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Print on the Road With the Best Mobile Printers

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Print on the Road With the Best Mobile Printers

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A Buyer’s Guide to Buying the Best Mobile Printers

Mobile printers have completely reshaped the way we think about printing. Using these printers, you can say goodbye to waiting in a long printing queue or printing in bulk. The top mobile printers use the same inkjet technology and functionalities that we see in standard printers while offering a compact, sleek design that’s easy to slip into a laptop bag or a backpack. Adding to this, they come with a range of connectivity options and rechargeable battery packs, making life a whole lot easier. To help you navigate the online marketplace, we’ve listed some of the top mobile printers on the market!

What Is a Mobile Printer?

Mobile printers, like their name suggests, are printers that are mobile in design. Also called portable printers, these devices are just a more modern, compact version of the standard, bulky computer printers typically used in offices. Its primary benefit obviously comes from its portability, which makes it the perfect printing device for people who’re constantly on the road. 

What to Consider Before Buying a Mobile Printer

Portability

Probably the first thing to think about before picking a printer is its portability. The device needs to be lightweight and have just the right dimensions to be easy to carry around in a bag or a car.

Power

The battery life of a printer should be a key factor to consider if you’re planning to use your printer on the road. A lot of mobile printers now come with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, allowing you to continue printing even when you don’t have a wall outlet nearby. 

Connectivity

One of the main reasons for buying mobile printers is their ease of use and versatility. They don’t need any wires or cables to do their job, and this is where connectivity plays its role. You’ll want to make sure that the printer you go for is compatible with your device and can connect using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Some printers even offer Wi-Fi direct and other useful features that make printing a cinch.

What Are the Benefits of a Mobile Printer?

Productivity goes up

Having the ability to print whenever you want, wherever you want as an employee can aid an uptick productivity. You can just use your own mobile printer and have your prints ready whenever you need them—saving you a bunch of time at work.

Cost-effective

Adopting mobile printers can actually help you and your company in cutting down on costs. Having the means to print whenever you need to can help in reducing the paper and ink waste that usually comes with large printing jobs. People won’t be too worried about making additional prints because they’ll have their own printer that can do the job for them at their whim.

What Printing Technologies Are Used in Mobile Printers?

Zink photo paper

Short for zero-ink, these mobile printers use a special kind of paper with embedded chemicals that create the image by changing color when heated. While these prints are not the highest quality, they are pretty damage-resistant and on the cheaper end. 

Dye-sublimation

Also known as dye-sub printers, they use a dye-infused roll along with a special paper and heat to transfer the dye to the paper and get the prints.

Instant film

These printers use the same instant films used in some instant cameras to make physical prints. The formats are usually pretty small, and they can be a bit pricey as well.

01 HP Mobile Printer

The HP OfficeJet 200 is no doubt our top pick for the perfect mobile printer that doesn’t cut corners anywhere. The device is incredibly portable with its sleek dimensions and lightweight, five pound design. This makes it perfect for those who commute from place to place or navigate between two jobs.

This HP printer includes a two inch tilt-up display panel, a 50 sheet input tray, and dual-cartridge inkjet print. Along with the supreme quality of printing that it offers, this inkjet features an additional rechargeable battery and an AC power that fully charges the printer within 90 minutes. It can also handle paper sizes up to A4, and you can print from anywhere using Wi-Fi Direct.

Pros

  • Can easily be carried in a bag
  • Works with a wide range of papers
  • Superfast charging and long battery life

Cons

  • No paper storage
  • Ink is expensive
HP Mobile Printer

02 Canon Mobile Printer

The Canon PIXMA TR150 champions with its performance capabilities. Aside from having the option to save five custom templates and print them directly without needing any wires or cables, you can even print up to 330 high-quality pages on a full charge with the battery. With the Mopria print service, it’s never been easier to print whatever you need from your Android device.

This quality inkjet is also incredibly light and compact, making it all the more easy to carry around. It even comes with a detachable battery in the event you don’t have a wall outlet nearby.

Pros

  • Low ink costs and higher yield
  • Super portable
  • Optional battery

Cons

  • The battery is a bit pricey
Canon Mobile Printer

03 Epson Mobile Printer

The Epson Workforce WF-100 is the perfect mobile inkjet for more business geared purposes. Coming to you with a compact, sleek design it’s compatible with most devices and allows you to make super crisp prints using anything from an iPhone to smartphones. The package also includes a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that can be powered using a USB or an AC adapter.

It allows you to connect using Wi-Fi Direct or even a high-speed USB. While the Epson printer is exclusively compatible with Epson cartridges, the input tray can hold a maximum of only 20 sheets of plain paper.

Pros

  • Compatible with a range of devices
  • Super lightweight and portable
  • Works with Wi-Fi Direct

Cons

  • High ink cartridge cost
  • Low capacity of paper input
Epson Mobile Printer

04 Kodak Mobile Printer

Bring your digital creations to life by printing them out with the Kodak mobile mini printer! This incredible printer lets you connect with any Android or iOS device via NFC or Bluetooth, turning your digital selfies and photos into high-quality, detailed physical prints. With its Zink paper allowing you to save money that you would otherwise spend buying ink cartridges, ribbons, or toners, this Kodak printer is super portable and weighs less than a pound.

The Kodak app makes editing the pictures super fun, and the sticky-back paper lets you stick the prints wherever you want. While it can only be charged with a micro-USB, the battery is built into the device and lasts easily for around 25 prints.

Pros

  • Quality of the prints is amazing
  • Connectivity is pretty easy

Cons

  • Micro USB charge only
Kodak Mobile Printer

05 Fujifilm Mobile Printer

If you want the most accurate and detailed prints from a smartphone, then the Fujifilm Instax SP-3 is the way to go. This device can be connected to Wi-Fi and can easily turn digital photos on your smartphone or tablet into high-quality, flawless printed images. Editing has never been easier (and fun!) with the new Square Instax film that’s perfect for printing Instagram pictures.

This device even includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It has a super sleek and aesthetic design, and with it being lightweight it’s perfect for traveling, content creators, and those always on the go.

Pros

  • Prints are high quality 
  • Compatible with both Android and iOS

Cons

  • Cost per print is a bit high
Fujifilm Mobile Printer

People Also Asked

Do mobile printers have scanners?

To save space and maintain its small size, most mobile printers tend to skip out on the scanners. Since some printer apps come with their own scanning feature that can be used, it’s important to do your research beforehand.

Do I need a mobile printer with a battery?

It all depends. If you need a printer for the road, then a rechargeable battery with a USB or AC adapter should be right for you. But if you have easy accessibility to a wall outlet, then you definitely have the option to skip out on the battery. To confirm these options, consider checking the product details prior and customer reviews prior to purchasing.

What size are the prints of mobile printers?

Since mobile printers are typically really compact, they usually have a printing size of 4 x 6 margin prints or smaller. Some printers, however, can even print 8.5 x 11 inch margins and larger prints as well.

How can I tell if my mobile printer needs replacement?

Generally speaking, you’ll know your mobile printer needs replacement if it shows evident signs of slowing. Major cracks and dents should also be evaluated to ensure they don’t impact the device’s operation.

How long can a mobile printer battery last on a charge?

Generally speaking, a mobile printer battery’s life will vary between brands.

Denise McNamara

Jun 2, 2022

85 Articles Published

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