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Our modern mobile tech has moved us farther and farther away from physical photos with each new generation of gadgets. But while screens of all sizes have increasing resolution, pixel counts, and easy digital sharing, nothing can ever truly replace the feel of something physical. That’s where a good portable printers comes in.
The best portable printers go far beyond photos too – letters and envelopes for your small business instantly look more professional when printed with your logo and design. You can also quickly print out an invoice or contract to a client that requests a physical piece of paper to sign, print last minute packages for a work presentation, or even custom invitations for parties, events, and holiday cards too. A portable printer can also come in handy while traveling, say, when you need to print out official documents for border crossings.
These printers aren’t the traditional dinosaurs that used to dominate most of the space on your desk either. They’re compact, weighing only a few pounds, built to travel and fit into a laptop bag (or a desk drawer when not in use) along with your other gear. But they’re still perfectly fit for home use, and able to do most of the things their bulky ancestors did, while at a fraction of the size.
Lithium-ion batteries give these printers their instant portability, and the best portable printers can even be charged up by USB power on the go, with a car port or spare battery pack. These can also easily go wireless too, meaning that it doesn’t need to be in your small workspace at all and can be freely moved around wherever there’s WiFi. Some receive commands right from your mobile devices as well, often with voice compatibility like Alexa and Google AI.
And when you need to digitize an already physical document, some of the latest portable printers also include a scanner function too, allowing you to edit images for easy emailing.
We’ve highlighted four of the best portable printers that deserve a place in your office accessories kit, whether you’re taking your work on the go, prepping documents for travel, or printing out your favorite photos to frame at home.
