Shopping for a photo printer can be challenging, as spending more doesn't always mean the best print quality. We've tested numerous models; here are the ones that stand out.
Choosing a photo printer can be challenging, as almost any modern colour printer can do a relatively decent job. Additionally, a printer's price doesn't always correlate with its print quality, so spending more isn't always the answer. You must also consider the cost of replacement ink, as low-yield models can incur high running costs if you print a lot. Inkjet models are the preferred options for photo printing, as they consistently deliver great results. However, there are some novelty dye-sublimation or film printers that might be of interest to some. Here are a few that stand out among the many models we've tested.
Best overall: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300
Whether you're a professional photographer or just want a high-quality printer to print out your cherished photos, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is a great option to impress even the most demanding users. This inkjet model has a high print resolution, a wide colour range, and excellent colour accuracy, so your pictures will look detailed, with punchy yet natural, accurate colours. As expected of a photo printer, it can print borderless. It also supports large format paper up to 13" x 19", making it suitable for printing posters. One of the standout features is its Chroma Optimizer, which coats and seals photos for improved longevity and shine.
When choosing a printer, it's critical to factor in the cost per print, as you can easily spend a ton of money on replacement ink due to a printer's low yield or costly cartridges. The PRO-300 is decent in this regard; its nine (yes, nine) cartridges are relatively cheap, but they only yield around 425 colour prints and will need regular replacement, so the cost can add up if you have a large print load. Patience is a must when using this printer, as it's pretty slow, and bear in mind that it's a print-only unit, meaning you'll need a separate scanner if you want to digitize photos.
Best supertank: Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 might be better for those with a large print load. This dedicated home photo printer yields thousands of prints thanks to its large, refillable ink tank, and you can refill the tank as you go with cheap bottles of ink. You can connect to the printer via a wired or wireless connection or print directly off a USB flash drive or SD card. Epson's mobile companion app—available for Android and iOS devices—is incredibly handy, as it lets you easily print from your smartphone, perform maintenance tasks, and access Epson's image gallery. The latter contains patterns and images for crafts, like decorations and greeting cards.
As for print quality, this model is excellent in that regard. Colour accuracy is the main difference between it and more costly, professional-grade models. Its colour reproduction isn't wildly off; it simply oversaturates certain colours to make pictures appear more vibrant. As this is an all-in-one, you do get a scanner. It, too, performs well and produces incredibly detailed scans, allowing you to make high-quality digital versions of your old photos.
Best affordable supertank: Epson EcoTank ET-2800
Another supertank printer worth considering is the Epson EcoTank ET-2800. It's more of a general-purpose office printer; it just happens to be great for photo printing due to its wide colour range and high print resolution. Printed pictures look detailed and colourful, albeit a tad grainy. Like other supertank models, its page yield is outstanding, and replacement ink is cheap, so you won't have to worry about high running costs. You get the usual Wi-Fi and USB connectivity and a high-resolution flatbed scanner.
Best budget: Canon PIXMA TR8620a
At an even lower price point, the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a good home printer for those with a lighter print load. In addition to the usual Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, it can print directly off an SD card, which can be handy for photographers. It prints great photos with tons of fine details, though some highlights don't appear as they should, as it struggles with bright, saturated tones.
Regarding page yield and running costs, this model uses standard ink cartridges that only yield a small number of prints, so you'll have to replace them fairly regularly. Thankfully, the cartridges are cheap, so it won't cost too much in the long run unless you print a lot. The scanner performs reasonably well; it's fine for documents, but as its image processing tends to remove finer details, it isn't the best for digitizing photos.
Best compact portable: Canon SELPHY Square QX10
The Canon SELPHY Square QX10 is, admittedly, more of a novelty product than a printer on which you rely for beautiful, high-quality photos. It's small enough to fit into a small bag and runs on battery, allowing you to print photos anywhere. You can connect your smartphone or tablet to the printer via your existing Wi-Fi network. If you aren't in range of one, the printer can generate its own wireless signal.
This printer produces 2.84" x 3.35" polaroid-like pictures to put into your wallet or on your fridge door. The proprietary photo paper comes in packs of 20 and isn't cheap, so your running costs can increase quickly. Other than swapping out the photo paper, maintenance is minimal, though you'll have to recharge the built-in battery often, as it's only good for 20 prints.
Conclusion
These picks are only a few among the hundreds of models available on the market, but hopefully, we've at least pointed you in the right direction to choose the best photo printer for your needs. We make our picks based on overall performance, features, price, availability, and user feedback.
Written by Ryan Lim, RTINGS.com
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.
