GiftXThe Kodak Step is a good gift for someone who wants a pocket-sized, no-ink printer for phone snapshots, and it holds its own against the HP Sprocket. The two are close, so the choice mostly comes down to print size, extras like NFC, and how much you care about app features.
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Both print sticky-backed Zink photos from a phone, and on Amazon the Kodak Step Starter Bundle and the HP Sprocket Luna Pearl Starter Bundle were both listed at $129.99 on October 19, 2026. Below is who each one suits, and who should look elsewhere.
Our verdict: Kodak Step
The Kodak Step is a fun, affordable-feeling pocket printer that makes a sweet gift for casual snapshot fans, with a 4.5/5 Amazon rating from 2,789 ratings. Expect snapshot-quality Zink prints rather than lab-grade photos, and some reports of app bugs and inconsistent results over time. If the recipient loves group printing or a richer app, the HP Sprocket is worth a look.
Check price on AmazonIs the Kodak Step worth it as a gift?
For the right person, yes. Tech Advisor calls the Kodak Step a solid, affordable portable Zink printer that does nothing rivals do not but costs less. It has a pocket-sized plastic body that comes in several colors, and paper loading is described as easy. Zero ink also means no cartridges to buy or replace, which keeps it simple for a gift.
Price is the thing to check. A comparison from CompareManiac says the Step is usually cheaper than the Sprocket, but the two starter bundles we looked at were both $129.99 on Amazon on October 19, 2026, so that advantage may not show up at the checkout. At that price you are paying for convenience and fun, not top print quality.
Be realistic about the prints too. Reviewers say Zink printers in general give fun snapshot-quality results with duller or off colors compared with inkjet or dye-sublimation machines. An aggregate on ShopSavvy puts the Step at about 8.3/10 from experts and 7.4/10 from consumers, with some users reporting inconsistent print quality and reliability issues over time.
What you get with the Kodak Step
- Wireless mobile photo printer that works with the Kodak app on iOS and Android
- Zero Ink technology, so there are no ink cartridges (Zink paper with heat-activated color crystals)
- Sold as the Starter Bundle in black; the listing does not detail the bundle contents
- Prints about 2.1 x 3.4 inch images, according to CompareManiac, and connects by Bluetooth with NFC as well
- Pocket-sized plastic body with easy paper loading and Micro-USB charging, per Tech Advisor
- Reports suggest roughly 25 prints per charge
- Listed at $129.99 on Amazon (October 19, 2026) with a 4.5/5 rating from 2,789 ratings
Kodak Step pros and cons
What we like
- Pocket-sized and easy to carry to parties, trips and dorm rooms
- No ink to buy, since it uses Zink sticky-backed paper
- Slightly larger prints than the HP Sprocket, plus NFC alongside Bluetooth
- Paper loading is described as easy
- Strong Amazon rating of 4.5/5 from 2,789 ratings
Keep in mind
- Zink prints can look duller or off in color compared with inkjet or dye-sublimation prints
- Some app bugs reported, and users mention inconsistent quality and reliability over time
- Charges over Micro-USB, which is dated
- Starter bundle price of $129.99 is not cheap, and paper refills are an ongoing cost
Who is the Kodak Step a good gift for?
It suits people who love physical keepsakes: a friend who decorates a locker, journal or fridge, a student heading to a dorm, or a traveler who likes handing out snapshots. It is also a nice add-on for anyone building a gadget-filled present, and our tech gifts for gadget lovers list has more ideas at different budgets.
It can also work for a younger crafty kid, since the prints are sticky-backed and the printer is compact. If you are shopping for that age group, our gifts for 10 year old girls roundup has other options to pair with it. Just set expectations that these are fun snapshots, not gallery prints.
Skip the Kodak Step if the recipient wants rich, accurate color or sharp photo-lab prints, because Zink prints in general fall short of that. Also pick something else if they want group printing from several phones at once, or a larger 4x6 print size, since those are better served by HP options. And if you want a printer with a long record of trouble-free use, note that some users report reliability issues over time.
Kodak Step vs HP Sprocket and other alternatives
Both brands use 2 x 3 inch Zink paper with no ink, so the core experience is similar. The Kodak Step adds slightly larger prints and NFC, while HP's models are lighter, a bit faster at roughly 40 seconds per print and come with a richer app. Reviews of HP Sprocket models also mention color accuracy and paper feed complaints, so neither is flawless.
HP Sprocket Luna Pearl Starter Bundle
The direct rival, at the same $129.99 price and with a 4.5/5 rating from 2,352 ratings. HP Sprocket coverage notes it can take prints from several phones at once with an LED showing whose photo is printing, which is great for parties, but some reviewers report a warm or pink color cast and occasional paper feed errors.
Check price on Amazon
HP Sprocket Black Noir Scrapbook Bundle
A $149.99 Sprocket 2x3 option with a Fun Scrapbook Bundle, rated 4.6/5 but from only 113 ratings. It suits a crafty recipient who wants a scrapbooking angle, though it costs $20 more than the Kodak Step bundle.
Check price on Amazon
HP Sprocket Studio Plus 4x6
A step up at $189.99, rated 4.3/5 from 313 ratings. It makes bigger 4x6 prints with premium dye sublimation, and the listing includes 118 sheets, 2 cartridges, a travel case and Wi-Fi. It is a better pick for someone who wants home printing quality over pocketability, but it is much less portable and costs more.
Check price on AmazonBottom line
The Kodak Step is an easygoing, pocketable gift for someone who enjoys turning phone photos into little sticky prints. It gets good marks as an affordable Zink printer, has a strong 4.5/5 Amazon rating, and avoids ink entirely.
If the recipient is a casual snapshot fan, it is an easy yes. If they are picky about color or want party-style multi-phone printing, consider the HP Sprocket instead.
How we researched this
We did not test the Kodak Step hands-on. This review is based on the manufacturer's listing and specifications on Amazon, the Amazon customer rating at the time of writing, and the published reviews and discussions below.
- Kodak Step instant printer review (Tech Advisor)
- HP Sprocket Photo Printer (2nd Edition) Review: Mobile but Mediocre (Tom's Guide)
- HP Sprocket New Edition review: Highly portable but not exactly new (Expert Reviews)
- Kodak Step vs HP Sprocket: A Detailed Comparison (CompareManiac)
- Best instant photo printers for iPhones (BestReviews)
- Kodak Step photo printer (ShopSavvy TLDR)