Printers are one of those household items that, though once so vital to everyday life, have become less common in recent times. But with the past couples of years changing the way we live, work and attend school, they’ve come into their own again.
The best compact printers, especially, are designed to fit into the modern home by being slimline, lightweight and portable. Some are even small enough to fit into your pocket, but these printers tend to be most suitable for printing photos on the go. We've included examples of both down below.
And if you're in the process of setting up a home office, prepare for the warmer weather with our guide to the best fans.
Many of us struggle to find a printer that will fit into our lives and not take up too much space, while having all of the features and specs we want. To help you choose, scroll down to see what we thought of some of the offerings from top brands.
The best small printers 2021
Larger than some of the ultra-compact photo printers on this list but smaller than a typical small desktop printer, the Canon Selphy CP1300 is the perfect middle ground.
How it performs
Portable by design, the CP1300 wouldn't look out of place in a home office, either. Printing size is 148x100 (postcard size) and smaller, so it's best for photos, but the results will be more of a standard picture size rather than the smaller print outs from the Sprocket, Polaroid and others.
There's a digital display on top that flips up to make keeping track of your pictures easier and, because the printer offers a choice of sizes, creating a collage couldn't be simpler.
Anything else?
Canon promises 'lab quality results' so, if you're someone who still takes semi-regular trips to the drug store to get their photos developed, this could save you a lot of time and money in the long-run.
As long as you have no need to scan or copy documents, the Epson Workforce is the ideal printer for working from home or on the go.
How it performs
Whether it’s a last-minute boarding pass print out from the airport lounge or you find your client’s premises has no printer, the trusty Epson Workforce is small enough to be kept by your side for instant use.
You can print wirelessly so long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, and you can even charge the battery up via the USB car adapter in time for your next meeting. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Anything else?
The respectably high DPI promises great quality print outs, while the LCD screen allows for easy set up and keeping an eye on ink levels.
Printing your snaps on the go has been made easy thanks to this option from Polaroid. Print photos onto photo paper whilst you're on the go with this hand-sized photo printer.
How it performs
Like with the Sprocket, the resolution of the photos printed aren’t going to be anything to write home about but, for a bit of fun while you’re out and about you can’t really go wrong. Peel the back off the paper and you can print out a batch of personalised stickers that you can plaster around your room or on your belongings.
You can edit pictures using the Polaroid app and easily print from your mobile devices via Bluetooth. The battery life is lacking compared to other small printers, so make sure you're fully charged before leaving the house!
Anything else?
As with all mini printers, the idea behind the Polaroid ZIP is to encourage us to print our photos instead of hiding them away in our photo reels. For this reason, they can't be used with PCs or laptops, and only work via Bluetooth from a mobile device.
The sweetest little printer we ever did see, the HP Sprocket allows you to keep those Insta and Facebook snaps that have existed online only until now.
How it performs
While the DPI is nothing to shout about, the HP Sprocket isn’t marketed towards the professional photography market. For taking on day trips or family vacations, on the other hand, it’s perfect. It prints snapshots and stickers using photo paper rather than ink cartridges, which means printing is instant.
You can use the HP Sprocket app to customise your photos with emojis, borders and text, making each print out completely personal and a true representation of the moment the photo was taken. Connect the app to your Facebook account or connect the device to your phone via Bluetooth for easy, on the go print outs.
Anything else?
The Sprocket comes in four gorgeous colors - black noir (pictured), blush pink, lilac and luna pearl (white).
What is HP Instant Ink?
A lot of newer HP printers (including the HP Tango X) are now compatible with the HP Instant Ink service, which removes the manual task of ordering replacement ink when you start running low. HP advertises a potential 50% saving and plans starting at $0.99 a month, which is good news for those who hate the extra expense of printer ink.
In terms of print speed and resolution, the HP Tango is similar to other models, but it's lighter and offers more bells and whistles. It's also more expensive, which is why it's not our top pick overall, since you're paying for extras that are "nice-to-haves" not "need-to-haves." That said, if you want a cutting edge printer that works with the latest tech, this is it.
How it performs
This printer works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Cortana, and allows you to print photos directly from social media. It also works with the HP Instant Ink service, which is handy if you often find yourself running out of ink at the worst times.
Plus, if you subscribe to Instant Ink (which charges a low monthly fee based on the number of pages you print and sends you more ink when you're running low), you can print photos from social media for free.
Anything else?
If you fancy yourself an aesthete, the HP Tango is the small printer for you. It looks sleek on its own, but if you prefer to match your home tech with your décor (who doesn't?) you can order fabric covers for this printer in indigo or gray fabric, or a cork with a wine-colored interior. When the cover is on, the printer could easily be mistaken for a large, selfie-enhancing reference book.
There are lots of reasons to love the HP Envy 6055. For one, despite its compact size, this Wi-Fi-enabled printer prints in color and black-and-white, scans, copies, and faxes, too. Other pluses: the sleek look and value price point.
How it performs
As mentioned, this printer can scan, copy, and fax, so its suitable for both home use or a small business. Besides its basic functions, the Wi-Fi-enabled HP ENVY 6055e also connects to Apple AirPrint, Bluetooth, HP Smart and Mopria Print Service, can print from Dropbox or Google Drive, and has a USB 2.0 connection.
At 17 inches long, this isn't the smallest printer on our list and wouldn't be ideal for traveling or printing on the go, but if you're looking for a compact printer for your home office or kitchen countertop, this is an excellent pick.
Like a shrunken down version of the hyper-capable printers you'd find in an office, the Brother HL-L2300D allows you to do more with less bulk.
How it performs
The only wired example on our list, this offering from Brother is best suited to those who work or study from home and need a reliable, no-frills option that will get the job done. The printer connects to your PC via USB and produces good quality black and white print outs.
It also prints double sided, significantly speeding up the process if you're printing out a long document or essay. If you want to save on ink, you can activate the Toner Saver mode, which prints at a lower quality when you don't need professional results.
Inkjet vs Zink vs Thermal
Throughout this guide you will have seen mention of a variety of print technologies, including Inkjet, Zink and Thermal. Each has its pros and cons, and will be suitable for some while not serving others.
Inkjet
Inkjet is the most popular kind of printing technology and is probably the one you're most familiar with. It works by putting tiny drops of ink onto the page at a rate indicated by the DPI.
Zink
Zink is short for 'Zero Ink' and refers to a type of printing that requires no ink cartridges whatsoever. Instead, all color required is embedded in the paper, making it popular for instant mobile printers. This means it's potentially better for the environment.
Thermal
Thermal printing, like Zink, uses specialized paper rather than ink cartridges to deliver its results. A thermal printer will heat the paper according to the desired image, causing the picture to show up.
What DPI should I look for in a small printer?
The DPI refers to 'drops per inch' and indicates the quality of an image produced by an Inkjet printer. In short, the higher the DPI the better your printout will look, especially if you want color photos, but a lower DPI means you'll spend less on replacement ink cartridges (which can get pricey).
