10 Best Portable Printers 2025 in the United States

The Liene 4x6'' Photo Printer is a portable photo printer designed to produce high-quality 4x6 inch photos. It uses thermal dye sublimation technology, ensuring vibrant colors and durability with water, scratch, and fade resistance. With a print resolution of 300 x 300 DPI, it might not satisfy those looking for ultra-high-definition prints. The printer's speed is relatively slow, with a rate of 1 page per minute and an initial print time of 59 seconds, which could be a drawback if you need to print multiple photos quickly.

Connectivity is a strong point, with Wi-Fi and USB options, and the printer can connect to up to five devices simultaneously without needing a network, making it convenient for gatherings or shared use. Additionally, the Liene App offers various customization options for your prints. The printer is moderately compact and portable but at 6.32 pounds, it isn't the lightest option available.

It includes 100 sheets of photo paper and 3 cartridges, which is a generous starter pack. The capacity to hold 20 sheets at a time is somewhat limiting for bulk printing. Ink is proprietary, so you’ll need to ensure availability from Liene. This printer is best suited for casual photo enthusiasts or families who want a simple way to print photos directly from their smartphones or PCs, without requiring advanced technical skills or ultra-fast performance.

This portable printer is designed with travel and on-the-go use in mind. It’s lightweight (just 1.5 pounds) and compact, making it easy to carry in a backpack or briefcase. It uses thermal printing technology, so it doesn’t require ink or toner, which saves you from buying cartridges and dealing with clogs. The printer supports various paper sizes up to standard letter (8.5" x 11") and A4, which is great for printing documents, contracts, invoices, or boarding passes wherever you are.

Its print quality is decent at 300 DPI, producing clear black-and-white prints, but it doesn’t print in color. The print speed is moderate, at about 7 pages per minute, which suits basic document needs but may feel slow if you need to print large volumes quickly. Connectivity is flexible with Bluetooth for mobile devices and USB-C for laptops or desktops, though connecting to computers requires installing drivers first. The built-in 2600mAh battery can print approximately 160 pages per charge, offering good battery life for travel or fieldwork.

One limitation is that it only prints on special thermal paper, not regular paper, so you’ll need to keep thermal rolls handy. This printer is ideal for business travelers, mobile professionals, or anyone needing quick black-and-white prints away from a traditional office setup, but it’s less suitable if you require color prints or high-volume, fast printing.

The Kodak Dock ERA Plus is a compact and lightweight portable photo printer, weighing less than 1 kg, making it easy to carry around for printing memories on the go. It prints standard 4x6 inch photos using Kodak's 4PASS technology, which layers colors and adds a protective laminate, resulting in water-resistant, fingerprint-proof prints that should last a long time. The print resolution is 600 x 600 dpi, which is decent for photo prints but the print speed is very slow, producing only one color or black-and-white print per minute, so it's not suitable if you need many photos quickly.

Connectivity is a strong point: it supports Bluetooth wireless printing from both Android and Apple devices, and also features a docking station to charge your phone while printing, which is a thoughtful convenience. The printer comes bundled with 90 sheets of glossy photo paper, which helps get started right away. Battery life is decent with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so users will want to keep it charged regularly depending on usage. Paper handling is straightforward with up to 90 sheets capacity, and you can choose between border and borderless prints, with the border option allowing you to write notes on the photo edges—nice for scrapbooking or keepsakes.

The slow print speed and single-function print-only design mean it lacks versatility and speed compared to some other portable printers. Also, ink availability looks limited to Kodak’s specialized cartridges, which could affect long-term costs. This printer suits casual users wanting easy, high-quality photo prints from their smartphones without fuss, especially if you appreciate the nostalgic look and feel of Kodak's design. If faster printing or multifunction features are needed, other options might be more appropriate.