KiiPix smartphone instant printer doesn't require batteries

Tomy, a toy company, has launched a new instant printer designed for smartphones. Unlike existing instant mobile printers on the market, though, KiiPix doesn't require a battery, instead relying on the user hand-cranking a dial to produce the image. The printer uses ordinary Fujifilm Instax Mini film, which is cheap and easy to order.

Instant printer cameras have surged in popularity with the rise of mobile photography, enabling users to print small images — often with adhesive backing — to stick on notebooks or give away to friends. Though there are already multiple instant printers on the market, most of them require batteries that have to be regularly charged.

KiiPix is different, merely requiring the user to place their smartphone on an extended portion of the printer, then press a shutter and turn a knob. The instant image comes out in a manner like a Polaroid, then the color image appears on the paper shortly after. The Instax film is relatively small at about 5 x 1.6 x 6.8-inches and can be ordered from a variety of online retailers.

The Tomy KiiPix Instax instant printer is now available for $40 USD.

SOURCE: DPReview