We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We live and breathe instant cameras, and use nearly every one to find the best picks for you.
Polaroid Zip Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer
Super compact
Pros
- Super compact size
- Connects to phone via Bluetooth
- Free Polaroid Zip app has a lot of features
- Rechargeable battery
- Uses ZINK "Zero Ink" paper
Cons
- Can only print up to 25 photos on a single charge
- Starter pack of ZINK paper isn’t a lot
- ZINK paper can be expensive
The Polaroid Zip is a fantastic compact photo printer that fits pretty much everywhere. The free Polaroid Zip app is needed to send photos from your smartphone to the printer, but it has plenty of editing tools to perfect your images before printing, as well as a collage maker. The biggest downside is that you’ll only be able to print about 25 photos before needing to recharge it again, and ZINK paper isn’t exactly cheap.
Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer
Print it all
Pros
- Fairly compact and portable
- Connects to phone via Bluetooth
- Free Polaroid Mint app has plenty of tools
- Rechargeable battery lasts for about 50 prints
- Uses ZINK "Zero Ink" paper
Cons
- More expensive than the Polaroid Zip
- Starter pack doesn’t have a lot of paper
- ZINK paper is not cheap
The Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer is also a great option for those who want a photo printer to take on-the-go. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and the free companion Polaroid Mint app, which has a lot of editing tools. It also can print around 50 photos before needing a recharge. However, it’s more expensive than the Zip.
Both the Polaroid Zip and Polaroid Mint Printer are great options when it comes to wireless portable photo printers, especially when complementing an instant camera. The differences are fairly minor, but they are there, so let’s go into more detail.
The Breakdown
Pictured: A Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer.
On the surface, the Polaroid Zip and the Polaroid Mint are very similar to each other, with just a few minor differences.
Neither one is superior over the other in terms of printing quality since they both use ZINK "Zero-Ink" 2 by 3-inch paper and don’t need ink, toner, or ribbons to print. They are both also fairly compact in size, so it’s easy to take either of them anywhere, wherever you go. The best part is that both of them connect to your smartphone via the proper companion apps (Polaroid Zip or Polaroid Mint and Bluetooth.
| Polaroid Zip Wireless Photo Printer | Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $130-$140 |
| Dimensions | 0.9 x 2.9 x 4.7 inches | 3 x 0.5 x 1 inches |
| Size | Compact | Compact |
| Rechargeable battery | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Polaroid Zip app | Polaroid Mint app |
| Price of app | Free | Free |
| Prints on single charge | 25 | 50 |
| Paper type | ZINK 2×3 inch | ZINK 2×3 inch |
The Polaroid Zip and Mint apps are also pretty similar to each other. These two apps are able to access the Camera Roll and Photo Library of your smartphone through Bluetooth. You’ll be able to edit the photos with basic photo editing tools, add borders and frames, slap some fun stickers on, doodle on photos, or even make collages to your heart’s content — all before you print.
The only real differences between these two portable photo printers are the size and how many photos they can print on a single charge. They’re both compact and pocket-friendly, but their dimensions are slightly different. As you can see above, the Zip is compact, but is still bulkier than the Mint. And the Zip can only print 25 photos on a single charge, while the Mint can print out twice as many photos.
Honestly, we would go with the Polaroid Zip over the Mint Pocket Printer just based on price. They both use the same ZINK paper, connect to your phone via Bluetooth, and have free companion apps to give finishing touches to your photos before printing. We don’t think most people would be printing out a ton of photos at once either, so the 25 picture limit on the Zip is fine. Sure it’s bulkier, but it’s still portable, and you’ll save a good chunk of change.
Polaroid Zip
Our pick
Affordable compact photo printer
The Polaroid Zip is the perfect little compact photo printer for most people. It fits easily into any pocket, and since it uses ZINK "Zero Ink" paper, you don’t need to worry about ink or toner. The Zip connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth with the companion app, which has a lot of editing features. The only downside is that it can only print 25 photos on a single charge, but that should be fine for most.
Polaroid Mint
Runner-up
Print out more at once
The Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer is another great option for portable photo printers. It has the same features and capabilities as the Polaroid Zip, except that it is capable of printing up to 50 photos on a single charge. However, it’s slightly more expensive.
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