It feels like just yesterday our phones became digital photo albums, holding thousands of cherished memories. But how many of those moments ever make it off the screen? For me, the problem was the lack of physical keepsakes. Important events, spontaneous fun – they were all trapped. If I didn’t find a way to bridge the gap between digital storage and tangible items, those precious memories risked being forgotten, lost in the endless scroll. Having a way to instantly bring those digital images to life, perhaps with a portable photo printer, would have made a world of difference in capturing and preserving those times.
- INSTANT PHOTOS ON THE GO – Easily print your favorite adventures on 2x3" sticky-backed photo paper with this luna pearl smartphone-sized photo printer that's designed to easily slip into your...
- GET THE PRINT PARTY STARTED – Now you can connect multiple devices so you and your friends can print at the same time – plus the personalized LED light shows you whose photo is printing!
- AUGMENTED REALITY FUN – Scan your Sprocket using your smartphone and the Sprocket app to view a virtual photo queue of print jobs and more as we continually add new features to the app. Compatible...
Considerations Before Choosing an Instant Photo Printer
The appeal of bringing your digital photos into the physical world is undeniable. An instant photo printer solves the problem of having all your pictures stuck on a phone, allowing you to easily share, decorate, scrapbook, or just enjoy tangible copies of your favourite moments. The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who is social, enjoys crafting or scrapbooking, uses social media frequently, or simply loves the idea of creating physical mementos on the fly. It’s great for teens, young adults, parents wanting to document their kids’ growth, or anyone who enjoys spontaneous fun. However, if you’re a professional photographer, require large prints, need absolute colour accuracy for archival purposes, or plan on printing hundreds of photos weekly for low cost, an instant thermal printer like this might not be the best fit. You might be better served by a dedicated photo printing service, an inkjet photo printer, or a professional print lab. Before you buy, think about print quality expectations, the size of the prints, how you’ll connect your device (Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi), the cost of replacement paper, battery life, the features offered by the companion app, and how portable you truly need the device to be, not to mention your overall budget for both the printer and supplies.
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- World’s fastest personal photo scanner (1) — scan thousands of photos as fast as 1 photo per second at 300 dpi (2); batch-scan up to 36 photos at a time
- This printer is designed for use with Epson cartridges only, not third Party cartridge or ink. Cartridge described as compatible, remanufactured, refilled or refillable may not work properly or at all
Introducing the HP Sprocket (2nd Edition)
The HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer (2nd Edition) is a pocket-sized device designed to liberate your photos from your smartphone screen. Its core promise is simple: turn your favourite digital pictures into physical 2×3″ prints instantly, wherever you are. When you purchase the HP Sprocket, you typically get the printer itself, a USB charging cable, a regulatory sheet, a warranty sheet, and a starter pack of 10 sheets of HP ZINK Sticky-Backed Photo Paper. As a 2nd Edition, it arrived with some improvements over the original, notably enhanced Bluetooth connectivity and the ability for multiple users to connect. This specific HP Sprocket model (1AS85A) comes in the elegant Luna Pearl colour. It’s clearly designed for the casual user, the social media enthusiast, and anyone who loves tactile memories and creative projects like scrapbooking, rather than those seeking professional-grade prints or bulk printing solutions.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
* Highly portable and pocket-sized design.
* Uses ZINK Zero Ink Technology, meaning no messy cartridges.
* Prints on convenient 2×3″ sticky-backed paper perfect for stickers.
* Easy to use via the intuitive HP Sprocket app.
* Supports multiple user connections for social printing fun.
* Features Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities within the app for added novelty.
Cons:
* Print quality can sometimes have a noticeable pink hue or colour inaccuracies.
* Resolution is lower than traditional printers, resulting in less detail.
* Replacement paper can be relatively expensive per print.
* Prints may occasionally show streaks or appear dark depending on the original image.
* Not suitable for high-volume printing or professional use.
Key Features Explored
Let’s delve deeper into what makes the HP Sprocket 2nd Edition tick and how its features translate into benefits for the user.
Ultra-Portable Design
One of the most immediate things you notice about the HP Sprocket is just how small it is. We’re talking smartphone-sized, maybe even a bit smaller depending on your phone. Measuring about 32mm x 46mm x 10mm and weighing a mere 6.1 ounces, this little device is genuinely designed to go anywhere. I’ve slipped it into my jacket pocket, a small purse, and even squeezed it into a backpack without it feeling bulky or heavy. The Luna Pearl finish on this particular model is quite attractive and feels smooth and well-built in the hand. The simplicity of its physical design complements its easy-to-use nature.
The benefit of this extreme portability is significant. It solves the problem of needing to wait to print photos until you get home or find a store. You capture a fun moment with friends or family, and within minutes, you can have a physical copy in hand to share or stick somewhere. This makes the HP Sprocket perfect for events, parties, travel, or just spontaneous creative sessions. It transforms photo printing from a chore into an immediate, social activity.
ZINK Zero Ink Technology and Sticky Paper
The magic behind the HP Sprocket’s ink-free operation is ZINK (Zero Ink) technology. Instead of traditional ink cartridges, the colour is embedded within the HP ZINK photo paper itself. The printer uses heat to activate the colour crystals on the paper, rendering the image. This means there are no ink cartridges to buy or replace, which is a huge convenience and eliminates potential mess.
The paper itself is equally special. The 2×3″ size is small, reminiscent of classic instant photos, and each sheet has a peel-and-stick backing. This immediately turns your photos into stickers!
This feature is a major benefit. Not needing ink simplifies operation and maintenance. The sticky paper opens up a world of creative possibilities: decorating notebooks, adding photos to journals, scrapbooking, making personalized cards, or just sticking photos on anything you like. The prints are also designed to be smudge-proof as soon as they come out. While the resolution (313 x 400 DPI) isn’t high, and as some users point out, the colours aren’t always perfectly accurate (the dreaded pink hue can sometimes appear, making whites look rosy or adding an overall warm cast), for its intended use as a fun, instant, and portable printer, the technology works well. The inclusion of 10 sheets to start lets you jump right in.
Seamless Bluetooth Connectivity (Bluetooth 5.0)
Getting your photo from your phone to the printer needs to be easy, and the HP Sprocket (2nd Edition) excels here with Bluetooth 5.0. Pairing the printer with your smartphone via the HP Sprocket app is usually a quick and straightforward process. The use of Bluetooth means you don’t need a Wi-Fi network, making it truly portable and usable anywhere.
The upgrade to Bluetooth 5.0 brings added benefits, including improved range and potentially better power efficiency. Crucially, the HP Sprocket now features a “sleep mode” which allows the printer to stay connected via Bluetooth even when not actively printing. This means it’s ready to go the moment you select a photo from the app, without needing to manually wake it up or re-establish the connection each time, while still conserving battery life.
The benefit is a smooth, frustration-free printing experience. You open the app, select your photo, hit print, and it starts sending it over quickly. This instant gratification is a core part of the appeal of a product like the HP Sprocket. It solves the problem of clunky connections or waiting for devices to recognize each other.
The HP Sprocket App and Personalization
The HP Sprocket app is the control centre for your HP Sprocket. It’s available for both Android (4.4 and above) and iOS (8.0 and above). The app allows you to access your photo library, connect to social media accounts (like Instagram or Facebook) to pull photos directly, and most importantly, edit your pictures before printing.
The editing features are quite robust for a companion app. You can crop, rotate, adjust brightness and contrast, add filters, borders, text, emojis, and other fun stickers. This personalization aspect is a key benefit, allowing you to make each print unique and tailored to the moment or the person you’re sharing it with. It adds a creative layer beyond just printing a raw photo.
The app also facilitates some unique features, like Augmented Reality (AR). By scanning a freshly printed Sprocket photo through the app, you can potentially view a virtual queue of print jobs or unlock other evolving features HP adds. While maybe not a core function for everyone, it adds a modern, interactive element. The app manages the connection, shows battery status, and helps with any troubleshooting, making it essential for operating the HP Sprocket. It solves the problem of needing separate editing software and streamlines the printing workflow.
Multi-Device Printing (“Print Party”)
This feature, enhanced in the 2nd Edition, makes the HP Sprocket great for social gatherings. The printer can connect to multiple smartphones simultaneously. You and your friends can all connect to the same HP Sprocket printer via the app and send photos to a shared print queue. The printer even has a personalized LED light that changes colour to indicate whose photo is currently being printed, adding a fun visual element to the “Print Party.”
The benefit here is obvious: it turns printing into a communal activity. Instead of one person controlling the printer, everyone can participate, instantly sharing their favourite snaps from an event. It solves the logistical problem of sharing physical photos among a group quickly and efficiently.
User Experiences Shared
Having looked online at feedback from people who have used the HP Sprocket (2nd Edition) for a while, there seems to be a mix of enthusiasm for its convenience and portability, alongside some consistent critiques regarding print quality. Many users appreciate the compact size and how easy it is to get started and connect via the app. The sticky-backed photo paper is frequently mentioned as a major plus, perfect for creative projects like scrapbooking. However, a recurring comment concerns the colour accuracy, specifically a tendency for prints to have a pink or reddish hue, which can be quite noticeable on certain images. Some users also reported that prints can appear darker than expected or have occasional streaks, suggesting inconsistency in the output quality. While some users had issues with their units initially, customer service was generally reported as helpful in resolving problems. Overall, it seems users find it a fun and simple device for instant prints, especially for casual use, but caution that the print quality isn’t professional grade and the colour issues can be disappointing for those seeking faithful reproductions.
Final Thoughts
In a world overflowing with digital photos, the problem of letting those memories languish unseen on our devices is real. Without a way to bring them into the physical realm, countless precious moments risk fading away. The HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer (2nd Edition) offers a compelling solution for many. Its key strengths lie in its remarkable portability, making instant physical prints truly possible anywhere; its ease of use powered by the intuitive HP Sprocket app; and the fun, creative potential unlocked by the sticky-backed ZINK paper. While it’s not perfect – the potential for colour inaccuracies and less-than-perfect print fidelity are drawbacks to consider – for those who prioritize instant gratification, social sharing, and creative projects like scrapbooking over professional quality, the HP Sprocket is a great fit. It addresses the core problem by making physical memories accessible and fun. If you’re ready to turn those digital moments into tangible keepsakes, Click here to learn more and see current pricing.
Last update on 2025-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API