Best Photo Printers For iPhone in 2026
Printing photos from an iPhone comes down to two choices: a pocket printer for small instant prints, or a 4×6 printer for prints you would actually frame.
These four cover both, and each one keeps you buying that brand’s paper, film or ribbon.
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Quick picks
| Award | Printer | Why | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Canon SELPHY CP1500 | 4×6 dye-sub prints with AirPrint and a 3.5-inch screen | Check price on Amazon |
| Best instant prints | Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 | Pocket size, Bluetooth, credit-card-sized film prints | Check price on Amazon |
| Best value 4×6 | Liene Amber M100 | 4×6 prints with AirPrint support over its own Wi-Fi | Check price on Amazon |
| Best for a dock | Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS | 4×6 prints and a charging dock, but app-based | Check price on Amazon |
1. Canon SELPHY CP1500: Best overall
The CP1500 is the easiest 4×6 printer to recommend for an iPhone because Apple AirPrint works with it.
Specs: 4×6 plus smaller card and sticker sizes | about 41 seconds per 4×6 | Wi-Fi, AirPrint, USB-C, no Bluetooth
Pros:
- Prints from the Photos app over AirPrint, or from Canon’s SELPHY Photo Layout app
- 3.5-inch screen for effects before printing
- Digital Camera World puts paper-and-ribbon cost at about $0.32 per 4×6 print
Cons:
- Battery is sold separately
- Screen is not a touchscreen, and prints lack the depth of a high-end photo inkjet
2. Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3: Best instant prints
This pocket printer turns phone photos into credit-card-sized Instax Mini prints in about 15 seconds; see the Fujifilm announcement.
Specs: 2 x 3 inch prints | Bluetooth 5.1, free Instax Mini Link app | up to 100 prints per charge
Pros:
- Frames, filters, stickers and AR effects in the app
- Prints stills from video and builds collages
Cons:
- Only works with Instax Mini film
- Every print goes through the app, and prints are small
3. Liene Amber M100: Best value 4×6
The M100 is a 4×6 dye-sublimation printer that makes its own Wi-Fi hotspot, so you can print without a home network.
Specs: 4×6 | about 59 seconds per print | Wi-Fi Direct, AirPrint and Mopria listed by Adorama
Pros:
- Prints from the iPhone share sheet through AirPrint
- Automatic lamination on every print
Cons:
- Resolution is 300 x 300 dpi
- No memory card slot, and several Liene models use different cartridges, so match the refill to the M100
4. Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS: Best with a charging dock
The Dock Plus prints 4×6 photos over Bluetooth and charges your phone while it sits in the dock.
Specs: 4×6 with or without a border | Bluetooth, USB-C | iOS and Android app
Pros:
- Dock charges iPhone and Android phones
- App adds filters, color changes and text
Cons:
- Retailer reviews mention app bugs and Bluetooth reconnecting for each print
- Reviewers also report jams, so buy from a seller with easy returns
How do they compare?
| Printer | Print size | Connection | AirPrint | Print time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon SELPHY CP1500 | 4×6 and smaller | Wi-Fi, USB-C | Yes | About 41 sec (4×6) |
| Instax Mini Link 3 | 2 x 3 in | Bluetooth 5.1 | No (app) | About 15 sec |
| Liene Amber M100 | 4×6 | Wi-Fi Direct, USB-C | Yes | About 59 sec |
| Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS | 4×6 | Bluetooth, USB-C | Not confirmed (app) | Not stated |
AirPrint or app: which is easier?
AirPrint lets you print from the iPhone share sheet with no extra app, which is why the SELPHY CP1500 and Liene M100 are simpler day to day.
The Instax and Kodak printers need their own app and a Bluetooth pairing for every session.
If a printer does not appear on your phone, work through No Printers Found on iPhone first.
What do photo printers cost to run?
Every printer here uses brand-specific consumables, so the printer price is only the start.
- Canon SELPHY: about $0.32 per 4×6 print using Canon’s 108-sheet paper and ribbon pack, per Digital Camera World.
- Instax Mini Link 3: needs Instax Mini film only.
- Liene M100: uses Liene cartridges and paper, and the cartridge in Adorama’s listing covers 40 sheets.
- Kodak Dock Plus: uses Kodak cartridges, and one reviewer says they yield 40, 80 or 120 prints depending on the cartridge.
Which printer fits which job?
| Your goal | Pick | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Frame-sized family photos | Canon SELPHY CP1500 | 4×6 with AirPrint and an on-printer preview |
| Handing out prints at an event | Instax Mini Link 3 | About 15 seconds per print |
| Printing without home Wi-Fi | Liene Amber M100 | Built-in Wi-Fi hotspot |
| Charging your phone while printing | Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS | Docking station for iPhone and Android |
Why is the Epson PictureMate gone from this list?
Earlier versions of this list included the Epson PictureMate PM-400, which we could not confirm is still sold new in the US.
Check stock directly before buying any older Epson photo printer, and see our guide to fixing No Printers Found on iPhone, and Apple explains how AirPrint works.
Which one should you buy?
Most people: Get the Canon SELPHY CP1500 for 4×6 prints without an app.
Parties and gifts: Pick the Instax Mini Link 3 for instant prints.
Need a document rather than a photo? See how to create PDFs on iPhone.