Photo printer reviews: Features explained
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What do they do?
Small photo printers aren't the most flexible of devices as they can only print small postcard size photos (all print 6x4-inch images and a couple will print 7x5-inch too).
Although you can print small photos on a full-size inkjet or all-in-one printer, it can be a little tricky to sort out all the settings and work out how to print truly borderless photos.
In contrast, small photo printers are very easy to use and because they only take one, or at the most two, sizes of paper, you don't have to fiddle about with any complicated settings.
Options for printing
Memory card
The easiest way to print snaps is to use the memory card slots on the printer. Simply take the memory card from your digital camera or mobile phone, insert into the machine and press print.
Check the printer you're interested in takes the type of memory card used by your camera before you buy.
It’s also handy to have an LCD screen that can be tilted to different angles so it can be moved to a position that’s easy to see. Some basic editing options are also useful when printing in this way.
Computer
As with a standard inkjet you easily connect your small photo printer to your home computer using a USB cable. All of the printers we tested apart from the Lexmark P450 could be connected to computer.
We've found this way of printing often results in a higher quality output than when printing from memory card of digital camera.
Alternatively, you might like to display your photos on a digital photo frame. Check out the Which? digital photo frame reviews to find one that suits your needs.