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A portable printer is a compromise: small paper, slow pages, and ink that costs more than you expect. Buy one for a job — boarding docs, receipts, or 2×3 photos — not because it looks like a gadget from a keynote.
Pick the job first
Full-size A4 on a job site: look at battery-capable inkjets from Canon or HP with a handle, and accept the weight. Wallet photos: Instax or a dye-sub mini. “I might print sometimes” is how you buy a paperweight.
Ink and battery
Cost per page matters more than Bluetooth logos. If the starter cartridges are half-full, the second year will hurt. USB-C charging is table stakes in 2026; a unique barrel brick is a skip.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your phone can store PDFs and the other party can accept email. A hotel business center is cheaper than a portable A4 inkjet you use four times. Confirm paper size before you fall in love with a photo.
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