Are you looking for the best photo printers, but you are in doubt about which photo printer matches your needs?
Then read this guide, where Pixojet i.a. gives you an overview of ‘best in test’ photo printers from various printer manufacturers for both private and business use.
Table of Contents
- Best photo printers for private use
- Best photo printers for business
- Photo printers for posters and large formats
- Mini photo printers
- Canon photo printers
- HP photo printers
- EPSON photo printers
- Brother photo printers
- How many pixels does it take to print in photo quality?
- Dictionary
The recommendations in this guide are i.a. made on the basis of a number of award-winning photo printers for 2018 voted by various test panels and consumers reviews.
Best photo printers for private use
If you need to acquire a photo printer for home use, and you wish that to be the best photo printer on the market, then you can below gain insight into which photo printers, among others, we recommended to you.
EPSON Expression Home XP-345 All in One
If you want a small, compact photo printer, then the EPSON Expression Home XP-345 All-in-One is a good choice for you.
The EPSON XP-345 inkjet printer is an economical printer choice as it uses separate ink cartridges.
Therefore, once a color is empty, you can simply replace that color cartridge only.
The reason why this stylish all-in-one printer makes itself suitable as an ideal photo printer for private use is that the EPSON Expression Home XP-345 AiO printer makes use of EPSON's Claria Home Inks.
This feature gives you clear, sharp text as well as beautiful, glossy photos in professional quality.
See and read more about all the benefits of the EPSON Expression Home XP-345 All in one (link)
Buy the corresponding EPSON 29 ink cartridges and color cartridges for the EPSON XP-345 here (link).
EPSON 29 print cartridges are available in both original and compatible versions.
EPSON Expression Premium XP-830
If you need to print sharp, clear text documents and unique photos, then the EPSON Expression Premium XP-830 is a good choice for you.
With its 5-color Claria Premium color system, the EPSON XP 830 ensures you incredibly nuanced and true-to-life, high-quality glossy photos.
Even text documents are printed with a strong and clear color.
The printer's separate ink cartridges reduce significantly your operating costs, as you only need to replace the used ink cartridge.
The versatile 4-in-1 multifunction printer EPSON XP-830, which can print, scan, fax and copy, is also equipped with EPSON Connect, which makes it possible to print directly from a smartphone or tablet.
Read more about the EPSON Expression Premium XP-830 here (link)
Buy the corresponding EPSON 33 ink cartridges and color cartridges for the EPSON XP-30 here.
EPSON 33 print cartridges are available in both original and compatible versions.
Best photo printer for business
If you want to acquire the best photo printer for business purposes, then the photo printer below can be recommended to you.
EPSON SureColor P600
The EPSON SureColor P600 inkjet printer is a color printer in the slightly more expensive price range, which is suitable for medium-sized companies.
The main purpose of this printer is to print very high quality and professional photo quality imagery.
The EPSON SureColor P600 is a true 'best in test' photo printer.
The EPSON inkjet printer uses 9 different color cartridges, guaranteeing you an incomparable depth and contrast in all printed photos.
The EPSON SureColor P600 can even handle the A3 formats, and it can also print photo material on everything from photo paper to cotton and canvas.
Read more about all the benefits of the EPSON SureColor P600 here (link)
Photo printers for posters and large formats
If there is a need to print professional photographic materials such as posters and the like, then the photo printers below can be recommended.
Canon PIXMA PRO-10S
Highly accurate Canon PIXMA PRO-10S pigment-based inkjet printer is equipped with as many as 10 ink tanks.
This Canon photo printer is an eminent choice for those of you who want to produce large photos and / or image material in A3 paper size, as the color quality of your prints will be extraordinary!
The PIXMA PRO-10S printer from Canon uses so-called LUCIA inks, which combine the gloss and vibrant colors of dye-based inks with a long shelf life of pigment inks.
If you also use Chroma Optimizer inks, the gloss is further improved, you get a smoother print surface and the color range expands.
The Canon PIXMA PRO-10S is not sold at pixojet.eu, but you can read more about the printer's specifications on Canon's own website here (link)
Buy original and compatible Canon PGI-72 Ink Cartridges, Color Cartridges and Chroma Optimizer Cartridges here (link)
Canon PIXMA iX6850
Another suggestion for a photo printer that can produce material in A3 is the Canon PIXMA ix6850 inkjet printer.
The Canon PIXMA ix6850 is a high-performance printer with 5 separate ink tanks, which means you get sharp business documents and photos printed in professional and superior quality.
Two black ink tanks are included in this Canon printer, and these are essential for your photos to achieve true-to-life contrasts and depth when printed.
The Canon PIXMA iX6850 is not sold at pixojet.eu , but you can read more about the printer's specifications on Canon's own website here (link)
Buy original and compatible Canon CLI 551 / PGI 550 ink and color cartridges here (link)
Mini photo printers
Photo printers are available in many sizes. If you wish to buy a mini photo printer or a compact, space-saving photo printer, then we present to you a couple of photo printers of the very small kind that you can consider before you finally decide which printer you would like to buy.
Canon SELPHY CP1200
The Canon SELPHY CP1200 is the first suggestion for a mini photo printer.
The stylish, small photo printer gives you wireless photo printing, so you can print your photos directly from your smartphone or tablet in professional quality.
The size of the Canon SELPHY CP1200 photo printer is so compact that you can take it with you on the go.
The printing system of such a Canon photo printer is thermal color sublimation.
Read more about the Canon SELPHY on Canon's own website here (link).
HP Sprocket Plus printer
A smaller photo printer than the following one has not probably been produced yet!
With an HP Sprocket Plus printer, you get the world's smallest portable photo printer the size of a mobile phone, and with the smart and stylish Sprocket photo printer, you can print both photos and stickers.
If you download the free Sprocket app at the same time, you can customize and print photos directly from your social media.
The printing technology of this HP Sprocket photo printer is ZINK ™ which does not require ink cartridges.
Read all specifications for HP Sprocket Plus here (link).
Canon photo printers
If you have decided that you want to buy a Canon photo printer, then in this section you can get an overview of a few of the most popular Canon printers that are suitable for photo printing.
Canon PIXMA iX6850
The Canon PIXMA iX6850 is also mentioned in the previous section Photo Printers for posters and large formats, but it is certainly also worth including in the list of best Canon photo printers in general.
In addition to being able to print professional text documents and photos in A3 paper format (the printer can of course also print normal A4 paper format, A5 etc.), this Canon printer is recommended as it focuses on the printing task itself, and ensures you sharp image material due to its 5 ink tanks, which help to create nuanced and crystal clear photos.
The printer is available at an affordable price and is suitable for both private and business use.
The Canon PIXMA iX6850 can be connected to both wireless and cable networks, and its ease of use is top notch!
The Canon PIXMA iX6850 is not sold at pixojet.eu but you can read more about the printer’s specifications on Canon’s own website here (link).
Buy original and compatible Canon CLI 551 / PGI 550 ink cartridges and color cartridges here (link).
Canon PIXMA TS6052
Another Canon photo printer that is worth mentioning is the Canon PIXMA TS6052. The Canon Inkjet Printer is a multifunction printer that incorporates print, scan, fax and copy in one printer.
With its 5 operating-saving ink tanks, you can produce photos that even the demanding photo enthusiast can vouch for.
The Canon PIXMA TS6052 also has built-in Wi-Fi, which makes wireless printing directly from smartphone and tablet a breeze.
The price of this Canon photo printer is affordable and the printer is ideal for home use.
Buy Canon PIXMA TS6052 Ink and Color Cartridges in Canon PGI 570 / CLI 571 Ink Series (link).
Printer cartridges are available in both original and compatible versions.
Canon PIXMA PRO-100S
An exceptionally good Canon photo printer, which also deserves to be on the list of the best Canon photo printers, is the Canon PIXMA PRO-100S.
The Canon PIXMA PRO-100S is a professional inkjet printer with a dye-based system of 8 ink tanks. The result of the many ink tanks are vivid gallery quality photos.
The printer also uses the ChromaLife 100+ ink system, which improves the color reproduction and durability for your images.
Wireless printing from PC, tablet and smartphone also makes your workflow easier and faster.
The Canon PIXMA PRO 1000S is not sold at pixojet.eu, but you can read more about the printer's specifications on Canon's own website here (link)
The above recommended Canon photo printers are just a selection of the Canon photo printers available in the market.
If you want an overview of all Canon printers that fall into the Canon photo printer category, go to Canon's own website where you can see their full range of professional Canon photo printers.
Take a look at Canon's professional photo printers here (link)
Take a look at Canon home photo printers here (link)
HP Photo Printers
If you have preferences for Hewlett Packard printers and would like your new photo printer to be an HP photo printer, check out some of them below and read more about popular HP photo printers.
HP ENVY Photo 6230 All-in-One Printer
If you want true-to-life photos with authentic and nuanced color, you can choose an HP ENVY Photo 6230 All-in-One printer.
This HP photo printer is ideal for clear and sharp text documents as well as professional-quality imagery.
The HP ENVY Photo 6230 AiO is also an economical multifunction printer with allows you to print, scan and copy from the same printer.
Despite the fact that the HP ENVY Photo 6230 All in One is equipped with only 2 ink tanks for one black and one tree-colors print cartridge, which can be unusual for a photo printer, it can print optimized colors with up to 4800 x 1200 DPI and black with up to 1200 x 1200 DPI.
See how many DPIs are required for a printer to be categorized as a photo printer (link)
Order HP 303 Ink and Color Cartridges for the HP ENVY Photo 6230 All-in-One (link)
HP ENVY Photo 7830 All-in-One Printer
Another HP photo printer candidate is the HP ENVY Photo 7830 All-in-One.
This HP printer gives you shiny and powerful photos that bring your designs to life.
Wireless printing makes it easy to print directly from your mobile devices.
The HP ENVY Photo 7830 AiO gives you the best print quality. For color printing, the colors are printed at up to 4800 x 1200 DPI and for black and white printing, black ink is printed at up to 1200 x 1200 DPI.
Buy HP 303 Ink and Color Cartridges for the HP ENVY Photo 7830 All-in-One (link)
HP OfficeJet 5740 e-All-in-One Printer
One last HP photo printer worth including in this section is the HP OfficeJet 5740 e-All-in-One multifunction printers.
The printer's built-in e-All-in-One feature ensures you print documents in superb laser quality, and your photos look sharp and flawless.
The HP OfficeJet 5740 e-All-in-One also features easy-to-use mobile printing, which makes it easy and fast to print your imagery and documents from your mobile devices.
Buy HP 62 Original or Compatible Ink and Color Cartridges here (link)
There are several HP photo printers on the market, but the above section covers only 3 of them.
Take a look at HP photo printers on HP's own website (link)
Epson photo printers
If you prefer an Epson photo printer, see below when we offer 3 good Epson photo printers.
Epson Expression Premium XP-830
The Epson Expression Premium XP-830 is also mentioned in the section Best Photo Printer for private use, but it also deserves the title of popular Epson photo printer.
Epson Expression Premium XP-830 is the perfect printer choice for those of you who have a need to print documents and professional photos.
This Epson photo printer features a cost-effective 5-color Claria Premium color system that helps to create depth, nuance and a beautiful gloss in your photos.
The multifunction printer is equipped with a 4-in-1 function that allows you to print, scan, fax and copy in the same printer.
Read more about the EPSON Expression Premium XP-830 here (link).
Buy the corresponding EPSON 33 ink cartridges and color cartridges for the EPSON XP-30 here.
EPSON 33 print cartridges are available in both original and compatible versions.
Epson SureColor P600
We have also previously mentioned the Epson SureColor P600 in the section Best Photo Printers for Business, and it also deserves to be on the list of popular Epson photo printers on the market in general.
The Epson SureColor P600 inkjet printer is a relatively expensive printer, but you really get the value for your money.
The printer is definitely designed to print photos and other imagery of the highest quality.
The Epson SureColor P600 is equipped with as many as 9 ink tanks, which is your guarantee that all printed photos achieve a completely eminent and contrast-filled color quality.
If you need to print in A3 paper format, this Epson printer can handle that too.
Read more about all the benefits of the EPSON SureColor P600 here (link).
EPSON Expression Photo XP-760
An Epson photo printer we have not mentioned in this guide is the EPSON All in One Expression Photo XP-760.
If you are a photo enthusiast, then this printer is ideal for you.
The EPSON Expression Photo XP-760 multifunction printer gives you nothing less than the best color reproduction with its 6-color Claria Photo HD ink, which ensures your photos exceptional quality.
A specially dedicated photo tray and built-in devices are all created with the sole purpose that the EPSON Expression Photo XP-760 AiO should be able to reproduce the best photo quality - even up to A3 format.
Mobile printing options also enable easy and fast printing from smartphone and tablet.
You can order the Epson 24 ink series for the EPSON All in One Expression Photo XP-760 here (link).
You can choose between compatible or original Epson 24 print cartridges.
We emphasize that the above recommendations of popular Epson photo printers are just a fraction of a few of the Epson photo printers available in the market.
Brother photo printers
If you prefer Brother printers, you might find one in our selection below that you might want to consider.
Brother DCP-J132W
Brother DCP-J132W is a lower price range multifunction printer that can print, copy and scan.
The user-friendly Brother can be described as a photo printer, as it prints photos in a resolution of up to 6000 x 1200 DPI, giving you an incredibly beautiful and rich image quality.
The Brother DCP-J132W can also print wirelessly if you download the Brother free app iPrint & Scan, which is available for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone. Then you can quickly and easily print photos and plain text documents directly from your mobile devices.
Buy the Brother LC 123 ink series for Brother DCP-J132W here (link)
Brother MFC-J4510DW multi printer
Another Brother photo printer that we briefly want around is the Brother MFC-J4510DW multifunction printer.
This Brother photo printer is a space-saving one of a kind, as it prints your photos on opposite sides of what printers normally do. Wide format printing also enables A3 printing.
Buy the Brother LC 123 Ink Series for Brother MFC-J4510DW here (link)
The market for photo printers is huge, and the same goes for Brother photo printers.
The above recommendations is just a small selection of the Brother printers that are suitable for photo printing.
How many pixels does it take to print in photo quality?
When printing photo-quality images, it is extremely important that the image resolution is in order so that you avoid your images look pixelated and grainy to look at when you zoom in on them.
If you want to print photos in A4 print, then the image size should be at least 2480 x 3508 pixels, which corresponds to a resolution of 300 DPI.
If you need to zoom in on a picture that, as a starting point, has a low number of DPI (dots per inch), then you are challenged from the start if you wish to zoom in on the image, and you also want to maintain the good image quality.
You can not simply take an A4 page with a low DPI, at let's say 100, and make it twice as big without the image quality becoming pixelated.
Therefore, we emphasize again that the resolution from the start should be in order if you want to print your photos with the best image quality.
Below you can read more about how many pixels your image should be if you want to reproduce your images in exceptional photo quality.
| Minimum file size Format A3 format A2 format A1 format A0 format Poster (50x70) Poster (70 x 100) Poster (100 x 140) |
Minimum file size Pixel 1.169 x 1.654 1.654 x 2.339 2.339 x 3.307 3.307 x 4.677 1.969 x 2.756 2.756 x 3.937 3.937 x 5.512 |
Minimum file size |
Terminology
DPI
DPI means Dots Per Inch, which indicates how many color dots a printer can set per inch.
The DPI requirement for a photo printer is usually 1200 and 2400 DPI minimum.
The higher the DPI number of a photo printer, the better the image quality of your photos will also be in print mode.
PPI
PPI means Pixels Per Inch, and this unit of measure indicates how many pixels an image contains per inch. Therefore, an image resolution of 300 PPI indicates that the image in question has 300 pixels for every inch in height and width.
150 PPI is said to give an acceptable image result, whereas 300 PPI gives optimal image result.
Droplet size
The smaller the droplet size, the more accurate the print.
The droplet size indicates how large / small droplets a printer can print with. The droplet size is measured in so-called picoliters, and a photo printer usually has a droplet size of 1.54 picoliters.
If a photo printer is equipped with the right technology, then the droplet size may well be higher than 1.54 picoliters without this implying a decreased image quality. However, the droplet size should not exceed 4 picoliters, as this will have an impact on the professional image quality.
A standard photo printer usually has a droplet size of 15 picoliters.
The number of ink tanks
When choosing the right photo printer, it is a good idea to pay attention to the number of ink tanks in a given printer.
The good photo printers usually have between 6 to 12 different ink tanks with ink in different shades, which i.a. includes light and dark ink shades, whereas an inkjet printer has a maximum of 4-5 different ink tanks.
The more ink tanks a photo printer has, the better the image quality will be, as the photo printer can thereby create far more nuanced photos, which are bursting with life and a truthful color reproduction.