On average 80 million photos are published on Instagram a day. The concept of photography has completely changed. Few are those who go with their camera everywhere, now our smartphone is the one that meets that need. And how! There is no dish, landscape, or party that is not photographed and shared on social networks.
Despite the fact that we share the vast majority of our image library with our contacts, many times we still need to have the most precious ones on paper to frame, give away, or simply hang in the fridge. Models like the portable photo printer HP Sprocket mean we can print our snapshots in seconds.
The immediacy that we require in all our acts is also required of the need to print. This is why portable photo printers have emerged. These are small pocket devices that allow us to easily transfer the photos of our mobile to paper.
we want to help you choose the portable photo printer that suits you best. We present a comparison with the 4 most valued models on the internet, breaking them down one by one by experts and users. The analysis took into account the print quality, weight, and battery life.
The experts’ recommendation to buy is the Hp Sprocket portable photo printer because, with a size similar to that of a smartphone, it provides high-quality photos.
As a second option is the Canon Selphy CP1300 that offers larger prints than the rest of the printers in the range.
Hp sprocket Best portable photo printer
The Hp Sprocket portable photo printer stands out at first glance for its small size. It occupies the same as a mobile phone (116 x 75 x 23 millimeters) and weighs only 170 grams, making it the easiest to transport of the printers analyzed in this comparison.
The print type is ink-free, so you don’t need to dry before you touch it. The technology used for printing photos is called “Zink”. This system is based on the fact that the used paper contains three layers with the primary colors (cyan, magenta and yellow), these layers react to the heat applied by a roll at different temperatures. In this way the desired photograph is created.
One of the drawbacks of the HP Sprocket is that the photos will curl if we don’t stick them to another hard surface. Although it is a problem, the truth is that since it is adhesive paper we only have to remove the protector and paste the photo where we want.
The photographs have a very good quality, 313 x 400 dots per inch and measure 5 x 7.6 centimeters. These are small photos that resemble those of instant cameras.
Connecting the Hp printer with the mobile phone is very simple, it is done by bluetooth 3.0. The Sprocket has an application through which in addition to printing the photos we can apply numerous filters, frames or drawings. From Hp they have taken into account the current importance from social networks and can be sent to print not only from the application or the photo gallery but we can also do it from our Facebook, Instagram or Flickr accounts.
The battery recharges in an hour and a half, precisely the time it lasts in printing, 90 minutes.
The Hp Srocket can be purchased for about $ 2,600, a more than acceptable price for the technical characteristics it has.
Canon Selphy CP1300 portable photo printer
The Canon Selphy CP1300 has positioned itself as the second option to buy as it is the portable printer that offers the largest print size.
And is that Canon has not wanted to give up the most standard size of traditional photographs, 10 x 15 centimeters.
Print quality is good, 300 x 300 DPI. By dye sublimation you get long lasting, high quality prints. The brand ensures that its copies last up to 100 years.
Canon has provided this printer with the automatic image optimization function that ensures that the photos come out as good as possible.
Through the Canon Print application, directly from our photo gallery or even using the Wi-Fi button, the photos we want are sent to print. They can also be printed from a digital camera or with various memory cards.
In addition to being the only one in this range of printers that prints at such a large size it also prints ID photos in a wide range of sizes, photo collage or photo booth style strips.
One of the big drawbacks of the Canon Selphy CP1300 is that the battery is purchased separately.
One of the advantages that differentiates it from its competitors is its large 8.13-centimeter screen from which printing can be controlled.
The big downside to this model is its size, printing larger photos carries a greater need for volume, and the Cannon measures 18.6 x 13.6 x 6.3 cm. Its weight is in accordance with its size, 862 grams. It is the heaviest portable printer of those analyzed.
The price of the CP1300 is around $ 3,700, one of the highest prices in the comparison but not too far from its direct competitors.
Kodak Mini 2
The Kodak Mini 2 printer is the cheapest of the analyzed. For about $ 2,300 you can buy this model from the traditional manufacturer of photographic reels.
As it is popularly said, you have to evolve or die, and although Kodak learned it the hard way, it is now on the road to rehabilitation and this photo printer is a clear example of this.
The Mini 2 prints using the thermal dye sublimation technique that produces portraits of great detail and good colors.
One of the advantages of this model is that Kodak MC cartridges combine paper and ink so there is no need to worry about changing inks.
Print quality is 300 x 300 inches per dot. All photos are printed on waterproof fingerprint proof paper. This extra layer of protection ensures longer lasting image quality.
The photos are 5.3 x 8.6 centimeters. It is very easy to order the print. It can be printed directly from any smartphone without cables or buttons, through bluetooth. In addition, you can also control printing from the Kodak application, which allows you to apply filters, cutouts, stickers and even print photos for identity documents.
The print time of the Kodak Mini 2 exceeds one minute per photograph, it is somewhat higher than its competitors that do not exceed 50 seconds.
The size is very good to be transported inside a backpack or bag without disturbing you. It measures 25 x 130 x 78 millimeters. It also weighs only 236 grams.
Polaroid Zip
Polaroid is the queen brand of snapshots. Although for years it seemed that their famous cameras were an object of the past, they have managed to take advantage of the digital age to return to the market with more force if possible.
In addition to their instant cameras they have used all their knowledge to create the Polaroid Zip mobile printer.
This printer allows printing from the mobile phone via Bluetooth or NFC.
Printing is done with a thermal system. ZINK photo paper when subjected to printer heat activates unique color-generating molecules embedded in the layers of the paper. The quality is very good, nothing less than 313 x 400 dots per inch.
The print size is 5 x 7.6 centimeters. The Polaroid Zip photo paper is smudge and fingerprint proof and is adhesive on the back.
One of the great advantages of this model is that it does not need special cables since it has a standard micro-USB port and a USB-to-micro-USB cable. So it can be plugged into any computer or power outlet.
Its size is really small, 73 x 119 x 22 millimeters and it weighs only 186 grams.
The price of the Polaroid Zip exceeds $ 2,700, it is one of the biggest drawbacks of this printer.
Prynt Pocket Printer for iPhone
The Prynt Pocket will turn your iPhone into an instant camera, allowing you to print 20, 40 or 60 photos instantly depending on the paper pack we purchase and using each battery charge of our phone. It does not require ink to print bright photographs, to keep our best memories.
Only compatible with some iPhone models. From the «Print» application, this printer allows you to edit the photos saved in the cell phone or those that we have on our social networks or even add a video to our photos to give it movement.
We can also get the case that allows you to store the printer and accessories, being able to take them with us anywhere and in a protected way.
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