TOP 10+ Best 4×6 Photo Printer in 2022 [Buyer’s Guide]

Photos don’t always need to be poster-sized. Sometimes, a small 4×6 photo can be more meaningful than a full-sized one.

Not to mention, you can put it in your wallet or necklace and take it with you everywhere you go.

 However, not all photo printers will give the perfect results that you expect.

And because we believe that photos of your memories and loved ones deserve to be beautiful, we’ve helped you pick the best 4×6 photo printer for your needs! 

Top 3 Best 4×6 Photo Printer

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS	Check price
Best Overall	Best Overall	Canon Selphy CP1300	High Quality Prints, Portable and Compact	Check Today’s Price
Runner Up	Runner Up	Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000	Sharp Print Quality, Fast Photo Printing	Check Today’s Price
Budget Pick	Budget Pick	Kodak PD-450 Dock	Compact Design,  Battery Powered	Check Today’s Price

10 Best 4×6 Photo Printers in 2022

1. Canon Selphy CP1300: Best Overall

We’re kicking off our guide on solid grounds with the Canon Selphy CP1300 photo printer, a portable, battery-powered photo printer that lets you print 4×6 photos on the go. Unlike conventional inkjet printers, this one utilizes dye-sublimation technology, providing you with smudge-free photo prints that’ll last for decades.

Moreover, the Selphy CP1300 gives you several connections that you can print your photos through. You can either print over the cloud using Apple AirPrint and Mopria or use the Canon Print App to print from social media channels like Instagram and Facebook with Canon selphy cp1300. 

The Canon selphy cp1300 printer supports Wi-Fi, too. Not to mention, you can print directly from your camera’s SD card or by using a USB cable just like an envelope printer.

On top of that, the Canon CP1300 is equipped with a 3.2” tilt-up LCD touchscreen display that lets you preview your photos before printing them. 

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a portable photo booth to print instant 4×6 photos at exceptional quality, the Canon Selphy CP1300 would be your best bet.

2. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000: Runner Up

Next up on our list is the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000, a premium photo printer that utilizes some of the most advanced Canon pixma technologies. 

For starters, it features anti-clogging technology that consists of a FINE print head with a tubular ink delivery system that ensures fast, clog-free printing. What’s more, the Air Feeding System prevents your pages from skewing to ensure that your prints come out as accurately as possible. 

On top of that, the PRO-1000 photo printer integrates an advanced 11-color ink system with a wide color gamut that delivers exceptional color reproduction, making it an excellent choice for those who value color accuracy. You’d also be impressed with the deep blacks and dark shadows that this ink system is capable of achieving.

As for speed, you can print around 7-8 borderless 4×6 photos in less than 10 minutes. 

Additionally, the Canon PRO-1000 photo printer gives you several connections to print your photos with, such as Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet. You can also print right from your mobile and over cloud services.

Our only problem with this printer is the hefty price tag it carries. You can buy 5-6 printers for the price of a single Canon PRO-1000 printer, but you do get what you pay for, and in our experience, it’s definitely worth the money.

Bottom Line

The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 is a professional-grade photo printer that can deliver outstanding colors and ensure your photos’ sharpness.

3. Kodak PD-450 Dock: Budget Pick

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The Kodak PD-450 is one of the most user-friendly portable 4×6 photo printer on the market, with a built-in dock that lets you dock your smartphone to print whatever there is on the screen instantly. That’s right; no cables or boring settings and adjustments to optimize!

The dock comes with an Android dock pin, in addition to a free lightning connector for Apple devices. And that’s not all; the dock will also simultaneously charge your phone while you wait for your photos to be printed, meaning that you don’t need to have a charged phone to use the Kodak PD-450 photo printer. 

Alternatively, you can stick to a flash memory drive and print from it. Wireless printing is an option, too. Not to mention, the printer supports PictBridge Connect for direct printing from cameras.

On another note, you can download the Kodak Photo Print App that gives you several fun ways to customize your 4×6 photos, including filters, card templates, stickers, and a collage maker. 

As for print quality, the Kodak PD-450 can print some stunning, long-lasting 4×6 photos that are waterproof and fade-proof, ensuring that your memories are engraved forever.

Bottom Line

The Kodak PD-450 is one of the most delightful photo printers to use. It lets you print your photos when you leave your phone to charge! How cool is that?

4. Victure Photo Printer: Best Value Pick

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Another member of the portable photo printer gang is the Victure Photo Printer. This thermal printer has what it takes to provide you with ultra-durable, waterproof, and oxidation-free 4×6 photos, ensuring that your images maintain their condition for the longest possible duration. And thanks to the automatic lamination process, your pics will also be fingerprint-proof.

The Victure Photo Printer uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone, but unfortunately, there’s no other way for you to print your photos. 

However, to slightly make up for that, this printer comes with an exclusive editing app for iOS and Android that lets you add filters and special effects to spice up your photos. You can also group multiple photos into a single collage.

On a side note, the Victure photo printer is battery-powered, allowing you to print your pics without having to look for an AC power socket.

Bottom Line

The Victure photo printer is a great pick for those who need a small 4×6 photo printer with a battery and uses Bluetooth for printing.

5. Kodak Dock Plus

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The Kodak Dock is another portable 4×6 photo printer from Kodak that brings several improvements over the original version that we’ve reviewed earlier.

The first noticeable difference between the two printers is print quality. While the original Kodak Dock printer can deliver high-quality 4×6 photos, it doesn’t stand a chance against what this model has to offer in this compartment.

Furthermore, the lamination process makes it fingerprint-proof, ensuring that they always look great just like a cricut printer (check these recommendations). 

And just like the previous model, the Kodak Dock Plus photo printer also supports Bluetooth for wireless mobile printing. Not to mention, it offers support for both iOS and Android devices, and the companion app is also available on both platforms, which you can use for easy printing and adding special effects like filters and frames. There’s no Wi-Fi driver here, though.

Unlike the previous model, this printer has ditched the PictBridge functionality control. To be honest, not many people use it these days, but it would’ve been nice to have it as an option.

Bottom Line

The Kodak Dock Plus instant photo printer is definitely a delight to use with its built-in dock and unmatchable photo quality and durability.

6. Epson Expression XP-1500

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The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 is an inkjet photo printer that delivers some insane speeds. It’s capable of printing a borderless 4×6 photo in less than 27 seconds, which is much faster than most other printers in this category.

The cherry on top? That’s not at the expense of quality! The XP-15000 4×6 instant photo printer flaunts an Individual 6-color Claria Photo HD ink system that delivers outstanding color accuracy thanks to the wide color gamut. It’s also capable of producing some pretty impressive black and white photos with the right level of shadows and highlights.

Furthermore, the XP-15000 lets you print using several types of connections like USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. Not to mention, you can use your smartphone for direct prints, either by using a direct Wi-Fi connection or over the cloud. Moreover, it features a built-in LCD screen that lets you print directly using the printer and even preview your pics before printing them. 

On the downside, since this is originally a wide-format printer, its footprint is huge for a 4×6 photo printer.

Bottom Line

If speed is your number one priority, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 won’t disappoint you.

7. HP Sprocket Studio 4×6”

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We’ve already reviewed a handful of portable photo printers, but the HP Sprocket Studio takes portability to the next level. At just 3.15 x 4.63 x 0.98”, it’s one of the most compact 4×6 photo printer out there.

One cool feature of this printer is the HP Sprocket App that lets you create videos for your photos and relive your favorite moments. It also allows you to add filters, frames, and stickers. You can even create collages of related photos.

An AC adaptor typically powers the HP Sprocket Studio, but you can optionally get a battery if you need to print your photos on the go. Connectivity-wise, the HP Sprocket Studio photo printers uses Bluetooth to connect to your devices.

On top of that, the HP Sprocket Studio ensures that your pics come out crisp and vibrant while also being durable enough to last for many years to come. 

Bottom Line

The HP Sprocket Studio is a fun yet practical 4×6 photo printer that won’t only high-quality ones but also ensure that they last for many years to come.

8. Epson PictureMate PM-400

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While the Epson PictureMate PM-400 isn’t really designed to be portable, it’s still pretty lightweight, and it won’t occupy considerable space on your desk, thanks to its slim form factor.

Moreover, Epson claims that the photos printed by the PM-400 can last for up to 200 years. That’s a pretty big claim, but they do look quite durable. Not to mention, they’re water and fade-resistant.

The PictureMate PM-400 can print 4×6 photos at a speed of 36 seconds/photo, which is pretty fast printing compared to other inkjet photo printers. What’s more, it supports printing via USB and Wi-Fi. 

You can also use Wi-Fi Direct to print from your smartphone without connecting it to a Wi-Fi hotspot. Additionally, you can plug in your SD card to print directly from the printer without even using your smartphone or PC.

Also, one of the features that make the PictureMate PM-400 truly shine is the Auto Photo Correction function that edits your pics before printing them without any intervention from the user. 

Our only problem with the PictureMare PM-400 is that you need to replace the whole ink system whenever one color runs out, which isn’t the most economical design for ink-saving.

Bottom Line

With Wi-Fi Direct printing, fast speed printing, and durable photo prints, the Epson PictureMate PM-400 leaves little to be desired.

9. Epson EcoTank ET-2720

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Next up is the Epson EcoTank ET-2720, which happens to be the only quality portable printer that comes with a scanner and a copier. The built-in scanner can be quite handy when you have older pics that need to be retouched and reprinted again. Not to mention, you can create copies of existing photos. 

Moving on to the other features, the EcoTank ET-2720 printer is quite a life-saver with its refillable tank. This technology can drastically save you up hundreds of dollars on ink costs. What’s more, this printer comes with 2 years’ worth of ink out of the box, making things even better.

As for quality, the ET-2720 utilizes a 4-color ink-system that produces an acceptable color accuracy. Additionally, you can print control your pics with a single voice command by using Alexa voice assistant. And when it comes to connectivity, the ET-2720 is capable of printing over USB and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi Direct is supported, too.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a printer that can scan and copy  while also saving up on ink costs, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 would be a good choice for you.

10. Epson SureColor P

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We couldn’t create a 4×6 photo printer guide without mentioning at least one printer from Epson’s SureColor Series, and we’ve picked the Epson SureColor P800. OK, it’s super expensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth buying, especially for professional photography studios.

So what exactly is behind such a hefty price tag? Well, the answer is simply because the P800 makes use of the Epson UltraChrome HD Inks that are known to deliver quality that nothing out there comes close to. It has 3 full levels for black color only! Can you imagine it?

Not to mention, this printer can print pics at a maximum resolution of 2880 x 1440dpi using the Advanced MicroPiezo AMC head that utilizes an ink-repelling coating technology for smudge-free photos.

On top of that, The P800 printer supports USB, Wi-Fi, and 100MBit Ethernet. What’s more, you can print your favorite 4×6 photos using Apple AirPrint and other compatible cloud services. Alternatively, you can establish a direct connection between your smartphone and the printer using Wi-Fi Direct printing. 

There’s also a color touchscreen that makes it easier for you to preview your pics before printing them and tweak the printer’s settings.

Bottom Line

The Epson SureColor 800 printer delivers exceptional, professional-grade 4×6 photos that will make your memories look better than ever.

How to Pick a 4×6 Photo Printer

You need to consider several aspects when shopping for a 4×6 photo printer as there’s no one-size-fits-all 4×6 printer out there. So, making a printing choice heavily relies on how you intend to use the printer.

Technology

Two printing technologies are commonly used in 4×6 photo printers: inkjet and dye-sublimation. Each technology has its own pros and cons. For instance, dye-sublimation prints usually look better than ink prints. Not to mention, they boast superior color consistency and are more durable and smudge-resistant.

On the flip side, inkjet photo printers give you more options for the types of papers that you can print on. They also have a cheaper cost per photo than dye-sublimation pocket photo printer for printing photos.

Color Accuracy 

Photos with washed-out colors and funny smudges aren’t very pleasing to look at. That’s exactly why you should consider the printer’s ink system before deciding on one. 

A more sophisticated printing ink system that has 4+ cartridges will be able to yield more color-accurate photos. If your printer is a dye-sublimation one, it should be capable of producing a decent level of color accuracy.

Connectivity

For printing photos directly from your smartphone or tablet, a 4×6 photo printer that supports wireless printing would be your best bet. Some photo printers also support Bluetooth, a feature that can be necessary for those who have older smartphones.

On the other hand, if mobile printing doesn’t matter that much to you and you’ll be mostly photo printing your pics using your PC, USB connectivity should be sufficient.

Portability

Do you need to be able to move the photo printers from one place to another easily? If the answer is yes, it’s a good idea to get a portable, battery-powered 4×6 photo printer. These printers are designed specifically for small-photo printing, so they don’t add unnecessary size or weight for features you don’t care about that much.

Speed

4×6 photos are usually printed in bulk amounts, and a slow photo printing printer will make things more time-consuming. A fast printer will make it easier for you to print pics in less time. As a general rule of thumb, aim for a printer with a minimum speed of 7 pics per minute.

Printer Photo Durability

Photos are meant to preserve your memories for a lifetime, which means that they must be durable enough to withstand the test of time. Many 4×6 photo printers use advanced technologies that protect them from smudges, fingerprints, tearing, and water.

However, you should also keep in mind that the type of photo printing paper you choose will influence your photos’ durability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Best Photo Paper Types for 4×6 Printers?

There are several photo paper types that you can use to print your 4×6 photos, depending on how you want your photo to look. Glossy and matte paper are the two most commonly used paper types of 4×6 photos. Glossy paper is quite reflective, while matte paper has a more polished look and feel. 

Here is a full list of some of the most popular options:

• Matte
• Glossy
• Semi-Glossy
• Watercolor
• Fine Arts
• Canvas 
• Metallic
• Luster

What Is the Difference Between Pocket and Compact 4×6 Photo Printers?

As its name implies, a pocket 4×6 photo printer is intended to be used on the go, and it’s usually battery-powered. These printers don’t use ink to avoid creating a mess; instead, they utilize dye-sublimation technology.

On the other hand, compact photo printers may either use standard ink or dye-sublimation to print your photos. However, they have a bigger printing footprint than pocket photo printers. They usually don’t come with batteries, either.

How Do I Print 4×6 Pictures From My Phone?

Here’s how you can print 4×6 pictures directly from your phone in a few easy steps:

• Open the photo gallery on your phone and select the photo you want to print.
• Click on the 3 dots at the top corner for Android phones or the arrow button at the bottom for iOS phones.
• Choose “Print”.
• Select your printer.
• Adjust the paper size to 4×6”.

Is 4×6 a Standard Photo Size?

Yes, the 4×6 photo size is actually the size of most cameras’ viewfinders. It’s a standard size commonly used for official photo used in IDs, passports, and other forms of identity documents.

Final Thoughts

Alright, it’s now time for us to wrap up our guide with a few recommendations. You may have already made a decision, but if you haven’t done that yet, we’ll give you a couple of hints that can make things easier for you.

If you need a portable photo printer that’s specially designed for mobile photo printing, you’ll love the Canon Selphy CP1300. This is definitely the top 4×6 photo printer intended explicitly for this paper size printing.

On the other hand, if color accuracy matters to you, consider getting the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000. It’s a bit expensive, but you’ll love the photo prints that this beast is capable of crafting. Alternatively, you can go for the Epson Expression XP-15000 if speed is a priority for you.

When all is said and one, there’s no one-size-fits-all printer model that’ll equally appeal to everyone. Take a few minutes to think about how, when, and where you’ll be using the printer so you can pick a suitable one for your needs.