10 Best Photo Inkjet Printer

The Canon Selphy CP1500 is a compact and lightweight photo inkjet printer designed primarily for users who want quick, convenient, and portable photo printing. It produces lab-quality, long-lasting prints that are protected against fading and color bleed for up to 100 years when stored properly, making it great for preserving memories. Print resolution tops out at 300 dpi, which is sufficient for standard photo prints but lower than some higher-end photo printers, so very fine detail might not be as sharp. Its print speed is impressive, delivering a photo in about 41 seconds, which is convenient for events or casual use.

The printer supports multiple media sizes up to about 148mm x 100mm (roughly postcard size) and works exclusively with glossy photo paper, so it’s best suited for typical photo prints rather than larger formats or other paper types. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi and USB, allowing printing directly from smartphones, tablets, cameras, SD cards, and USB drives, which adds flexibility and ease of use without needing a computer.

With a 3.5-inch display and simple controls, it’s user-friendly even for those not comfortable with tech. The device’s portability and ability to let multiple guests print photos easily makes it ideal for parties or family gatherings. However, its print speed for black and white is quite slow (1.5 pages per minute), and the resolution is modest, so it’s not the best choice if you need large, ultra-high-resolution photo prints. Also, it only prints on specific Canon glossy paper, which might add recurring costs. This makes the Canon Selphy CP1500 a solid choice for casual photo enthusiasts who want fast, durable photos in a portable printer. It excels in convenience and print longevity but sacrifices some print resolution and media versatility compared to larger, professional photo printers.

The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 is a solid choice if you want quality photo and document printing without the hassle of constantly replacing cartridges. It uses a 6-colour ink system, including grey ink, which helps produce smooth and detailed photos with a high print resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi. This means your photos can look sharp and vibrant, especially on A4-sized paper, which is the largest it supports. The EcoTank model stands out for its cartridge-free printing system, coming with enough ink to print thousands of pages right out of the box, saving you money and trips to buy ink. The ink bottles are designed for easy and mess-free refills.

It also offers double-sided printing and has decent print speeds — about 16 pages per minute in black and 12 in color, which is reasonable for a photo printer but not the fastest for general office use. Connectivity options are versatile, including Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet, making it easy to print from smartphones and other devices. Maintenance is relatively straightforward with Epson's system, though the printer weighs over 8 kg, so it’s not the most portable. One drawback is that it only supports up to A4 size paper, so if you want larger photo prints, this may not be suitable.

Additionally, while Epson’s Claria ET Premium inks are known for good photo quality, the printer doesn't explicitly highlight archival longevity, so if long-term photo preservation is critical, you might want to consider that. This printer is well-suited for casual photographers or home users who want high-quality photo prints and low running costs, but it may not meet the needs of professional photographers or those requiring larger print sizes.

The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is a photo inkjet printer designed for users who want high-quality prints up to A3+ size, making it suitable for serious photo enthusiasts or small creative businesses. Its 6-color ink system, including a dedicated grey ink, delivers rich, long-lasting photos with excellent color depth and sharp black-and-white images. The printer uses refillable ink tanks that can print up to 2,300 photos per refill, which helps reduce running costs and waste compared to traditional cartridges. It offers flexible media handling, supporting various paper types including glossy photo paper, thick craft papers up to 1.3 mm, and even direct printing on CDs and DVDs.

Connectivity is modern and versatile, featuring Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, and USB, plus a color touchscreen for easy control and printing from memory cards or flash drives. Print speeds are moderate, with about 12 color pages per minute, which is decent but may feel slow for bulk jobs. The heat-free Micro Piezo technology helps keep energy use low and print quality consistent. Although the print resolution is good for photos (600 dpi color), it’s not the highest available and might not satisfy those needing ultra-fine detail. The printer is relatively heavy and somewhat large, which could be a consideration if space is limited.

Its user-friendly app and straightforward refilling system make maintenance hassle-free. This makes the ET-8550 a cost-efficient, flexible photo printer ideal for users looking to produce high-quality, long-lasting prints at home or in a small studio, while users needing very fast printing or the absolute highest resolution might want to explore other options.