Kodak Step Slim review: pocket-sized printer is fast, affordable, compromised

Extremely portable and affordable, but print quality isn't the best.

A Kodak Step Slim printer on a wooden desk
(Image: © Jacob Little)

Our Verdict

The Kodak Step Slim portable printer does exactly what it promises, providing small prints from a diminutive device that can slip into your pocket. Sadly, it’s let down by sometimes glitchy software and the inherent quality issues of zink printing.

For

  • Very light
  • Easy to use

Against

  • Mediocre print quality
  • 2:3 format can be frustrating

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The rise of small, portable printers in recent years has in some part been driven by the rejection of a ‘digital only’ world. There is no doubt that we have seen an increased desire to transform our most cherished moments into tangible keepsakes, and printers that offer an all-in-one package that can connect to your smartphone or tablet to print your photos on the go make it easier than ever to do so.

The Kodak Step Slim promises convenience as well as an elegant design and innovative, easy-to-set-up features that eliminate the need for messy cartridges or faffy printing processes. Like other portable printers in this category, the Step Slim doesn’t use inkjets or any form of traditional printing - instead, it uses Zink printing, which uses heat to activate colour crystals embedded in the ZINK paper, resulting in vibrant and smudge-proof prints. We’ll be looking into the printer’s design, functionality and ease of setup in this review, as well as how it stacks up compared to some of its very capable competitors.

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Connectivity:Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Printing format:2 x 3in
Weight:454g
Platforms:iOS, Android
Printing method:Zink printing
Paper pack size:20 photos in one pack
The Verdict
6

out of 10

Kodak STEP Slim mobile photo printer

The Kodak Step Slim portable printer does exactly what it promises, providing small prints from a diminutive device that can slip into your pocket. Sadly, it’s let down by sometimes glitchy software and the inherent quality issues of zink printing.

Jacob Little

Jacob Little is a freelance writer and photographer and over the past ten years, has written for several national publications and brands. Based near Bristol, technology and the creative industries form the basis of his work, and he also provides content planning and project scoping services for agencies and businesses.