gonzalez suggests this everything-included option from HPRT. "Love it because the photo comes out so clear!" she told HuffPost. She also loves that it is portable, adding: "So easy and lightweight to pack! Perfect for on the go!"
That option prints traditional 4-inch-by-6-inch photos but also can print multiple smaller photos in that space in a grid. This option does need a ribbon and comes with one included. (You can buy a set with extra film and two ribbons.) This printer coats photos with a protective layer that keeps them from scratching, fading or getting water damage. Snag the $20 coupon for some additional savings.
If you're happy with HP functionality but want a traditional 4-inch-by-6-inch photo, try the brand's “Sprocket Studio” printer that uses dye sublimation technology for a longer-lasting print. It offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and reviewers say it's perfect for small spaces. It's compatible with the same app as the Sprocket above that enables you to design and edit photos before printing. This printer does require a separate ink cartridge, which you can buy in a bundle with the brand's photo paper here.
Another option for 4-inch-by-6-inch prints, this Liene printer come with 100 film sheets and three color cartridges. It uses a thermal dye for vibrant colors in your photos, finishing each print with a laminated surface that's resistant to water, scratches, fingerprints and fading. This option has a built-in hot spot to easily connect with your devices, and it can print from up to five devices at the same time.
If you prefer a slightly bigger photo, the Fujifilm Instax Link printer functions much like the classic Mini Link, only it prints 3-inch-by-5-inch photos on Instax Wide film. Like the other version, it connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone and lets you turn any digital photo into a vintage-feeling instant print. Target reviewer Monty wrote: "Would make a great birthday, anniversary, graduation, religious/cultural/federal holiday, basically any occasion to need a gift, gift. Especially if they love photos or mention wanting great memories. Photos don’t have very crisp lines but still great for capturing the moments in life. Would be cool to include a pack of film."
Another Harper Fink and Manchau favorite (that's also pretty beloved by TikTok) is the HP Sprocket. It's a super slim, inkless printer that prints 2.3-inch-by-3.4-inch photos onto "stick-backed" paper, making it ideal for scrapbookers, journal enthusiasts and anyone who otherwise would need a glue stick. The machine works with “Zink” photo paper, which doesn't require ink, making your photos less likely to smudge. It's compatible with an app that lets you design your images before printing and add enhancements like filters, borders and graphics.
"I like the HP Sprocket because it’s inkless and also prints as a photo sticker," Manchau said. "This is super convenient for scrapbooking, so it’s definitely my go-to."
Harper Fink shared a similar sentiment. "I also love the HP Sprocket because it prints on sticker paper making it so easy to add photos into my journal," she said.
HuffPost shopping writer Haley Zovickian has and loves this Kodak mini photo printer. It prints (roughly) 2-inch-by-3-inch photos with a lamination coating that makes them fingerprint-proof and water-resistant. This bundle comes with 68 film sheets, meaning you can start printing photos the day you get it. Amazon reviewer Jquillen says it's "perfect for parties," as it charges fast and is easy to use in a group setting. The Kodak app allows you to add frames to your printed images.
Like Kleenex or Chapstick, Polaroid is a brand name — and it refers to a specific type of instant-print camera, not the instant print itself. Of course, no photo-printer list would be complete without a few options from the original Polaroid brand — like this super handy portable option. The Hi-Print gives you 2-inch-by-3-inch photos (which they call business-card-sized) on sticky-backed paper. It uses an internal dye sublimation cartridge to give you bright photos, which you can edit on the Polaroid app to look more vintage, or to add frames, filters and text. Grab some extra sticker paper here.
Another great option from Polaroid, this futuristic-looking device is also a portable printer that converts digital photos to Polaroid prints in the classic square Polaroid shape you know and love. Use the Polaroid app to add personal touches to your photos before the print. This option uses a three-part system where you put your phone face down on the lens, and the “camera” reads the image directly from the screen.
Reviewer Jared wrote: "AMAZING! Who wants to carry around a Polaroid camera to a hike, bar, or a concert? No one! Get the images of a Polaroid camera without the responsibility of one. Super easy to use and you get a big kick out of it. Make sure you have night shift off when you use it because it is super sensitive to colors. You can purchase two different types of film, Color or Black and White. Amazing product and also decoration for your room"
Another option from a big name in the photography world, this Ivy mini printer from Canon is designed to be incredibly portable and easy to use. It uses zero-ink (also known as “zink”) paper embedded with dye-based crystals that are intended to reduce mess and smudges. This option also lets you print onto sticky-back paper, and the Canon Mini Print App lets you make collages and choose filters for your pics.
Reviewer Josephine Cheung says, "I love this printer! I can use it to print out photos and different diagrams for school studying. It's the perfect size to put in my backpack or purse so I can print out anything I need wherever I am."
This comes in pink and white. The paper is sold separately here.