It’s not surprising that the number of portable printers has exploded in recent years. They’re convenient because moving them from room to room is easier than with old-fashioned wired printers.
Whether you’re at home or away, a portable printer lets you easily print any information you want. Plus, they generally don’t cost as much as traditional printers. But it’s hard to pick out a great portable printer when there are so many available models on the market. This article makes the task easier by identifying the ten best portable scanner printers for your home or small office.
Our Top Pick:
10 Best Portable Scanner Printer for Travelling
1. HP OfficeJet 250 All-in-One Portable Printer
This printer lets you connect to multiple devices from your smartphone, tablet, or PC—print, scan, or copy from virtually anywhere in your home or office. You can even use Alexa to send an email or document directly to the printer with voice commands. The printer has been very straightforward to set up. The instructions to download the free HP ePrint app from the app store are clear. It only takes a couple of minutes to connect.
Features
- Mobile printing. Use the print and scan features on the device, or simply access it from a smartphone or tablet using HP’s ePrint service.
- When you power the printer off, it’s always charging. This feature enables you to start printing quickly without interrupting the charging process.
- The auto document feeder (ADF) makes it easy to scan multiple pages in a short time. It is excellent for when you need to scan several pages.
- It fits in your car, backpack, and more, for convenient printing anywhere.
- Print after print. Original HP ink cartridges print up to 2x the pages as refilled cartridges.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- It is quiet when operating.
- Very portable
- High-quality print
Cons
- Poor reliability
- Poor technical support
- Battery problems
2. Brother Wireless Portable Compact Desktop Scanner
Scan documents and store them right away on your computer with a click of a button. It’s that easy! Do you remember the last time you read a long document, only to realize there was no way to take quick notes or save it to your computer? You probably ended up printing out the entire document and writing notes on the hard copy.
As soon as you finished, you likely threw it away to clear up space on your desk. That is so wasteful – especially considering that modern computers have tons of storage for pdf files and other documents. With the Brother ADS-1250W All-in-One Portable Compact Desktop Scanner, you can scan a document into a pdf file or another format and immediately send the document directly to a reviewer.
Features
- The Brother DS-530W brings together compact size and 20-page Auto Document Feeder (ADF) for high volume scanning; in fact, it’s the only desktop scanner in its class with an ADF.
- Connectivity Technology. This compact portable scanner is ideal for scanning all your important documents and media. Connect wirelessly to your PC.
- Versatile Scanning and Connectivity. Once you get used to the scanner, feeding documents for scanning is amazingly fast. You can go from page to scanned image within a few seconds. The scanner also runs very quietly, so it won’t disrupt your conversations or work while it’s sitting on a desk.
- Performance and Reliability. The Brother DS-620W scanner delivers fast, accurate document reading.
- Optimize Images and Text. The JPEG format makes it easy to optimize images.
- Two-sided (duplex) Scanning. The Brother DS-620W can scan double-sided documents.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Prints well
- Speedy
- Small footprint
Cons
- Wi-Fi connection unstable
- Hassle with a Mac
3. HP Tango Smart Wireless Printer
The HP Tango Smart Wireless Printer is an all-in-one printer that allows you to print, copy, scan, and fax any document in your office. You can also use it to print digital pictures directly from your phone when connected to the HP app. If you are looking for a printer that is easy to use, look no further than the HP Smart Wireless Printer. It is straightforward to set up and use. The best part of this printer is that it is Wi-Fi enabled, so you can easily connect it to nearly any home.
Features
- It features Wi-Fi Direct; it lets you print from virtually any device with a Wi-Fi connection.
- Paper Sensor. It uses a precise paper sensor to determine when you need to feed more paper into the machine.
- Simple Setup. The HP Tango Smart Wireless Printer has a simple setup. Setting the printer is easy with the portable Wi-Fi support to connect to your wireless network.
- The HP Tango Smart Wireless Printer offers network-ready capabilities making it convenient and device-agnostic.
- HP Instant Ink Eligible. Enjoy the flexibility of an all-in-one without the hassle of buying new ink cartridges–now with Automatic Document Feeder.
- The HP Tango Smart Wireless Printer supports cloud print and allows you to share and print your documents anywhere with an Internet connection.
- Optional HP High-Yield Cartridges. Increasing your print volume without compromising quality can be done with optional HP High-Yield Cartridges. Print up to twice as many pages with the same HP cartridge compared to standard-capacity cartridges.
Pros
- Great print quality
- Easy setup
- Small footprint
- Quiet
Cons
- The paper tray is a bit small, so not really for high
- Difficult to set up
4. Brother DS-720D Mobile Color Page Scanner
Brother’s DS-720D scanner lets you capture and store your documents wherever you are. This portable color document scanner uses a cordless design. So you can quickly scan what you need and remove it from the scanner before taking it to a computer.
This compact scanner is just the right size, whether you are looking to scan your documents or your home business paperwork. It can help you perform both multipage and single-page scanning tasks without any hassle.
Features
- Compact and lightweight. The Brother DS-720D is a smart, compact page scanner designed to fit on your desk or in your backpack. With its lightweight, sleek new design measuring 12 inches in length and weighing less than 1 pound, the DS 720D fits easily into any workspace.
- Quick scanning. The Brother DS-720D mobile scanner is a great option for scanning multipage documents. It can scan up to 8 pages per minute.
- Precision scanning. The Brother DS 720D mobile scanner gives the user the option to scan documents with precision.
- Multiple media handling. It can easily scan photos, documents, receipts, business cards, ID cards, and more – up to 8.5 inches wide × 32 inches long.
Pros
- Duplex scanning
- B&W, Grayscale, and color options
- 100 to 600 dpi options
- Pretty fast scanning (depending on your settings)
- Brother scanning software is simple and allows some automation.
- A large range of paper sizes is supported, unlike some other scanners.
Cons
- Not Compatible w/ macOS v 10.14.1
- Included bonus software isn’t available online, only on the CD.
- Takes some work to get longer papers to scan properly (have to set it to “Max” paper size)
5. Canon Pixma TR150 Wireless Mobile Printer
The Canon PIXMA TR150 is a small and sleek portable printer designed for at-home and office use and the ultimate travel companion. Its compact size makes it perfect for places with limited space, such as home offices and dorm rooms. The ultra-mobile design packs all the performance you expect from Canon into a lightweight printer that easily fits into bags.
The Canon Pixma TR150 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to take it on the go. The printer itself weighs less than half a pound and takes up very little space. This ability to make mobile printing easy is great for all kinds of users.
Features
- Canon’s PIXMA TR150 is a portable and compact all-in-one printer designed for business owners and individuals who need to print at home or work. Whether you need to print photos or documents, the PIXMA TR150 is compact, portable, and ready to go whenever you are.
- The PIXMA TR150 makes printing simple. It has an easy-to-navigate compact display, so all the icons are in sight.
- With the Wi-Fi (R) Connectivity, your TR150 will provide the highest level of convenience to your home or office. With Wireless Direct capability, you can slip right into direct printing.
- The Canon TR150 makes it easy for you to print wherever you are.
- Beautiful Print Quality. It’s able to print borderless photos up to 8.5” x 11”, making it perfect for displaying or framing your prints.
- Auto Duplex Printing. The Canon PIXMA TR150 Wireless mobile printer offers Auto Duplex Printing so you can work on both sides of the page.
Pros
- Ease to use
- High-quality prints
- Best portable printer
- Convenient size
Cons
- It may be hard to set up
- Doesn’t come with a battery
- Constant error messages
6. HP OfficeJet 200 Portable Printer with Wireless & Mobile Printing (CZ993A)
The HP Officejet 200 Portable printer, with wireless and mobile printing (CZ993A), is compact. It is designed to drive efficiency and convenience for medium workgroups. This printer can print, copy and fax, wirelessly. This machine is lightweight, making it very easy to take on the go and convenient for busy professionals that need flexibility and mobility. Included in this printer are color printing for three-color collateral or marketing materials.
The printer is compatible with both wireless and mobile devices. It can also be easily shared on a network (with wireless capability enabled). It’s even compatible with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Apple AirPrint for instant wireless print functionality.
Features
- The HP Officejet 200 Portable Printer is a decent home or small office printer, creating a multifunction item with a handy wireless function.
- You can print documents, scans, wireless faxes, and photos anywhere you want. You can use wireless network connectivity with your smartphones and desktops.
- The 2” display lets you check the ink level status, time left to print or scan, and other operation-related information before starting printing or scanning.
- With its long-lasting battery, you can print up to 800 pages1 before you need to charge the printer again.
- The HP Officejet 200 is a portable monochrome printer with a clear, easy-to-read control panel that keeps you informed of printer status at a glance.
Pros
- Really nice and pretty much in most areas.
- High Print speed
- Untethered Power
- Extremely easy to set up
Cons
- Poor customer support
- It may not connect smoothly.
- Incompatible with Mac
7. Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner
Brother DS-640 is one of the most outstanding portable printers with scanners with remarkable features. The scanner has a compact design, which enables you to carry it around easily. It also has a flatbed design to scan various documents, including books, photos, receipts, and business cards. Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner comes at good quality and an affordable price.
The scanner is straightforward to use, and it will give you perfect convenience and efficiency in daily work. DS-640’s compact, lightweight design makes it ideal for scanning documents on the go.
With one-touch scanning, you can scan documents by feeding them directly into the scanner or inserting them into the ADF. Full-color scanning at 300 dpi delivers clear, vivid image quality, while an automatic document feeder reduces hand strain.
Features
- Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner is a high-performance scanner. It has a resolution of up to 600 dpi, which is great for capturing every detail on each document being scanned.
- It can scan the paper into jpeg files. The resolution of the files is 600 x 1200 dpi, and it has a high scanning speed. Moreover, you can share your scanned documents via email and other devices easily.
- Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner is ultra-compact and stylishly designed. It is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, making it ideal for small office use.
- This is one of the most valuable pieces of office equipment I have ever purchased. This scanner is super easy to use and very handy if you are on the go.
- The Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner is ready whenever possible since you can scan using a Micro USB.
Pros
- It’s convenient and efficient
- Works faster
- High-quality scanning
Cons
- It also does not support both computer and cloud connections.
- Does not use WIFI connectivity
8. Epson WorkForce ES-50 Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner for PC and Mac
This scanner is intended for personal use, so it offers the best features. It has an excellent resolution of 600 × 600 pixels per inch (PPI). The scanner is easy to set up and use. To start scanning, place the document on the glass and press the scan button. A black border will start shrinking down as it scans.
Epson WorkForce ES-50 Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner for PC and Mac is a nifty little device that allows you to scan paper documents to your computer. This scanner has a feeder that handles up to 50 pages, and it can go through a stack of up to 150 sheets. It’s great for business.
Features
- The WorkForce ES-50 from Epson scans faster and lighter than the competition. By the way, it’s also pretty competitive on price.
- Fast Scans. The WorkForce ES-50 is a compact portable sheetfed scanner that does the job on the go, taking the load of those bulky scanners and making it easy to scan and save multipage documents.
- Versatile Paper Handling. The Epson WorkForce ES-50 scanner combines the flexibility of a sheetfed scanner with the convenience of a portable document scanner in one affordable, space-saving device. You can scan documents straight from your desktop or while on the go with this little workhorse.
- Includes Nuance OCR. With Nuance OCR software, you can turn your scans into editable text.
- It is compatible with Windows and Mac systems. It, therefore, gives you the freedom to scan any analog document or photo – anytime, anywhere.
- Scan to Google Drive. Scan directly to the cloud with Epson ConnectTM. When you’re ready to share, use Epson Email PrintTM to print now from your phone.
Pros
- Relatively speedy scanning
- Professional-looking design
- Scanning via Wi-Fi (2 ways, more on that later) or wired USB
- Can scan multiple pages and combine into a single file, complete with rotation and deletion of individual pages
- Great scan quality
Cons
- The mobile app version only allows you to connect to the scanner directly via Wi-Fi or your Wi-Fi network.
- No memory card support to scan directly into a storage card instead of a computer or mobile device
- No automatic document feeder (you must manually load each page)
- An optional accessory is highly recommended (but not included) to scan photos and sensitive documents you don’t want to possibly damage.
9. Brother MFC-J995DW INKvestmentTank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer
This new machine from Brother will allow you to print more images without worrying about running out of ink. It is very convenient for its users because it allows you to add any brand of compatible inkjet cartridges. It’s a printer that can do everything from scanning to copying to faxing. It features a mobile device and duplex printing as well as a 1-year ink inbox.
Features
- Inkvestment tank system. Your printer doesn’t need to be replaced when you turn in your old cartridges.
- Operating system compatibility. Compatible with windows, and Mac
- It is the first multifunction inkjet printer ever patented by Brother. You can print, scan and many more.
- Eliminate ink replacement guesswork. It’s designed to keep your MFCJ995DW printer fresh and ready for use for up to 3 months without refilling.
- Mobile device printing. It enables the user to print directly from mobile device using AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Brother and Wi-Fi Direct.
- This great looking, multi-purpose printer features a stylish look, and automatic document feeder which copies, prints, and scans documents.
Pros
- Produces high-quality prints
- It is a multifunction printer.
- The machine offers top-quality printing at a very affordable price.
Cons
- It doesn’t have an ethernet and Wi-Fi connection.
- It also won’t do well if you want to print out pictures on cardstock because it lacks photo printing capabilities.
10. HP ENVY 6055 Wireless All-in-One Printer
The HP ENVY 6055 Wireless All-in-One Printer is an ideal choice for small business owners who want to save time and money. It can print, copy, scan, and fax wirelessly with its easy setup. It also includes Automatic two-sided printing to help you save paper and ink. The printer is designed to make printing and sharing with others fast and easy.
It is sleek and stylish and fits right into any home or business. It features HP’s best-in-class print quality and best-in-class technology. Mobile Printing, Scanning & Copying. Enjoy the convenience of wireless printing with the HP ENVY 6055 Wireless All-in-One Printer. Print virtually any media size in color or black and white–even take full-page photos.
Features
- It gives you versatile options, including printing documents, photos, web content, scanning, and faxing.
- It can be wirelessly networked with desktop computers, laptops, and tablet PCs. Its first-rate wireless connectivity lets you share this computer easily among multiple users anywhere in your home or office.
- The ENVY 6055 Printer gives you a fast, efficient way to print, scan and copy documents from virtually anywhere in your home.
- HP ENVY series printers are easily compatible with the most commonly used file formats from mobile devices. It is compatible with the ‘AirPrint’ feature from iOS software.
Pros
- It’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, and mobile devices such as iPad, iPhone, and Android phones.
- Produce high-quality printing
- It is equipped with a flatbed scanner so you can easily scan documents from the computer or mobile device directly to ENVY 6055
Cons
- Its size and weight make it impossible to place on a small desk or table in the home office.
- This printer is quite heavy and weighs close to 16 pounds. It is difficult to carry it around, and it takes a lot of space.
Buying Guide for a Portable Printer
There are many different kinds of portable printers. For instance, consider the above portable scanner printer buying guide, each with its unique features and capabilities, making it worthwhile to consider your personal printing needs before purchasing. Many printers now offer fax capabilities, for example, which could be very useful in certain situations.
The need for the best portable scanner printer has arisen among professionals and students alike. This is mainly because such printing devices give them the freedom to carry out their work duties from any part of the world using tablets and other portable devices. So, what should be your main considerations while looking for the best portable scanner printer?
Your Printing Needs
If your work demands high-quality color prints, you may want to look for a multifunction printer (MFP) that can provide this feature. You also have to consider whether you need portable printing capability before selecting a printer.
Battery
A battery is the only way to power a portable printer. Hence, we advise you to always go with a printer that can install a battery. A portable printer with a built-in battery is also preferred as you will not need to buy and install an additional power product.
Price Range
While the cost of printer ink may have been a deal-breaker in the past, portable printers have been getting more and more affordable over time. Many mobiles now cost less than a new, relatively inexpensive printer at home. This is a result of increased competition within the marketplace. You can therefore get a printer that suits your pocket and your needs.
Wi-Fi support
Wi-Fi connectivity is seen as a plus for portable printers. This is because it allows you to print images wirelessly, making your device more flexible when it comes to usage. It also can connect. As long as the printer has a USB interface, you can still use it with your devices connected to your computer or notebook through this cable.
Final Thoughts
If you want a great all-in-one scanner, the Epson WorkForce ES-50 is an obvious choice. This device can handle scanning documents and photos with ease and produce some excellent output as well. If you often need to scan documents on the go, this is your best option.
However, if you need something to assist you in sorting through files or digitizing hundreds of photos, then the Canon Pixma TR150 will be easier to manage. Overall, Epson seems to understand what it takes to make great scanners, and so they’ve consistently produced industry-leading devices for years.
However, the choice of your best portable scanner printer will depend on your taste and preferences. The above portable scanner printer buying guide will help make the right decision.
