Compare Photo Printers

16 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 17 Oct 2026

Pick any two to four of the 16 ranked photo printers and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, Epson SureColor P700, Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 and Canon PIXMA PRO-200S.

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Photo Printers compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	Epson Epson SureColor P700	Canon Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310	Canon Canon PIXMA PRO-200S	Epson Epson Expression Photo XP-8800	Canon Canon PIXMA G620	Epson Epson Expression Photo XP-8700	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-5850	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-2980	Canon Canon PIXMA G650	Epson Epson XP-15000	Canon Canon SELPHY CP1500	Epson Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850	Canon Canon PIXMA TR160	HP HP Sprocket Studio Plus	Canon Canon Pixma Pro-100	Polaroid Polaroid Hi-Print Generation 2
Tier	S	S	A	A	B	C	D	D	D	D	D	D	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 16	2 of 16	3 of 16	4 of 16	5 of 16	6 of 16	7 of 16	8 of 16	9 of 16	10 of 16	11 of 16	12 of 16	13 of 16	14 of 16	15 of 16	16 of 16
Ladder points	1244 LP	1080 LP	924 LP	741 LP	607 LP	398 LP	339 LP	338 LP	327 LP	268 LP	244 LP	236 LP	129 LP	37 LP	0 LP	0 LP
Our verdict	Ranked #1 for its professional-grade pigment inks, 13-inch wide format and Epson’s strong long-term support reputation, making it the most reliable photo printer for years of use.	Ranked #4 as a sealed 13-inch pro-grade pigment printer built to run for a decade. It falls just outside the top three only because recent coverage is thin, not due to any fault.	Ranked #8 for its excellent gloss and color output and solid build, though its dye-based cartridges make it the most expensive to operate among the picks.	Ranked #7 as PCMag’s home photo pick. Its compact size and high-quality output are strong, but cartridge-based ink raises long-term costs compared with supertank models.	Ranked #9 as a six-ink MegaTank offering cheap photo printing. While slower and smaller-format than Epson’s tank models, its low ink cost makes it a strong long-term value.	A capable current model with no long-term record yet, and it is overshadowed by its own XP-8800 sibling.	Mentioned briefly. No strong endorsement.	Compact, low-maintenance and with a firmware that stays current for many years.	Ranked #12 as a legitimate pick with cheap ink. However, its print-head poses a permanent-clog risk for owners who print infrequently, placing it below two traps despite its low ink cost.	Ranked #10 above some picks for hardware longevity, but its dye-only cartridge system creates the highest running costs and less permanent prints, making it a cost trap.	Ranked #11 as the most overhyped product. Despite a mechanically reliable engine, its colour drift, locked consumables and high per-print cost make it unsuitable for real-photo owners.	A well-built office machine that is simply the wrong tool for photo printing despite its best-inkjet crown.	No standout qualities highlighted in the community discussion.	The best portable 4x6 dye-sub option in current roundups, a genuine pick though endorsed by fewer authoritative outlets than the leaders.	Still actively recommended in threads, but it is an older model superseded by the PRO-200S in every way that matters.	RTINGS' compact pick with a minimal mechanism, ranked last among picks for media lock-in and modest output.
What reviewers rate	Professional-grade pigment inks ensure long-lasting prints 13-inch wide format accommodates large photos Epson’s pro line offers strong long-term support Best-in-class 13-inch pigment output	Sealed pro-grade pigment printer Shares engine architecture with the PRO-1100 Excellent print quality Versatile media handling	Excellent gloss and color output Solid Canon build quality Gallery-grade A3-plus dye prints Significantly lower cost than pigment flagships	High-quality photo output PCMag’s top home pick Six-ink compact photo machine Crowned for home use by PCMag	Six-ink MegaTank provides cheap photo printing Six-ink MegaTank built specifically for photo output Ink costs among the cheapest in the category Print quality near that of the ET-8500	Current-generation model in Epson's home photo line with strong pedigree Balanced mix of speed, quality and affordability Best all-in-one for enthusiasts Solid build	All-in-one design Low running cost Large ink capacity	Compact size Low maintenance Firmware stays current Low running cost	Cheap ink with six-ink MegaTank Higher DPI Improved color fidelity Reliable performance	Affordable entry to true 13-inch-wide photo printing Supports wide-format prints Still current and purchasable, with no consensus challenger at its niche Wide-format capability	Heavily marketed as top spot for dedicated home photo printing Mechanically near-failproof engine Dye-sub postcard prints with low per-print cost Excellent reliability	Reliable office ownership Best inkjet printer per RTINGS Long-lasting cartridge system Low running cost	Compact design Affordable Fast print speeds Solid photo quality	Strongest of the portable instant printers for true 4x6 dye-sub output Portable size Compact design	Previously recommended for quality Still prints respectable 13-inch output Hardware famously lasts, with a decade of field durability Still produces fine prints	Current best compact photo printer per RTINGS Minimal mechanism Mature ZINK consumable chain Solid engineering behind it
Where it falls short	Higher ink cost per photo reduces overall value Epson's middling consumer reliability surveys High cartridge ink costs reduce cost-per-print economics Epson's weaker brand reliability record	Limited recent reviews provide thin coverage	Dye cartridges result in higher ongoing ink expenses Ink costs higher than tank models Slow print speed Higher ink cost	Cartridge ink leads to higher long-term costs versus supertank models Higher ink cost per photo compared to tank models Cartridge costs and the integrated printhead risk common to consumer Epsons Uses cartridge ink rather than a tank system	Slower printing speed Smaller format than larger Epson tanks Canon tank photo printheads are known to clog when the printer sits idle, rewarding frequent use and punishing occasional users	No long-term data behind it yet	No notable praise Limited support	Smaller footprint Fewer features compared to larger models Limited print quality for photos Durability only average	Print-head clog risk for infrequent printing	Highest long-term running costs among wide-format machines Dye prints are less permanent Uses cartridge ink, leading to higher running costs High price	Colour accuracy drifts from source image Locked proprietary consumables increase per-print cost Output limited to postcard-size prints Colors can be off compared to the original image	Designed for documents not photos Out of scope for photo category Document-first office machine, not a dedicated photo printer Its photo output is not why anyone ranks it	No notable advantages mentioned Generic listing Low print quality Outdated firmware	Slow print speed Cheap build quality Firmware not updated durability - cheap, breaks easily	Outdated model with older ink technology Replaced by newer PRO-200S offering better output and lower cost 2013-era design that Canon has superseded Fading driver support and a dead-end parts pipeline	Media lock-in Modest output quality ZINK output quality is visibly below competing instant printers Small print format limits usefulness
Evidence behind it	21 sources across 17 outlets	29 sources across 20 outlets	24 sources across 18 outlets	13 sources across 8 outlets	31 sources across 24 outlets	18 sources across 12 outlets	22 sources across 17 outlets	40 sources across 30 outlets	10 sources across 10 outlets	24 sources across 19 outlets	24 sources across 23 outlets	9 sources across 8 outlets	34 sources across 32 outlets	17 sources across 16 outlets	13 sources across 11 outlets	2 sources across 2 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 16 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 2 research runs	1 of 4 research runs	Not flagged	3 of 8 research runs	5 of 19 research runs	3 of 8 research runs	3 of 5 research runs	6 of 7 research runs	9 of 11 research runs	4 of 11 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
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Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.