The Best Photo Printer Deals This Week*
- HP Sprocket Portable Instant Photo Printer — $79.99 (List Price $129.99)
- Epson Expression Home XP-5200 Wireless All-in-One Color Printer — $79.99 (List Price $129.99)
- Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer — $59.00 (List Price $79.99)
- Kodak Dock Plus Instant Photo Printer With 90 Sheets Bundle — $125.98 (List Price $199.99)
- Canon IVY 2 Bluetooth Mini Photo Printer — $79.00 (List Price $99.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Printer manufacturers aren't shy about calling their products "photo printers." Many consumer all-in-one printers (inkjet printer/copier/scanners) wear the label, even if they have no more than the four usual ink cartridge colors—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black or CMYK—instead of the five or six shades that produce better-quality prints. Some vendors even apply the term "photo printer" to inkjets with the antique two-cartridge (black and tricolor) system. And some of their output, to be fair, isn't bad, as long as you're printing on special photo paper instead of plain or copier paper.
But this article assumes you're looking for a true photo printer. For consumers, these fall into two broad categories: near-dedicated photo printers, and dedicated snapshot printers. Beyond those, some all-in-one inkjet printers take a decided photo-centric bent. We'll run through our latest tested favorites of all three kinds below, then get into how to buy a photo printer that's right for what you do.
Table of Contents
Epson SureColor P900 17-Inch Photo Printer
Best Pro-Grade Photo Printer
Why We Picked It
Only professional photographers are likely to spend roughly $1,200 for a 10-ink freestanding printer capable of producing gallery-class 17-by-22-inch prints and 17-inch-wide banners almost 11 feet long. Those who do will find Epson's SureColor P900 worth every penny—including the extra $250 for the roll adapter. This magnificent machine generates brilliant colors and deep blacks (automatically switching between photo and matte black ink), with its UltraChrome PRO10 pigment inks more than fulfilling the promise of its ICC (International Color Consortium) profile and a control panel that lets you configure print jobs in ways that previously had to be done within Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. (There's also an Epson Print Layout plug-in that replaces Photoshop's Print dialog box.)
Who It's For
If you have to ask, you can't afford it, but if you need spectacular wide-format prints, panoramas, and banners, the P900 is actually something of a bargain. For anything short of high-volume commercial printing, the SureColor is a sure thing.
PROS
- Excellent print quality
- Prints borderless banners and panoramas up to 17 inches wide
- Prints cut sheets up to 17 by 22 inches
- Uses UltraChrome PRO10 pigment inks for increased color gamut
- Switches from photo black to matte black ink automatically
- Competitive per-millimeter ink costs
CONS
- Paper roll adapter costs extra
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 17" x 22" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 10 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 10 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | Up to 120 sheets plain paper up to 17" x 22" |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | Not rated |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | Not rated |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Canon Pixma Pro-200
Best Grayscale Art/Panorama Photo Printer
Why We Picked It
The Pixma Pro-200 isn't the flagship of Canon's photo printers—it's limited to 13-inch-wide (supertabloid) media instead of 17-by-22-inch stock or roll paper for banners or panoramas. But its eight ChromaLife100+ CLI-65 inks offer deep blacks, brilliant color reproduction in blues and reds, and an enhanced color gamut that makes your prints look gorgeous, with particularly great grayscale images. If you don't need roll support (the Pro-200 can manage limited banner printing up to 13 by 39 inches), it's a clear winner.
Who It's For
The Pixma Pro-200 fills a nifty niche between high-end desktop inkjets and super-deluxe, large-format photo printers. It offers a friendly control panel, versatile paper handling, automatic nozzle clog detection, and print quality you wouldn't expect from a $600 printer, as well as lower operating costs than most machines in its class.
PROS
- Excellent print quality
- Prints borderless banners and panoramas up to 13 inches wide by 39 inches long
- Superb grayscale output
- Automatic nozzle clog detection
- Small footprint
- Improved software and control panel display
- Low running costs
CONS
- No roll media support
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 13" x 39" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 8 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 8 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | Bordered 11-by-14-inch in 1 minute 30 seconds |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | Bordered 11-by-14-inch in 1 minute |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 201 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | Not rated |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | varies with size and content |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Small-in-One Printer
Best Photo-Centric Family AIO
Why We Picked It
Epson's Small-in-One inkjets are famously affordable and capable photo-centric printers for families and home offices, taking little desk space to deliver five-ink prints (the CMYK quartet, plus a "photo black" ink) that outshine your local drugstore's offerings. The Expression Premium XP-7100 also excels as a general-purpose all-in-one for copying and scanning, with robust connectivity and a 30-sheet, single-pass, auto-duplexing automatic document feeder (ADF) that frees you from having to shuffle pages of double-sided documents on and off the scanning glass by hand.
Who It's For
Whether you're making a USB, a Wi-Fi, or an Ethernet connection to a PC; printing from an Android or iOS smartphone; or scanning to or printing from a USB flash drive or SD card, the XP-7100 pairs great print quality with relatively low running costs. (At least as far as cartridge models go, rather than bulk-ink models like Epson's EcoTank series.) That's a winning combination.
PROS
- Exceptional output quality.
- Single-pass duplexing ADF.
- Large, easy-to-use control panel.
- Robust connectivity.
CONS
- High running costs.
- Low paper capacity.
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | All-in-one |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | Legal |
| Number of Ink Colors | 5 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 5 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 11 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 15 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | 2,000 |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 120 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 5 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 13.7 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed with ADF (Standard or Optional) |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | Legal |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | 1,200 by 2,400 pixels per inch |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | Copier, Fax |
Canon Pixma TR8620 Wireless Home Office All-In-One Printer
Best Home-Office Photo Printer
Why We Picked It
As its under-$200 price suggests, Canon's Pixma TR8620 is a low-volume inkjet printer/copier/scanner aimed at families and home offices instead of busy business workgroups. Its 20-sheet automatic document feeder lacks auto-duplexing, so you'll have to flip and reinsert double-sided documents. Its ink-cartridge costs make printing more than a few hundred pages per month (especially black text pages) prohibitive. But its output is worth waiting for, with five inks (including pigment black) that produce brighter, more vibrant, and more accurate photos than four-ink office models, with less graininess and greater detail. The Canon also offers versatile PC and mobile connectivity and a friendly touch-screen control panel.
Who It's For
Canon's Pixma TR series all-in-ones target office productivity more than its photo-centric TS models, but the TR8620 straddles both worlds pretty nimbly. For dens, dorm rooms, and micro offices that print a lot of photos, it's a worthy choice.
PROS
- Excellent print quality, especially photos
- Two black inks for darker text and blacker blacks in photos
- Two paper input trays
- 20-sheet document feeder
- SD card support
- Ethernet and Bluetooth support
- Light and compact
CONS
- High running costs
- Sluggish print speeds
- No auto-duplexing
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | All-in-one |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wireless, USB, PictBridge |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | Legal |
| Number of Ink Colors | 5 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 5 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 10 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 15 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 200 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 7 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 12.3 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | Flatbed with ADF (Standard or Optional) |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | Legal |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | 1,200 by 2,400 pixels per inch |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | Copier, Fax |
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Best Wide-Format Home Photo Printer
Why We Picked It
Think home-office and small-office multifunction inkjets are a dime a dozen? (They're actually $150 to $750, but you know what we mean.) The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 stands out from the crowd in several ways. First, it's a wide-format machine, supporting borderless tabloid (11-by-17-inch) and supertabloid (13-by-19-inch) prints. Second, it uses six inks (adding photo black and gray to the usual cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), yielding more vivid and detailed photos and grayscale images. Third, it's an EcoTank printer, using ink reservoirs refilled from bottles instead of costly cartridges to cut operating costs to just pennies per page.
Who It's For
Though its connectivity and text output quality are faultless, the ET-8550 isn't your best pick for office productivity, since it has a flatbed scanner with no ADF for copying multipage documents. But semi-pro photographers, enthusiastic hobbyists, and small businesses making their own marketing materials will find it a perfect partner.
PROS
- Prints borderless from 4 by 6 inches to 13 by 19 inches
- Exceptional output quality
- Relatively fast printing speeds for its class
- Low running costs
- First two years of ink are free
CONS
- Purchase price is a little steep
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | All-in-one |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 13" x 19" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 6 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 6 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 12 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 16 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 100 sheets plain paper, 20 sheets photo paper |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | less than 1 cent per page |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | varies with size and content |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | Copier |
Canon Selphy CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer
Best Snapshot Photo Printer
Why We Picked It
Canon's Selphy CP1500 comes from a venerable line of dye-sublimation printers that deliver snapshot-size output using "print packs" that bundle the paper and dye-ribbon cartridges in one box, good for a fixed number of prints. This model stands out for its support for up to four different print sizes, some with adhesive backing and some without. (Supporting smaller than the default 4-by-6-inch size requires a cheap adapter tray.) It's relatively fast and produces high-quality prints at very competitive running costs. You'll find the software geared more toward printing from mobile devices than PCs, but it will do a creditable job whatever the photo source.
Who It's For
Families, especially ones with a scrapbooker in the house, will find the Selphy handy. If you need a quick, compact, and affordable way to turn your family's smartphone images into good-looking photos and stickers, the Selphy will do the job, and you'll have no doubt where you stand with consumables. There's no guesswork how much "ink" is left.
PROS
- Solid photo print quality
- Low running costs (for 4-by-6-inch media)
- Supports multiple paper sizes with inexpensive tray option
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Prints from USB and SD card memory devices
- Optional battery
CONS
- No Windows or macOS software (companion apps are phone-oriented)
- Photo paper stock provided in packs of consumables is thin
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Wi-Fi, USB-C |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 4" x 6" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 1 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 41 seconds per print |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 20 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | NA |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 29 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
HP Sprocket Select
Best Inkless Smartphone (Wallet-Size) Photo Printer
Why We Picked It
HP's Sprocket Select finds a happy medium among the company's Zink (zero-ink) smartphone photo printers, making larger prints than the base Sprocket's tiny snapshots but coming in under the Sprocket Studio's 4-by-6-inch scrapbook photos. The Select's 2.3-by-3.4-inch pics have a peel-off sticky backing and cost 65 cents apiece if you buy HP's two-pack of 10 sheets. Print quality is the best we've seen from a Zink printer, if still short of inkjet and dye-sublimation devices, but then the Sprocket Select is only 0.7 by 3.5 by 5.7 inches and weighs just six ounces.
Who It's For
Limited to Bluetooth (not Wi-Fi) printing from the iOS or Android Sprocket app, the Select is a convenient gadget that offers easy integration with Facebook, Google Photos, and Instagram. We wish HP offered non-sticky stock, but this printer is tops for handing out pics at parties and family gatherings.
PROS
- Good print quality for a pocket printer.
- Special paper eliminates need for ink or dye cartridges.
- Easy to use.
- Larger prints than some similar models.
- Quirky image-tweaking and AR features accessible through app.
CONS
- On the slow side for a pocket photo printer.
- High running costs.
- Can't print from a PC.
- Connects solely via Bluetooth.
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | Wallet-size |
| Number of Ink Colors | 0 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 0 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 76 seconds per print |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 10 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | N/A |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 65 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Kodak Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer
A Solid Alternative to the HP Sprocket Select
Why We Picked It
If you're interested in trying a Zink printer like the HP Sprocket Select but are looking for one with more traditional color options, the Kodak Step Instant is an excellent alternative. It's available in solid hues (white, black, pink, and blue) instead of the silver gray or light green marbled finish of the Sprocket Select. Print quality is very good for a Zink printer, and the 50-cent cost per page is average for the category.
Who It's For
Smartphone-compatible snapshot printers need to be versatile and look good too, since you'll likely be carrying one around with you for impromptu prints. The multiple color options of the Step Instant make it a perfect fit for people who like to color-match their personal devices.
PROS
- Low purchase price and competitive running costs
- Good output quality
- Multiple bundles available
- Supports NFC
CONS
- Only wireless (no USB) connectivity
- No support for Windows or macOS laptops or desktops
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth, NFC |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 2" x 3" |
| Number of Ink Colors | |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 1 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 1 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 20 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 50 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 50 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
Kodak Mini 3 Retro (3x3) Portable Printer
Best Instagram/Square-Format Snapshot Printer
Why We Picked It
The Kodak Mini 3 Retro combines high-quality dye-sub printing with an Instagram-style square (3-by-3-inch) picture format. The "Retro" part of its name refers to its choice of borderless photos or pics with a white border around all four edges (equal at top and sides, and wider at bottom), which may appeal to nostalgia buffs or bulletin-board thumbtackers. Available in white, yellow, or black and measuring a pocket-friendly 1 by 5 by 4 inches, the one-pound printer makes four passes to lay down cyan, magenta, and yellow ink plus a protective clear coat. Kodak says its largest (90-print) paper and ink pack translates to 40 cents per photo, but we've found sale prices that cut that to 30 cents.
Who It's For
Phone-photo fiends who need quick, spiffy prints in a jiffy. Besides looking sharper and more colorful than most rivals', the Kodak's prints arrive quicker (in 40 to 45 seconds). It's a standout among Bluetooth printers for iOS and Android phones.
PROS
- Fine photo quality in 3-inch square print format
- Prints both borderless and bordered photos
- Comes with enough consumables for 68 photos
CONS
- Bluetooth only; no Wi-Fi connectivity
- Android or iOS only; no Windows or macOS support
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Printer Only |
| Color or Monochrome | Color |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Maximum Standard Paper Size | 3" x 3" |
| Number of Ink Colors | 4 |
| Number of Ink Cartridges/Tanks | 1 |
| Direct Printing From Media Cards | |
| Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives | |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) | 1 ppm |
| Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) | 1 ppm |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Recommended) | Not rated |
| Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) | Not rated |
| LCD Preview Screen | |
| Printer Input Capacity | 90 |
| Cost Per Page (Monochrome) | 30 cents |
| Cost Per Page (Color) | 30 cents |
| Print Duplexing | |
| Automatic Document Feeder | |
| Scanner Type | N/A |
| Duplexing Scans | |
| Maximum Scan Area | N/A |
| Scanner Optical Resolution | N/A |
| Standalone Copier and Fax | N/A |
First, let's define photo printers by the two broad extremes we mentioned up top.
As the name indicates, dedicated snapshot (also known as "small-format") printers are designed to print nothing but small and wallet-size photos. You can't print documents with them, because they don't accept letter-size paper. They're limited to snapshot sizes, usually around 2 by 3 inches, 4 by 6 inches, or 5 by 7 inches, or longer panoramic or Instagram-style square prints. Not all such printers print all these sizes; most support just one. Generally, the smaller the printer, the smaller the maximum paper size.
But this category of printer isn't defined just by its limits. These printers are small and portable. They're also much less computer-centric printers than they are standalone consumer gadgets, with an emphasi