We’re all taking more and better quality photographs these days, thanks to smartphones, but we’re less likely to turn them into physical media. However, if you do, a portable printer – also known as an instant printer – is the answer.
These handy, pocket-sized gadgets will let you take your best phone images and print them out wherever you are, with the option to add filters, effects, stickers and other fun additions in the process. You might think of them as a ‘phone printer’ or ‘phone photo printer’ as they connect wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Top brands include Instax, Polaroid, Canon and there’s a range of options at different prices, including photos which develop with a bit of time or ‘Zink’ models which print instantly. Typically, they are compatible with both Android and iPhone as well as potentially other platforms, too.
Some new models we’ll be testing soon, and likely adding to this list, include the Polaroid Hi-Print (2nd Generation) and freshly announced Instax mini Link+, which goes on sale 28 January. For now, the best models we’ve reviewed are below with detailed information, followed by an in-depth buying guide.
If you want something a little more retro and even more instant, you can also buy a camera that prints photos as you shoot them, just like an old-fashioned Polaroid. Take a look at our round-up of the best instant cameras to see if any take your fancy.
Best portable photo printer reviews
1. Instax Square Link – Best Overall
Pros
- Portable and stylish design
- Impressive prints
- USB-C charging
- Decent range of editing options
Cons
- Running costs add up over time
- App could do with some improvements
- QR codes on AR prints on the larger side
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.
Read our full Instax Square Link review
2. Polaroid Hi-Print – Best Dye-Sublimation Printer
Pros
- High quality prints
- Portable and refined design
- Easy app navigation
Cons
- Expensive printing costs
- Slow printing speeds
- Only 20 prints on one charge
The Polaroid Hi-Print is a simple, no-nonsense digital printer that costs less than most rivals while delivering superior print quality – though pricey paper means it’ll cost you in the long run.
Printing is slightly slower than most rivals at around 50 seconds – but this is due to it being a dye-sublimation printer, which means that the print ejects in and out at least four times to add each layer of colour, plus a protective film.
The wait is worth it, as print quality is overall extremely high and more detailed, vivid, and striking than you would get from a quicker digital instant printer.
The accompanying app is simple and user-friendly, with options to customise photos with frames, filters, aspect ratio changes, text, and stickers – but few unnecessary frills to over-complicate things.
It also syncs with any image folders on your phone, plus images from WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more.
Who should buy the Polaroid Hi-Print?
You want high-quality prints at an affordable price with an easy-to-use app.
Polaroid Hi-Print: Further considerations
Look elsewhere for faster printing, cheaper running costs and less frequent recharging.
Read our full Polaroid Hi-Print review
3. Instax Link Wide – Best for Wide Prints
Pros
- Large, glossy prints
- Lots of filters and editing options
- Refined design
Cons
- App needs optimising
- Costs rack up over time
- Slow Micro-USB charging
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.
Read our full Instax Link Wide review
4. Instax Mini Link 2 – Best for Small Prints
Pros
- Portable and funky design
- Excellent prints
- Lots of editing tools in the app
Cons
- InstaxAir can be confusing to use
- Outdated Micro-USB charging
- Expensive running costs
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.
Read our full Instax Mini Link 2 review
5. Canon Selphy QX20 – Most Versatile
Pros
- Dual print sizes
- Gorgeous images
- Simple-to-use app
Cons
- Poor battery life compared to rivals
- No log of how many sheets/ink is left in app
- On the heavier side
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.
Read our full Canon SELPHY QX20 review
6. Kodak Step Instant Printer – Best for Zink Prints
Pros
- Portable design
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Cons
- A few bugs in the app
- Charges via Micro-USB
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.
Read our full Kodak Step Instant Printer review
7. HP Sprocket Select – Best for Larger Zink Prints
Pros
- Super lightweight
- Straightforward app UX
- Improved Zink print quality
Cons
- Occasional paper loading issues
The HP Sprocket Select is the third-generation iteration of the Sprocket 200. It boasts Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, which allows multiple phones to connect via the straightforward Sprocket app (free on Android and iOS).
A more significant improvement is that the Select prints larger images at 2.3 x 3.4in instead of 2 x 3in – which is roughly the size of a credit card.
Like past Sprockets, the Sprocket Select prints on Zink, or “zero ink”, paper, which is cheaper than film in the long run – but at the cost of slightly washed colour tones.
Given that Zink images can be slightly dull to begin with, the Sprocket Select trumped expectations with a fair amount of detail and contrast. The colours still appeared slightly washed out but were much more vibrant than on other Zink printers we’ve tested, particularly the reds.
Who should buy the HP Sprocket Select?
You want large prints without waiting and the ability to connect multiple devices.
HP Sprocket Select: Further considerations
Look elsewhere for easier paper loading
Read our full HP Sprocket Select review
8. Kodak Step Slim Instant Printer – Best for Portability
Pros
- Slim and durable build
- Affordable running costs
- Simple to use
Cons
- Not as affordable as the Kodak Step
- Zink paper not as impressive as rival prints
- App has a few bugs
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.
Read our full Kodak Step Slim Instant Printer review
9. Instax Mini Evo – Best Hybrid Camera
Pros
- Compact and retro design
- Long battery life
- Useful buttons and dials
Cons
- Expensive
- Frustrating menu
- Limited internal storage
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.
Read our full Instax Mini Evo review
10. Instax Wide Evo – Premium Hybrid Camera
Pros
- Vintage-inspired build
- Large and glossy prints
- Wide range of filters and shooting options
Cons
- Very expensive for what it is
- Cumbersome build
- Battery and internal storage on the lower side
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.
Read our full Instax Wide Evo review
How we test portable photo printers
In simple terms, we use it no differently than if you bought one, got it out of the box and powered it up. We use it as if it were our own, ensuring we print plenty of different photos to check the quality of the final product, as well as all the features along the way.
Why you should trust Tech Advisor for portable printer reviews and buying advice
Independent buying advice is the reason Tech Advisor exists, and we’ve been doing it for 30 years. Our in-house team and contributors are experts in all things tech and gadgets, and we have your best interests at heart.
Who curated this article?
Hannah is our Entertainment Editor but has been testing and reviewing all kinds of tech for six years at Tech Advisor. She knows everything there is to know about portable printers and has reviewed most of the models you see above.
How to choose the best portable printer
Fortunately, choosing a portable printer isn’t as complicated or as overwhelming as something like a smartphone. There are small number of reliable brands that make the best models, and you should be able to figure out which one is best for your needs quickly.
As well as reading our honest thoughts on each printer above, you first need to make sure the device is compatible with the phone or other device you want to use it with. Most have apps for Android and iOS, so you can then move on to making sure it does everything you need.
The main difference between different portable printers is the size and type of photo they print. Some are square and use Zink paper which prints within seconds, for example, while others offer a choice of sizes and use film, which you have to wait to develop. Your last key decision is how much to spend – ultimately, that’s up to you but budget models cost a little over £50/$50 but you can spend £100/$100-£200/$200 if you want a fancier model.
How does a portable photo printer work?
Portable photo printers essentially connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, usually via an app. The photos taken on your phone (or downloaded onto your image library) can then be viewed in the app, and printed from here.
There is no need to involve your PC at all, and most printers should support both iOS and Android models.
The actual printing process depends on the model you buy. The Polaroid Hi-Print uses a lengthier dye-sublimation process, whilst Instax printers instantly print photos, which then develop over a short period of time. Zink photo printers print instantly, but this is technically not real film. It all comes down to your preferences for the final look of your photos.
What size photos does a portable photo printer produce?
That depends on which printer you choose! We have the dimensions of all the prints that the devices use in our linked reviews, but the most common format is around the size of a credit card. However, you can opt for something larger if you prefer prints that take up more space. Typically, a portable printer can only print one size of photos.
What is the difference between a portable photo printer and an instant camera hybrid?
Some models of instant cameras (which print photos as soon as you hit the shutter button) also include the ability to print photos from other devices, just as you would on a portable printer – one example is the Instax Mini Evo.
Can I edit photos in a portable photo printer app?
Most leading manufacturers of portable photo printers offer some level of editing in their smartphone apps. These include filters, stickers, frames, text and even more advanced things like QR codes.
Where do I buy more instant printer film?
Related content
- Best instant cameras
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Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
Recent stories by Hannah Cowton-Barnes:
- These are the best instant cameras you can buy
- Instax Wide Evo review: Big prints, bigger price
- Canon Selphy QX20 review: The best of both worlds
At a Glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- High quality prints
- Portable and refined design
- Easy app navigation
Cons
- Expensive printing costs
- Slow printing speeds
- Only 20 prints on one charge
Our Verdict
The Polaroid Hi-Print has a great design and produces high quality instant prints – but the running costs are pricey.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: Polaroid Hi-Print
Looking to get into Polaroid prints but prefer taking photos on your smartphone? You can get the best of best worlds with the Polaroid Hi-Print, the latest instant printer from Polaroid that connects to your phone over Bluetooth and prints high resolution photos in under a minute.
The Hi-Print rivals the likes of the Instax Mini Link – but strips back a lot of the fluffy features to just produce a simple but effective instant printer. Read on for my full review.
Design and build
As designs go, the Polaroid Hi-Print is refined and clean. It’s compact in size and light enough to be held one handed. The top features a rainbow strip – a nod to the printing process – with the printing slot on the top of the device. You can place the Hi-Print both vertically and horizontally – though the former is slightly wobblier than the latter.
The cartridges can be loaded on the left-hand side of the pack which you can prise open with your fingernail. The power button is located on the right-hand side, along with two LED status lights. On the bottom of the device, you get a Micro-USB port for charging (a cable comes included in the box), another status light and a reset port.
To print a photo, you link your phone up with the Hi-Print using the accompanying app via Bluetooth. There you can select and customise the image you want and print directly from here.
Printing speed is slower than that of other instant printers at around 50 seconds – but this is due to being a dye-sublimation device, which means that the print ejects in and out of the printer at least four times to add each layer of colour, plus a protective film. You’ll get around 20 prints on one charge, which is lower than rivals but to be expected considering the more complex printing process.
Features and photo quality
Despite the slower speeds, the wait is certainly worth it, as the print quality is overall extremely high and much more detailed, vivid and striking than you would get from a quicker digital instant printer – which is the most important part of this product.
The printer uses 2×3 Hi-Print paper cartridge , which comes with 20 sheets in a pack. The images use nearly the entirety of the paper, bar a strip of white at the bottom. Again, rivals sometimes have borders round the photo, which makes the image smaller, so this is a big plus for Polaroid.
Prints are water and smudge resistant and contain a peelable adhesive back so you can stick your photos on your desk or the back of your phone. It’s a nice touch that allows you to use these prints as decoration without the need for extra accessories.
There are some customisable features on the app as well. These include frames, filters, aspect ratio changes, text and stickers – the last two are elements I can see younger generations making use of. Nothing on the app seems fluffy or useless, again another plus over rival products from Instax.
The app syncs up with the majority of photo folders on your phone besides your bog-standard camera roll. You can choose from previously uploaded images to WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and more – useful if you have a particular image from your social channels that you want printed. You can also access your phone’s camera directly through the app.
Using the app is easy – the only time I ran into issues was during the initial pairing process which took a few goes to master. However, after that I encountered no problems. The interface is clean, simply laid out and doesn’t lag. You can choose to print a photo on the app and then minimise away, using your phone for other tasks whilst you wait.
Value for money
At £89.99/US$99.99 the Polaroid Hi-Print undercuts some other instant printers on the market right now including the Instax Mini Link (RRP £109.99/$99.99) and the HP Sprocket Select (RRP £119/US$149.99) – making it a competitive option.
Though the base price is not that high, the main issue with the Polaroid Hi-Print is its expensive running costs. One pack of Hi-Print paper cartridge – which includes just 20 sheets – comes in at £15.99/$16.99 for a pack of 20. This works out on average around 79 pence/85 cents per photo, more expensive than the likes of Zink Paper which costs under 50 pence for one sheet in the UK and just below 50 cents for one sheet in the US.
If you plan on printing lots of photos on this device, the costs will rack up very quickly, so you’ll have to be certain to make every single print count.
You can take a look at how the Polaroid Hi-Print compares to rivals in our list of the best portable printers . It’s also worth checking out the best instant cameras on the market too, if you want a camera-printer hybrid.
Should you buy the Polaroid Hi-Print?
The Polaroid Hi-Print without a doubt produces some of the best instant prints from a smartphone that you can find on the market right now. The accompanying app is user-friendly, and boasts a good range of customisation features for prints.
Don’t however let the base price fool you into thinking this is a cheap instant printer – heavy usage will set you back a pretty penny. Nonetheless, if you’re prepared to pay for picture perfect quality, you can’t really get better than this.
Specs
Polaroid Hi-Print: Specs
- 26.9×149.8×79.5mm
- 255g (without cartridge)
- Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer printing, 4PASS
- 620mAh lithium-ion battery
- Micro-USB charging
- Approximately 20 prints on one charge
- Printing speed approximately 50 seconds
- Print size – 54 x 86 mm
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR & 5.0
- Comes with USB cable
- Film packs sold separately
Best Prices Today: Polaroid Hi-Print
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
Recent stories by Hannah Cowton-Barnes:
- The best portable photo printers 2026, tested and reviewed
- Instax Wide Evo review: Big prints, bigger price
- Canon Selphy QX20 review: The best of both worlds
At a Glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Portable design
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Cons
- A few bugs in the app
- Charges via Micro-USB
Our Verdict
The Kodak Step Printer is a reliable, affordable instant photo printer. It doesn’t do anything its rivals don’t, but it costs less and has few flaws to undermine its appeal.
Best Prices Today: Kodak Step Instant Printer
The Kodak Step Instant Printer – not to be confused with the similarly named Kodak Step Instant Camera – is a cheap and cheerful Zink printer that can connect to your phone to print your favourite shots on compact sticky-backed Zink prints.
There are plenty of other similar Zink printers out there, and the Kodak Step doesn’t do anything revolutionary that the rest don’t. But it’s cheap, compact, and gives you plenty of easy editing options – making this one of the better options in a crowded field.
Design and build
- Simple plastic design
- Range of cheery colours
- Compact
Kodak has kept things simple with the Step printer.
This is a compact plastic brick, small enough to slip into a pocket or handbag. Available in white, black, blue, or pink, there are few flourishes to the design outside of your choice of colour.
The only thing that really stands out is a small black-and-yellow stripe on either end. This is just a sticker though – which on the upside means you can peel it off if you’re not a fan, but unfortunately means it’s also likely to peel itself off with sufficient wear and tear.
There are two LEDs for power and charging, one button to turn the printer off and on, and that’s honestly about it. When you want to load paper to print, you simply slide the back of the body off and load in the prints – it’s simple, quick, and pretty difficult to get wrong.
App and features
- Easy to pair with free smartphone app
- Edit photos and create collages
- A little buggy
Almost everything you do with the Kodak Step is controlled through the free app, available on iOS or Android. You can set up an account with Kodak, but this is optional – everything works fine without one.
The first step is pairing the printer to the app, but this is easy enough. They connect over Bluetooth, and in less than a minute I had the app connected to the printer and ready to go.
Images can be selected from your device’s gallery, or you can connect the app to your Facebook, Instagram, or Google photo libraries for more options.
Once you pick an image, there’s a wealth of options. You can just print it as it, either in landscape or portrait format, with the option to either print the full image with a border or crop it in if it’s not in the exact aspect ratio of the Zink prints (most of your photos won’t be).
But you can also edit images. This can be as simple as applying an Instagram-style filter, or you can get more complex and tweak brightness, hue, or colour temperature, or add on colourful frames, stickers, text, or drawings. You can also create collages with multiple photos in one print – but bear in mind that due to the size of the paper, each image may end up pretty tiny.
I’ve mostly been impressed with the Kodak Step Prints app, which is well laid out – and far simpler to use than its strangely laborious step-by-step tutorial process would suggest.
That said, it’s not perfect. For one there are some odd choices, like the fact that the most detailed set of image hue sliders appear only on the ‘Print preview’ page of the app – and not, as you’d expect, in the ‘Edit photo’ section.
There are bugs to sort out too. The app has a tendency to freeze at times, especially when loading a photo to edit. The ‘Print preview’ brightness slider also seems to be entirely broken, raising brightness drastically if you so much as tap on the bar, with no option to lower it below the image’s starting point.
Print quality
- Small 2×3” Zink prints
- Sticky-backed
- Decent detail and colour
The Kodak Step prints onto ink-free Zink prints – a popular format for instant printers and cameras in recent years.
The key benefits to Zink are that the prints themselves are cheap and quick to process, the printer doesn’t need ink cartridges, and that each print is actually sticky-backed – so you can peel off the back layer and turn any photo print into a sticker.
There are two real downsides. One is size – at 2×3”, Zink prints are tiny. That’s part of why the printer itself is so portable of course, so it’s not all bad. But still, these are dinky, and too small to really display anywhere – they’re better suited to making collages or tucking into a wallet.
The bigger concern is quality. This isn’t bad by Zink standards, preserving a fair amount of detail from images and printing at a respectable colour range. Still, a little is lost from every photo, and there’s none of the charm or style you’ll find on an instant film printer like the Instax Mini Link .
Battery life
- Battery for up to 25 prints
- Charges via Micro-USB
On a full charge, the Kodak Step can apparently print up to 25 prints – I didn’t have that many to test with so can’t confirm, but it did happily make it through a full pack of Zink paper, with lots of standby time, without complaint.
The one small disappointment is that when it comes to charging, you have to use a Micro-USB cable. This is getting to be a pretty old charging standard now, and it’s plausible that you won’t really own or use any other Micro-USB products at this point.
Kodak does include a cable for you to plug into any existing USB charger, but still – it’s a bit annoying that this couldn’t use the more recent and universal USB-C standard.
Price and availability
Zink paper is relatively affordable too, though still costs around 50p/50c per sheet – less than Instax prints, but enough that you won’t want to burn through prints with abandon.
Make sure to check out our guide to the best instant printers to see how the competition stack up, or the best instant cameras if you want to take photos rather than just print them (many do both).
Verdict
The Kodak Step Printer is hardly a reinvention of the instant printer, but it’s a good example of the form.
It’s small, compact, and feels durable, with decent battery life and an easy print process. The associated app is simple too, with quick pairing and a range of options to alter your images – though I did encounter a couple of bugs and issues along the way.
Best of all, at the time of writing this runs a little cheaper than most of its rivals while doing fundamentally the same thing – enough to make it an easy option to recommend.
Best Prices Today: Kodak Step Instant Printer
Author: Dominic Preston, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Previously Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Dom covers everything that runs on electricity, from phones and laptops to wearables, audio, gaming, smart home, and streaming.
Recent stories by Dominic Preston:
- Instax Square SQ40 review
- Kodak Step Instant Camera review
- Instax Square SQ1 review
At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Slim and durable build
- Affordable running costs
- Simple to use
Cons
- Not as affordable as the Kodak Step
- Zink paper not as impressive as rival prints
- App has a few bugs
Our Verdict
The Kodak Step Slim has a great portable build, and is extremely easy to use. It is not quite as affordable as the original Kodak Step, but it still remains competitive in the overall market.
Best Prices Today: Kodak Step Slim Instant Printer
Kodak’s Step Slim instant printer is a thinner and lighter version of the Kodak Step. However, it still has all the bells and whistles of the main model.
Like many other portable photo printers, the Step Slim uses Zink paper. Whilst it doesn’t have any new-fangled features to make it stand out from the crowd, it certainly won’t break the bank – and it is incredibly simple to use.
Design and Build
The core difference between this printer and the Step is its thin build. The Step Slim is 2.29cm thick, whilst the regular Step is 2.54cm thick. It also weighs 240g, 64g less than the regular model. This makes it much easier to slip into a pocket or a very small bag.
You get a durable and sturdy build with a white plastic finish and curved edges – the printer only comes in the one colour option. The bottom edge has two yellow and black striped stickers which can be peeled off if you would prefer a simpler look.
There are two LEDs on the printer, one for the power and one for when you are charging it, as well as a button for turning it on and off. The prints are loaded by sliding the front panel up – a relatively simple action when you get the hang of it. Images print out of the bottom of the device.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
App and Features
To print photos, you will need to download the accompanying Kodak Step app, which is available for free on both iOS and Android. There is the option to set up a login with Kodak, but you can still use all the features without having to do this.
Once you have downloaded the app, you just need to pair the printer with your phone – something I had no issues with. The printer has integration with photos from your phone’s image library, from Google Photos and from your social media profiles such as Facebook and Instagram.
There are multiple ways you can customise images before you click print. You can choose to have a portrait or landscape orientation, and you can crop images to suit the size of the Zink print.
You can add various Instagram-style filters, and change the saturation, brightness and colour temperature using the various colour sliders. If you prefer something a bit funkier, you can add frames, stickers, text and drawings.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
There is also the option to add multiple images to a collage. However, the size of the prints are quite small, so the result may not be very impressive.
The app itself is also not the most intuitive. For example, the more detailed colour temperature options are only available to use in the ‘print preview’ section, rather than the ‘edit photo’ section. I also found it to stutter at times, especially when printing an image.
That aside, the sections are all laid out cleanly, and the text is bright and large – making it ideal for accessibility.
Print Quality
Photos on the Kodak Step Slim take under a minute to print. The device uses Zink paper for its images, meaning that there is no need for an ink cartridge – the image is directly printed onto the sticky-back paper.
The benefit of these prints is that they are relatively cheap. However, the details are not as crisp as what you will find on real film from the likes of Instax and Polaroid , and they don’t have that ‘vintage feel’ that rivals do.
If that isn’t too much of a concern, then you will still get relatively bright colours and a fair amount of detail from Zink prints. However, at 2x3in, they aren’t the largest photos on the block. These are best for sticking in a wallet, or for using in a scrap book.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Battery Life
The Kodak Step Slim can print up to 25 images on one single charge. I didn’t have enough film in order to max out the printer’s battery life, but I did print a full pack of Zink paper and still had plenty of juice to spare.
Like its sister product, the Kodak Step Slim only charges via the accompanying Micro-USB cable – quite outdated tech at this point. It would be nice to see future printers from Kodak equipped with the more widely used USB-C ports.
Price and Availability
The Step Slim costs an extra $10/£10 over the regular Kodak Step , but it has the same battery life, uses the same app and there is no difference in the print quality.
If you want to get a portable printer for the lowest possible cost, then it makes sense to opt for the Step over the Step Slim. If, however, you plan on using this printer on the go often and want to slip it into a pocket with no hassle, then this is the model for you.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Of course, portable printers also rack up ongoing costs as well. Fortunately, Zink is one of the most affordable prints at 50c/50p per sheet . To compare, Instax Mini prints cost around 98c/75p per sheet.
You can also check out our guides to the best portable printers and instant cameras .
Verdict
The Kodak Step Slim is a portable printer that lives up its name, with a thin build that is great for using on the go. It’s easy to operate and won’t break the bank. Plus, the accompanying Zink prints are relatively cheap as well.
The images aren’t quite as impressive as real film options from the likes of Instax and Polaroid, and the companion app has a few minor issues. It’s also slightly more expensive than the regular Kodak Step.
However, if portability is the number one factor for you when choosing an instant printer, then this is a reliable and affordable option.
Specs
- 2.29 x 8.26 x 12.45cm
- 240g
- Lithium metal battery
- Micro-USB charging
- Printing speed: Under 60 seconds
- Print size: 2x3in
- Uses Zink paper
- USB cable included
- Bluetooth
Best Prices Today: Kodak Step Slim Instant Printer
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
Recent stories by Hannah Cowton-Barnes:
- The best portable photo printers 2026, tested and reviewed
- Instax Wide Evo review: Big prints, bigger price
- Canon Selphy QX20 review: The best of both worlds
At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Retro design
- Large and glossy prints
- Wide range of filters and shooting options
Cons
- Very expensive for what it is
- Cumbersome build
- Battery and internal storage on the lower side
Our Verdict
While there’s no denying that the Instax Wide Evo can produce a versatile range of shots on high-quality paper, this camera-printer hybrid has a high price tag that most people will find hard to justify.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: Instax Wide Evo
If you’re struggling to decide between the spontaneity of an instant camera and the practicality of a portable printer, why not opt for a hybrid model?
Instax has expanded its Evo range after launching the Mini Evo camera back in 2021. This is now joined by the Instax Wide Evo, which has a lot of the same features of the Mini version. The key difference is that it supports Wide film, which is double the size of a Mini print.
While that may make this sound like the obvious choice, wait until you hear about the price…
Design and Build
- 490g without film
- Fun dials and levers
- Support for 45 images with just internal storage
The Instax Wide Evo follows in the footsteps of its Mini sibling by adopting a retro design language, with some fun attachments that keep within this theme.
The camera is only available in basic black and is made up of a textured plastic body with shiny grey accents. I used the Wide Evo at a party and had quite a few compliments on its nostalgic novelty, doubly so because of its hybrid nature.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Let’s get the downside out of the way – yes, this is a big camera. I hadn’t tested one that supported Wide film before, and compared to the size of the Mini Evo build, this took some getting used to. It just about fit inside my magical Uniqlo bag that’s like a TARDIS, but it’s not light at 490g, excluding the film cartridge. It’s also not usable with one hand.
If you don’t mind a bulkier build, then crack on – it’s unavoidable if you want something that supports film that’s twice as large as the Mini prints.
On the front, there’s the lens, and Instax throws in a cover to stop it from picking up scratches. There’s a button to toggle on wide-angle mode, a selfie mirror and a flash that can be turned on, off or to automatic. The shutter lever is on the front, and it took me a few goes to get the hang of it – you need to hold it down to take a snap, and there is sometimes a delay on this.
On one side, you have the power button, with dials on either side to mix and match various filters and modes (more on that later). One neat feature is the print crank, which can be pulled out and wound up to choose a photo from your digital library to print.
Packs of film are loaded at the back, and you can load ten prints at a time. It takes about 16 seconds for an image to print. The rear also features an LCD screen, which you can use to preview images before you commit to using a piece of Instax Wide film.
Navigation on the Instax Wide Evo is easier than on the Mini thanks to the dials and additional buttons on the back – again, one of the benefits of having a bigger camera overall.
Internal storage isn’t the best, with only space for around 45 images. I reached the limit during the testing and had to delete a few snaps. Thankfully, there is a microSD slot which expands storage up to 850 photos. There is also a slot where you can mount a tripod, should you wish.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Features and Image Quality
- Wide film is perfect for frames and scrapbooking
- 16Mp main camera
The Instax Wide Evo is for anyone who thrives on experimental photography, and certainly not a product for younger or casual users.
Unlike the Instax Mini 12 , where you point and shoot, there’s a wide range of combinations you can try to get unique, artsy shots. For example, if you opt for something like the beam flare mode, you can use the degree control dial to alter the direction of the light, and this dial works for many other modes.
Or you can have two different filters on, such as monochrome and vignette. There are also options for the surrounding border. For example, you can have a date and time stamp on the bottom right-hand side.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
I’d say it took some time to get used to which filters worked best, but that’s the benefit of a digital camera printer hybrid – you won’t have any wasted prints if you don’t wish to.
The camera itself is 16Mp, with a focal length of 16mm, so don’t expect it to capture minute details. It can struggle in lower lighting and overly bright conditions, but this isn’t a smartphone . Those downsides are typical for a digital camera, and some users prefer a more ‘retro’ finish anyway.
As this is real film, prints are glossy and colourful. There’s the option to print in either rich mode or natural mode, and high-quality photos from your smartphone or a professional photographer look incredibly impressive on this sort of paper, especially compared to Mini film where some details are lost due to the small size of the photo.
Those taken directly on the camera have a more nostalgic, in-the-moment feel, which is great for social events where you’re looking for a unique way to document the night. As the Wide film is so large, you could even use a few to create a collage frame for your home.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Battery Life and Charging
- Estimated battery life from Instax is higher than real world testing
- Two-to-three hours to charge
The Instax Wide Evo is fitted with a lithium-ion battery, with enough power for around 100 snaps according to Instax, though the website does state this is down to usage conditions. I found it to run out of charge quicker than that, with it depleting during a day’s usage, but I was experimenting with basically every filter available.
The camera supports USB-C charging, and it takes between two and three hours to go from flat to full. There’s a cable included in the box, though this is on the short side.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Instax Wide Evo App
- Used for direct printing and remote shooting
- Can edit photos
- Discover Feed can be used for inspiration
To take full advantage of the Instax Wide Evo, you’ll want to download the accompanying app for iOS and Android.
By connecting the camera to your phone, you can print photos taken on your smartphone, transfer images taken on the camera to be stored digitally and use the remote shooting feature to get a live feed of what the lens is capturing on your phone.
Like other Instax apps, it’s simple to use. However, the text is quite small, which isn’t the best for accessibility. You can edit photos that are being printed with various filters and cropping tools.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
One new neat feature this app includes is a Discover Feed of sample images, along with the settings that the photographer used for inspiration.
Once again, it is a shame that Fujifilm can’t create one app to house all its cameras and printers… but this will only be an annoyance to those who own multiple products, which I imagine is a small pool of people.
Price and Availability
I’ve established that there is a lot to love about the Instax Wide Evo but let me be clear: this is only suitable for those with plenty of budget to spare, or those who take photography as a hobby reasonably seriously.
That’s because it costs £319.99/$349.99. That’s £145/$150 more than the Instax Mini Evo, which is a wild step up in price.
For more options, check out our charts of the best instant cameras and the best portable printers .
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Should you buy the Instax Wide Evo?
The Instax Wide Evo will tick a lot of boxes for those looking for a camera and portable printer hybrid. The nostalgic look and feel make it stand out, while the endless array of settings means that you’ll have plenty to experiment with when shooting.
But, and it’s a big but, the price tag is probably a lot higher than what usual Instax fans will expect. Plus, the build is heavy and bulky, making it not the best for using out and about unless you have a big enough bag to store it in, and both the battery life and internal storage are on the low side.
The Instax Mini Evo offers most of the same features, just with smaller prints. If you really want the option of larger ones, you could even buy a Link Wide Printer on top of the Mini Evo and still spend less than what you would on just the Wide Evo.
If money is no object, go ahead. But otherwise, this is probably too expensive for most.
Best Prices Today: Instax Wide Evo
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
Recent stories by Hannah Cowton-Barnes:
- The best portable photo printers 2026, tested and reviewed
- These are the best instant cameras you can buy
- Canon Selphy QX20 review: The best of both worlds
