Best Buy Guidebook is a culmination of online publishing lessons learned. From SEO to paid ads, our team has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Our goal now is simple: Arm readers with the most information possible.
The primary purpose of a photo printer is to print high-quality images on paper, receiving data and commands from connected devices. Unlike standard printers, which often produce images with muted colors and less definition, photo printers are designed specifically for vibrant and sharp prints. Standard printers typically handle regular paper sizes like A4, letter, and B6, but photo printers excel at printing on glossy, thick paper using dye-based inks. These inks are heated and transformed into liquid, which is then precisely applied to create vivid, high-resolution photos. This makes photo printers especially popular among photographers, graphic designers, and interior designers.
With the increasing demand for top-notch photo printing, we’ve curated a list of the seven top-rated photo printers for 2024. These printers stand out not only for their quality but also for their unique features. Let’s explore the best options available!
Few portable printers match the quality of the Kodak Dock Plus, which stands out as one of the best options for instant photo printing. Compact and easy to carry, it fits conveniently in your bag, much like a camera. The printer connects effortlessly to your phone via Bluetooth, and it’s also compatible with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as cameras and laptops.
The Kodak Dock Plus uses advanced 4Pass technology, which produces stunning, high-quality prints with vivid colors and sharp, well-defined borders. Each photo is printed with a protective laminate coating, making it resistant to smudges and water, ensuring your memories stay intact.
By pairing the printer with the Kodak app, you can enhance your photos before printing. The app allows you to add stickers, frames, and other fun elements, giving you creative control over your images.
The HP Photo Printer offers a fast and easy way to print high-quality 4×6-inch photos that are built to last. Each print is made on durable, tear-resistant, smudge-proof, and waterproof paper, ensuring your memories are preserved for years. Additionally, the printer allows for customization, letting you add stickers, frames, filters, and more to personalize each photo before printing.
Designed for convenience, this printer delivers instant, dry-to-the-touch 4×6-inch photos directly from your smartphone. The user-friendly HP Sprocket app connects your mobile device to the Wi-Fi-enabled printer in seconds, offering a variety of creative options like collages, photo booths, and photo IDs. With its robust and durable photo paper, you can enjoy worry-free printing that keeps your memories safe and beautiful for years to come.
If you’re in the market for a versatile photo printer that easily connects to various devices, the Canon Selphy CP1300 is an excellent option. This printer offers seamless connectivity over the internet, supporting both Android and iOS platforms without restrictions.
Additionally, the CP1300 allows you to print directly from USB devices and camera memory cards. It features a convenient tilt-up LCD screen on top, which provides clear visibility of your options for printing, editing, deleting, and other functions.
A standout feature is the Party Shuffle mode, which lets others send images from their phones directly to the Selphy for printing. The printer also supports Instagram-sized prints with dimensions of 2.1”x 2.1”, making it perfect for those who love sharing their photos on social media.
Personalized photos have become increasingly popular, whether it’s a family collage or a selfie with a customized background. The HP Sprocket Studio Instant Photo Printer is perfect for bringing these images to life, printing vibrant 4×6″ photos with ease. Although some might see the standard 4×6″ size as limiting, the printer excels in producing glossy photos with vibrant colors that perfectly match the original image. Thanks to its laminated coating, the prints are smudge-proof and water-resistant, ensuring they remain intact for years to come.
One of the standout features of the HP Sprocket Studio is its ability to print directly from various sources, including social media and Google Photos. This wireless printer is battery-operated, making it highly portable. Simply connect it to a power bank in remote locations, and the printer will continue to function smoothly once it’s charged.
If you’re searching for a budget-friendly photo printer to produce 2×3″ business postcards, the Polaroid Hi-Print is an excellent choice. This portable device is compact enough to fit in your pocket, much like your smartphone.
Utilizing dye-sublimation printing technology, the Polaroid Hi-Print significantly enhances photo quality, making your prints look vibrant and sharp. Once connected to your phone, the printer takes just 50 seconds to produce each photo.
The Polaroid Hi-Print is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, ensuring it works seamlessly with your phone, regardless of the operating system.
While typical inkjet printers often include scanning and copying functions, photo printers usually don’t, which has left many users disappointed. To address this, Epson introduced the Expression Premium, an all-in-one printer that not only prints high-quality photos but also scans and copies documents and images.
This printer delivers sharp, detailed photos and text with precise color accuracy. It features an automatic feeder that can handle up to 30 pages at once, and it supports both borderless and bordered printing, giving you flexibility in your print projects.
The Epson Expression Premium is equipped with a 4.3-inch touchscreen display for easy navigation and operation. In terms of connectivity, it offers ports for USB and memory cards, and it can also connect to your phone or other devices via Wi-Fi, making it a versatile option for all your printing needs.
The Lifeprint 2×3 portable photo printer stands out as one of the top choices on the market. Its lightweight and compact design makes it easy to carry in your pocket or purse, ensuring that you can take it anywhere. What sets this printer apart is its use of augmented reality technology, allowing you to bring photos to life with vibrant colors and stunning finishes.
These prints also double as stickers and are completely smudge-proof, thanks to a unique printing process where the paper absorbs all the ink. You can easily connect the Lifeprint printer to your mobile device via Bluetooth, and it even allows for global image sharing with other Lifeprint users.
Additionally, you can print images directly from social media platforms, though you’ll need to connect the printer to your phone first. The printing speed is impressive, especially when the battery is fully charged, making it a reliable option for on-the-go printing.
In recent years, photo printers have surged in popularity. Known for producing high-quality images with vibrant colors and sharp details, these printers have become a preferred choice over standard models. However, with so many options available, selecting the best photo printer can feel overwhelming.
To help simplify your decision, we’ve compiled a list of seven top-rated photo printers, each offering unique features, along with their pros and cons. If you’re feeling uncertain about which one to choose, don’t worry! Below, we’ve outlined key factors to consider that will guide you in finding the perfect photo printer.
Print Quality
First and foremost, you’ll want a photo printer that delivers excellent image quality. Look for a printer that produces vibrant colors with no signs of dullness or darkness. Ensure the lines are sharp and well-defined. It’s also crucial that the printer produces smudge-proof prints, so the colors won’t blur if touched. Additionally, opt for prints that are waterproof and heat-resistant.
Print Speed
Photo printers vary in speed. Some models can print borderless photos in as little as 15 seconds, while others may take 20 to 30 seconds—or even up to a minute for high-quality prints. Consider how important speed is to you when making your choice.
Connectivity Options
Since many photo printers are wireless and portable, it’s important to review their connectivity options. Most printers connect to your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi, so ensure the printer is compatible with your smartphone’s operating system. Some models also offer additional ports for connecting USB drives or memory cards.
Battery Recharge Time
Finally, consider how long it takes for the printer’s battery to fully recharge. The faster the recharge time, the more convenient the printer will be for continuous use.
Photo printers are ideal for anyone looking to bring cherished memories to life on paper. Whether you’re capturing new moments or printing old photographs, these devices let you create beautiful, tangible keepsakes.
No, you can't! The third-party cartridges are not compatible with the Epson Expression Premium photo printer. Therefore, you need to buy the Epson cartridge only if you want to get high-quality photo prints.
Yes, you can print documents using photo printers. However, make sure the documents are present on your phone if you send the data from this device. If you are using the USB drive or any memory card, the documents need to be present on those devices.
There are two ways for recharging the battery present in your photo printer. First, you can plug the device into a power bank. Second, you can charge the battery while being at your home from the main power supply. In the second case, you'll have to use an adapter and a USB cable.
Best Buy Guidebook is a culmination of online publishing lessons learned. From SEO to paid ads, our team has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Our goal now is simple: Arm readers with the most information possible.