Modern times and social networks have made printing photos less popular, but it’s still wide-spread.
That is why investing in the best photo printer is important for both professionals and amateurs alike.
We already wrote about the best photo scanners, but this is for when you want top-quality results that you could even put in a gallery.
First, let’s find out how to choose the right one for you.
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How to Choose the Right Photo Printer
There are three most important things that you should take care of when getting the right photo printer, and those are: size, speed, and color.
Size usually depends on other functions that the printer has. For example, if its only function is printing chances are that it’s going to be more compact, while bigger printers tend to have more functions like scanning, printing on various media, etc.
Some of these are portable and some are not at all, so first see if you even have anywhere to put it. Sizes can vary from photo printers that can fit in your hand, making it the best mini photo printer, to the hardly moveable ones.
Next is the speed. The amount of time that it takes for a printer to finish printing a photo is usually high, especially for colored ones, because there are a lot of details to print. But if you want a high-speed printer you’ll have to give up on the quality.
The math is easy – the more time it takes, the better the photo. So, if you want to end up with gallery-worthy pictures be prepared to sacrifice your time.
Last but not least, choosing between dye-based and pigment-based ink. First of all, the dye is better saturated than pigments are, making the printed more photos more vibrant. However, the pigment has a longer life span, and dye can easily fade away, especially if the photo is kept somewhere it receives too much direct sunlight.
Also, dye-based ink is better for shiny finishes, while using pigment-based ink is the best if you want to keep the photos matte. The good news is that some printers use a combination of these two, which means that they can use good parts of both of these types of inks.
Now, let’s get into the list of the best photo printers on the market.
Best Photo Printers
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000
A Professional Printer With Advanced Anti-clogging Technology
Made to satisfy a professional user base and provide flawless performance in every aspect of use, this device embodies the splendor of high-end printers while also bringing additional features to the table to set it in a league of its own.
It comes with the Chroma Optimizer ink system that replicates dark areas and color to their exact detail, satisfying the most demanding artists and designers. The Lucia Pro 11-color system produces fantastically detailed images, going well beyond the needs of a professional’s standards in terms of sheer quality.
Thanks to the implementation of advanced anti-clogging technology, the print speed is improved, and the possibility of clogging is minimal due to the innovative tubular ink delivery system.
The air feeding system ensures precise ink placement on all paper types, reproducing your ideas in perfect detail.
It can efficiently deal with black density and shadowy areas on your work without sacrificing overall performance. With so many features that complement artists’ work within all fields, this is a must-have for anyone wishing their work to be replicated with surgical precision.
Pros:
- The output from the printer is exceptional
- Works excellent with non-Canon photo papers
- Easy to set-up and use
- The elegant exterior design gives it an aesthetic finish
Cons:
- The buttons feel somewhat cheaply made
- Quite expensive
Epson SureColor P600
The Best Inkjet Photo Printer
As another inkjet printer with individual cartridges, this one promises great photo print quality, especially with those 9 colors. These ULtraChrome HD inks are pigment-based, making them amazing for matte pictures.
Four of the colors are greyscale (light light black, light black, photo black, and matte black), and the rest are colored (light cyan, light magenta, yellow, cyan, magenta).
The maximum print resolution is smaller than the one above, with 5760 x 1440 dpi. It can print on regular paper up to 13 x 19 inches, roll paper, photo paper, CDs, DVDs, and other photo sizes, considering it has three paper trays. It’s capable of borderless printing and has an LCD touchscreen that you can use for easier access and control.
Even though the printing is pretty fast, the quality is good. Switching between the black cartridges could take more time than actual printing. You can connect to it via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or directly through a USB 2.0 jack, with the ability to print RAW files.
Pros:
- Roll paper printing
- Fine and accurate colors and detail
- Superb black inks
Cons:
- No cutters for roll paper
- Takes a long time
HP ENVY Photo 7855 All in One Printer
The Best Budget Photo Printer
This is the cheapest all-in-one photo printer, and it has both amazing scanning abilities and it’s great for printing photos. If you want a more serious machine you can always search among other color laser printer. This option, cheaper than the ones mentioned before, uses only two cartridges. One of them is filled with three colors of dye-based inks, and the other one is with black pigment.
This makes it great for darker photos where the shadows are meant to pop. You can use this machine to scan, fax, and print borderless photos with rich colors. Even though it wasn’t made just for photographs, even photo scans look good.
The automatic document feeder copies files instantaneously, and everything can be controlled via the small LCD touchscreen. The input tray for photos is 5×7 inches, but the rest of the sizes can be legal, letter, and from 4×5 inches to 8×10, making it the best 4×6 photo printer.
Connect to it via Wi-Fi, USB port, Ethernet, or directly through an SD card slot, and control it via HP Smart App.
Pros:
- Scanning and printing
- Tray dedicated for printing photos
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for 35 sheets
- Amazing photo quality
Cons:
- Slow photo printing
Canon G7020
The Jack-Of-All-Trades Option For Every Office
Looking to enhance your productivity with a printer designed for taxing work that is both cost-effective and long-lasting? Look no further as the G7020 offers high-quality large page yields with wireless connectivity, offering versatility and power in one neat package.
The high yields include up to 6000 black pages or 7700 vivid ones with included ink cartridges, allowing you to start your work immediately. The PIXMA GRNUM MegaTank leaves nothing to waste, ensuring only the necessary amount of ink is used in each session, saving you plenty of money in the long run.
What’s more, this printer allows for a wholly modern approach towards regulating its workload and features in such a way that you can use all it has to offer from your phone. Use it with Apple’s AirPrint or Android’s Mopria and have all your work regulated at one touch- it is that easy to get all your printing jobs done.
This printer is perfect for both professionals and consumers alike, having a large workload (350 pages per session) and dedicated systems that ensure high-quality and perfect replication at any time.
Pros:
- Delivers high-quality work at a moment’s notice
- Operates entirely wirelessly
- The system preserves ink usage and cuts ink costs
- A wide variety of features
- Affordable price
Cons:
- The color inks are dye-based, which might not appeal to every user
Great Scanner and Photo Printer
If you want to print some great photos but also have a scanner at hand, look no further. This machine promises high-quality photos with its five CMYK inks and a photo black ink, and it can print photos up to a size of A4 paper.
It’s also pretty fast when it comes to both printing photos and scanning files. The ADF helps you make two-sided scans easier, you just need to let it work. It can print on regular paper, CDs, DVDs, fine paper, and even borderless photos. The colors and details that it produces on photos are very note-worthy.
It’s all commanded through the 4.3-inch touchscreen, with the only functional button on the printer being the power button. The trays can fit up to 100 regular papers and 20 photo papers. Connect to the printer via Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, or Ethernet.
Pros:
- Duplexing ADF
- Quick scanners
- Easy to use via a touchscreen
- Two paper trays
- Overall great photo quality
Cons:
- Low capacity
- Slow copying
Canon TS8320
The Best All-in-one Photo Printer
This inkjet printer is made to successfully fill the role of both printer and scanner, especially for colored photos. We have an article for you if you want a separate slide scanner. The commands are given through a 4.3 inches touchscreen, and the only button for functions is the power button.
Access the printer through SD card, USB port, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, and use the 6 cartridges to print high quality and detailed photos. The colors that it has are magenta, yellow, cyan, blue, and two black inks.
The size papers are different, with the ability to print on small and square papers, along with letters, legal, envelopes, CDs, and DVDs.
This is a compact and fast printer. It doesn’t take up a lot of space in your working area and it can be used by a lot of people because it’s so fast. It fits up to 100 regular sheets of paper, and 10 photo papers with a size of 5×7 inches.
This is also a really good choice for photographers.
Pros:
- All in one machine
- Fast printing and scanning
- ADF
- High-quality prints
Cons:
- Texts don’t look as good
Kodak Mini 3
Your Miniature Printing Companion
This product is one of the best choices for consumers who want a printing companion. This mini printer follows you anywhere you go and delivers excellence well beyond its size category, making it an all-time favorite for saving your timeless memories.
The dye-based 4PASS technology prints dish out high-quality 3 x 3-inch pictures that are fingerprint and water-proof. It can produce images within just 50 seconds that cost no more than 30 cents!
You can use this printer’s capabilities by connecting it with your mobile device. With Kodak’s free intuitive mobile app, you can quickly produce high-grade photos that last for many years to come. You can also print photos you shared on apps like Instagram!
The printer’s main benefits also lie in its extreme portability and ability to quickly charge up through the included USB cable that can connect to your phone’s charger or your PC. As one of the best miniature printers worldwide, it promises to leave you satisfied with the immense quality it brings without any hassle or extra costs.
Pros:
- Best possible option for travelers
- Full control over your printer
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Portable, and well made- perfect for carrying around
Cons:
- Sadly, the ink cartridges need frequent replacement
Canon PIXMA TS9520
The AI-Assisted Home Printer With Scanning Capabilities
As far as multitasking printers go, this one takes the cake in terms of its capability to fulfill multiple roles and still offer above-average performance well beyond its initial purpose.
It can create prints in sizes from 3.5 x 3.5 inches to 11 x 17 inches without issue, with a 5 Color Individual Ink System which guarantees fantastic quality photos and exact black text.
The built-in scanner can scan documents up to 8.5 11.7 inches and an ADF of 8.5 x 14.0 inches. The Flatbed and ADF scanners are precise in their work and offer exact replication of scanned documents within moments.
You can manage and use this printer entirely through wireless means- you can use Canon’s official printing app or Android and Apple’s dedicated apps and get the same options and results on all three! The LCD display screen allows you to operate the printer manually.
Another fantastic feature lies in the printer’s compatibility with Alexa, which allows you to set it to work with just your voice. In terms of sheer variety, this printer outperforms the competition!
With a delicate design, empowered with the latest printing technology, the TS9520 can compete with the market’s top contenders and still triumph! If you wish to get yourself a quality product that won’t fail in many areas outside its primary use, you can’t go wrong with this one!
Pros:
- Fantastic for a plethora of different activities
- Compatible with all mobiles devices and most dedicated apps
- AI assistance allows for quick voice controls
Cons:
- The ink cartridges can get expensive