The best photo printers to buy, tested by our tech experts

The Instax Square Link is currently the only dedicated portable printer that uses square prints, and is also Instax’s best portable printer yet.

It comes with a stylish and lightweight design, and produces bright, high-quality medium-sized snaps easily via the accompanying app. Prints take 12 seconds to eject, and around 90 seconds to develop.

There is a range of seasonal preset frames available from the Instax library for holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day, as well as simple editing tools – including a dedicated AR print mode that adds either a digital animation, special effect or doodle to an image via a QR code and the app.

Unlike the Instax Link Wide or Instax Mini Link, it comes with USB-C charging, which gives faster charging speeds. This gives it the edge of its two sister products. That said, you won’t need to worry about battery life too much, as you can get around 100 prints on a single charge.

The app layout could do with a few tweaks, including making the text size bigger and improving the navigation. However, these are minor downsides to what is an excellent portable printer overall.

Who should buy the Instax Square Link?

You want a dedicated square printer with a great set of features.

Instax Square Link: Further considerations

Consider a cheaper alternative for long-term running costs.

The original Polaroid Hi-Print was a keen staple on this list, and if you can find it at a reduced price, then it’s still worth picking up, but the Polaroid Hi-Print (Generation 2) builds upon those already excellent foundations with a few quality-of-life updates that we very much appreciate.

With the addition of USB-C charging, it’s now much easier to top up the Hi-Print on the go, and the device itself is partly made with recycled material for a more eco-conscious build. There’s even support for Bluetooth 5.0, so you’ll find a much faster process here when it comes to sending pictures from your smartphone.

Speaking of the pictures, the Hi-Print 2 does its predecessor proud by maintaining an eye for quality. Unlike some of the options we’ve tested, this printer doesn’t indulge in saturated colours, but rather adheres to a more natural look that better recreates skin tones in the final product. If you prefer that type of unedited look in your shots, then you’ll appreciate what’s provided here.

Going one step further, the Hi-Print can produce peel-and-stick photos, which can easily be added to a collage or photo album without much effort. It would have been nice if the battery lasted a bit longer than 10 prints per charge, but it’s not a dealbreaker. The only major thing to consider is the long-term cost involved with replenishing the Hi-Print’s cartridge (a Paper Cartridge gets you 20 prints for around £16/$16).

Who should buy the Polaroid Hi-Print (Generation 2)?

Anyone who prefers a more natural-looking tone in their photos.

Polaroid Hi-Print (Generation 2): Further considerations

The long-term costs of replenishing the photo cartridges can add up.

The Instax Link Wide produces large, glossy prints with minimal fuss. It has a great design that is suited both for sitting in your home and for taking on the road. 

Photos on the Instax Link Wide are double the size of what you’ll find on the Mini printers and cameras, but the printing speed is very quick at around 12 seconds, with 90 seconds of development time.

Like other Instax products, the prints are bright and colourful with a vintage feel. However, the quality isn’t quite as impressive as what you will find on the Polaroid Hi-Print. The running costs of this printer will stack up over time due to the cost of Instax Wide film. 

The companion app provides multiple customisation options such as filters, collages and the option to add QR codes, though it could do with some improvements with its layout.

Who should buy the Instax Link Wide?

You want large, wide-angle prints with lots of editing features

Instax Link Wide: Further considerations

Choose another for modern USB-C charging. 

The Instax Mini Link 2 uses Fujifilm’s Instax Mini film. The Mini Link looks great, with funky colour options and a young and fresh feel.

It connects to your phone through the Mini Link app and Bluetooth, and can print photos both from your phone’s library and your social media profiles.

From the app, you can choose frames and other options, including split prints (separating one photo into two prints) and collages. You can edit photos within the app, with colour filters and dials to change the brightness, contrast and saturation.

The printer has a speed of around 12 seconds per print, supports continuous printing and can print up to 100 photos on a single charge. Photos come out clear, crisp and vibrant on the Mini film, and after printing, there’s a handy button to get a second copy instantly.

Fun options include a ‘match test’ that prints out a photo with a compatibility score between two people, and the ‘party print’ mode that allows users to add photos from up to five phones to create one Instax print. There is also the InstaxAir feature which allows you to draw patterns in the air on photos – but this can be a faff to use.

You can even use the printer as a remote control for your smartphone camera, tilting the printer back and forth to zoom in and out.

Who should buy the Instax Mini Link 2?

You want small photos which print quickly.

Instax Mini Link 2: Further considerations

Look elsewhere for something cheaper or if you need USB-C charging.

If you’re torn between what size prints you want from your portable printer, the Canon Selphy QX20 may be the device for you. It supports both square and credit-card formats, giving you plenty of versatility.

Like the Polaroid Hi-Print, the QX20 uses the thermal dye process, which produces stunning results – especially on the larger formats. The accompanying app is also simple to use, as is changing between the different paper options.

That said, the app could have improvements. There’s no way of viewing how many sheets of paper or ink are left, and the battery indicator only shows a vague estimation.

In addition, the battery life lasts for just over twenty prints, significantly less than Instax printers. Due to its dual-print support, it’s on the heavier side, making it less portable. Nonetheless, there’s nothing else on the market quite like this printer – so if you want something versatile, this is an excellent option.

Who should buy the Canon Selphy QX20? 

You want a choice of print sizes with high-quality results. 

Canon Selphy QX20: Further considerations 

Look elsewhere for something lighter and longer battery life. 

The Kodak Step is one of the most affordable printers on the market for Zink prints. Whilst Zink images aren’t quite as impressive as what you will find from brands such as Instax and Polaroid, the running costs are much cheaper, and there is no development time. 

The Kodak Step keeps its design simple with a compact, rectangular shape that you can get in a range of colours. It is easy to use, even for beginners. It supports up to 25 images on a single charge. 

The prints themselves are on the smaller side at 2x3in, so these are best if you’re looking for wallet-sized photos. The images come with an adhesive back so they can be used as stickers, and feature a range of colours – though some details are lost from the original images. 

The app includes a range of editing options, but does have a few bugs and issues. That said, the affordable price of the Kodak Step makes this a viable portable printer that gets the job done.

Who should buy the Kodak Step?

You want a budget-friendly printer with quick printing.

Kodak Step: Further considerations

Look elsewhere for USB-C charging and better print quality.

At first glance, it’s hard to see the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link+ as being a successor of any kind to the Mini Link 3. Gone are the softer edges and corners of that previous printer, replaced instead with a more angular design that does look a little industrial but no less eye-catching. It still lives up to the Mini branding too so it’s easily carried around or thrown into a bag.

Aside from the revamped look of the thing, the big upgrade with the Instax Mini Link+ is an all-new feature known as Design Print. This addition ensures that the printer is better equipped to handle text and graphic-heavy images, such as posters or illustrations, so if you want to go beyond the typical photo fare and print out some of your creations then this is the best compact printer to have on hand.

The results speak for themselves as we found text to be much sharper than before, which is handy to have if you’re taking a picture of a quote found in the wild, or some graffiti art. When it comes to regular photos, colours look decent and you have the option to jump between various profiles to find the right filter that suits the look you want to go for. The Natural colour profile for instance is more like what you’d expect from classic Instax film, whilst the Rich profile provides a more saturated look, not too dissimilar to what you can get on a smartphone.

On a single charge, you can expect to get through 100 prints which is quite impressive and certainly means that you won’t have to worry if you plan on printing as you go on a night out. The only major issue is that the prints themselves cost a fair bit, so you could end up spending a decent chunk of money on this printer in the long run. Still, for those who want more clarity in their instant prints, the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link+ is a great option.

Who should buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link+?

Artists who also want to print out their creations, alongside traditional photos.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Link+: Further considerations

The cost of real Instax film cartridges can be quite high over time.

The Kodak Step Slim is one of the most portable options on the list. It is slim at 2.29cm thick and lightweight at 240g – making it easy to fit into a large pocket.

It’s easy to use as well, with the well-laid-out accompanying Kodak Step app. However, this does have a few bugs in comparison to some of the software that rivals boast. Nonetheless, you’ll still have plenty of filters, frames and more to add to your snaps.

This is another Zink printer, so prints aren’t quite as striking as what you’ll find on models from Instax and Polaroid, as this isn’t real film. However, the trade-off is that running costs are cheaper overall.

It’s not quite as affordable as its sister model, the Kodak Step, but it will still get the job done without breaking the bank.

Who should buy the Kodak Step Slim?

A pocketable printer with speedy printing.

Kodak Step Slim: Further considerations

Look elsewhere for higher quality results.

Whilst the Instax Mini Evo from Fujifilm is foremost a digital and instant camera hybrid, it also has all the capabilities of a standard portable printer, making it a true all-rounder. 

The Instax Mini Evo app allows you to edit photos with filters, stickers and frames – just like you can with other Instax printers. You can also transfer photos taken on the camera to the app so that they are digitally stored. 

The camera itself combines features such as analogue buttons with digital effects, making for an all-around fun shooting experience. It looks refined and vintage, and not childish like some other products from the brand. The Evo comes with a lengthy battery life, as well as a portable size. 

Unfortunately, whilst all these features are compelling, the Instax Mini Evo comes with a hefty price tag upfront, plus the running cost of Instax film on top of this.

Who should buy the Instax Mini Evo? 

You want an instant printer with a camera built in. 

Instax Mini Evo: Further considerations 

Look elsewhere for something more affordable if the camera isn’t a must.  

The Instax Wide Evo is another digital and instant camera hybrid, but this uses Wide film rather than Mini film. It also has a much higher price tag than the Mini Evo, so it’s only suitable if you want to splash the cash.

There’s no denying that the Wide Evo has a premium, nostalgic build that stands out from the crowd, while the endless array of settings means that you’ll have plenty to experiment with when shooting. Images taken on the camera can also be transferred to the accompanying app.

However, the build is heavy and bulky, meaning it’s not the best for using out and about unless you have a big enough bag to hand. Plus, both the battery life and internal storage are on the low side. There are better options in this chart.

Who should buy the Instax Wide Evo?

You want an instant camera and printer hybrid that produces larger-sized prints.

Instax Wide Evo: Further considerations

The Instax Mini Evo offers a very similar experience for a fraction of the price.