This article was published in 2011 and updated in October 2026.
Most of our photos now live on smartphones and in the cloud — but there’s still something special about holding a printed photo, framing it or sticking it into an album. If you print photos regularly, your own photo printer can be worth it. Here’s how to choose the right one. (The specific models we recommended in 2011 are no longer sold, so this guide focuses on the features that matter.)
Types of photo printers
- Inkjet photo printers produce the best quality and can print large formats, from 10 x 15 cm (4 x 6 inches) up to A3 or 13 x 19 inches on some models. Photo-focused printers use six or more inks, including extra greys or a separate photo black for better black-and-white prints.
- Ink tank printers use refillable bottles instead of cartridges. They cost more to buy but much less per print — ideal if you print a lot, including documents.
- Compact dye-sublimation printers, such as Canon’s Selphy series, print postcard-sized photos that are durable and smudge-proof, often directly from your phone.
- Mini and instant printers (for example Instax or Zink-based models) print small, sticker-like photos from your phone — fun for parties and scrapbooks, but more expensive per print.
What to look for
- Maximum print size: do you only need 10 x 15 cm prints, or also A4 and larger?
- Print quality: look at sample prints and reviews rather than the dpi figure. More ink colours generally mean smoother skin tones and gradients.
- Cost per print: compare the price of ink and paper, not just the printer. Cheap printers often have expensive cartridges.
- Speed: a borderless A4 photo can take a minute or more; small dye-sub printers take around a minute per postcard print.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi and a good smartphone app make printing from your phone easy; some printers also accept memory cards or USB sticks.
- Borderless printing and support for different paper types (glossy, matte, fine art).
Is your own printer worth it?
If you only print a few photos a year, online photo services and drugstore photo kiosks are usually cheaper and deliver excellent quality, including photo books and large prints. If you print regularly, want instant results or enjoy creative printing, a good photo printer pays off.
Suggested reading: Why choose a laser printer for effective printing
TechCrates
Mar 30. 2011
Hey Salman, never knew of photo printers…thks for this info..
admin
Mar 31. 2011
you’re welcome…. 🙂
Mukundan Srinivasan
Mar 31. 2011
Long back I used a photo printer. The ink was so expensive so i shifted back to black and white. You have covered so top class photo printers. I will check it out.
admin
Mar 31. 2011
Oh I see…..
Tony
Apr 02. 2011
Most of printer from Epson is good.
admin
Apr 02. 2011
Yup….Epson is a good brand 🙂
Pubudu
Apr 13. 2011
Hehe… one of my friends wanted a good photo printer for his printing press 😀 This might be very useful for him 😀
admin
Apr 13. 2011
Good to know that …. 🙂 Seeing you after a long time on my blog
Photocopier Toner
May 17. 2011
The plastic in the toner lets you keep it from jumping ship once you’ve finally got it on the paper; all you have to do is apply heat to the toner, and the plastic particles melt and fuse the pigment to the paper.
Tech Crates
Oct 08. 2012
Thanks for commenting!
Catherine
May 15. 2014
Personally I am a fan of the Canon brand, I currently own a Canon camera and I’ve been very satisfied with the pictures it takes.
zortilonrel
Jan 28. 2021
Rattling instructive and fantastic complex body part of articles, now that’s user friendly (:.