If you have opened this article, then probably you are looking for the best photo printer among all the options available on the market.
Printed photos used to be the best way to save precious moments with our loved ones and share these memories with others. However, nowadays, in the era of mobile phones, laptops, and the Internet, more and more people prefer to keep digital pics on their hard drive or post them on social media. But it never feels the same! Digital pictures will not give us the sense of nostalgia when flipping through a family photo album and diving into the beautiful world of our memories.
At Smart Ink, we also believe that no Instagram page can compare to the real physical photo of high quality. And statistics prove that. In 2017 alone, 38 billion traditional photos were printed worldwide, which is around 31% of the overall number of pictures taken. That’s huge, right? And we hope that 2020 will not concede.
For this reason, we have compiled a list of the most worthwhile gadgets to choose the best printer for photographs in 2020. Even if we can’t select only one model, you will surely find something that will meet your demands. So let’s get down to business!
Canon Photo Printers
Canon is one of the major brands producing high-quality photo printers. Their models are widespread and can be easily found in any store. We have done our own research to select several positions that may be interesting to our readers.
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000
(Source: global.canon)
This is a lab quality photo printer that will suit best professional studios or photo laboratories. It is very powerful and capable of printing large photos of the highest quality.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
Printouts size | From 4×6” to A2 and banner size (21cmx59.4cm) |
Resolution (dpi) | 2400 x 1200 |
Number of ink colors | 12 |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | 12 |
Printer input capacity | Cut sheets and rolls |
Print speed | From 3.5 mins to 6 mins for A2 printouts |
Cost per page (color) | 69 cents per millimeter |
Price | From $1.299 on Amazon |
(Data source: PCMag)
Canon PIXMA PRO-100
(Source: global.canon)
This is one of the best pigment ink printer models available on the market. It provides excellent color accuracy and works very fast, which makes it a perfect option for photographers and smaller studios.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
Printouts size | Up to 13″ x 19″ |
Resolution (dpi) | 4800 x 2400 |
Number of ink colors | 8 |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | 8 |
Printer input capacity | 150 sheets of plain paper, 20 sheets photo paper (4″x6″) |
Print speed | 8″ x 10″ on A4 with border: 51 secs; 11″ x 14″ on A3+ with border: 1 min 30 secs |
Cost per page (color) | Up to $2.70 for 13″ x 19″ printouts |
Price | $499.99 on Amazon |
(Data source: TechRadar, ReDriver Paper)
Canon – PIXMA TS5320
(Source: global.canon)
This is a home photo printer that you may purchase even on a tight budget. This Canon pigment ink printer is a great wireless solution for those who are looking for an all-in-one model that will allow users to print both photos and text, scan documents, and make copies.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
Printouts size | Up to 14″ x 8.5″ |
Resolution (dpi) | 4800 x 1200 |
Number of ink colors | 4 |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | 2 |
Printer input capacity | 100 sheets of plain paper or up to 20 sheets of photo paper |
Print speed | 6.8 pages per minute for color printouts |
Cost per page (color) | 17.6 cents |
Price | $99.99 on BestBuy |
Epson Pigment Ink Printers
Among the top rated photo printers made by Epson, there are several worthy models for home use as well as professional work.
Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
(Source: epson.com)
If you are not looking for a professional photo printer, you may pay attention to this model. It is a wireless all-in-one solution: a printer, scanner, and copier that any home user can benefit from.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
Printouts size | Borderless photos up to 10″ x 8″ |
Resolution (dpi) | 5760 x 1440 |
Number of ink colors | 5 |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | 5 |
Printer input capacity | 30 sheets ADF |
Print speed | 12 secs for 4″ x 6″ photos (draft mode), 11 pages per minute for color print |
Cost per page (color) | 13.7 cents |
Price | $199.99 on Epson |
Epson SureColor P400 Wide Format
(Source: epson.com)
This pigment based inkjet printer allows printing remarkable photos of the highest quality. Despite being quite pricey, it is a great solution for home and professional use.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | Ethernet, USB, Wireless |
Printouts size | Cut-sheet ( up to 13″ x 19″) and roll paper (up to 13″ x 129″), including borderless print |
Resolution (dpi) | 5760 x 1440 |
Number of ink colors | 8 |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | 8 |
Printer input capacity | 120 sheets of plain paper, or 30 sheets of photo paper |
Print speed | 1 min 8 secs for 8″ x 10″ photos |
Cost per page (color) | $1-2 for a 8″ x 10″ print |
Price | $599.99 on Epson |
(Data source: Epson, Digital Trends)
HP Photo Printers
One more brand that is worth considering if you are looking for a high quality photo printer is HP. What is interesting about their models is that they offer various models, including all-in-one solutions, traditional printers, and even mobile printers.
HP Envy 5055
(Source: hp.com)
Another all-in-one solution that will fit well if you need to print photos and documents, make scans and copies.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | USB, Wireless |
Printouts size | Up to 215.9 x 355.6 mm |
Resolution (dpi) | 4800 x 1200 |
Number of ink colors | 4 |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | 2 |
Printer input capacity | 100 sheets of plain paper, up to 30 sheets of photo paper |
Print speed | Up to 7 pages per minutes for color print |
Cost per page (color) | 22.3 cents (3.5 with Instant Ink) for color print |
Price | $599.99 on Epson |
HP Sprocket Select
(Source: hp.com)
Sprocket Select is a portable photo printer that will help you print your pictures on the go and share them with friends easily. It may not guarantee the best photo quality, yet there are things that we are sometimes willing to sacrifice in order to maintain mobility.
Color or B&W | Color |
Connection type | Bluetooth |
Printouts size | 2.3″ x 3.4″ |
Resolution (dpi) | 321 x 600 |
Number of ink colors | – |
Number of ink cartridges/tanks | – |
Printer input capacity | 10 sheets |
Print speed | 76 sec for a 2.3″ x 3.4″ photo |
Cost per page (color) | 65 cents |
Price | $109.99 on HP |
Final Advice
Of course, we know that it’s quite hard to choose a suitable personal photo printer based only on one article. Especially considering that we can’t cover all the existing printer models or provide a personal consultation to assist you in selecting the one that fits best. Yet, we hope that this article will help you narrow down the search a bit and make the final decision.
To come up with an idea of what you are looking for try considering the following criteria:
- the main purpose of printer use (only photo printing or all-in-one solution);
- how often you’d like to use the printer and how many photos you are going to print;
- the desirable size of the printouts;
- printer and ink price;
- cost per page of the color and monochrome printouts;
- photo printer reviews available on the web.
Another thing you should pay attention to is the availability of the compound and remanufactured cartridges for your printer model. This will allow you to save up a huge deal of money on photo printing and spend it on something that really matters. Smart Ink is one of the leading compatible cartridges providers, so make sure to check out all the products available on our website before making up your mind!