# Compact Smartphone Printers The Polaroid Zip Offers Mobile Printing with Extra Customization By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2015-01-06 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polaroid-zip References: [cnet](http://www.cnet.com/products/polaroid-zip-mobile-printer/) & [polaroid](http://www.polaroid.com/news/print-any-digital-image-instantly-with-the-polaroid-zip-mobile-printer) The [Polaroid](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polaroid-now-plus) Zip is a small, inconspicuous photo printer -- no bigger than a smartphone -- that allows users to connect to their iOS or Android devices and print photos in [small, 2x3-inch prints](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fujifilm-instax-mini-link-3). The [mobile printer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/n2thermal-printer) was unveiled at CES 2015. In order to print photos off of their phone, users must download a free app. From there, they have the option of adding filters, frames, stickers and stamps, further individualizing their photograph. Edits can be made private simply by changing the settings so that to view the updated image, you need to scan the QR code on the original. The printer operates with Polaroid'd Zink zero-ink printing technology, which uses special dye-embedded paper. The embedded crystals are activated by heat, causing them to warm to the appropriate shades. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/photography) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Mobile Printing:** The compact smartphone printer trend offers opportunities for disruptive innovation in the mobile printing industry. - **Customization:** The trend of adding filters, frames, stickers, and stamps to printed photos creates disruptive innovation opportunities for customized printing services. - **Zero-ink Printing:** The zero-ink printing technology trend enables disruptive innovation in the printing industry by eliminating the need for ink cartridges. ### Who This Affects Most - **Printing:** Compact smartphone printers disrupt the traditional printing industry by offering mobile and on-the-go printing capabilities. - **Photography:** The trend of compact smartphone printers presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the photography industry, providing users with immediate physical prints of their mobile photos. - **Mobile Technology:** The integration of compact smartphone printers with mobile devices creates disruptive innovation potential in the mobile technology industry, offering additional functionalities to smartphones. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Portable Selfie Printer Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selphy-qx20.md) - [Miniature Ink-Free Photo Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canon-ivy-2.md) - [App-Connected Photo Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hp-sprocket-studio-plus.md) - [Instant Action Camera Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insta360-ace-pro-2-pocket-printer.md) - [Portable Smartphone Camera Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instax-mini-link-2.md) - [Artwork-Friendly Smartphone Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fujifilm-instax-mini-link-plus.md) - [Pocket-Sized Photo Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ivy-2-mini-photo-printer.md) - [Subtle Smartphone-Friendly Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/samsung-image-box.md) - [Instant Film Smartphone Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fujifilm-instax-mini-link-3.md)