What Should Be Considered When Buying a Portable Printer?

A portable printer is a compact and lightweight printing device designed to be easily carried around. It enables on-the-go printing of photos, text, numbers, expiration dates, logos, QR codes, and barcodes. Its advantages are plenty. Unmatched convenience tops the list, allowing for printing during business trips, at family gatherings, or for DIY projects. It also saves time by eliminating the need to wait to reach a stationary printer. A good portable printer could be a life saver for getting your print task done while on the go without being confined to a spot. Targeting to different groups of clients, there are a few types of portable printers in the market to meet different needs. Some for printing photos, some are label makers, some can print directly onto objects, etc., regardless of the types, these are many things for you to consider before buying one.

 

7 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Portable Printer

1. Types of Portable Printers

There are several types of portable printers, each with its own set of pros and cons.

● Thermal Printers: These printers use heat to create an image on heat - sensitive paper. Tiny heated elements on the print head turn the coating black. Most are monochrome, with grayscale adjusted by temperature. They're fast, quiet, and cheap, perfect for receipts and basic text. But their print quality lags behind other types, and thermal paper fades over time. Thermal printers are great for applications like printing receipts or simple text - based documents.

 

● Thermal Inkjet Printers: They work by heating ink to create bubbles that push the ink onto the paper. They offer a good balance between print quality and cost. It's suitable for moderate - quality photos and documents. However, they can be noisy and need frequent ink cartridge changes. This type is suitable for printing photos and documents with moderate color requirements.

● Dye-Sublimation Printers: Dye-sublimation has two techniques. One uses a special ink - ribbon that sublimates onto photo paper. The more common method involves printing ink onto transfer paper, then heat - transferring it to a polyester- coated substrate. Operationally, images need mirroring, and special ICC profiles are crucial. It's a multi-step process, taking more time. But it creates high - quality, durable prints with smooth color transitions, far better than traditional inkjet in terms of image quality.

 

● Zink (Zero Ink) Printers: As the name implies, they don't use ink cartridges. Instead, they use a special type of paper with embedded dye crystals that are activated by heat. They are extremely compact and lightweight. But the print size is often limited, and the cost per print can be relatively high. Zink printers are great for quick, on - the - spot photo printing, especially for social media sharing.

To determine which type is right for you, consider your printing needs. If you mainly print text - based documents and receipts, a thermal printer may be sufficient. For photos and general - purpose color printing, a thermal inkjet printer could be a good choice. If high - quality photo prints are a priority, a dye - sublimation printer is the way to go. And if portability and simplicity are key, a Zink printer might be the best fit.

 

2. Printer Size

The core existence of a portable printer is in its mobility and lightweight. When choosing a portable printer, it's advisable to select a smaller one while still meeting your printing needs. A compact size makes it easier to carry in a backpack, briefcase, or even a pocket. Before selecting a printer, think about the scenarios that you will be using it and where will you put it when not in use and on the road, so now you must have a picture in mind —— a portable printer should be small enough to fit into your pocket and backpack and doesn't weigh a lot.

 

3. Connection Compatibility

Before purchasing a portable printer, it's crucial to confirm that it supports connection with your device. Most modern portable printers support WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB connections. If you primarily use a smartphone or tablet for printing, ensure the printer has a compatible mobile app and can connect via Bluetooth or WiFi. If you'll be using it with a laptop, check for USB or WiFi compatibility. Incompatible connections can lead to frustration and make the printer unusable with your devices.

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4. Printer Functions

Although different manufacturers are trying their best to preserve the various functions of the printer, as the size of the portable printer decreases, some functions will inevitably be removed. Choosing a wrong type of printers will cause unnecessary inconvenience and costs, so before buying a mobile printer, another important thing you need to look at is what you want the printer to do. When buying a portable printer, several functions should be considered.

1. Inkless or Ink Printing: Inkless printers, like Zink printers, eliminate the need to replace ink cartridges, which can be convenient. However, ink-based printers, such as thermal inkjet, often offer more color options and better print quality for certain applications.

2. Black or Color: If you only need to print text-based documents, a black-and-white printer may be sufficient. But if you need to print photos, graphics, or color-coded documents, a printer with multiple color ink cartridge choice is essential.
3. Direct Printing or Transfer: Some printers can print directly onto paper, while others may require a transfer process, especially for specialty items like mugs or T-shirts. Consider your intended use to determine which option is best.
4. Print Content: Think about what you'll be printing. If it's mainly text, a basic printer may be enough. But if you'll be printing high-resolution photos, detailed graphics, or barcodes, you'll need a printer with appropriate capabilities.
5. Supported Printing Surfaces: Different printers can handle various surface materials. Some can print on standard paper, while others can also print on glossy paper, fabric, or plastic. Make sure the printer can handle the materials you plan to use.

 

5. Battery Capacity

Portable printers are usually battery powered which you can either use when unplugged and when under charging. Batteries, however, are not all created with the same performance. For a portable printer, a large-capacity battery is of utmost importance. Before purchasing, you should evaluate how long will the battery lasts once fully charged because nothing is more upset than a dead battery on the road.

 

6. Ease of Use

Mobile printers are mainly for people on the go, which means troubleshooting manual or tech support would seldom be available within reach. So in this sense, from inserting ink cartridge or changing printer paper, connecting to your device, editing printing content or changing setting on APP to charging the battery, the simpler the operation, the better.

 

7. Brand

The brand of a portable printer can have a significant impact on product quality. Well-known brands often have a reputation for reliability, good customer service, and high - quality manufacturing. Brands like BENTSAI are known for their innovative designs and reliable performance. BENTSAI portable inkjet printers are often praised for their durability, ease of use, and advanced features. Other popular brands in the portable printer market also offer a range of quality products. When choosing a brand, consider reading reviews, comparing features, and looking at the brand's track record in the industry.

 

Best Pocket Portable Printer of the Year

The BENTSAI B10 stands out as an excellent choice for a pocket-sized portable printer. It is incredibly compact, fitting easily into a pocket or a small bag, making it the perfect companion for on-the-go printing. The B10 offers high-quality printing, allowing you to customize the printing elements ranging from text, number, date, icon, logo, QR code, barcode to photo and print directly onto ANY surfaces while on the go.

Specifications
Model	B10 mini
Printer Type	Inkjet
Ink Type	Solvent fast dry ink
Ink Capacity	42ml, print up to 2,000,000 characters
Product Dimensions	110*40*90mm
Product Weight	195g
Connection	WIFI on smartphones
APP Operation System	IOS, Android
Printing Resolution	576dpi
Printing Speed	40mm/s
Max. Print Height	12.7mm
Max. Print Length	Unlimited
Print Mode	Manual
Power	Rechargeable battery
Battery Capacity	4000mAh

 

● Compact and Lightweight

Designed to meet printing needs while on the go, B10 mini portable printer weighs only 195g and smaller than an apple, makes it super easy to carry around without taking up much space. The magnetic design of the nozzle cover also adds a hint of technology to the machine.

 

● Endless Applications

Better yet, BENTSAI B10 mini pocket printer maximizes what you can do on the go, offering direct text, number, date and time, QR code, barcode, logo and picture printing on both porous and non-porous objects, regardless of whether the surfaces are curved or flat. This allows you print customized content whether it is for business purpose or personal decorations.

 

● Easy Operation, High Printing Speed

The setup is super easy, too. All you need to do is connect your cell phone to the printer via WIFI, edit your content to be printed on the PRTFOX APP and you’re ready to print. You can even save your printing template on the APP and adjust the printing gray level. The maximum printing speed of this mini printer is also higher than the average printers of the same kind, BENTSAI B10 mini prints 500mm/sec while the average kinds is at 30-300mm/sec.

 

● High-quality and Economical Ink

Though BENTSAI B10 mini pocket printer is on the pricey side, the most immediate payoff is a 42ml high quality ink cartridge that comes along in a standard package, which allows you to print up to 2,000,000 characters ≈ 1,080,000 production date ≈ 98,182 QR Codes ≈ 29,189 barcodes. Every single character only costs $0.0002 at average gray level 3. A great money saver compared to other small character inkjet printers.

● 7 Ink Color Options

In addition to its economical ink cartridge, the portable BENTSAI B10 mini also delivers excellent color and detail even when printing elements such QR code that requires a lot of high density ink. Not to mention the ink is quick drying and water proof. However, one downside of B10 mini is that it only prints one color, but having the compact design and the direct printing capability on nearly 90% of the materials on the go is well-worth the compromise.

Though the machine cannot print colors, there are 7 colors of the fast dry ink cartridges for you to choose: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Green, White, and Invisible (only visible under UV light). The invisible ink is a bonus to manufacturers who need to apply anti-counterfeiting. Potentially to be used in traceability in production and logistics, copy protection on tickets and vouchers. By clicking the button on B10 mini mobile printer, you can replace whatever colors you’d like in just 15 seconds.

 

Conclusion

Buying a portable printer requires careful consideration of several factors. By understanding the different types of portable printers, their sizes, connection compatibility, functions, battery capacity, ease of use, and brand reputation, you can make an informed decision. Whether you choose the BENTSAI B10 or another model, the right portable printer can provide you with the convenience of on-demand printing wherever you are, enhancing your productivity and creativity.