Although there is a belief that paper photos have gone down in history, the truth is that we all still like them. That's why devices like mini portable printers they have become so popular. Thanks to them, we can carry in our pockets the perfect complement to our smartphone's camera, the device that will allow us to materialize our digital photographs in the classic paper format.
We are talking about compact, lightweight and easy to transport devices. In addition, its use is really simple. In a matter of seconds, we can get a nice photo on paper by connecting the mini printer to our mobile phone.
Those who are of a certain age, the concept may sound familiar to them. And it is that these mini portable printers are quite reminiscent of the classic polaroid cameras that generated a photo on paper instantly, without the need to take the film to develop. They were different times. Logically, the purpose of these mini printers is different, although the idea remains the same.
How do they work?
Almost all of the mini portable printers currently on the market make use of the ZINK technology (Zero Ink or "zero ink"). It is a color printing technology that does not use cartridges. Ideal for this type of device.
The printers that use this technology use a type of special thermal paper made up of 3 layers of color and a protective layer. These layers are sensitive to heat and are only activated during the printing process, releasing the colors needed to shape the image on the paper.
Before you buy
There are many models of mini printers, which complicates the choice by the user. So, before making the decision to buy one of these gadgets, it is convenient to know what types exist and what to look for. These are the aspects to take into account:
- Size: The standard measurements of the printed photographs is 10 x 15 cm, but it is convenient to look at what sizes the mini printer that we want to buy admits.
- Print quality: Its level will never be the same as that of a digital desktop printer, but some models offer great resolution.
- Connectivity We have to see if we can connect it via Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, etc.
- Portability: It is one of the key aspects of mini printers, which are designed to be transported effortlessly from one place to another and used anywhere. Its weight is, therefore, a basic question.
- Autonomy. All mini portable printers come with a battery that can last more or less. But more than time, it's important to look at the number of photos that can be printed on a single charge.
Best Mini Portable Printers
Having clarified the doubts about what we need and what we should expect from these devices, here is our small selection of the best mini printers to use with our mobile phones:
Rayoner Mini Portable Printer
Compatible with any operating system (Android or iOS), the rayoner mini printer It will help us to print all kinds of images from our mobile phone or tablet. All we have to do is connect it via Bluetooth and download the Fun Print App (o iPrint if it's an iPhone) to manage your options.
Its compact dimensions (15 x 10 x 5 cm) and its light weight (600 grams) mean that this mini printer can be transported anywhere without much hassle. Fits in a pocket, small backpack, or purse.
It has an integrated lithium battery with 1000 mAh that gives us a range of between 15 and 20 hours. It is sold with 16 thermal paper rolls to give color to our photos.
Buy Rayoner mini printer on Amazon.Buyunger Mini Portable Printer
Nice mini printer, small and light, that fits in the palm of the hand and that we can easily take with us anywhere. buyyounger It allows us to print photos, labels, QR codes, stickers, messages... All in a quick and easy way.
It comes equipped with a 1000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It prints quietly, quickly and with a high quality standard. It can be connected to the mobile via Bluetooth and to a desktop computer via a USB cable.
Its dimensions are 79 x 79 x 42 cm and its weight is 240 grams.
Buy Buyunger mini printer on Amazon.Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer
Another excellent proposal in our list of mini portable printers. To get the most out of Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer You have to install the Mi Home /Xiaomi Home application on your phone, which offers us endless possibilities.
It connects to the mobile via Bluetooth and offers almost instant printing with ZINK technology, which uses microcrystal pigments embedded in the paper. This printer fits easily in your pocket (measures 12,4 x 8,5 x 2,46 cm) and is very light, weighing only 181 grams.
Compact design that fits in your pocket. Small as a portable charger, it fits easily in your pocket. Also noteworthy is its elegant design, with an external casing made of flame-retardant materials that resist warping and fading, as well as a sliding cover to load paper in just two steps.
Buy Xiaomi Mi Portable Photo Printer on Amazon.KODAK Mini 2 Retro 4PASS
If we aspire to have a superior photo quality, our choice should include this model: the printer Kodak Mini 2 Retro, which uses 4Pass technology to print high-quality, fingerprint-proof and waterproof photos.
Not only does it allow us to print photos in two different sizes (5 x 26 and 5.4 x 8,24 cm) with or without a border, but it also gives us the opportunity to decorate the margins in different ways. To manage all the options of this mini printer, it is necessary to download the AR App to the smartphone, which also comes with many filters and other options to “tune up” our photos to our liking.
The dimensions of the Kodak Mini 2 retro are 7,62 x 12,7 x 2,54 cm, that is, a comfortable and practical size.
Buy KODAK Mini 2 Retro 4PASS mini portable printer on Amazon.Liene Mini Portable Printer
We close the list with Liene mini portable printer, with a size of 12,5 x 8,5 x 2,5 cm and a weight of only 183 grams. It can be connected to iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth 5.0 to generate 2x3-inch (5,08 x 7,62 cm) photos on paper.
A single battery charge allows us to make 30 prints on self-adhesive photographic paper that we can customize through numerous frames and filters. In short, a high-quality product that can be managed through the Liene Photo app.
Buy Liene mini portable printer on Amazon.