If you’re looking for something larger to use for your home or home office, check out our list of the best home printers. For everyone else, our overview of the best mobile printers should serve your needs. Beyond printing, the OfficeJet 250 takes the portable printer feature set to another level with all-in-one features such as scanning and faxing in a package that’s just 6.5 pounds and 7.8 x 15 x 3.6 inches. Even with its small size, the OfficeJet 250’s battery lasts for up to 500 prints when disconnected from a power outlet, and it includes a 2-inch display for selecting the appropriate-sized print. It also has indicator lights for power, battery status, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The OfficeJet 250 has a ten-page automatic document feeder and 50-sheet capacity that produces both letter and legal-sized prints up to 8.5 x 14 inches. The included black cartridge is capable of 200 pages and the tri-color cartridge lasts for around 165 pages before requiring new ink. HP also sells a separate XL version of the OfficeJet 250 ink cartridges, bumping the page results to 600 and 415 pages, respectively. With added features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, printing from a smartphone or laptop is easy courtesy of HP’s companion app (available for both Android and iOS). Type: Portable InkJet | Color/Monochrome: Color | Connection Type: Wireless, USB | LCD Screen: Touchscreen display | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Copy, print, scan, fax Size aside, the Epson is capable of printing directly from a PC, as well as iOS and Android devices through Wi-Fi connectivity. Printing itself offers both black ink and color cartridges with a rating of 250 and 200 pages, respectively, which is more than enough for printing out the latest invoices, contracts, or spreadsheets that might be required on the go. When it comes to true portability, the 20-sheet capacity can handle life on the road by printing 100 black and white pages (and 50 color pages) while operating strictly on the battery. Prior to printing, the Epson requires a brief setup run-through via the small 1.4-inch color LCD display. It’s less than ideal sizing for a desktop printer, but for a printer built for portability, the LCD display assists with all the necessary functionality. Type: InkJet | Color/Monochrome: Color | Connection Type: Wireless, USB-C | LCD Screen: Yes | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Print You can print using AirPrint, a USB card, or the Canon Print app on your smartphone or tablet. Thermal dye-sublimation, a type of printing technology, results in sharp, dynamic, water-resistant photos that can last up to 100 years. You’ll get much better quality on the SELPHY than you would with a portable photo printer like the HP Sprocket, but you won’t get the same level of portability with the SELPHY, as its battery is sold separately and doesn’t have the same pocket-style design as other portable photo printers. On the bright side, you can use photo booth mode to get two strips of four photos each, opt to print on sticker paper, or even have your friends send photos to the SELPHY CP1300 to create a group collage. Type: Dye Sub | Color/Monochrome: Color | Connection Type: iOS, Android, Mopria, AirPrint | LCD Screen: Yes | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Print There are a lot of mini photo printers on the market now, from the Polaroid Zip to different Sprocket models such as the Sprocket Plus, and each of them have their own benefits. The Sprocket is relatively affordable and has a durable build quality. It won’t easily break when you put it in your backpack or bag. Plus, the free app offers cool features like borders, text, emojis, and stickers, so you can add even more fun to your photos. The Sprocket also has pretty good printing quality. You won’t get the same quality as a high-end photo printer by any means, but the photos are better than some of the other cheap Zink printers available. Type: Zink Zero-Ink Technology | Color/Monochrome: Color | Connection Type: Bluetooth | LCD Screen: No | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Print At just under 11 pounds and measuring 16.85 x 13.07 x 7.87 inches, this all-in-one is small enough to serve its purpose as a mobile printer. Additionally, printing using a smartphone or tablet is offered through a variety of methods, including Wi-Fi, HP’s Smart app, Apple Airprint, or via USB. As an all-in-one (AIO), the 4155 allows you to easily print, copy, scan, or fax with minimal fuss. Setup out of the box is a snap, too. Just pull the printer out, power it on, connect to a device and print away, and the Smart app will guide you step-by-step to connecting to additional devices. As for prints itself, the 4155 offers a respectable eight pages per minute (ppm) for black and white prints, and 5.5ppm for color copies. Type: InkJet | Color/Monochrome: Color | Connection Type: Wireless, USB | LCD Screen: Yes | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Print, scan, copy, mobile fax The Tango X is rated for print speeds of up to 11ppm/8ppm (black/color), and has a monthly duty cycle of up to 500 pages. The printer is also eligible for HP’s “Instant Ink” ink subscription service, and is backed by a one-year warranty. Type: InkJet | Color/Monochrome: Color | Connection Type: Wireless | LCD Screen: Uses mobile device | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Print, scan, copy It supports Wi-Fi and AirPrint, in addition to a USB plug-in. You can also buy accessories like more batteries and a carrying/mounting case. However, the paper feeder on this printer is different from your typical InkJet, so the paper tends to roll slightly. It takes some getting used to, but once you do, the printer is well worth the investment because you don’t have to deal with ink cartridges or ribbon. Type: Thermal | Color/Monochrome: Monochrome | Connection Type: Wireless, USB | LCD Screen: No | Scanner/Copier/Fax: Print Eric Watson is a tech writer who specializes in video games and gaming. His work has appeared in PC Gamer, Polygon, Tabletop Gaming Magazine, and more. Theano Nikitas is a Maryland-based tech writer whose work has appeared on CNET, DPreview, Tom’s Guide, PopPhoto, and Shutterbug, among others.
What to Look for in a Mobile Printer
Photo Printing Quality
Are you planning to primarily print pictures? If so, you’ll likely want an inkjet printer (as opposed to a laser printer) to ensure the highest degree of detail in your photos.
Speed
When you’re downsizing your printer, you might need to make some sacrifices when it comes to speed. As opposed to full-sized printers, which can score you up to 50 pages per minute, mobile printers hover around five pages per minute for color and eight pages per minute for black and white.
Connectivity
Mobile printers don’t make much sense if they need to be wired to a computer or smartphone to print. Look for a printer that can connect to your devices via WiFi or Bluetooth. It’s also best to see if the printer offers AirPrint, Wi-Fi Direct, a companion app, and other features that make printing easier from your specific mobile device.
