10 Best Color Thermal Printers 2026 in the United States

The Gloryang Inkless Portable Printer is designed primarily for on-the-go printing needs, making it a solid choice for travelers, students, and busy professionals who need quick, wireless document printing. Its standout feature is inkless printing using thermal technology, which eliminates the need for ink or toner and lowers ongoing consumable costs. The printer supports US Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches), which is quite large for a portable thermal printer, and it prints monochrome documents at a reasonable speed of up to 35 pages per minute. Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth, allowing easy setup with iOS and Android devices through the dedicated app, as well as connection to computers via USB. This flexibility is convenient, though it requires installing an app or driver, which might be a minor hurdle for some users.

The device is ultra-portable, weighing just under 4 pounds with a slim profile, and includes a carrying case for easy transport. It boasts a decent battery life, capable of continuous printing for about 3 hours or roughly 360 pages on a single charge. However, the printer only produces black-and-white prints, so it doesn't meet needs for color printing despite the category. The printer only works with special Gloryang thermal paper, which means you’ll need to buy their branded paper rolls, potentially limiting media options and raising consumable costs over time.

While the design is compact and user-friendly, the maximum paper capacity is small, which might require frequent refills during heavy use. Also, it doesn’t support double-sided printing, which may be a limitation for some office tasks. The Gloryang printer provides an affordable, lightweight, and convenient solution for printing documents quickly without ink, especially suited for casual or emergency use on the go. It is less suitable if you require color output, larger print volumes without interruption, or the flexibility to use standard papers.

The Liene M100 4x6'' Photo Printer stands out as a portable and user-friendly option for those who want to print high-quality photos from their smartphones and other devices. Using thermal dye-sublimation technology, this printer offers vibrant and durable prints that are resistant to water, scratches, fingerprints, and fading. This makes it an excellent choice for preserving memories. The built-in Wi-Fi hotspot ensures an easy and stable connection, eliminating the need for external networks or cables. Additionally, it can handle up to 5 simultaneous device connections, making it convenient for family and friends to use together.

The accompanying Liene app adds further customization options, such as adding borders, filters, and adjusting contrast and brightness. The printer includes a solid package with 100 sheets of photo paper and 3 color cartridges, providing good value for money right out of the box. The print resolution of 300 x 300 dpi might not be as high as some users expect, especially for professional use. The print speed of 1 page per minute is relatively slow, and the initial page print time of 59 seconds may be a drawback for users needing quick prints.

While the Liene M100 4x6'' Photo Printer excels in portability, ease of use, and print quality, it is best suited for casual home or office use rather than high-volume or professional photo printing. The maximum media size of 4x6 inches could limit its usability for larger prints, and the cost of proprietary cartridges could add up over time.

The Liene PixCut S1 is a compact color thermal dye-sublimation printer designed especially for creating custom stickers and labels with built-in cutting functionality. It offers sharp 300 dpi print resolution, delivering vivid and true-to-life colors that make your stickers look professional and eye-catching. However, the print speed is quite slow at about one page per minute, so it's better suited for small batch or personal projects rather than high-volume printing. Connectivity is simple and modern, relying on Bluetooth to connect with smartphones, making it very convenient for casual and creative use without needing a computer. This device supports 4x7-inch media sizes mainly on sticker and photo paper, ideal for crafting but less flexible for other print sizes.

Durability is a strong point: prints come laminated and are waterproof, scratch-resistant, and fade-resistant, so your stickers will last a long time. The all-in-one print-and-cut feature, boosted by AI for precise auto-cutting, adds great value by eliminating the need for separate equipment and reducing wasted material. The included app appears user-friendly, helping beginners easily edit and produce stickers. On the downside, the printer handles just one sheet at a time with a small input capacity, and consumables like specialized sticker paper and ink cartridges might add to the ongoing cost.

The PixCut S1 is a smart choice for hobbyists, DIY crafters, and small-scale sticker makers who want a simple, versatile machine for vibrant, durable stickers but don’t need fast output or large print volumes.