← Best of the Best: all the guides
The best portable photo printers for phone photos
The Canon SELPHY QX20 wins for crisp, durable prints in two sizes; Kodak’s Mini 2 Retro costs less to buy and run.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Canon SELPHY QX20 | KODAK Mini 2 Retro P210R | Canon IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer |
| Price | about $150 | about $80 | about $90 |
| Why | It makes detailed, vivid dye-sublimation prints with a protective coat, and uniquely offers both square and card-size formats. Digital Camera World found prints quick to produce and easy to carry on trips. | It gives you portable dye-sub printing at a lower upfront cost, and its 4PASS refills can cost around 30 cents per print. Digital Camera World rated its value highly and found the print quality good. | It is a lower-cost pocket option for small peel-and-stick prints, and reviewers recommend it for journaling and scrapbooking. Its Zink paper avoids separate ink cartridges. |
| Good to know | Refills are relatively expensive, at roughly 75 cents or more per print. | Prints can look a little dark and less vibrant, and charging uses Micro-USB. | Its image quality is noticeably less detailed and accurate than dye-sublimation alternatives. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AIIt makes detailed, vivid dye-sublimation prints with a protective coat, and uniquely offers both square and card-size formats. Digital Camera World found prints quick to produce and easy to carry on trips.
Good to know: Refills are relatively expensive, at roughly 75 cents or more per print.
See on Amazonpicture by AIIt gives you portable dye-sub printing at a lower upfront cost, and its 4PASS refills can cost around 30 cents per print. Digital Camera World rated its value highly and found the print quality good.
Good to know: Prints can look a little dark and less vibrant, and charging uses Micro-USB.
See on Amazonpicture by AIIt is a lower-cost pocket option for small peel-and-stick prints, and reviewers recommend it for journaling and scrapbooking. Its Zink paper avoids separate ink cartridges.
Good to know: Its image quality is noticeably less detailed and accurate than dye-sublimation alternatives.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
Choose by print size, print look and the ongoing cost of paper or film. Dye-sub prints are durable and detailed; instant film has a classic look, while Zink sticker prints are cheaper but softer.
Who this is for
These picks suit people who want to print phone photos at parties, on trips or in journals. If you mainly want standard 4×6-inch photos, a larger printer may fit better.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: Canon SELPHY QX20
It makes detailed, vivid dye-sublimation prints with a protective coat, and uniquely offers both square and card-size formats. Digital Camera World found prints quick to produce and easy to carry on trips. Choose square prints up to 2.7 inches or card-size sheets from the phone app. The dye-sub process adds a protective overcoat, and reviewers praised the detail, contrast and color. It is a good fit for travel, parties and keepsakes when print quality matters more than the lowest running cost. Skip it if you need larger 4×6-inch prints or want inexpensive refills; its paper-and-ink sets cost more than Kodak’s.
Good to know: Refills are relatively expensive, at roughly 75 cents or more per print.
See on AmazonBest value: KODAK Mini 2 Retro P210R
It gives you portable dye-sub printing at a lower upfront cost, and its 4PASS refills can cost around 30 cents per print. Digital Camera World rated its value highly and found the print quality good. The compact, battery-powered printer connects to phones over Bluetooth, and its cartridge holds both paper and dye. Reviewers measured prints at about 70 seconds each, slower than the Canon, but liked the sharpness and color overall. Its card-sized prints have a perforated white edge you can tear off. Consider it for sharing lots of small photos without paying premium media prices; skip it if speed or USB-C charging matters to you.
Good to know: Prints can look a little dark and less vibrant, and charging uses Micro-USB.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: Canon IVY 2 Mini Photo Printer
It is a lower-cost pocket option for small peel-and-stick prints, and reviewers recommend it for journaling and scrapbooking. Its Zink paper avoids separate ink cartridges. The IVY 2 prints 2×3-inch stickers from a phone over Bluetooth. Canon’s app includes collage and layout tools, making it useful for planners, journals and labels. Zink prints are softer and less color-accurate than the dye-sub prints from the other picks, so it is best for casual keepsakes rather than faithful photo reproduction. Choose it if low entry cost and sticker backs matter more than the most polished image.
Good to know: Its image quality is noticeably less detailed and accurate than dye-sublimation alternatives.
See on AmazonHow we chose
Recent reviewers compared print detail, color, speed, portability, battery life, app setup and refill cost. Digital Camera World timed prints and assessed image quality; Good Housekeeping also tested setup and app use, printed photos and graphics, and measured size and weight. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
Not sure which one is for you?
Ask Danilli anything about these, free. Tell it what you need and your budget and it says which one fits you.
Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.