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This best-selling portable photo printer can print any picture you take on your phone in less than 10 seconds

hp sprocket main
HP/Facebook

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  • There are many portable photo printer models to consider, but one standout with thousands of happy users, including myself, is the HP Sprocket ($129.95)
  • The light and compact, Bluetooth-compatible Sprocket offers many photo customization features through its app and prints small photos efficiently. 
  • While it would never be a replacement for a full-sized printer, it's a fun, convenient-to-use accessory that brings your photos to life instantly. 

Reminiscent of old-school photo booths, portable photo printers provide instant gratification and a fun way to share or collect memories, but are tailored to a modern, tech-savvy generation by printing the moments right from your phone and letting you personalize your prints. 

One of the most popular and top-rated portable photo printers in the market right now is the HP Sprocket, which has a 4.6 rating from 1,800+ reviews on Best Buy, and a 4.1 rating from 1,000+ reviews on Amazon. After trying it myself, I'm not surprised the Sprocket is so loved by teens, parents, and anyone who enjoys getting creative with their photos. It's light, easy to set up, and simply fun to use.

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Here's what it's like to use the HP Sprocket and why it should be your top choice when considering portable photo printers. 

You can print photos from your phone by downloading the free Sprocket app and connecting to the printer via Bluetooth. Once on the app, you'll be able to see all the photos stored in your actual phone. You also have the option to log in to your Instagram, Facebook, and Google accounts to access your photos there. 

After you choose a photo, there are many edit and design features to help you enhance and bring your personal touch to it: adjust the brightness and contrast, layer a filter, add small stickers (and make your own sticker, too), add a frame, add text, and freehand draw. 

make a sticker
Take a picture of anything — a pattern on your leggings, for example — to turn it into a usable sticker. HP Sprocket
frame options
Frame styles include minimalist, flowery, Disney nostalgia, and everything in between. HP Sprocket

Before you print, you can adjust the number of copies and choose to print it in its full form or "Tile" form, which splits the photo up into smaller pieces. Then, the Sprocket takes all of 10 seconds to crank out a 2"x 3" photo. When you buy the device, it comes with a 10-sheet pack of this 2"x 3" ZINK sticky-backed photo paper, which lets you peel off the back of the photo and stick it to a locker, wall, or scrapbook. 

sprocket print
Connie Chen/Business Insider

If you're expecting full printer quality with the Sprocket, you'll be disappointed. Is it the best color and resolution you'll ever experience with a printer? Certainly not: it prints at 313 x 400 dpi. However, you do end up with a somewhat vintage look that some people (particularly fans of Instax instant cameras) actually prefer.

The goal of using the Sprocket isn't professional printing quality — it's more about the fun and convenience of instantly sharing physical photos. I wouldn't recommend this portable printer for photo snobs, but I would recommend it for people who love taking photos, having the flexibility to make them their own, and sharing or collecting them afterwards. 

The personalization and printing process are important, but the "portable" aspect also can't be ignored. The Sprocket is very light, weighing in at less than 0.5 pounds, so it's not a burden to carry. As a rectangular, flat accessory measuring 4.53"x 2.95"x 0.87," about the size of a thick smartphone, it's also less bulky than instant cameras. It charges with a mini USB within 90 minutes and each full charge can print 35 photos. 

Combining a fun design process, quick printing capability, and light portability, the HP Sprocket is the tech accessory that you'll want to use over and over again. I personally breezed through my 10-sheet pack instantly because of how enjoyable the experience was. 

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Shop the HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer, available for $129.99, at Amazon and HP

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