Must Have Compact Printers

"Compact printers" is another way to say portable printers. Small and, as their name implies, compact, they can also be mobile devices capable of supporting you on the go. They can print copies, photos, or make high quality copies and scans, and most operate on Wi-Fi. Plus we all know that printing your photos can make you a better photographer. Of course, like all of the other consumer devices of the modern world, not all compact printers are as functional or functional as the rest. To help those who require the many functions of compact printers, we've compiled a list of the most highly rated.

Before we look at the list, it is important to note that some of the models are not "all in one," meaning they are not both printers and scanners. Some may do only black and white rather than color print jobs. Should you need a mobile printer that is capable of a faster print speed or high volume jobs, or one with premium print quality capable of being a photo printer, you'll need to pay sharp attention to the properties of each of the more recommended options. Keep in mind, too, that most will be of the inkjet printer variety and require traditional ink cartridges, since no compact printers use laser technologies.

Highly Recommended

So, with all of this in mind, let's look at the most highly recommended, or "must have" compact printers on the modern market.

This HP product is usually ranked as the very best overall of all of the compact printers, with the HP OfficeJet Mobile 200 a close second. Both are classic "all in one" models, meaning they have printing and scanning. Both can easily fit into a backpack or tote and are capable of high quality (most say the best) in the industry. Though it will come at a higher price point than any others in the list, it has a long battery life and runs both black and white and color jobs. At only seven pounds, it is a surprising performer and competes with full-sized, stationary models in terms of print quality. Run letter or legal jobs as well as photo paper of many sizes, and it quietly tackles your work. Both have a 50 page capability and can scan one side of a page at a time, saving in a number of formats.

This is the next in line with many reviewers because of its innovative use of thermal printing over inkjet options. This allows the entire unit to weigh only a pound. It uses a range of media including sheet stock, rolls of paper, and a fanfold style of paper. That means you can print your photos on various creative mediums! It runs 300x300 DPI jobs, which means a higher quality than many others. it requires a USB cable to function and does not come with a carrying or battery case. With black and white only, it is not a scanning or photo printing option, but ideal if all you need from compact printers is the ability to run standard print jobs.

If your portable printing needs include anything from photos to documents, this is the wireless and portable option for you. You can print from almost any mobile device or even many cloud based services. Highly rated, it prints up to 9 pages in black and white per minute or almost 6 sheets in color. It can produce in resolutions as high as 9600x2400 and even features an editing and printing app that allows for last minute changes before printing. It can run photo paper and letter or legal sheets as well as #10 envelopes. Photo sizes include 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10. This does require a power cord and is not battery operated. It uses a color and black and white cartridge. Often called Canon's finest mobile printer, it does have an optional battery (not included) and is a great choice among compact printers.

Though some reviews note this as a slower portable printer, the quality of the output is such that most rarely mind. This is a model designed with mobile business travelers as the main audience. Weighing in at less than four pounds, it is one of the lightest of the color printing options. It can be powered on both battery and via traditional cord, and a single charge can print around 100 pages. It has good quality prints and can handle five pages per minute for black and white with under three pages in color. The cartridges (two are needed) are some of the most affordable and you can load up to 20 pages into the input tray at once. Functional with Windows and Mac systems, you can also link it via USB or Wi-Fi and print from the cloud, too.

If all you need is a basic, small inkjet printer, the Canon TS202 is a good choice at a very affordable price point. It weighs just 5.5 pounds and offers photo quality printing on the go.

All In One

Not to be outdone by HP, Epson also tossed it hat into the ring with this all in one. Aptly named "small in one," it is tiny in size, but high on performance. It boasts scanning, printing, and copying quickly and to the usual Epson standards. Though a bit bigger than many portables, it features a flatbed scanner and slots for additional media cards. It is heavier than most at 9 pounds, but produces such premium work that most feel it worth the poundage. It uses inkjet printing and four different cartridges. It can take legal and letter pages along with photo paper and #10 envelopes. Scanning is fast and easy, and can even include bound volumes as well as flat sheets. It is a USB or Wi-Fi compatible option, and printing can be done from the cloud, mobile app, or the SD card slot.

This is a classic all in one model allowing you to print and scan on the go. The HP OfficeJet Mobile 200 will fit into a backpack and only weighs 7 pounds. Whether you're traveling or at an off site business meeting, you'll always have printing and scanning capabilities.

The Canon TS3120 wireless all in one printer makes printing from your smart devices a breeze. The printer connects to your smartphone, tablet, and other wireless devices and even allows you to print from social media and Cloud5. The printer also offers AirPrint 1 features. This compact printer weighs only 8.5 pounds.

Just a little bit larger than the Canon TS3120, the MX492 is perfect for a small home, office, or dorm. With Air Print features, you can print wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch right out of the box! That technically makes it one of the best iPhone photo printers too. It also works with the Canon Print app, allowing you to print and scan from your mobile device easily. The printer is also compatible with Google Cloud.

The HP DeskJect 3755 works with Alexas and is Instant Ink ready, a plan offered by HP offering free 15 pages per month. The printer offers printing, scanning, copying, wireless printing, AirPrint and more. The Instant Ink feature allows you to save up to 50% on ink. Straight out of the box, the printer will work with all mobile devices and the compact size means it takes up little space.

You now have all you need to outfit a sleek or a more substantial mobile office. Whether you just want premium black and white printing or you need to have a fully featured option on hand, these compact printers represent the current best of the best and most are also well within most budgets.