This Kodak Mini 3 Retro review looks at a portable photo printer built for turning smartphone pictures into compact square keepsakes. Its 4PASS printing and included paper make it appealing for albums, scrapbooks, and creative projects.
Mini 3 Retro Review Summary
The quick verdict
2,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsKodak Mini 3 Retro
A compact Bluetooth photo printer for smartphone users who want square keepsakes for scrapbooks, albums, and creative projects.
- 4PASS dye sublimation uses three color layers and a clear protective lamination layer.
- Produces compact 3x3 square photo prints for albums, scrapbooks, and creative projects.
- Prints from compatible iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth through the KODAK Photo Printer app.
- The app supports editing, cropping, and photo customization before printing.
Pros
- Square prints are tailored to albums, scrapbooks, and creative displays.
- Bluetooth app support includes editing, cropping, and customization.
Consider before buying
- The compact 3x3 square format may not suit buyers who need larger prints.
- Allow approximately 55 seconds for each print when planning a batch.
Read the full review summary
The Mini 3 Retro combines Bluetooth printing from compatible iOS and Android devices with an editing app for cropping and customization.
It produces square prints through 4PASS dye sublimation, then adds a clear protective lamination layer, a useful combination for buyers who want more than a digital photo to keep or share.
It is a strong fit for scrapbookers, travelers, and casual creators who value square prints and a ready-to-start bundle.
The tradeoffs are the compact 3x3 format and a print process that takes approximately 55 seconds per photo, so buyers wanting larger images or rapid batches should weigh those constraints against its portable design.
The buying factors
Mini 3 Retro Scorecard
Editorial scores reflect listed features and buyer fit; they are not laboratory measurements or customer ratings.
Smartphone app workflow
Bluetooth pairing with compatible iOS and Android devices, plus editing tools for cropping and customization, supports a convenient phone-first workflow.
Print format
Compact square prints suit albums, scrapbooks, and displays, though the 3x3 format is limiting for buyers who want larger photos.
Print finish
Three color layers and clear protective lamination give the print process a defined finishing step aimed at resisting fingerprints, water, and fading.
Portability
The printer is small enough for a hand, bag, or pocket, making it suitable for spontaneous printing away from home.
Bundle readiness
The bundle includes the printer, four cartridges, 38 sheets of photo paper, a USB Type-C cable, and a user guide for getting started.
Print pace
A photo takes approximately 55 seconds, a reasonable fit for casual keepsakes but a consideration for users planning frequent batches.
Key Features and Specifications of Mini 3 Retro
- 4PASS dye sublimation uses three color layers and a clear protective lamination layer.
- Produces compact 3x3 square photo prints for albums, scrapbooks, and creative projects.
- Prints from compatible iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth through the KODAK Photo Printer app.
- The app supports editing, cropping, and photo customization before printing.
- A print takes approximately 55 seconds.
- Bundle includes four cartridges, 38 sheets, a USB Type-C cable, and a user guide.
Pros and Cons of Mini 3 Retro
Pros
- Square prints are tailored to albums, scrapbooks, and creative displays.
- Bluetooth app support includes editing, cropping, and customization.
- Four cartridges and 38 sheets are included to get started.
- A clear protective lamination layer is designed to resist fingerprints, water, and fading.
Consider before buying
- The compact 3x3 square format may not suit buyers who need larger prints.
- Allow approximately 55 seconds for each print when planning a batch.
- For a specific purchase, confirm that the included paper and cartridges match your planned print volume.
Who Should Buy Mini 3 Retro?
Good fit
Choose it if you want square physical copies from a phone for scrapbooks, photo albums, or creative projects. The Bluetooth connection and editing app keep the workflow centered on compatible iOS and Android devices.
It also suits people who want to print during trips or gatherings without carrying a full-size printer. The hand-, bag-, or pocket-friendly design and included paper, cartridges, cable, and guide make the bundle practical for portable use.
Consider it for occasional personal prints when the approximately 55-second process per photo fits your pace. Its protective lamination is intended to help prints resist fingerprints, water, and fading during everyday handling.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need larger or non-square prints; its format is compact and square. Buyers printing many photos in a hurry should also account for the approximately 55 seconds needed for each print.
Kodak Mini 3 Retro Review Analysis
A phone-first printing routine
The Bluetooth link and KODAK Photo Printer app let compatible iOS and Android users select, edit, crop, and customize images before printing.
That workflow is convenient for people who keep their photos on a phone and want some control over each print without routing through a computer.
Square prints as keepsakes
The 3x3 output makes the Mini 3 Retro a natural match for albums, scrapbooks, photo booths, and small displays.
That creative focus is a genuine advantage when square prints suit the project, but the compact shape may feel restrictive if you want photos in a larger or rectangular layout.
What the print process means
The 4PASS method builds each image in three color layers and adds a clear lamination layer, with a stated aim of resisting fingerprints, water, and fading.
A print takes approximately 55 seconds, so the printer is better suited to making a few keepsakes as moments happen than to an instant stream of physical photos.
Portable use and bundle contents
Its hand-, bag-, or pocket-friendly size supports printing at parties, on trips, and during school or craft projects.
The included cartridges and paper let a buyer start with a supply on hand, while the USB Type-C cable and guide round out the package.
Alternatives to Mini 3 Retro
Sticker-print alternative
25,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsHP Sprocket Select 2.3x3.4 Instant Photo Printer
Choose the Mini 3 Retro for compact square keepsakes and the Sprocket Select if you prefer larger rectangular sticky-backed prints; its ZINK process also avoids toner or ribbon replacements.
- The Sprocket Select prints 2.3 x 3.4-inch photographs on ZINK sticky-backed paper, offering a rectangular shape that can suit phone photos better.
- The Mini 3 Retro produces compact square prints using 4PASS dye sublimation and a clear protective lamination layer, making it a natural choice for square scrapbook pages and albums.
Portable Photo Printers alternative
20,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsKODAK Step Instant Smartphone Photo Printer
Pick the Mini 3 Retro if square prints and a lamination finish suit your keepsakes; choose the KODAK Step for peel-and-stick 2 x 3-inch photos made with ZINK technology that does not require ink, toner, or ribbons.
- The KODAK Step makes 2 x 3-inch ZINK photographs that peel and stick, useful when adhesive-backed prints fit the project.
- The Mini 3 Retro creates compact square prints with 4PASS dye sublimation and a protective lamination layer, suited to keepsakes and small creative projects.
Is Mini 3 Retro Worth It?
The Kodak Mini 3 Retro is worth considering if you want a portable Bluetooth printer for square smartphone keepsakes and value its 4PASS process, protective lamination, and app editing tools.
The included cartridges and 38 sheets of paper also give the bundle a useful starting supply.
Buy it when compact square prints fit your projects and one photo taking approximately 55 seconds feels acceptable.
Pass if you need larger output or a faster stream of prints; this printer's appeal is portable, personal photo-making for albums, trips, and creative work.
Your review at a glance
2,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsKodak Mini 3 Retro
A compact Bluetooth photo printer for smartphone users who want square keepsakes for scrapbooks, albums, and creative projects.
- 4PASS dye sublimation uses three color layers and a clear protective lamination layer.
- Produces compact 3x3 square photo prints for albums, scrapbooks, and creative projects.
- Prints from compatible iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth through the KODAK Photo Printer app.
- The app supports editing, cropping, and photo customization before printing.