The Instax Mini by Fujifilm is a relatively "cheap" consumer solution [0].
What's its equivalent in the $600-$1,000 price range?
[0]: https://petapixel.com/2022/01/14/fujifilms-market-share-in-j...
https://mint-camera.com/en/shop/cameras/rolleiflex-instant-k...
Alternatively there are portable thermal printers with phone apps. Many will do 300dpi. But you are limited to black and white…though you’ll live.
It might be less fiddly than a Polaroid back on a traditional film camera.
It accepts SD cards and USB so it works with or without a post processing workflow. Or my phone via WiFi.
At retail, 4x6 output is about $0.30. That’s larger and cheaper than the instant film based systems. It is a price point where I don’t hesitate to print…my Canon inkjet runs about $0.15 per 4x6 at retail with media and ink…there’s no separate ink cost with the Selphy CP series.
Canon has been making the CP dye-sublimation printers for a long time. It is a solid system. The models just get more features over time. Aftermarket batteries are available (that’s what I have).
Finally, printing is not really in the middle of the prosumer wheelhouse these days. The CP is probably as good as you will do. Dye sublimation printers can travel well. Inkjets and lasers tend not to.