HP - Sprocket Photobooth Instant 3x4" Color Photo Printer

Following for info on the Selphy QX... I have the Sprocket 200 and the larger sprocket 3x4, as well as Instax cameras and the Mini Evo camera/printer (forever a film girly at heart)... I love the charm of the Sprockets, the tradeoff in quality is part of the charm for me, and I haven't noticed any fading or archival issues with prints I've put in my books or given away as stickers. Staying tuned!

I used to use an HP Sprocket and it was great but then I saw the photo quality of the Kodak Retro and the colors just seemed so much more vibrant! I have made the switch to Kodak Retro! I also priced it out and the Kodak refills are about half the price of the HP Zink paper.

I used to use an HP Sprocket with Zink paper. (pros: fast printing, sticker-back paper. cons: streaks sometimes visible, color leans kinda lavender) Then, I saw a friend using the Kodak Mini Retro and I switched over. (pros: colors are clearer, images sharper. con: needs an adhesive to stick into the journal, printing is slower due to the "4 pass" process) I am using the Kodak Retro for travel journaling now because color and sharpness are important to me. I wish it had the sticker back tho! I bring a tape runner with me, but I have had them run out while I was on a trip!

I use a HP sprocket Zink printer. Very happy with it.

Polaroid zip, I’ve had mine for going on a decade. Do not get the HP Sprocket!!!!!

My sprocket didn’t work out of the box so I exchanged it, and it still didn’t work, that’s when I got the zip instead!

This was like 10 years ago but I also tried buying the sprocket and returned it twice because it wouldn’t work. It was so frustrating. I don’t remember exactly what the issue was but after exchanging it and it still not working I ended up getting a Polaroid zip instead. It’s still going strong today!

Came to say the same! I got mine over 5 years ago and it works great still.

It definitely depends what's more important to you, portability/convenience or photo quality. The really small printers use zink and the photos are not that high quality and the colors are slightly off. I use the HP Sprocket for my reading journal to print book covers and it works great for that. But if you want better photo/color quality, the 4x6 photo printers will always be better.

I got one last year. It's the HP Sprocket. It prints in color on sticker paper and has an app that lets you print collages so you can get 2-4 photos per sheet. Works really well for my reading journal and printing book covers.

I have the HP Sprocket and couldn’t be happier. There’s a few different versions, mine is the one that prints 2x3inch pictures which is perfect for the smaller hobos that I use to get and works great for the larger one I get now. I originally went with it because it was pretty cheap and one of the paper options comes with a sticky backing on it so it’s super quick and easy to use. The app is wonderful and quick. It not requiring ink is also of course a huge bonus. I didn’t look into other brands much so I can’t say this one is the best but it’s never steered me wrong. And I like knowing that if I choose to upgrade to a better model or get a second one with bigger picture paper I already know how to use the app and whatnot. Plus since HP is ubiquitous in the US, I can buy paper packs basically anywhere for it if I run out, and the paper is pretty reasonably priced. On brand paper is not the cheapest but it’s not terribly expensive, and there’s lots of off brand paper that’s way cheaper and works/looks just as good.

I also use an HP Sprocket, but I’ve seen lots of people mention the Canon Ivy.

I’m new to printing for my journals so I bought the HP sprocket. It works for my needs now and I really enjoy it. But I hear there’s better out there.

I'll throw another endorsement in for the sprocket. I use it to print out quotes for my commonplace book, and the text is clean to read even when it is very small. Color saturation is just going to be a limit with all of these pocket-sized inkless printers--if you want phenomenal, high-fidelity photo quality, this entire market of printers just won't be the right fit.

I have an HP Sprocket and love it!! It’s an older model but still works very well.

I have a Sprocket & I do really like it

I have a HP Sprocket but which printer can print the thinnest paper like washi?

I’ve been using the HP Sprocket because it’s portable and has sticky paper. I’m not thrilled with HP’s print quality so I’m going to try Canon paper in my Sprocket.

You won’t really get the classic Polaroid look with these. Like someone mentioned think the HP Sprocket or Canon Ivy. I use a similar printer for my journaling.

I can't agree that it's a scam, since mine has been working for years. However, it looks like you may have a bad one. See other comments about color fidelity and durability, of course.

I’ve tried the Canon Ivy, HP sprocket, and Polaroid Hi-Print and can’t recommend the Polaroid Hi-print enough! The photo quality is way better than the others and the sticker paper is way thinner than the others so it doesn’t bulk up your hobonichi as fast! The trade off is that the refills are more pricey however.

I love my HP sprocket! (I have the same color too!) It's really versatile, lots of different paper options. Also you can change the light color for some reason which is a cute but unnecessary feature lol.

I have a sprocket and it’s Fine. It’s convenient because of the sticker backed paper and as long as the photo is high quality, I can’t complain about the print quality for my own use. But it does have an issue with cutting off more of the picture than it displays in the preview/editor, so I always make sure to print with a border around the area I’d like displayed.

I have an HP sprocket I use, it prints small photos onto an adhesive back and i can stick them on anywhere i want

I've had a Sprocket for about five years and never had any issues. My photos haven't faded, and the device still works as expected. I use it both plugged in and on battery, with no problems, aside from occasional delays when it overheats, but that’s minor. The print quality isn’t the best, but it’s decent for what it is. In your case, it sounds like a manufacturing defect. If I were you, I’d contact the store where you bought it and ask for a replacement. I get that you're disappointed, but calling it a scam seems a bit much.

I have both an HP Sprocket and a Canon SELPHY. The Sprocket is definitely easier and more convenient to use however the photos look like ass and the paper is super expensive. The Canon SELPHY is overall cheaper and the pictures actually look really good however it is annoying to cut/tape all of the photos.  Overall I prefer the Canon. 

I tried and returned the HP Sprocket. I then tried and returned the Kodak photo printer. I tried and kept the Canon Selphy. Taking the HP Sprocket out of the discussion, because it’s not really comparable to the other two. I had a photo that was taken by a very good photographer (not a professional, but “advanced hobbyist.”) I printed each of them and put them side by side. The color and quality of the photo printed on the Selphy was far superior. While the price of the printer itself is higher than the others, the paper and ink for the Canon are cheaper than the Kodak. I had some trouble connecting to the Selphy printer. Honestly, it was kind of a pain. This is probably a “user issue,” in that I have a very low patience level for “tech stuff.” If you have a teenager or college student handy, they would probably have no problem. I would recommend the Selphy. One thing to note, you can’t put the Selphy against the wall. It needs about 4 inches of extra space in the back and 8 inches in the front. It takes up a little more space sitting on a desk than I expected.

I find it’s easier to find refills for the ivy. I had hp first and couldn’t find refills locally.

My sprocket photos look nothing like yours in terms of clarity. No matter what I do they have a weird yellow or orange tint and look incredibly washed out. My biggest printer regret is the sprocket

I have the canon Selphy square. It prints on sticky back paper and you can use the app to split the photo into collage etc. I usually use the 6 pics per print collàge option and cut them out with my scissors. Peel off the backing and stick - voila. I had the HP sprocket and hated the photo quality and moved to the Selphy square. Significant improvement in printing quality 💕 Edit - spelling

yeah i keep debating to return my sprocket and get the ivy bc i heard the ivy prints better quality. my sprocket has been printing very saturation photos with a pink/yellowish tone. Been trying to edit the photos to change to saturation on the original photos to see if that helps but i don’t a fan of how they come out

so I got the HP sprocket and wasn’t so happy and the photo quality. the pictures were coming out very saturated and i would have to edit the photo before printing. i was still not a fan bc the editing still didn’t look right (i also don’t know much about editing with light exposure) so i returned it and got the Canon Ivy. I really like it. while some of the photo prints do come out a little saturated, it’s not as bad as the HP sprocket (in my opinion) I also figured out that since this photo printers rely on thermal printing instead of inks, when you are loading the paper to the Canon, it fits i think 10 in the machine at once, so say you only print 2 photos for the day and the three days later you print 2 more photos (i hope this makes sense) ((I don’t print all my photos at once bc i junk journal through the week and get new ideas)) there will be a blue paper with the photos to load in the Canon and it’s supposed to help with making the pictures come out nicer so I’ll keep the blue piece of paper and load it back in for next time so my next photos will come out good. I probably confused you but look at tutorials on how to print and you’ll see there’s a blue piece of paper with the photos that will come out first before you start printing.

I use HP sprocket! Very handy and cute, but likely better printers out there when it comes to quality

I’m currently using HP Sprocket. It’s not that bad.

I have both, and I love both. I have different sizes, so I like the variety. I honestly wouldn’t say I prefer one over the other.

I have had the HP sprocket and Canon Ivy 2. Both worked fine. I liked the Canon 2 over the sprocket though for color of my photos though neither were perfect. My Canon does occasionally have issues where it tells me I’m out of paper and won’t print. But it has paper and nothing I do fixes it. I leave it alone and just try again later and it prints fine again. I did recently get a Polaroid Hi Print. Print quality I think is better than the Sprocket and Ivy. And I like that the paper isn’t Zink so it is much thinner. It’s still sticker paper so perfect for journaling. Of the 3, Canon has the easies app to use and you don’t need a separate app to do a collage to be print more than 1 photo on one sticker paper.

I've been using the HP Sprocket. I've had others as well, but the Sprocket has worked the best so far for me.

I wanted 1st gen canon ivy.. it’s hard to find… so settle for the hp sprocket and it’s meh.. gets the job done lol.

It’s the Hp Sprocket. I have 2 of them but picture quality is just meh.

i have a sprocket and luckily i never had it print weird like this or not work while not plugged in, BUT it was always insanely slow or would like. not let me unpause my print queue, or would print the last picture i already printed (the last time i used it) and then would print the next picture. so it wasted a lot of the photo paper which sucked. it was good when it worked but annoying a majority of the time lmao

I have the sprocket too but the app is a pain in the ass to use, do you have the same problem?

I bought the HP sprocket recently and was really disappointed with the quality of the image in comparison to my Canon Selphy CP1500! The images were dark and not very sharp. I ended up selling it! I do recommend the Canon Selphy but I would be open to trying the Ivy 2 if I wanted something more portable, just based on the Selphy quality.

Thats so nice! I wish I saw this before the HP Sprocket tbh. 🥹 That would’ve been a better experience. Does it feel like photo paper? I’m pretty happy with the Washi, but I am curious! Just sucks the HP curls up at the edges for me 😭

That’s pretty cool! Yeah thats something that I couldnt do with my Sprocket. It stays curled! Hahaha 😭

The faded look really is charming to me. 🥹 I wish I saw more photos of washi printed photos before I bought the sprocket. It’s just so hard to compare stuff online. Haha. The printer we have is a Brother MFC-J5330DW. I think a normal InkJet printer would do as well. We use the cheaper printing inks from Amazon rather than the expensive Brother Inks 😅 We just scan a lot of stuff and my husband likes to print some cards to play with his friends before he commits to buying proper decks so we went for the fancier printer. Haha! It’s been around for 4 years now. I am also hoping it’s more archival than Zink Paper. 🙏

I’ve read several different experiences on sprockets. My hunch is on the thermal paper causing the irregularities and disappointing outcomes. 🥲 VidaLiterati said hers has also started fading through the years and she lived in a warm climate, while mine is quite dark, curls a lot and is more on having a blue tint. I wouldn’t really like to use something so unpredictable on my 5 year. My Polaroid is also very unpredictable so both of them are my biggest regrets. 😭

I have a sprocket. I’ve had it for about 6 years now. Maybe longer. My OG photos I printed are still going strong.

I have an HP sprocket and like it! It uses the 2x3” zink paper

I have the very first HP sprocket that was released and though I really like it, the quality is lacking, and I’m not sure if it’s because she’s an old girl or zink paper just isn’t great. Hoping to see what everyone recommends

I have used the HP Sprocket for years and love it. I haven’t tried any other brands so I may not be of much help but you can’t go wrong with the Sprocket

I have the HP Sprocket and I love this. I also use the Project Life app to create "small print" photos - basically, I can put 2 photos side by side before printing on the HP Sprocket app so that each sheet actually gives me 2 smaller prints - saves on paper and I can print more photos.

Liene Pixcut S1 it’s not cheap $300. But it prints beautiful vivid colored stickers. Mine came in yesterday and I’m just so surprised at the intensity of the color. It’s perfect for journaling. I have the Hp sprocket and its prints great little 2 x 3 photos/stickers. It has no ink which I love, keeps cost minimal, but compare the colors to this Liene product, $300 is expensive but it depends on quality of stickers that you want. I’ve been very impressed so far. Is it perfect? No, but it’s great for me and is what I was looking for! It prints and cuts, don’t need several machines.

I have a HP Sprocket and really like it. My mum has the same one and she loves it as well. The photos are 2x3, adhesive, and you don't need to buy ink for the printer.

I haven't noticed anything significant. Especially for the ones in my journal. I have one picture on my fridge I printed months ago and it's been just fine. I've had one in the clear case on my phone and that's been fine too (but is in black and white). No small home printer will ever give you the same quality as professional photo printers, but that's not what I wanted it for anyway. I wanted a sinple, inexpensive way to put photos in my journal and it's been perfect for that.

I LOVE my sprocket!!!

Sprocket and Phomemo for me. No fading yet, but also inside of old closed journals and notebooks.

Canon selphy if you want 4x6. Hp Sprocket for smaller pics. I will warn that the Sprocket isn't recommended for longevity, it uses thermal paper that will fade over time. Highly recommend the Canon Selphy though.

I have both the canon and the sprocket and I genuinely can’t decide which is better so you’re safe with both if you lean more towards those brands I’d say I do find them both have occasional issues on printing certain photos depending on the color sometimes & I’ll rarely reprint on the other one if it’s not working for my page spread. Sometimes one prints bluer & the other prints more yellow. I believe it’s the sprocket that prints with a blue hue but that doesn’t happen every print by any means

Yeah, please don't get the HP Sprocket, that was what i had before the Kodak and i hated it. The colors really are off, the quality is grainy, and the paper feels cheap and it bends with the page. I really am a fan of Kodak and i feel more than comfortable recommending it to all who would listen! And yes, it's the mini retro 2! I think they all use the same cartridge though so the difference is probably just the design of the machine but i havent really researched that. Happy printing!

I have the hp sprocket. I actually just got it a couple weeks ago at Marshall’s for suuuuper cheap. So far I love it! You do have to tweak the color a little bit before printing, but photo quality is great!

Sprocket is my favorite and I use the pre cut 2 per face stickers for journaling

i’ve had all polaroid, hp sprocket, and canon ivy. canon ivy for me prints the best.

I had two HP Sprockets (one very old and so upgraded). No change in quality, both always disappointing. Moved to the Polaroid HiPrint and it’s better. While not perfect, I think the quality is better generally. Plus it’s a slightly larger print, and less bulky paper. My comparison photo: Polaroid is left, HP right. Hard to tell from this but the HP is more pixelated and the colors of the Polaroid better match the real version (particularly noticeable in the rug). https://preview.redd.it/fx27qnek1yle1.jpeg?width=2825&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9be7b19a38e157e15dbbb348c974dce8a239b4a

I’ve got an older and a new HP Sprocket. It’s fine. I keep using it because of the print size and that it’s sticker paper. But it’s not a quality image. So depends what your tolerance level is for quality vs other features. I’ve got my eye on the Canon Selphy1500 but having to glue/tape down photos is keeping me from investing in it.

I had an og HP Sprocket. It was fine but not great. Upgraded to a newer version a while back and it was worse. Last month I moved to the Polaroid Hi Print and I like it much better. Slightly bigger pictures, paper is thinner (in a good way, the HP paper is bulky!) and the images are less pixelated.

I’m so glad I saw this, thank you. I’ve grown to hate my Sprocket tbh and I’ve been trying to decide if it would be worth it for me to buy a normal printer. Being able to print photo stickers on multiple different types of paper would tip it into being worth it for me! I love the sort of faded vintage look you always get from washi photos. I used to buy little booklets of washi photo stickers for that look! I’d waaay rather DIY it. What’s your printing setup like? 👀 Also: this has to be more archival than Zink paper.

Sprocket is awful. Terrible image quality and the app is buggy. I'm trying the kodak now and it's certainly an improvement from the sprocket. I always boost the brightness up in the app itself because it prints dark otherwise. Boosting the brightness gets it to the tone that the actual image is at and I'm pleased with the quality when I do that. It's definitely not photo printer quality though.

can only speak for the hp sprocket - i've had mine for years now and it still works amazing. i love mine! i think no matter what you may deal with some saturation, as the photo paper itself has its limitations. but despite that, i think the photos come out looking great!

Been enjoying the sprocket for years!

I’ve been using the HP Sprocket for over a year with no issues at all. I’ve been very happy with the quality and battery life. I got it $30 off what they are selling it for today. So don’t know if it was on sale or that’s how much it’s gone up.

I love journaling with photos and I noticed the ones from my regular printer started fading over the years and I saw a lot of buzz in this community about the HP Sprocket. I did loads of research (I watched a handful on youtube reviews lol) and none of them mentioned the insane issues i’ve had with the product. I have the select, it’s been about a month. Here are some of my issues 1. I not not been able to print a full photo. Half the page gets cut off and besides being annoying its just so wasteful. I now resorted to making a 4 way collage and just using the bottom half 2. its NOT portable. I can only use it (hopefully) when its plugged into my charger and on my home wifi. I tried journaling at a cafe with the sprocket fully charged before hand and it wouldn’t turn on. This past weekend I was away on a beach vacation and plugged it in and connected to very mediocre wifi at the beach house and miss sprocket couldn’t connect. My Bf is a video editor and we have very high powered wifi for his job and it’s the only place ive been able to use the sprocket. 3. 9 times out of 10 I am jumping through paper feed error issues or the system update that won’t update or other random errors. I have to jump through hoops before even getting anything to print out. I have never had a perfect run with this device. I didn’t discover how janky this product was till I started googling my issues found countless reddit posts with people experiencing the same things. HP also has the most incredibly non existent customer service fyi. I am here to warn you if you’re on the fence about a sprocket product don’t buy it!!! I can’t stress how disappointed and gipped I feel about this device. I am interested in alternative is anyone has them :-) I am considering the Cannon Selphy seems more heavy duty. I don’t NEED anything portable and I think the concept of a mini portable printer is so cool but at what cost…

I got my sister a Polaroid Hi Print and it jammed and broke after 1 month. No matter what we do, it keeps jamming every new cartridge. Such a waste of money. Seems to be a common problem too. Although they did release a newer version. Maybe that works better. I got a Canon Selphy CP1500 but the paper is kind of thick, so I use an HP Sprocket instead for journaling nowadays in my HON. However I backed a kickstarter project for the Liene Pixcut S1 which is a dye sub photo and sticker printer AND cutter! It comes with photo paper and sticker paper as well. It was supposed to come this month but got pushed to January :( I think this would be the perfect option, but it just won’t be available in time for your needs.

I have also had an HP Sprocket for yearsss but I’m finally fed up with it 😂. The photos are pixelated, the hues are far from accurate, they’re a bit blurrier. Other issues I’ve faced is the battery dying super quickly and it overheating, cutting off edges of pictures I print, and sometimes printing twice on its own. I think it’s doable otherwise if folks don’t want a crisp photo printed and don’t plan on printing more than one pack of 10 in 1 go.

I just purchased an HP Sprocket after a long research on the matter. If you want fidelity, go with a sublimation printer (Polaroid HiPrint has sticky back) but you'll have a huge amount of waste, since the roll of pigments lasts just fornthe 10 photos you print. The paper is a cartridge with the colors roll. High amount of plastics each cartridge. If you want to have less waste, the zink (canon ivy and hp sprocket) is the best way to go but you won't have color fidelity I chose the Sprocket because it had (I watched a bunch of YT videos) the best definition, IMO. The photos tend to be magenta tinted, like vintage photos, but the definition is good (not perfect but I like it very much) When you come to terms with the fact that you will never have high fidelity from a zink printer, it's pretty satisfying to a fraction of the costs and waste compared to a sublimation printer

I have an HP Sprocket and a Polaroid Hi Print. I like both, but the Polaroid pictures look better imo.

I really like the polaroid hi-print. It's sticker paper but it's thin and good for journals. It also seems to print more true than the other ones. I have the sprocket and its meh. I love the hp polarama printer. Overall though, the hi-print is my go to

I have used them all LOL here’s a quick rundown: Ivy & Sprocket are the same thing, different brand. My Ivy after a couple of yrs won’t charge past 76% and the light flashes red/blue. Canon can’t fix it. The Sprocket only gives me like 6 prints before it needs to be charged. Best for 2 small pics or one medium size print. You can totally use the cheaper HP paper with the Ivy. Selphy- I’ve gone through 3 of them in 10 yrs. The software crashes and Canon can’t fix it. Starts with paper errors so you have to keep putting the tray in & out, eventually it doesn’t move past error code. Best for multiple prints or one big one. Has better color payout than Ivy/Sprocket. I don’t know how common my issue is with the Selphy though. Thermal printers & instance/Fuji are meh. One is B&W only and you need duck tape over it so the print doesn’t fade and the other creates a lot of bulk. If you have a lot of pictures, use a home printer & photo paper and laminate one side so the ink won’t transfer.

How did you get your hp pictures to look so nice, mine always print out muted, leaning pink/purple ish...

I have an HP Sprocket I use to make tiny book covers that I use in my journal. I get about 4 per piece of paper, they’re 2x3 (sticky back) so each little book ends up being 1x1.5. I got mine for $40 on eBay, new in box. I get the paper from the HP Sprocket website, it’s cheapest to buy in bulk. mostly_maddy on TT and IG has some videos on it.

I love my HP sprocket. The photos are 2x3, but you can use the app to make collages of multiple photos and cut them apart if you want them even smaller. I like that they have adhesive backing which makes it perfect for journaling/scrapbooking.

I’d say a solid 9/10. Mine is 7-8 years old and still works well. I don’t find that the photos have faded over time. The cost of the printer is kind of high at around $90 new, and paper is about $10 for 20 prints coming out to about 50 cents a print. The quality is pretty good given that the printer is about the size of a deck of cards, but not as good as getting them print professionally from say mpix. I’m not sure how newer versions compare, but I’d say it’s a very solid and versatile mini photo printer!

My sprocket prints my pics soooo dark

I have a Sprocket too and I have exactly the same experience! To add: started using it in 2019 and the photos are still exactly how they came out in the first place, since my journals are always kept closed. The only issue I have sometimes/regularly is that it prints some prompts twice, which is annoying because printer paper is quite expensive, about 60 cents per sheet and that's annoying when it happens three times in a row🥲 But! I put some of those extra prints up on my wall and even in direct sunlight they don't really fade so far

Same here! I've had my Sprocket for several years now and it still works like a charm. For a quick photo to stick in my journal, I have been using it lately for book covers, it works great.

I love my HP sprocket! The app is super user friendly, the paper can be a little pricey though

I have an HP sprocket and I like it, but I think if I had to do it again I would go with the Selphy or a more traditional photo printer. The sticker part is convenient but I wish the colors were more true to life.

You need to use the HP sprocket app to print to the sprocket. Their help site says "**From other photo apps**: Select a photo, tap the Share icon  or , tap the More icon  (iOS only), and then tap the HP sprocket app option. Edit the photo as needed, and then tap the Print icon ." https://sprocketprinters.com/pages/using-the-hp-studio-sprocket-app#:\~:text=Print%20a%20saved%20photo,Your%20photo%20prints.

I use an older HP Sprocket that I’ve had for ages. The paper has a peel off sticky back which is convenient, and overall the image quality is pretty decent.

No fading that I’ve noticed, but ymmv. I’ve got photos of my partner and I on our wall from the past 4 years or so and they look the same as when I printed them. I do avoid direct sunlight exposure that might fade them tho

Second the Sprocket!!! Love mine.