If you are into photography, you are probably well aware of how practical it is when you have your own photo printer that can bring to life your every photo masterpiece in a matter of minutes.
However, finding the best photo printer might present a challenge for many, especially if you don’t really care about the technicalities and want to pay your full attention to making photos, instead of spending hours and hours figuring out how certain printers function.
For that reason, this guide will simplify the search and help you to easily find your perfect fit and spend your free time more productively.
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Last update on 2023-10-06 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
How to choose the best photo printer
Certain aspects of photo printers make a much bigger impact on the overall performance than others, and these are the characteristics that you should pay your closest attention to:
Print quality
The most important aspect for any printer, not just a photo printer, is definitely print quality. The printer might have a ton of features, be affordable and practical; however, if its print quality isn’t satisfying, it is all for nothing.
Formats supported
What photo formats do you want to print? That is the only question you should ask yourself considering this characteristic, and depending upon your answer, choose the printer that will deliver exactly what you need.
Monochrome or color
Do you want to make only black and white photos and you need a monochrome printer, or are you into color photos and should turn your attention to color inkjet and color laser printers? That’s all up to you. The dilemma isn’t hard; nevertheless, you must decide before the actual purchase in order not to buy something that will prevent you from fulfilling your full potential.
Features
Different users demand different features in order to be satisfied. However, you cannot expect certain functions/features to be included in printers, such as for example paper shredder. These features would make printers too expensive, and therefore, less attractive for customers, which certainly isn’t the manufacturer’s interest.
For that reason, your expectations considering printer features should be focused on more practical things such as connectivity. Is there a LAN or a Wi-Fi connection, or what type of ports does the printer have?
Feature-rich product is always a better option. For that reason, always go for as many features as can, especially those considering networking, or a variety of available ports.
Best Photo Printers
Epson SureColor P900
The Perfect Photo Printer for Professionals and Artists
Epson SureColor P900 is an exceptionally high-quality photo printer that offers nothing but premium prints, due to the inclusion of numerous advanced technologies, such as the UltraChrome PRO10 Ink that creates a wider color gamut and more vibrant colors, and the new 10-channel MicroPiezo AMC printhead.
To make things even better, Epson SureColor P900 also introduces automatic switching between the photo black and matte black, offering dedicated nozzles for each ink type, as well as the special white and black modes that result in prints of the finest quality.
Epson SureColor P900 is a compact device, with support for paper sizes from 432mm to 559mm, and excellent connectivity that includes a USB3.0 port, 100Mbit Ethernet port, as well as the wireless 2.4GHz and 5GHz connection that bring quite a lot to the overall versatility of the printer. Moreover, this photo printer comes fitted with the 4.3” customizable touchscreen, high-capacity Auto-Sheet Feed, and the new Carbon Black Driver.
To make things even better, Epson SureColor P900 also offers ease of use and can be fully controlled over the dedicated iOS app, which is certainly another great thing about this device.
In other words, if you are after one of the best photo printers available on the market, Epson SureColor P900 is the device to seriously consider.
- Easy to use
- Compact
- Excellent print quality
- UltraChrome PRO10 pigment inks
- Automatic switch from photo black to matte black
- None
HP ENVY 7855 Photo Printer
Excellent Versatility at a More Affordable Price
HP ENVY 7855 is good quality, multi-function printer that delivers fast printing performance (15 ppm black and 10 ppm color), and more importantly, excellent photo prints that make it a great option for both home and office use. Its photo prints have well-saturated colors and crystal-clear image, while text and graphic prints are smooth, with rich colors and deep blacks, but with some minor bending in dark areas.
This printer offers a clean design, comes equipped with only two ink cartridges (one tri-color and one black one) and provides solid connectivity that incorporates BT connection, dual-band Wi-Fi and LAN port for wired connection. Also, HP ENVY 7855 allows for Wireless Direct printing, as well as printing from both USB and SD cards, and offers support for Windows, iOS, Mac and Android.
HP ENVY 7855 can also be used as a scanner (it requires around 14 seconds to scan and create a 300dpi PDF) and a copying device (it needs 15.7 seconds for copying an A4 document), and comes along with an HP Smart app that allows you too easily perform all these tasks.
Overall, if you are looking for the best home photo printer, with excellent overall performance and great versatility, HP ENVY 7855 is the device for you.
- Excellent photo print quality
- Great versatility
- Good connectivity
- Pricey ink
- It lacks physical function buttons
- Below average scanning speed
Epson Expression Photo XP-970
Easy to Use All-in-One Printer
If you are into photography and are looking for a practical, yet high-quality printer that you can successfully use in your home or office, Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is the device for you.
This printer can also be used as a scanner or copy a machine and comes fitted with plenty of connectivity options (one USB2.0 port, SD card reader, Wi-Fi connection and LAN connection) that make this printer a highly versatile device suitable for a variety of tasks – not only photo printing ones.
Epson Expression Photo XP-970 comes along with six cartridges (regular four CMYK cartridges, as well as light magenta and light cyan) and allows for borderless 11-by-17-inch printing, which is one of its main advantages over the competition. Also, this printer supports Wi-Fi direct and is fully compatible with iPhone and Android-based devices, as well as voice-activated printing.
Unfortunately, this device has a few drawbacks, such as the slow print engine and high ink cost. Nevertheless, if you are searching for the best all-in-one photo printer, with an exceptional printing quality, Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is everything that you need.
- Excellent photo quality
- Good connectivity
- Easy to use
- It lacks automatic document feeder
- High ink cost
- A bit slow
HP ENVY Photo 6222
A Basic, Solid Performing Photo Printer
HP ENVY Photo 6222 is a basic, multifunction printer that won’t amaze you with its print quality; however, it will deliver more than usable photo and document prints that surpass the quality of the other printers in its price range.
HP ENVY Photo 6222 can also be used as a scanner and a copier and is compatible with both Windows and Mac-based systems. Moreover, this device delivers a print speed of 13 ppm in the case of black and white pictures and speed of 8 ppm when talking about color prints, and comes equipped with both dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. Also, it supports borderless printing, two-side printing and can work with mobile devices thanks to the HP Smart App.
Unfortunately, this printer also comes with a few drawbacks that include high ink price, but more importantly, the requirement for you to provide your credit card number in order to install the device (and be included in the HP Instant Ink program), which is a deal-breaker for many people.
All in all, if you are after a versatile, but basic photo printer at an affordable price and are willing to accept its rather strange rules, HP ENVY Photo 6222 is surely one of the best photo printers you can find on the market right now.
- Easy to install
- Decent print quality
- Versatile
- Expensive ink
- Printer’s installation demands for your credit card number
- Device randomly disconnects itself from your network
Canon Pixma TS5320
A Decent All-in-One Home Photo Printer
Finding a good quality home printer, with solid versatility and excellent photo print quality is what many families are after, and Canon Pixma TS5320 delivers precisely that.
Thanks to the great mobile device support and compatibility with apps such as Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria and Canon’s own Canon Print App, you can print images and documents directly from your Smartphones or Social networks such as Instagram or Facebook. Also, with the help of Easy-PhotoPrint Editor App, you can easily create collages and other artworks.
Canon Pixma TS5320 is compact and stylish-looking. It is available in black, white, green and pink color and can be used as a copier and a scanner as well. Moreover, this device allows for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection and is fitted with a USB-B port for wired connection with your computer.
This printer has a print speed of 13 pages per minute; it comes with two 100-sheet trays (one in the front and one in the back) and rear feeder that can hold up to 20 letter-size photo paper sheets.
Canon Pixma TS5320 supports borderless letter-size print and is fitted with a two-cartridge system, where one cartridge contains black and the other one green, red and blue ink.
In other words, Canon Pixma TS5320 has everything that you might expect from the best home photo printer: good photo print quality, good mobile device support, and of course, an affordable price.
- Good print quality
- Compact
- Solid mobile device support
- It lacks support for SD cards and USB sticks
- The color cartridge must be replaced as soon as one of the color reservoirs is empty
- High running costs
Polaroid Hi-Print
A Small and Ease to Use Photo Printer
If you are seeking an easy-to-use, pocket-sized printer that will turn your smartphone photos into real life in a matter of minutes and allow you to make any additional adjustments that will give them even more of your personal touch, Polaroid Hi-Print is the device for you.
This is a lightweight (255g), well-built printer, with a good print quality that comes as a result of its Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer, four pass printing process. Moreover, this printer is compatible with both iOS and Android-based devices, with which it connects through the BT connection and allows every kind of customization of the future prints, with the help of the dedicated Polaroid Hi-Print mobile app.
Polaroid Hi-Print photo printer supports a maximum printing size of 864 mm x 533 mm; it has a paper cartridge that can keep up to 40 sheets and is powered by a rechargeable UN3091 lithium-ion 620mAh battery that will provide just the right amount of autonomy.
Therefore, if you are after a compact photo printer that is easy to use and brings a lot of fun, Polaroid Hi-Print photo printer is the device for you.
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Compact
- Good print quality
- Well-built
- Expensive
- Cannot print from PCs
Canon IVY Photo Printer
An Enjoyable, Easy to Use Pocket-Sized Photo Printer
If you are just looking for fun and are not expecting a top-class photo print quality, nor want to get the best photo printer available, Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer might be an option for you.
Although pretty similar to Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer, this one still offers a bit of different experience and gives an additional accent to photo editing and creation of a perfect memory photo. With the help of Canon Mini Print App, you can easily edit your photos or images on the iOS or Android-based mobile devices (add frames, stickers, drawings, etc.) and then print them directly on IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer.
This printer supports only a modest maximum resolution of 314×400 dpi and delivers images of mediocre quality. Nevertheless, it is fun to use and allows for a lot of editing, which is its key selling point in the first place.
IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer comes in black, white, green and pink color, with a 500mAh rechargeable battery and a Bluetooth connection. More importantly, as the other devices of this type, it doesn’t require ink, but only the special Zink paper, that makes its running cost pretty high, just like with the Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer.
Altogether, Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer guarantees a lot of fun, but it’s surely not cheap.
- Portable
- Easy to use
- Not the best photo print quality
- Expensive to use
Kodak Dock Plus 4×6
A Convenient, Retro-Looking Photo Printer
Kodak Dock Plus 4×6 is a compact and easy-to-use photo printer that brings a high level of customization and prints of the finest quality, due to the four-pass printing and the special lamination process. With this photo printer, you are also getting good compatibility and ability to connect an iOS or Android smartphone to it, and make photo adjustments and edits with the help of the Bluetooth connection and the dedicated Free Companion App, giving the future prints a personal touch.
As its name suggests, Kodak Dock Plus 4×6, supports photo prints that are 10 cm x 15 cm in size; it supports simultaneous charging and offers a unique retro look that positions it above the competition, in the sheer top of the best photo printer offerings.
All in all, if you are after one of the best compact photo printers out there, Kodak Dock Plus 4×6 is certainly a device to consider.
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Great looking
- Good customization options
- Pricey
Canon PIXMA PRO-200
A Professional, High-Quality Photo Printer
Canon PIXMA PRO-200 is a pro-grade photo printer that brings excellent print quality and plenty of features in a rather compact edition. This is a highly efficient printer, with support for borderless prints up to 33 cm by 48 cm, and custom-sized prints of up to 33 cm by 99 cm. Its printing is based on the eight-color dye-based ink system that creates vibrant and color-rich prints, as well as excellent grayscale outputs.
Canon PIXMA PRO-200 is fitted with multiple connection types that include Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connection, as well as a responsive built-in 7.5 cm LCD screen, with an intuitive control panel. Also, this device comes with Canon’s improved and easy-to-use Professional Print & Layout software, and an input capacity of 201 papers that should satisfy most of your needs.
In addition, Canon PIXMA PRO-200 offers low running costs; it has an automatic nozzle clog detection, and offers great photo print quality for the price, as should be the case with one of the best photo printers available on the market.
- It supports a variety of print sizes
- Great print quality
- Very good software
- Low running costs
- Compact
- No support for roll media
Conclusion
Do you really want to keep all of your photos stuck in your computer, phone, or cloud storage forever? We already know the answer, so go back to the beginning of this article and read it again. Find your perfect photo printer and start choosing your favorite memories right away!
