Best 4×6 Photo Printer 2024

With just about everyone on the planet carrying around a cell phone with a large mega-pixel camera in their pocket, we take more pictures than ever before!  The funny thing is though, very few of those pictures ever leave your mobile phone or get printed.  I know for me it’s always been because of the hassle.  That was until I did a mere 5 minutes of research and figured out for $100 or less, you can get the best 4×6 photo printer and print them yourself anytime or anywhere. 

Photo printers are small, portable, and fast.  No more sending your film off and waiting for your pictures to come back.  These compact photo printers can provide 4×6 pictures in an instant without any need for sharing your special moments with the guy in the Walgreens photo department.

Kodak Dock Plus Instant Photo Printer with Bluetooth

Kodak Dock Plus Instant Photo Printer w/ Bluetooth

✔ Print ID Photos or DIY Phone Case Covers
✔ Photos Can Be Printed w/ or w/o Borders
✔ Photos Dry Instantly and Colors Never Fade (4PASS Dye Sublimation)
Best Value!  Most Cost-Effective Prints
✔ Free Kodak App
✔ Dock For Android or iPhone

10/10

Canon SELPHY CP1300 (best 4x6 photo printer)

Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Photo Printer

✔ Portable Design Can Travel With You
✔ Optional Battery Pack
Tilting 3.2″ LCD Screen
✔ Print From PC, Smartphone, Tablet, or Memory Card
✔ Wi-fi, AirPlay, or USB Connections
✔ Print From Facebook or Instagram via the Cannon Print App
✔ Can Print Several Different Sizes

9.8/10

HP Sprocket Studio Photo Printer (3MP72A)

HP Sprocket Studio 4×6 Photo Printer

✔ Designed for Mobile Phone or Tablet Printing
✔ Relive Memories w/ Augmented Reality Videos
✔ Collage Creator
✔ Print From HP Sprocket App, Social Media, and More!
✔ 10 Sheets of Glossy 4×6 Photo Paper Included
✔ Optional Battery Pack Available
✔ Stylize Your Photos By Adding Stickers, Frames, and Filters

9.8/10

Epson PictureMate PM-400 Wireless Compact Color Photo Printer

Epson PictureMate PM-400 Wireless Photo Printer

FAST!!!  4″x 6″ Photos ~ 36 Seconds
✔ Prints Last Up to 200 Years
✔ Prints From Computer or Smartphone
✔ Wireless & Wi-fi Direct
✔ 2.7″ Color Display & Built-in SD Card Slot
✔ Prints 4″ x 6″ or 5″ x 7″ Photos
✔ Includes Ink Cartridge and 100 Sheets of 4×6 Photo Paper

9.7/10

Kodak Dock & Wifi Portable 4x6 Photo Printer

Kodak Dock & Wifi Portable 4×6 Photo Printer

✔ One-Touch Printing Directly From Your Smartphone
High Quality Photos w/ Brilliant Color and Detail
✔ No Ink, No Mess
✔ Includes Connections for Android, iPhone, iPad, USB Stick, or Digital Camera
✔ Free Companion App Allows Editing, Stickers, Filters, etc
✔ Small, Lightweight, and Portable

9.7/10

Liene 4x6 photo printer wifi iphone portable printer

Liene 4×6 Smartphone Photo Printer with Wifi

✔ Prints from iPhone or Android
✔ Built-in WiFi hotspot for connection
✔ Includes 20pcs Photo Paper
✔ Photo App with creative filters & affects
✔ 1 Ink Cartridge Included
✔ Connect up to 5 devices at once

9.6/10

4×6 Photo Printer Buying Guide

We take so many great photos of family, friends, and all of our great experiences.  You should print them off to relive the memories for years to come.  A photo printer also allows you to share those memories with loved ones.  There’s no reason cell phone photos should be stuck on your mobile device forever.  

You’re probably not an expert at 4×6 photo printers.  In fact, I’m sure you’re here because you’re not an expert, so let’s get you educated.  Here are a few items we focused on in building our Best 4×6 Photo Printer list above…

Our Proprietary Ranking System Takes The Following Factors Into Consideration

Z

Connectivity Options

Printing Technology

Photo Sizes

Price Point

Feedback/ Reviews

Customer Satsifaction

Using this same set of guidelines will help point you in the right direction of the best photo printer.

What to Look For in Photo Printers

Many folks didn’t even know these handy little dudes existed, let alone understand how to figure out which 4×6 photo printers are any good.  That’s okay though, because we’re hear to help.  Once you do a bit of research, you’ll figure out that there are just a few main things to consider when purchasing the best 4×6 photo printer. 

By focusing your efforts on these items, it’s easier to compare apples to apples and save time and money.  The list above is a great starting point, but not all of these photo printers may be a good fit for your needs, so read on to figure out what you should be on the lookout for.

We need to think about things like how we connect to the printer, what kind of technology is used in printing the photos, and what size photos it can print.  Besides these, also don’t forget to check out other customer’s feedback and reviews so we don’t make the same mistakes as someone before us, right?

4x6 photo from compact printer

Connectivity Options

Thsi is the first, and most important, item we need to determine.  Where are you going to be printing your 4×6 photos from?  Are the on your computer, your mobile device, or a USB stick?  Several of the printers above only allow for connections to a mobile device through a smartphone app.  So, pay attention if you plan on using anything other than your phone to initiate printing.

Unless you are absolutely sure you have no other use than printing from your phone, personally, I’d suggest you buy a photo printer that can also print from other devices, namely a computer.  You an always move pictures from any other device to your computer if you’re having trouble printing.  This is a BIG PLUS for our top 4×6 photo printer and the premium model selection above!!!  

4x6 printed photo

Printing Technolgy

Pay close attention… some of the printers above use ink, and others don’t.  The printing technology used has a lot to do with the speed it takes to print and the ongoing costs for printing your photoes.  Remember, both the ink AND the photo paper are consumable items here.

Being able to visually see what you’re doing can help too.  Consider a printer with an LCD screen or smart phone dock if you don’t plan on using your PC for connecting to the printer.  This will make things easier in the long run.

Photo Sizes

One thing that became abundantly clear during our research for the best 4×6 photo printers was that most are for smaller pictures.  Many compact photo printers use paper that comes in sizes like 3.5 x 4.7, 2.1×3.4, 2.1×2.1, and more.  If you’re not paying attention, you’ll quickly find yourself buying something you don’t want. 

If you’re interested in seeing what other sizes and photo printer models, you can click here to see what’s available at Amazon.  This will give you a better idea of what other options are out there so you can better decide if this is what you need.

Affordability, Printer Reviews, and other Social Proof

This is not exclusive to photo printers.  Of course you’ll want to know what your budget is before you set out to buy a printer.  You can expect to pay roughly $100 for most good photo printers, with some of the top models going for up to $300 or $400. 

Also take advantage of consumers who’ve gone before you and purchased a product online.  Read their reviews to see what they liked and disliked about a product.  It’s a great way to weed-out bad products or help you decide between 2 different printers that might seem the same to you from their listing pages.

Reviews, feedback, and customer questions answered by the seller are all great “social proof” that can help you decide on the right product.  It’s free information, so you should use it!

4x6 photos

Conclusion

What more needs to be said?  Portable photo printers are the best way to relive your best memories over and over with your family and friends.  It’s never been simpler than it is today to print your own photos quick and easy.  Printers come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges.  Check the list above for the very best compact photo printers.  

If you want to learn more about our top choice, check out the Kodak Dock Plus.  We’re sure you’ll agree that with it’s connectivity to so many devices, along with the multiple print sizes, LCD screen, and ability to print from social media pages, it’s one of the best options.