Best Photo Printers

Epson snapshot printers are judged best overall

The Epson PictureMate series of inkjet snapshot printers overwhelmingly earns the most top ratings in reviews. The PictureMate line consists of three current models: the Charm PM 255 (*Est. $150), the Dash PM 260 (*Est. $140) and the Zoom PM 290 (*Est. $200), all of which print 4-by-6-inch photos. The line's newest addition, the Charm, has a smaller LCD display, but noticeably better photo quality than the Zoom and Dash. There are few reviews for the Charm at the time of this update, but PCMag.com's M. David Stone gives it an Editors' Choice award and rates it slightly higher than the Dash and Zoom, saying that if given a choice between a bigger screen or better photos, he'd take the latter.

The PictureMate Charm offers a 2.5-inch preview screen, smaller than the Dash's and Zoom's 3.6-inch LCDs. All models offer a variety of user-friendly options for viewing, selecting and printing photos. You can use built-in software for various photo effects, such as converting photographs to monochrome or sepia, adding borders, removing red eye and adjusting brightness and tone. A maximum resolution of 5,760 by 1,440 dots per inch (dpi) and 3 picoliter droplet size are designed to create images that are roughly equivalent to photo-lab quality. Reviewers calculate that ink and paper expenses put the cost of each print at approximately 25 cents per photo.

Experts are quick to emphasize that the most important measure of a snapshot printer is photo quality and that high-quality prints are worth waiting for. With the PictureMate printers, that isn't an issue. Reviewers unanimously rank PictureMate models as the fastest portable photo printers tested. One writer, Paul Smart of GadgetSpeak.com, records speed of 22 seconds from photo selection to print. Other reviewers find average speeds between 38 and 42 seconds per photo; even these more conservative estimates are up to two times faster than the competition. Even better, photos come off the printer already dry, as well as water- and scratch-resistant. Epson's inks are certified to last 200 years in storage or 96 years behind glass.

When it comes to the print quality, the majority of reviewers enthuse over the Charm, Dash and the Zoom; combined, the printers top the ratings charts at TrustedReviews.com, PC World, PCMag.com, Macworld, GadgetSpeak.com, About.com and ComputerShopper.com. PCMag.com's M. David Stone says all the photos he printed from the Charm are better than what you'd get from a local drugstore; Brian Chen of Macworld is similarly impressed and compliments the prints from the line as crisp and detailed, with excellent color accuracy. TrustedReviews.com's Simon Williams notes "smooth gradations of tone and plenty of detail in darker, as well as fully-illuminated, areas," feats he attributes to Epson's unusual move to include a dedicated black ink cartridge in the snapshot printers. Michael Carr of About.com describes prints simply as "immaculate."

The Epson PictureMate Charm, Dash and Zoom models are both PictBridge- and Bluetooth-compatible, with slots for every major memory card format; the Charm lacks USB key compatibility, though. The Charm is more compact and lightweight, tipping the scales at just under 5 pounds. All models are PC and Mac compatible and support an optional battery pack (*Est. $50) that lasts for about two hours per charge.

Canon photo printers also finish respectably

The Epson photo printers use the same type of ink as Epson full-size inkjet printers. By contrast, Canon printers use thermal-dye technology. In most reviews, the Epson and Canon lines of printers run neck and neck. TrustedReviews.com, for example, gives them identical ratings and a Recommended tag. PCMag.com prefers Epson, giving the line a slight ratings advantage. And in a recent ComputerShopper.com review that compares image quality, the Canon PictureMate Charm is the easy winner over the Canon Selphy CP790. In her comparison with the Canon photo printer, reviewer Susan Glinert writes, "the color quality is not as good as the PictureMate Charm's." Still, the cheaper Canon printers, particularly the CP780, can be good budget picks.

PC World's Melissa Riofrio ranks the Canon Selphy CP780 (*Est. $90) just behind Epson's Dash, saying, "The purchase price [of the CP780] is right, but use it lightly: it's slow, and its ink and paper are pricey." This is an improvement of previous Canon Selphy photo printers, which she had called merely "adequate," ranking them behind most other major brands.

The leading thermal-dye snapshot printers are two models in Canon's Selphy line, the CP780, upgraded from last year's CP760, and CP790 (*Est. $160), which replaces last year's CP770. Reviewers note that the newer printers are essentially the same as former models, but offer larger 3-inch LCD screens and more creative options, such as a photo diary. The Selphy CP780 weighs only 2.1 pounds, but a paper feed path that extends beyond the front and back of the machine hampers portability. The more expensive Selphy CP790 (*Est. $160), weighs 3.2 pounds, but that includes its bucket-shaped carrying case that also holds paper and ink cartridges. The CP790 also features the front-and-back paper feed. Canon sells an optional battery (*Est. $80) that is compatible with both the CP780 and CP790. The Selphy printers are not Bluetooth-enabled, though Canon sells an optional Bluetooth key for $50. For these reasons, experts point out that these "portable" photo printers are best used as stationary models.

All reviewers praise the print quality of the Selphy printers. Chris Holt of Macworld describes the CP790's predecessor, the CP770, as producing prints that are "some of the highest quality photos around." Reviewers note that the low 300 dpi resolution is deceiving, since thermal-dye technology isn't subject to the same resolution limitations as inkjet printers.

ComputerShopper.com's Susan Glinert describes the CP 790's photo quality as "excellent" but notes that prints from less expensive CP780 "lacked true blacks." And in her review of the newer Epson PictureMate Charm, the Canon printers are clearly judged as lacking in color quality by comparison. Still, nearly every review of the CP780 and CP790 compliments the color saturation, fine detail and delicately rendered flesh tones (a special challenge for photo printers). Even PC World reviewer Susan Silvius, who writes of her distaste for thermal-dye printing, concedes that the printer would be a top pick if not for its disappointing speed and expensive prints. Reviewers calculate print costs at approximately 28 cents per photo -- about 3 cents more than photos from the PictureMate printers. Reviewers warn that owners will need to purchase paper for the Selphy immediately, as Canon only bundles enough for five photos.

The most consistent complaint about the Selphy's prints has nothing to do with quality, but with time; expert testing finds that the Selphy printers are significantly slower than the Epson PictureMate photo printers, averaging over a minute per print. Photos come off the printers dry, though, as well as scratch- and water-resistant. Canon's prints are certified to last 100 years in dark storage and 30 years behind glass.

Canon's Selphy CP780 and CP790 print snapshots up to 4 inches by 8 inches; however, it's important to note that thermal-dye cartridges are fixed size. This means that a user who wants to print both 4-by-6-inch and 4-by-8-inch photos will need to purchase two different cartridges. Both Selphy models feature a 3-inch LCD screen for selecting, editing and printing photos. Editing options include red-eye removal, conversion to monochrome and sepia tones and color management. CNET's Justin Yu describes the on-board controls as "practically idiot-proof" and other experts agree that the printer is user-friendly and intuitive.

Melissa Riofrio's adamant dislike of the Selphy printers brings up a final point of consideration for environmentally minded consumers. She describes the thermal-dye process as "plastic-intensive" and points out the need for different cartridges for each print size and that Canon has not yet instituted a recycling program for their thermal-dye cartridges. HP does have a free ink-cartridge recycling program that includes free shipping.

Canon's other Selphy models, the ES3 (*Est. $200) and the ES40 (*Est. $150) receive some attention as well. The ES3 and ES40 are fairly similar. The more expensive Selphy ES3 allows for 999 pictures to be stored in the printer. The ES40 doesn't have built-in memory but does have a unique voice feature that guides the user through the printing process and creative options. PCMag.com's M. David Stone gives the ES3 a half-point lead over the ES40 for the built-in memory, but you're paying an extra $50 for that half-point. Also unique to the ES3 and ES40 is a combined ink-and-paper cartridge. This allows both paper and ink to be loaded simultaneously, which Stone notes is "a small but welcome convenience."

Reviewers praise the ES3 and ES40 for the large 3.5-inch LCD display that allows for easy preprint photo viewing. ES3 and ES40 print quality is comparable to the CP780 and CP790. As with their sister models, these printers lose points for their expensive cost per print and lack of speed. PC World and ComputerShopper.com prefer the CP780 over the ES3 and ES40, but by a slim margin. PCMag.com rates the ES3 and CP780 equally.

HP printers offer more than 4-by-6-inch snapshots but fall short otherwise

Overall, reviewers favor print quality from Epson and Canon printers over HP's, but still find that HP's prints are generally equivalent to what one would get at a photo lab. The big advantage is that you're not limited to 4-by-6-inch prints.

HP snapshot printers can print 4-by-12-inch panoramas in addition to 4-by-6-inch, 4-by-8-inch and 5-by-7-inch prints. These larger sizes are typically available only on photo inkjets. The HP Photosmart A646 (*Est. $150) replaces the now-discontinued A636, a printer that was liked (if not loved) by reviewers. We didn't find any reviews of the A646 at the time of this update, but the A646 is identical to the A636 with the addition of embedded Bluetooth. The A636 receives top ratings at PCMag.com, where expert M. David Stone gives it an Editors' Choice award. As is the case with most reviews of the A636, Stone doesn't think this printer excels in any regard, but believes that its combination of strengths, value and features is unequalled.

Experts calculate that prints from the HP Photosmart A636 cost 29 cents apiece -- a bit higher than Canon and Epson. Print times vary from review to review, but seem to fall between 60 and 90 seconds, a far cry from the 28 seconds claimed by HP. The onboard controls and 3.45-inch LCD touch screen enable photo selection and editing, including red-eye removal, cropping and even greeting-card creation. Both PCMag.com's M. David Stone and PC World's Melissa Riofrio say using the A636 is "fun." In addition to printing from PC and optional Bluetooth, the A636 supports printing via PictBridge, USB key and memory cards.

Mini photo printers mostly a novelty

Polaroid brings all the fun of their now-defunct instant-print cameras into the digital age with the Polaroid PoGo (*Est. $100), a portable device that prints 2-by-3-inch photos directly from digital cameras and camera phones. The 0.4-pound PoGo uses ZINK technology, which creates images by stimulating color-change crystals embedded in compatible photo papers. The printer, which does not offer PC connectivity, supports Bluetooth and PictBridge connection options. Experts say prints take about 60 seconds, in line with manufacturer claims. Reviews indicate that image quality is acceptable, but not great. TrustedReviews.coms' Simon Williams writes, "The photos are probably best viewed in pubs and clubs where the lights are low," citing lack of detail and blotchiness. Laptop Magazine's Dana Wollman concurs, pointing out that the printer is "fun" and its prints are meant to be used as stickers rather than "frameworthy prints." Both experts seem to view the PoGo as an enjoyable (if pricey) party novelty for teens and young adults.

Dell's Wasabi PZ310 Mobile Printer (*Est. $95) also utilizes ZINK technology. Reviewers say that the Wasabi is nearly identical in speed to the PoGo and both cost about the same. The two are so similar, in fact, that no expert chooses one over the other. PCMag's Stone gives both the PoGo and the Wasabi three out of five stars, concluding " When you're second to market with a new technology, as is Dell in this case, it helps to bring something new to the table so that you can stand out from the original. The Wasabi doesn't do this -- in fact, it's nearly identical in almost every way." Claimed cost per print for the Wasabi (41.6 cents) and the PoGo (43.3 cents) is about the same; Dell and Polaroid both say you can use only their proprietary photo paper.