For black and white printing, most portable models can print a maximum of four pages per minute. In practice, many print at closer to one page per minute. For color or more complicated graphics, some printers will require as long as 45 minutes to churn out a full-color image.

If you expect to print multiple pages at a time, you should pay extra attention to the sheet feeder and battery performance.

Sheet feeders can hold anywhere from 5 to 80 pages. They allow you to avoid the hassle of feeding paper manually one sheet at a time. When examining a feeder, make sure you can feed more than just full-sized sheets. The best feeders will also handle envelopes or transparencies.

The performance of the printer's battery also plays a critical role in the usability of the printer. Most printers use Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) batteries. These batteries can print up to 90 pages, and can typically be recharged while still in the printer.

A few models use Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries, which can print as many as 250 pages but take more time to recharge. In some cases, you may need to buy an external fast charger to effectively use an NiMH battery.