After 6 hours of research and analysis of 15 models currently popular on the market, we have concluded that the best portable photo printer around is the Canon Selphy CP1300 .
Canon Selphy CP1300
This model is distinguished by its screen which makes it
easy to see the images before printing them. It offers low cost printing and
can print from SD card and USB stick.
155.50 € at Amazon
The Canon Selphy CP1300 benefits from a screen capable
of displaying snapshots and various correction and printing options which are
appreciable for its price. This printer is an excellent economical choice,
especially since the unit price of a photo remains reasonable (0.30 € / photo
in standard format). Regarding print quality, it is ensured by the automatic
image optimization function. Besides that, it supports various formats
(postcard, credit card, square and mini size), which makes it really convenient.
Kodak Mini 2
This model is the most compact of our selection: its
size is similar to that of a GSM. It has good connectivity and a battery. It is
aimed at those who want to have small photos.
99.99 € on Amazon
This device is the lightest of our selection, weighing
238 g. For comparison, our mid-range weighs more than triple. The Kodak Mini 2
is the size of a smartphone and fits easily in your pocket. Battery operated,
it is ideal for seasoned travelers. The images produced by the printer are the
size of a bank card. Their quality is very good, the device being able to
produce shots of 16.7 million colors. The dedicated application allows you to
modify images by adding filters, modifying their sharpness and saturation.
HP Tango X
This model is the heaviest of our selection, but also
the most versatile: it does just as well in photos as with classic documents.
It can also be controlled by voice.
197.99 € at Amazon
This printer is specialized in photography. It is the
heaviest in our comparison, weighing 3.4 kg. With its ink cartridges, it offers
an excellent result in terms of quality. The only downside is that the photos
have a 1mm white border on one side. The HP Tango X can output photos from 7.6
cm x 12.7 cm to 8.5 cm x 35.6 cm. With your smartphone, it is possible to copy
and scan documents after having photographed your photo.
Why trust us ?
None of our articles are sponsored. We sometimes receive
a commission when you purchase a product through our links, which allows us to
fund our work while remaining completely impartial. Learn more .
How did we make our choice?
It is always difficult to define the performance of a
printer. On the one hand, because there are many models on the market and on
the other hand, because they are intended for different uses. After making a
comparison of the best photo printers , we decided to focus here in particular
on portable models.
In order to better understand the characteristics to be
taken into account, we have drawn up a buying guide comprising several
criteria:
Ergonomics : The weight of the printer is essential for
transporting it, as is its size. Its power supply is also not to be overlooked:
a short cable that can power other devices can save space at the bottom of your
bag.
Print quality : it depends on the type of technology
used and the colorimetry, which is supposed to offer good color rendering. The
average delta E measurement is the difference between the original color and
the one on the render. The smaller this number, the more accurate the
colorimetry. A delta E of less than 3 offers a difference invisible to the
human eye.
Format : this is the print size of the device. The
typical size of a photo is 10 x 15 cm but some printers can also print A4, A3
and many other formats.
The type of paper : it will have an influence on the
quality of the finishes. Many support glossy papers, but also matt. Of course,
there is still the possibility of using grainy, smooth, fragile, thick paper…
Find out about the paper that the coveted machine supports.
The options : Most printers exclusively dedicated to
photo printing give you access to a multitude of options for editing your
images, often via a smartphone app, so that the device needs fewer buttons and
thus takes less space (easier to transport). This is less often the case with
inkjet printers which are heavier and not portable, but which offer more
printing possibilities (type of paper, format, etc.).
The cost to print : while the cost per photo is very
easy to calculate for dedicated photo printers, it becomes a bit more
complicated for inkjet printers, as it depends on several factors such as the
type of paper , the format used, the ink consumption… You can still get an idea
by looking at the battery life estimates provided by the manufacturer or
determined by tests and comparing them with the prices of compatible ink
cartridges.
Connectivity : Most dedicated photo printers can be
connected to a computer via a USB cable, but they are designed to be used
alone. Almost all new models today come with a Wi-Fi connection, sometimes an
Ethernet port and / or the ability to insert a USB stick or external hard
drive, SD card or even print through a storage service. online (Cloud). Many
can print directly from a smartphone or tablet.
Printing speed : this may be important depending on the
context. If you are going to put out a large print, you better have the photos
come out quickly. In this regard, also check that your machine is not the
victim of heatstroke because, depending on the printing technique, you may need
to take the time to cool it down after a few photos.
The “pluses” : these include, for example, the presence
of a touch screen or not, the ease of refilling ink, etc.
Thanks to these criteria, we reduced the choice to
around fifteen models that held up. Then, we looked for consumer reviews or
tests on reliable English and French speaking sites to find matches between
them.
Because of this, we have selected the 3 best photo
printers currently available on the market.
Canon Selphy CP1300
This model is distinguished by its screen which makes it
easy to see the images before printing them. It offers low cost printing and
can print from SD card and USB stick.
155.50 € at Amazon
On the go, the Canon Selphy CP1300 is a printer that you
can use and take anywhere as long as there is Wi-Fi. Its printing and
correction options are good for the price. So you get good quality for your
photos in less than a minute. It is an excellent economical choice especially
as the cost price for a photo remains reasonable.
The Selphy range is made up of a series of fairly mobile
photo printers that can print prints up to the standard size of 10 × 15 cm.
For image quality, the automatic image optimization
function provides the latter. Canon gives you the choice of finishes between
semi-gloss and gloss. In addition, after sending, in 47 seconds, you have your
photo. For perfectionists, we still note that the average delta E is rather
high, hovering around 9.
Regarding its price, the CP1300 is practical and offers
several layout options such as printing ID photos or photo booth type. Your
shots can be retouched in any way (color adjustment, intelligent face and scene
detection, red-eye correction, skin smoothing, color filters, etc.).
Besides that, it supports various formats (credit card,
postcard, square format and mini format). You therefore have access to several
printing methods to personalize your printing (single, double, etc.).
The cost price of the photo will depend on the pack you
buy, but count that on average, the classic format costs € 0.30 (this remains
in the norm).
You can use it directly from the app. Working mostly via
Wi-Fi, it is primarily designed to print images from a smartphone, camera,
tablet , or PC. It also offers the possibility of printing directly from a USB
key or an SD card.
The CP1300 model weighs less than 1 kg and measures 18.6
x 13.59 x 6.33 cm. Its light and compact format makes it easily transportable.
You can also use it without a charging cable, by getting an external battery
(which we were talking about here ). In addition, it has a 3.2 inch LCD screen
that is non-touch and may seem a bit complicated to use.
Kodak Mini 2
This model is the most compact of our selection: its
size is similar to that of a GSM. It has good connectivity and a battery. It is
aimed at those who want to have small photos.
99.99 € on Amazon
This device is dedicated to printing photos. It is the
lightest of our selection, since it weighs 238 g. For comparison, our mid-range
weighs more than triple. The Kodak mini 2 is the size of a smartphone and fits
easily in your pocket. Battery operated, it is ideal for seasoned travelers.
The images produced by the printer are the size of a
bank card. Their quality is very good, the device being able to produce shots
of 16.7 million colors. Unsurprisingly, Kodak's proprietary paper format will
have to be used to produce its shots. This paper has the advantage of being
resistant to water and fingerprints.
The dedicated application allows you to modify images by
adding filters, modifying their sharpness and saturation. To use the printer,
simply connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth. You then choose the photos
you want to print, with the possibility of producing several in a row.
However, it is necessary to be patient since the device
requires 50 seconds to take out a snapshot. It's particularly slow, considering
the size of the shots. Regarding the cost of printing, it is fixed since Kodak
has imagined a cartridge integrated into the paper refills.
Due to its size and weight, this model is ideal for
backpackers. Those who wish to have greater flexibility in terms of shot
formats but instead turn to more expensive models.
HP Tango X
This model is the heaviest of our selection, but also
the most versatile: it does just as well in photos as with classic documents.
It can also be controlled by voice.
197.99 € at Amazon
This printer is specialized in photography. It is the
heaviest in our comparison, weighing 3.4 kg. It also requires its own outlet to
operate, but remains compact. You can transport it by car or leave it at the
hotel, but it is more difficult to support its weight in a backpack.
With its ink cartridges, it offers an excellent result
in terms of quality. The only downside is that the photos have a 1mm white
border on one side. The HP Tango X can output photos from 7.6 cm x 12.7 cm to
8.5 cm x 35.6 cm.
This model supports plain paper, HP photo paper, or
professional glossy paper. Other inkjet compatible media can also be used.
With your smartphone, it is possible to copy and scan
documents after having photographed your photo. This is then processed to be
cleaner and more straight before exiting the printer.
Regarding printing costs, they are relatively correct:
15 euros for 200 pages. The absence of a USB socket requires the use of a
device equipped with Bluetooth or wi-fi if you wish to print a document.
In terms of printing speed, the HP Tango X is average:
it can print 11 pages of text per minute, 8 pages for color documents per
minute. It can process a photo in 37 seconds.
Finally, one of the advantages of this model lies in its
aesthetics. It has a gray cover, making it easy to hide it among the furniture.
In conclusion, this printer is intended for people who
want to print photos than traditional documents.
Honorable mentions
At the moment, no product available on the European
market seemed to us to have the qualities necessary to appear alongside our
main selection. We will be sure to offer you interesting alternatives as soon
as we learn about them.
0 Comments