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It’s not always the most convenient option to have a large printer occupying your office: in certain fields that demand lots of travel and last-minute changeability, you don’t always have a printer to hand. Thankfully, these problems can be solved by investing in one of the best portable printer options. Though most traditional printers are cumbersome units designed to stay in one office or household space, portable units such as these give you the versatility to print on the move, for quick access to high-quality documents or photos.
Depending on your specific needs, we’ve endeavored to find a top mobile printer to match them. Spanning a range of print properties and budgetary requirements, our selections today are all worthwhile portable printers.
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Editor’s PickHP OfficeJet 250
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Best Budget Portable PrinterCanon PIXMA TR150
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Best Portable Printer for PhotosCanon SELPHY CP1500
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Best Compact Portable PrinterEpson Workforce WF-110 Portable Printer
How We Picked the Best Portable Printer
There’s a few determining factors that go into finding a decent portable printer, beyond the portability of the machine. We considered different use cases, such as photo printing against document printing – giving due consideration to the machines capable of both. Additionally, we also factored in the print speed and quality of the portable models, in relation to other printers of the same ilk.
This led to us settling on four printers, all easily transported, but with different respective merits to their use. We’ve explored their multi-faceted benefits – and the handful of drawbacks – below.
A great medley of portability and quality, this HP printer is a stellar option for all your mobile printer needs.
- Easy use – setup and connectivity are easy and intuitive with the OfficeJet 250.
- All-in-one features – scan, copy and even fax from this portable print solution.
- Poor ink economy – expensive and frequently-emptied ink can make this a less efficient purchase.
Taking our top spot today is the HP OfficeJet 250, a sterling portable printer from HP. Fast to set up and even faster to print, no matter your use case, this is a terrific investment for business or hobbyist printing.
As an InkJet printer, the OfficeJet 250 is capable of high-quality color prints of documents and photos, allowing you to work on whatever you need on the road. Print results are rendered quickly, with a print speed of 19 prints per minute for color documents. With easy connection via Bluetooth, WiFi and traditional wired connections, you’ll never be short of a means of printing with the OfficeJet 250. It’s also an all-in-one printer: boasting a built-in copier and document scanner for mobile administrative needs.
That said, if you’re planning to use this printer frequently, it’s worth highlighting that its ink economy isn’t the most sterling. Due to the price of ink, this can make for higher ongoing costs. It’s the only detrimental factor this mobile printer has, and we still recommend it as our top pick!
Affordable as it is portable, this Canon printer is a great value-add to any business.
- Compact and well-designed – boasting great build quality for the price, the TR150 can take some punishment.
- Affordable – with a low price point, investing in this portable printer is easy.
- Standard documents only – the printer’s print quality, despite being InkJet, isn’t enough for printing photos or other detailed media.
If you need a cheaper option, Canon comes to the rescue with the PIXMA TR150. Boasting a tremendous design and highly productive print power, this compact printer is a great affordable investment as a printer under $200.
The build quality is stellar given the TR150’s price point, and makes for a durable yet lightweight printer that can withstand a fair bit of punishment. Prints are also impressively fast given the price point, at 9 pages per minute. You can save up to 5 custom templates at a time internally on the TR150, or print quickly over wireless systems such as Mopria or AirPrint. All this makes this portable printer a productivity powerhouse.
That productivity only extends to documents, however: the overall print quality of the TR150 is notably poorer than other printers. That’s often to be expected from budget printers, however, and this Canon model still offers tremendous value for money.
Pocket-sized but powerful, the CP1500 is a great investment for those looking for an affordable means of mobile photo printing.
- High price-to-performance – prints are rendered quickly and in great quality with the CP1500.
- Highly compact – this photo printer is literally pocket-sized, making it ideal for taking with you.
- Limited size and battery – the form factor somewhat limits the CP1500 to a small print size and limited battery life.
If you need a mobile printer for photos, then the Canon SELPHY CP1500 is one of the market’s top offerings. This Canon printer makes for tremendous value-for-money, and is easy to provide fantastic keepsakes for friends and family.
It’s amazing how concise a package the CP1500 is: with WiFi connection functionality, an SD card slot and a 3.5″ LCD touchscreen crammed onto a pocket-sized body, the economy of space is second-to-none. It uses dye sublimation technology to ensure photos are resistant to the elements and ready-to-hold as soon as they leave the printer – with some handy effects libraries built-in to create custom filters and dedicated styles.
Of course, the size of the SELPHY is a feature that becomes a flaw: the maximum size this printer can create is 4″ x 6″ – the minimum of most professional printers. We also highly recommend investing in the battery addon, though it is only rated for around 50 prints per charge. But for an affordable and effective photo printing solution, the CP1500 is a great choice.
Capable of stellar documents and photos, the WF-110 is an extremely compact model for business on the go.
- Extremely compact – the base model of the WF-110 is incredibly compact, and allows for easy transport.
- Accessories available – though the native body has everything you need, you can add functionality with a range of addons.
- Slow print speeds – at less than 4 prints per minute in color, the WF-110 isn’t the fastest portable printer on the market.
Though not quite pocket-sized like the CP1500, this Epson printer is a great option for mobile business printing. Easily stored in your bag, the Epson WorkForce WF-110 is a compact print solution that’s great for working on the go.
The base model of the WF-110 packs all the features you’d need: a built-in battery and fold-out paper tray (which also cleverly conceals the controls) mean that this model easily compresses into its native form. You can also invest in addons such as a document scanner and additional battery, to help improve the productivity of your printing. Featuring a color display for easy information readouts, the WF-110 is easy to use no matter your use case.
However, whilst it’s quick to set up, it’s slow to print: with a print speed of 3.8 pages per minute for color documents, this printer struggles to keep up with busy offices. But for a remote print solution, the WF-110 is a lightweight and efficient print solution.
Features and Considerations
If you’re considering a different printer to the mobile picks on today’s list, here are some factors to consider beforehand:
Print Speed
Having a portable printer is no good if it would be quicker to head back to your home or office, so we put a great deal of value on print speed. Depending on the use case, this can vary, but for most portable printers we wouldn’t recommend any lower than 3 pages per minute for full-color documents.
Battery
Some portable units still require a power lead in order to function, but the best portable printers have built-in or bolt-on batteries to allow for truly mobile printing. The lifespans of these can vary, so check with the manufacturer and customer reviews for a sense of how reliable the battery is.
Connectivity
Equally as important as what you print is how you print: most portable printers make use of a wireless printing function, usually a form of WiFi Direct connectivity, but others stock an array of other options for compatible devices. From Cloud Printing services like Google Drive or Mopria through to basic wired connection over USB, consider what devices you’ll be printing from, and double-check their compatibility.
Specialist Media
Whilst portable printers don’t have the same varied media compatibility as other full-fledged printers, most are capable of some more versatile printing. If you need to print specialist media such as cardstock, it’s worth checking whether your printer of choice can accommodate it.
Weight and Size
Depending on how mobile you need your printer to be, some options may not be as suitable as others. Whilst most printers boasting the title of “portable” are fairly lightweight, their physical footprint may make them more difficult to carry. Consider your use case before buying.
FAQs
Depending on the printer model, you may need to still plug in a portable printer in order for it to function. Most come with a battery of some variety, with the option to use a wall socket if needed.
Mopria is a cloud printing service that allows you to print easily from a range of devices, to a range of compatible printers. Used by most major manufacturers, it’s an easy means of sending prints wirelessly.
Verdict
Though it’s not the most efficient printer on the market, the HP OfficeJet 250 combines the top features of our favorite printers into a mobile unit that’s great for offices, businesses and hobbyist printers alike. If you need a versatile mobile printer, then this is the ideal model for you.
For other business needs, check out our other top guides – such as the best label makers on the market – today.
