A colour printer at home used to mean a bulky inkjet that sat in the corner and sulked. Today’s options range from pocket-sized thermal printers to refillable supertanks, and the right one depends on what you actually print. Some households lean on school worksheets and recipe printouts; others push out glossy photos every weekend. I built this list for the realistic mix, looking at print technology, running cost, size, and the kind of work each machine handles best.
A Side-By-Side Look
iDPRT Portable Thermal Printer 300DPI Inkless
Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Photo Printer
Epson EcoTank ET-2720 All-in-One White
Epson EcoTank ET-2720 All-in-One Black
iDPRT MT610 Portable Thermal Printer White Gray
Canon PIXMA TR150 Wireless Portable Printer
Canon PIXMA TS6320 Wireless All-in-One
iDPRT MT610 Portable Thermal Printer Black
Canon IX6820 Wireless Inkjet Printer
Why These Options Stand Out
The iDPRT MT610 Pro stands out for going completely ink-free. It uses thermal technology, which means a heated printhead darkens special paper instead of spraying ink. That removes the most annoying part of home printing: cartridges that dry up between uses. For households that only need short black-and-white documents, contracts, and travel paperwork, the appeal is immediate.
It runs through a Bluetooth connection from a phone or laptop, prints at 300 DPI for crisp text, and supports US Letter and A4 sizes on the right thermal stock. Where the limitation shows up is colour. Thermal paper only produces monochrome output, so this is a companion tool rather than a main household printer. Travelling freelancers, road-trip families, and anyone working out of a car or hotel will appreciate the lack of ink logistics.
Real-World Strengths
- No ink cartridges means no dried-out printheads and no surprise replacements.
- Prints a full US Letter page in roughly 4 to 6 seconds once warmed up.
- Bluetooth pairing covers phones, laptops, and tablets across common operating systems.
- Compact body slides into a backpack or glove compartment for mobile use.
Worth Noting
- Output is monochrome only, so colour charts, photos, and school projects won’t look right.
- Requires thermal-specific paper rather than standard office sheets.
- Document length depends on battery and paper stock on hand.
Who It Suits Best
Road warriors, mobile contractors, and minimalists who mainly print forms, notes, and travel documents away from a desk.
Look Elsewhere When
You want true colour output at home; the Canon PIXMA TS6320 covers everyday colour documents and photos far better.
Compact photo printers have a niche, and the Canon SELPHY CP1300 owns that niche well. It uses dye-sublimation technology, which layers colour onto paper through heat rather than spraying liquid ink, producing smudge-resistant prints with a slight gloss. For households that print more phone snapshots than Word documents, this is closer to what a photo lab delivers than any general-purpose inkjet.
The CP1300 supports four common photo sizes, from 2.1 x 2.1-inch stickers up to 4 x 6 postcards. Built-in editing tools let you soften skin, remove red eye, and adjust portraits before printing. Wireless connectivity covers phones and laptops, and an optional battery pack adds portability for events. It isn’t a replacement for a regular home printer, though; running costs on the dedicated cartridge and paper packs can climb if you print in volume.
Useful Highlights
- Dye-sublimation output resists smudges and fingerprints better than typical inkjet photos.
- Multiple print sizes, including 4 x 6 postcards and small square stickers for crafts.
- Portrait optimisation and red-eye correction built into the printer menu.
- Optional battery turns it into a portable booth for parties and family events.
Trade Offs
- Print packs cost more per page than standard inkjet cartridges over time.
- Not designed for text-heavy documents like school reports or spreadsheets.
Made For
Memory keepers, scrapbookers, and families who want physical photo prints without a trip to a retail kiosk.
Reach For A Different Pick When
You need both colour photos and everyday documents; the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 handles a mixed workload at lower running cost.
Where the previous two picks lean into a single use case, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 tries to cover the entire household. It is a colour inkjet with refillable tanks instead of cartridges, plus a flatbed scanner and copier on top. For a family juggling homework, recipes, tax forms, and the occasional photo, that mix is hard to beat.
The white finish fits light-toned desks, and the front-mounted ink reservoirs make topping up straightforward. Running cost is the headline feature: a single set of replacement bottles prints thousands of pages, which suits homes that previously went through cartridges monthly. Compared with the iDPRT thermal printers above, this one actually delivers colour, though you trade portability and silence for versatility.
A Few Highlights
- Refillable ink tanks drop the per-page cost well below cartridge inkjets.
- Built-in scanner and copier remove the need for a separate flatbed.
- Wireless setup covers laptops and phones without a USB cable on the router.
Minor Gripes
- Photo print quality is fine for casual use but trails dedicated photo printers like the SELPHY CP1300.
- Larger footprint than portable options, so plan shelf space.
- Print speed on colour pages is slower than basic monochrome lasers.
Key Product Details
Who Should Grab It
Families and home-office workers who print a mix of colour pages and documents several times a week.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
If wide-format posters matter more than scanning, the Canon IX6820 serves graphic-heavy work better.
Identical hardware to the white ET-2720 above, but in a black finish that blends into darker desks and entertainment centres. That small change matters in a living-room corner or a home-office setup where the printer sits in plain sight rather than tucked into a closet. Functionally, the two units are interchangeable, so the decision comes down to interior taste.
You still get the refillable ink tanks, flatbed scanner, and wireless printing that make the ET-2720 series a practical home workhorse. The black housing does show fingerprints and dust more than the white version, which is worth factoring in for households with curious pets or kids. Compared with the iDPRT thermal printers earlier in this list, this model adds colour capability at the cost of a permanent spot on a shelf.
The Case For It
- Same low-cost-per-page refill system as the white version.
- Scanner and copier built in for homework, receipts, and ID copies.
- Dark finish suits minimalist or wood-grain interiors better than white plastic.
Room For Improvement
- Fingerprints and dust show more visibly on the black surface.
- No specialty photo-paper handling beyond standard Epson photo stock.
Best Suited To
Shoppers who want the EcoTank value but prefer darker hardware that matches modern home-office aesthetics.
Where Another Pick Suits Better
You print mostly travel documents away from a desk; the iDPRT MT610 Pro is more bag-friendly.
The MT610 in white and gray tones shares a thermal print engine with the earlier iDPRT model but positions itself as a flexible home-and-mobile unit. It prints full US Letter pages from thermal stock without ink, which keeps maintenance minimal for occasional home use. The lighter housing fits casual home-office setups that prefer neutral shades.
You still get Bluetooth connectivity and broad operating-system compatibility, so it pairs with laptops and phones across the household. The trade-off is the same as every thermal option here: colour isn’t part of the deal. For homework sheets and grayscale reference documents it does the job quietly, while colour projects still require a separate inkjet.
Real Benefits
- No ink means lower long-term cost on monochrome documents.
- Light finish pairs well with wood, white, or pastel home decor.
- Supports US Letter and A4 thermal paper for full-page documents.
- Prints quickly once the head warms up, around 4 to 6 seconds per page.
Points To Keep In Mind
- Limited to black-and-white output, so colour charts and graphs lose detail.
- Thermal paper can fade faster than standard prints in direct sunlight over time.
Right Fit For
Households that mostly print monochrome forms at home but want a unit small enough to grab for the car.
Skip It When
Colour is non-negotiable; the Canon PIXMA TR150 offers portable inkjet colour, though at higher running cost.
The Canon PIXMA TR150 is the rare portable printer that keeps real colour output on the table. It is a compact inkjet that runs from either an AC outlet or an optional battery pack, so it travels to client meetings, hotel rooms, or pop-up events. For consultants, real-estate agents, and travelling creatives, the difference between a thermal-only model like the iDPRT and a true colour inkjet can define the workday.
It handles standard documents, flyers, and borderless photos at sizes up to letter, and wireless setup is straightforward across laptops and phones. Where it shows compromise is cartridge cost; small portable printers tend to sip ink faster than larger refillable tanks. For households that want one machine that moves between rooms and trips, the TR150 is a balanced pick.
What Works In Its Favor
- Genuine colour output from a body that fits a backpack or carry-on.
- Optional battery lets you print without hunting for an outlet on the road.
- Borderless photo support for sales sheets and creative handouts.
- Wireless pairing covers both laptops and mobile devices.
Honest Caveats
- Ink cartridges cost more per page than refillable tank systems like the Epson EcoTank ET-2720.
- Print speed trails full-size office printers on heavy jobs.
Who Will Love This
Mobile professionals and hybrid workers who carry presentations and colour handouts between offices.
Swap It Out When
Print volume stays high and stays home; the EcoTank ET-2720 reduces running cost with refillable bottles.
The PIXMA TS6320 is built for households that treat printing as part of the creative routine. It uses a five-ink system, adding a dedicated photo blue alongside the usual black and colour set, which lifts photo gradations over standard four-ink setups. A 1.44-inch OLED display and an LED status bar sit on top, letting you check ink levels and progress at a glance.
An auto-expanding output tray means you don’t have to flip anything open before printing from across the room. The TS6320 also scans and copies, so it covers homework, art prints, and documents in one unit. The catch is cartridge count: five inks give better colour but more replacements to track compared with a tank-based model like the ET-2720.
What Makes Sense
- Five individual ink cartridges mean you replace only the colour that runs out.
- Photo-blue ink improves sky tones and subtle gradients in colour prints.
- OLED screen and LED status bar make operation visible from across the room.
- Auto-extending tray avoids fiddling with paper trays before each job.
Things To Consider
- Five-ink replacement costs can climb if you print photos often.
- Photo printing is slower than dedicated dye-sub units like the SELPHY CP1300.
Feature Snapshot
The Right Fit
Creative families who print photos, school projects, and colour documents from the same machine.
Not Your Match When
Long-term running cost matters most; the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 offers lower refill cost with similar colour output.
Same MT610 thermal print engine, wrapped in a black shell that matches darker home-office gear. Where the white-gray variant suits bright interiors, this one disappears into a tech-heavy desk setup next to monitors and laptops. The output quality, paper requirements, and Bluetooth workflow all carry over from the white version.
It still prints at 300 DPI for sharp text, still relies on thermal paper rather than ink, and still produces monochrome output only. For households that already own a colour inkjet for schoolwork and only need a quick-grab thermal printer for travel or backups, this fits the role cleanly. The black finish picks up fingerprints, similar to the dark Epson earlier in this roundup.
What Earns Its Place
- No ink cartridges and no printhead clogs during long idle periods.
- Dark finish complements modern electronics on a desk or shelf.
- Full US Letter page output suits standard forms and references.
- Bluetooth pairing works across common phone and laptop platforms.
Softer Spots
- Monochrome-only output rules out colour charts and school artwork.
- Smudges and dust show clearly on the dark plastic surface.
Built With In Mind
Tech-oriented users who prefer dark hardware and only need occasional monochrome prints at home or on the road.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
You mainly want photo prints and craft projects; the Canon PIXMA TS6320 handles both colour documents and snapshots.
The Canon IX6820 is a single-function inkjet aimed at households that push beyond the basics. It prints up to 13 x 19 inches, which covers marketing materials, school posters, and design drafts that a standard letter-size printer can’t handle. With a 150-sheet capacity, it also keeps up with heavier daily volumes than most compact models.
Four dye-based colour inks plus a pigment black give crisp text and rich colour on the same page, depending on the media setting. Wireless support covers laptops and phones, and the body measures roughly 23 x 12 x 6 inches, so plan real shelf space. There’s no scanner or copier on board, so families needing that all-in-one convenience should still look at the ET-2720 or TS6320 above.
Why It Works Well
- Wide-format output up to 13 x 19 inches for posters and design layouts.
- Pigment black plus dye colour inks handle both text and photo work.
- 150-sheet paper tray reduces reloads during big print runs.
- Wireless setup works without tethering to a desktop computer.
Worth Bearing In Mind
- No scanner or copier built in, so plan a separate device for those tasks.
- Larger footprint than typical all-in-ones, so it needs a dedicated spot.
- Wide-format photo paper raises per-print cost on creative jobs.
Technical Highlights
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Designers, photographers, and small studios that need wide-format colour without leaving the house.
Consider Something Else When
You mostly scan and copy alongside printing; the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 adds those functions at lower running cost.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Colour Printers For Home
Print Technology and Running Cost
Inkjet printers with refillable tanks, like the Epson EcoTank ET-2720, tend to win on long-term cost because ink bottles replace expensive cartridges. Thermal printers, including the iDPRT models in this list, skip ink entirely but only print in black and white. Dye-sublimation photo printers, such as the Canon SELPHY CP1300, produce rich photos but at a higher per-print cost that adds up over time. Match the technology to what you actually print most weeks.
Size, Noise, and Placement
Portable thermal printers fit in a drawer or backpack; wide-format inkjets like the Canon IX6820 demand a permanent shelf. If your printer lives in a living area, look at noise notes from other shoppers and check the body dimensions before ordering. The right footprint often matters more than raw speed.
Connectivity and Mobile Use
Every pick here supports wireless printing, but the experience varies. Some printers pair instantly with phones through a companion app, while others prefer a laptop first. Households that print mostly from mobile devices should check app reviews before committing. Travellers may want battery support, which is offered on portable inkjets like the Canon PIXMA TR150.
Output Type and Volume
Photo-centric households should weigh a dedicated photo printer against an inkjet that does both. Heavy document households gain more from tank systems than from cartridge printers. Consider your monthly page count, not just the price tag, since running cost often decides the real value over years.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
A common trap is buying a printer on sticker price alone and ignoring ink replacement cost. Cartridge-based models can quietly cost more over a year than a tank-based one. Another mistake is assuming “colour” means photo-quality; standard inkjets produce decent colour but fall short of dedicated photo printers on glossy stock. Check the technology behind the colour label before you commit.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Spending more usually buys you refillable ink tanks, wider paper support, or higher photo quality. Tank systems cost more upfront but repay the difference through cheaper bottles. Wide-format support, like on the Canon IX6820, lets you print posters that a basic inkjet can’t fit. Premium photo features, such as the five-ink TS6320, deliver smoother skin tones and richer blues, which creative households notice immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do home colour printers dry out when unused?
Inkjet cartridges can dry during long idle periods, especially in warm rooms. Thermal printers avoid this entirely, and tank-based inkjets with capped reservoirs tend to fare better than cartridge models.
Are portable printers worth it for home use?
They help when you travel, work from multiple rooms, or print in a car. For stationary households that print in volume, a desktop inkjet usually delivers more value per page.
How much does ink really cost over a year?
Cartridge-based printers can consume hundreds in ink annually with regular use. Refillable tank systems bring that down sharply, depending on page count and how often you print colour.
Can I print photos on any colour printer?
Most colour inkjets handle photos with the right paper, though quality varies. Dedicated dye-sublimation printers like the SELPHY CP1300 are tuned specifically for photos and resist smudges better.
Is wireless printing reliable for home networks?
Modern printers handle Wi-Fi well in most homes, though thick walls or crowded networks can slow jobs. A quick router reset usually resolves recurring dropouts when they appear.
Closing Remarks
The right home printer depends less on a single best-in-class spec and more on what your household actually prints each week. Match the technology to the workload: thermal for mobile monochrome, inkjet tanks for everyday mixed use, photo units for keepsakes, wide-format for creative projects. Any of the nine picks here can serve well, provided the strengths line up with your routine.
