Epson PictureMate PM-400
Best photo printer overall
Why should you buy this? For quick photos that rival those printed at drugstores
Who’s it for? Casual photographers who want convenience and high-quality prints
Why we picked the PictureMate PM-400:
If you want to easily print 4 × 6-inch photos for your memory albums or scrapbooks, you can’t beat Epson’s PictureMate PM-400. Compact and lightweight, this printer easily stashes away in a drawer when it’s not needed. It takes approximately 36 seconds to print one 4 × 6, and the high-resolution image quality (5,760 × 1,440 dpi) is superb. The dye-sublimation ink creates vivid, scratch-resistant, smudge-proof prints rivaling those from your local drugstore (provided you use Epson’s paper, but it will print on non-Epson paper too). The PM-400 also supports 3.5 × 5 and 5 × 7-inch prints.
The PM-400 can print photos from your smartphone or tablet too, using the Epson iPrint mobile app, either on the same Wi-Fi network or directly via AirPrint or Android Printing; it also supports peer-to-peer printing with computers via Wi-Fi Direct. A built-in memory card reader and 2.7-inch color LCD allow you to browse and print off an SD card, removing entirely the need to use a computer.
Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2
Best instant photo printer
Why should you buy this? It brings back the fun of old Polaroid cameras.
Who’s it for? Instant camera lovers, nostalgists, impatient shutterbugs
Why we picked the Instax Share SP-2:
Feeling nostalgic for printed photos? Then you’ll enjoy Fujifilm’s Instax Share SP-2, a portable photo printer that prints on the same Instax film as the company’s wildly popular Instax instant cameras. The Instax SP-2 bridges analog with digital: Using the Instax Share app for iOS or Android, you can make a print in about 10 seconds. The image appears on the print after a few seconds, of course.
We find Instax prints to be very colorful, and with the app, you can and text and other graphics to a photo — or just use a Sharpie to write on the print’s blank space.
The app supports printing from Instagram or Facebook, as well as select Fujifilm digital cameras.
If you’re looking for a larger-sized photo, Fujifilm makes the SP-3, a printer that uses the same technology as the SP-2, but prints onto Fujifilm’s new square-format film.
Lifeprint
Best Zink photo printer
Why should you buy this? It puts a unique twist on instant photography
Who’s it for? Mobile photographers who want to embed some fun in their prints.
Why we picked the Lifeprint:
The Lifeprint is a relative newcomer in the world of Zink printers. Like others, it works with an app that lets you select and print photos from your phone, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve to make the process more enjoyable. Zink is a portable printing technology that doesn’t use ink. Instead, it uses thermal paper that contains dye. When heat is applied, the color image appears. In our experience, we find the colors to be a bit off, making them look unrealistic and garish. Maybe that’s a fair price to pay for the immediacy of the format, but it’s not ideal.
The Lifeprint combats this with proprietary software to ensure colors are printed properly. But its biggest feature is something called “Hyperphotos.” A Hyperphoto has invisible embedded elements that act like a hidden QR code. View the photo under the lens of your phone’s camera inside the Lifeprint mobile app, and the photo comes to life as a video. Utilizing augmented reality, you can watch the video play out overlaid on the photo as you hold it in your hand. This is what Lifeprint means when it says you can “print your videos.” You can make Hyperphotos from Instagram or Facebook videos, GoPro footage, animated GIFs, or iOS Live Photos.
Note that Lifeprint now also comes in a larger-sized printer which prints on a new 3 × 4.5-inch Zink paper. Lifeprint has also released a special, Harry Potter edition printer that adds motion to instant prints via augmented reality.
How we test
To find the best photo printers, in addition to image quality, we factor in criteria such as speed, price, maintenance costs, and any unique features that help them one-up the competition. With their moving parts, we also look at durability.
Our selections are based on our long- and short-term testing; experience with earlier models; familiarity with the companies’ technologies; consultation with industry experts, fellow journalists, and users; online forums; lab results; and other third-party reviews. We look across the board – not just our own experiences – to find consensus on what we think are the best-performing cameras you can currently buy. We also look at list pricing to determine if a product is worth the cost, product availability, and future proofing qualities. We will even recommend printers that aren’t new, provided the features are still best-in-class.
The printer market evolves constantly, with manufacturers either introducing better models with new features, or basic upgrades. So, you can expect our picks to change, as well. But don’t worry: The models you see here will be with you for some time, and if we anticipate there could be better models in the horizon, we will state that upfront to help you decide whether you should buy now or wait.
Which kind of printer is right for you?
What should you look for in a photo printer? That depends on what your needs are. If you want to frame a large print to put on a wall, you may want to consider a single-function, wide-format inkjet printer. If you need a device that can print both photos and documents, a multifunction inkjet printer could be a better fit. If you want to print while on the go, a portable unit might be handier. And, if you shoot a lot on your phone’s camera, you may want to look for a unit that supports wireless printing from a phone.
Regardless, your options will most likely revolve around an inkjet, dye-sublimation, or any print technology that’s designed to handle photos; laser printers, for example, are not right for the job. (If you rarely print, using an online photo service or the photo kiosks at your local drugstore may be more economical.)
