If we could lug around a big inkjet printer in our bags or purses, we would be called mad men. We would be leered at and made fun of. However, thanks to modern and advanced technology, you can now sit in a café and print photos right from your smart phone device and once you are done, you can put it away in your pocket!
There are quite a few out there and finding the best 4×6 photo printer can be quite daunting if you are new to this. But stick to us, especially the DIY-ers, and you'll find your perfect match in no time.
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5. KiiPix Portable Photo Printer
7. KODAK Smile Instant Digital Printer
| PRODUCT | IMAGE QUALITY | WEIGHT | PRINT SIZE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodak Dock | 300 DPI | 1.68 pounds | 4 x 6 inches | |
| Polaroid ZIP | 15"/minute | 6.7 ounces | 2 x 3 inches | |
| Canon IVY | 400 DPI | 5.6 ounces | 2 x 3 inches | |
| Canon SELPHY CP1300 | 300 DPI | 1.9 lbs | up to 4 x 6 inches | |
| KiiPix Portable Photo Printer | 300 DPI | 13 ounces | up to 3.4 x 2.1 inches | |
| Canon Selphy CP1200 | 300 DPI | 1.9 lbs | up to 3.9 x 5.8 inches | |
| KODAK Smile Instant Digital Printer | - | 1 lbs | 2 x 3 inches | |
| Lifeprint Portable Printer | - | 1.1 lbs | 3 x 4.5 inches | |
| SereneLife PICKIT22BK | 291 DPI | 9.6 ounces | 2 x 3.5 inches |
While this may not be pocket sized, as in you may not be able to carry it in your back pocket, it is still portable. It has one-touch printing that allows you to scan photos directly from your smartphone. Connectivity is amazing since it connects over both WiFi and even has a USB port.
It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices that has a universal dock. Just connect your data cable to your phone, connect the dock, and push very sleek one-touch button. It has a feeding tray and your prints will come flying out just in time for it to be "caught" in the tray.
The Kodak Dock App is a neat little app that lets you make adjustments, ad filters and stickers, and many more fun designs to your photos before you hit print. Perhaps the finest feature of the Kodak Dock is the fact that it can charge your phone and the printer while you are printing.
The Kodak Dock prints perfect 4 x 6-inches photographs that are perfect for scrapbooking, collage making, or even sticking on the door of your refrigerator. Picture quality is impeccable and the color never fades or "bleeds" out making a horrible mess. Kodak Dock being one of the pioneers of the camera world, they know exactly what they're doing.
Highlighted Features
The first thing that comes to mind when you decide to buy a photo printer is that you have to buy toner cartridges as well. Well, this smartphone sized printer, Polaroid ZIP practically run on no ink and fresh prints are dry to the touch. They are even waterproof and has a sticky peel back so that you can stick it as a birthday surprise for your mom on the kitchen counter!
The vibrancy on the colors are very accurate and very true to the actual settings in the phone. So, the better camera phone you have, the better quality prints you are likely to get. It runs on WiFi so there is no need for additional wires to switch it one. Just connect the Polaroid ZIP through your smartphone or tablet and you are set!
It prints 2 x 3 inches of photos. Granted they are far smaller than the Kodak Dock, but the Polaroid ZIP was made to make memories on the go anywhere, anytime. The photos are tear resistant and smudge proof so you can carry it in your wallet or even your purse.
All your prints come flying out within a minute and all you'll feel is pure joy. Download the integrated Polaroid ZIP app to make adjustments to create humorous memories if you are travelling. You can literally make a whole album on a trip!
Highlighted Features
Canon IVY is by far the most adorable looking mini photo printer we have had our hands on. Weighing at just about 5.6 ounces, it's like a mini power bank that you can slip in your pocket wherever you go. The front facing body is white the back come in three cute colors - rose gold, mint green, and slate grey.
Wires, be gone! Connect over Bluetooth so that you can connect with your smartphone devices and directly print from social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Google Drive, Dropbox, iOS cloud, etc.
It comes with two different films, a pack of 20 sheets and a pack of 50 sheets so if you happen to like your photo printer a little too much, you can go for the 50-sheet pack.
All the sheets have a sticky back so that you can pull of the sticker and stick it around your dorm room wall, a collage board, scrapbook, or even make a photo album. The photos are 2x 3 inches in size but the 400 DPI gives very accurate color details that are crisp and sharp.
You can download the Canon IVY app from your respective app store to connect and operate the mini photo printer. Hence, you might want to download it beforehand. You can make cool edits, add filters, create edgy black and white prints and perhaps build a shrine of all your photographs.
Highlighted Features
Like the Kodak Dock, the Canon SELPHY CP1300 is a more deskbound photo printer but not as heavy as you would think. It weighs about two pounds so mobility is still a plus. We would deem it a more practical and sensiblephoto printer for its various features and tidbits that others photo printers lack.
Firstly, it comes in two sleek colors - white and black. The printing type is dye sublimation so your photos will dry quicker and won't fade. They are waterproof and they will be the way they are for centuries to come. If you have ever noticed, old photos tend to get spotty with age or get damaged. This won't happen with this one.
Secondly, connectivity is widely versatile - you can either use your camera's memory card, plug it in using USB plug or use the backup battery that comes with it. This allows you to print non-stop without ever having the need to stop to recharge it. But it is highly suggestible you give it some rest!
There is a tilting LCD screen where you can make edits and watch the pints come out fresh on to the output tray. It can hold up to 18 photos at a time. And do not worry about the photos sticking together. They dry instantly to the touch and thus won't stick to each other.
Highlighted Features
KiiPix Portable Photo Printer is like a polaroid camera but for smartphones. It's an unusual looking device that has two flap covers that are foldable to keep it compact. You have to open it to place your phone over it and a reflective mirror inside the machine detects your photo to give a polaroid photo.
Polaroid cameras can be quite expensive with the additional cost of buying films. Camera quality is also how you would expect from a polaroid camera but the KiiPix Portable Photo Printer is a smart solution to that. When we first saw it, we were taken aback by its unconventional shape and size. So, we looked at a how-to video and, to be honestly, it finally makes sense.
Granted it's a little weird, but imagine this: you have the latest iPhone or Android device with stunning camera resolution. Just pop it atop the flap covers with the help of the white cut out film that is inside the device, and let the reflective mirror do the rest of the job. Wait a couple of seconds and you have a great polaroid photo.
However, a minor drawback is the fact that it supports only FUJIFILM Instax mini film that is not even included. So that might differ the price tag a little but hey, here's to trying out new things.
Highlighted Features
Well, you are well aware of the different types of photo printers out there. You have your inkjet printers, laser printers, and also dye sublimation printers. They all come in different shapes and sizes, some wireless while others are tethered to some sort of wire connection. But the question still remains, what kind do you want?
There are portable printers that you can fit in your pocket and can charge it on the go, while others are more desk bound. If you want your priceless moments to be scanned out immediately on the go, a mini portable printer could be beneficial. However, we wouldn't recommend these for business type situations.
Usually, mini portable printers can take up to two to three minutes to print a single picture. While it may be frustrating, we would like to tell you to hold on. It is in fact a mini device with loads of gizmos fitted in its core. The hardware needs time to process to give you the most amazing quality photos on the go.
It is advisable to not let your printer print too many photos in one go. Allow some time for it to rest before you put it to work again. It can heat up and mishaps might take place and it is better to be safer than sorry. Other than that, have fun printing!
This is perhaps the most important factor to consider. With bigger printers you can expect 1,200 DPI or even 2,400 DPI that will give fantastically clear and life-like images.
However, that is not the case for mini portable photo printers. Do not be disheartened because this is a portable photo printer meant to make collages or memories on the go.
With the best photo printer for 4×6 print, you can expect amazing photo quality at about 300 DPI or 400 DPI. Of course, the higher the resolution, the higher is the cost. That is something you need to consider and compromise or even agree to. The decision is yours.
Since it is a mini portable photo printer, there is the issue of charging it. Make sure your printer has at least a power rating of 24 watts and the charging dock is universal. In case, you lose it or it gets damaged, you can perhaps replace it with similar docks at home. However, that might cause the printer to charge slow.
Read the specifications well, typically you would want your printer to be fully charged within an hour or two. Be extra wary of that, try it out while purchasing to make sure the claims are true.
Kodak Dock Plus 4x6” Portable Instant Photo Printer (2021 Edition), Compatible with iOS, - Walmart Link
Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer - Walmart Link
HP Sprocket Studio Photo Printer – Personalize & Print, Water- Resistant 4x6" Pictures - Walmart Link
Epson PictureMate PM-400 Wireless Compact Color Photo Printer - Walmart Link
Kodak Dock & Wi-Fi Portable 4x6” Instant Photo Printer, Premium Quality Full Color Prints - Walmart Link
Liene 4x6'' Photo Printer, Wi-Fi Picture Printer, 20 Sheets, Full-Color Photo, Photo - Walmart Link
4. Canon SELPHY CP1300 - Walmart Link
5. KiiPix Portable Photo Printer - Walmart Link
6. Canon Selphy CP1200 - Walmart Link
7. KODAK Smile Instant Digital Printer - Walmart Link
8. Lifeprint Portable Printer - Walmart Link
Kodak Dock Plus 4x6” Portable Instant Photo Printer (2021 Edition), Compatible with iOS, - eBay Link
Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer - eBay Link
HP Sprocket Studio Photo Printer – Personalize & Print, Water- Resistant 4x6" Pictures - eBay Link
Epson PictureMate PM-400 Wireless Compact Color Photo Printer - eBay Link
Kodak Dock & Wi-Fi Portable 4x6” Instant Photo Printer, Premium Quality Full Color Prints - eBay Link
Liene 4x6'' Photo Printer, Wi-Fi Picture Printer, 20 Sheets, Full-Color Photo, Photo - eBay Link
4. Canon SELPHY CP1300 - eBay Link
5. KiiPix Portable Photo Printer - eBay Link
6. Canon Selphy CP1200 - eBay Link
7. KODAK Smile Instant Digital Printer - eBay Link
8. Lifeprint Portable Printer - eBay Link
Priceless memories need to be able to archived and while we understand the convenience of storing photos in cloud-based platforms, there is a sense of heartfelt affection when you can memorialize these moments in a physical album.
Now that you know all the nitty-gritty of the best 4×6 photo printer, go on and make that college album or a nice family gathering during Christmas. Bonus fact about having a 4 x 6 printer is that you easily scan them, document them and declutter your phone space! Now there's a neat little life hack!
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About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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