The 3 Best Photo Printers
We printed portraits, landscapes, and small albums from the same files to judge color, permanence, setup, and whether the printer encourages more making.
Canon Selphy CP1500
“The Selphy makes four-by-six prints fast, affordable, and good enough to become actual objects.”
Small prints with very little ceremony. Our reviewers logged repeat sessions with the Canon Selphy CP1500 across the full test protocol before scoring, and re-checked the result against the 9 other candidates in this category.
- +Excellent value
- +Fast prints
- +Small footprint
- −Small format only
- −Glossy look
- Print size
- 4 x 6 inches
- Technology
- Dye sublimation
- Speed
- 41 seconds
- Connection
- Wi-Fi, USB-C
Epson SureColor P700
“The P700 is slower and larger, but its tonal range and archival inks make it the serious photographer's choice.”
For the print you keep. Our reviewers logged repeat sessions with the Epson SureColor P700 across the full test protocol before scoring, and re-checked the result against the 9 other candidates in this category.
- +Archival pigment inks
- +Wide color gamut
- +Up to 13-inch prints
- −High ink cost
- −Needs regular use
- Print size
- 13 x 19 inches
- Technology
- 10-color pigment
- Speed
- 4 min 8 x 10
- Connection
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Fujifilm Instax Link Wide
“The Link Wide is less about fidelity than sharing, and it is unusually good at making a phone photo feel present.”
Instant prints with a little more room. Our reviewers logged repeat sessions with the Fujifilm Instax Link Wide across the full test protocol before scoring, and re-checked the result against the 9 other candidates in this category.
- +Fun physical format
- +Simple app
- +Good battery
- −Film is expensive
- −Soft detail
- Print size
- 3.9 x 2.4 inches
- Technology
- Instax instant film
- Speed
- 12 seconds
- Connection
- Bluetooth
Every measurement, in one table.
| Specification | № 1 Canon Selphy CP1500 | № 2 Epson SureColor P700 | № 3 Fujifilm Instax Link Wide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.2 | 9.4 | 8.8 |
| Price | $109 | $799 | $149 |
| Print size | 4 x 6 inches | 13 x 19 inches | 3.9 x 2.4 inches |
| Technology | Dye sublimation | 10-color pigment | Instax instant film |
| Speed | 41 seconds | 4 min 8 x 10 | 12 seconds |
| Connection | Wi-Fi, USB-C | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Bluetooth |
| Verdict | Small prints with very little ceremony. | For the print you keep. | Instant prints with a little more room. |
9 candidates. Three survivors.
Mina Alvarez ran this category through the standard Top3 protocol. Raw measurements are logged publicly, and the ranking is re-verified every twelve months at minimum.
- 01Longlist
We begin with every serious contender in the category — typically 20 to 60 products.
- 02Screen
Objective filters (safety certifications, warranty minimums, return policies) cut the list to 12–15.
- 03Test
A structured protocol, run by at least two reviewers, with raw measurements logged to a public sheet.
- 04Live
Finalists live with an editor for a minimum of 14 days. First-week impressions are discarded.
- 05Rank
Scores are weighted by what users actually report caring about — based on annual reader surveys.
- 06Publish
Drafts are reviewed by an editor who did not test, and by a subject-matter expert outside the team.
- 07Revisit
Every ranking is re-verified at least annually. Lapsed rankings are marked or retired.
