Canon Selphy QX20 review: The best of both worlds

One of many largest elements when selecting a conveyable printer is the dimensions of the pictures you get – however Canon has created a tool that offers you the choice of two codecs. 

The Canon Selphy QX20 (not the catchiest identify on the planet, admittedly) helps each credit score card-sized prints and square-format ones, so you’ll be able to decide and select what you’d desire.  

Whereas the pliability is nice, there are some things to bear in mind with this transportable printer. Right here’s my expertise testing it, and the way it compares to competing merchandise from Instax, Kodak and extra. 

Design & Construct 

• Three colors
• 455g
• Guard rails for altering picture codecs

The Canon Selphy QX20 has an unobtrusive rectangular end. It’s not as putting because the panel outer shell on Instax printers, but it surely’s nonetheless a pleasant piece of tech that received’t look misplaced in your desk or across the residence.

One huge draw back of the QX20 is how heavy it’s. It weighs 455g (with out the cartridge and paper), a lot heftier than the Polaroid Hello-Print and the Instax Sq. Hyperlink which weigh 255g and 236g respectively. Its dimensions of 102.2 x 145.8 x 32.9mm imply it will probably nonetheless slot in a small bag, however the portability issue isn’t as robust.

You will get the printer in three totally different colors within the UK: Sand White, Darkish Gray and Terracotta Pink. The latter is the one I examined and is a singular shade that’s not frequent on rival builds, although sadly it doesn’t appear to be accessible within the US on the time of writing.  

On the entrance you could have a discreet Canon emblem, after which the facility button. Beneath this are the cost and standing lights, which is able to change colors and flash relying on what’s taking place with the printer. 

On the highest is the quick-release set off for loading movie and a USB-C port for charging. Prints are loaded on the again and have directions on the packaging for find out how to do it. Ink cartridges are the identical, although they’re loaded on the facet.  

Prints then eject out of the underside, so that you’ll want to put the printer down flat. As well as, you’ll want to change over the ink cartridges each time you alter between the smaller prints and sq. ones. 

It’s suggested that you just snap up the paper guard rails when switching between the totally different prints, which is straightforward to do. 

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

App & Options 

• Bulk printing accessible
• Collages and modifying elective
• Some key standing indicators lacking

You possibly can print pictures out of your smartphone by way of the Selphy app, which is offered on iOS and Android. When you’ve downloaded it, you’ll be able to join the printer utilizing the QR code inside the quilt for the ink cassette.  

When related, you’ll want to pick out no matter prints are loaded within the QX20. You’ll get the selection between easy prints and collage ones. Not like another rivals, you’ll be able to queue up a number of pictures and edit them in a single part, so that they’re all produced one after one other with out you having to manually print a number of occasions. 

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

There’s the choice to vary the orientation, form and measurement of the border. You’ll at all times have a strip the place you’ll be able to write issues, however this doesn’t should be on the backside. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to’t get a completely borderless print as you’ll be able to with Zink pictures.  

To edit a picture measurement or add a filter, you will need to click on on it – one thing not utterly apparent within the app. If you would like additional customisation comparable to stickers, textual content and the flexibility to attract digital paint on a print, I recommend utilizing the collage mode. Whereas sure, you’ll be able to add a number of pictures to at least one body, you don’t should.  

Easy prints even have the choice so as to add a date, which seems in retro orange lettering. You possibly can alter the order that the times, months and years seem – although this date add-on isn’t an possibility in collage mode. You could possibly nonetheless add this manually as textual content, if you want.  

There’s additionally the choice to rapidly reprint pictures from earlier jobs – this listing resets every time you alter over to a special print measurement.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

The app syncs together with your cellphone’s digital camera folders, with fast entry to pictures you’ve downloaded from social media websites comparable to Fb and Instagram. There’s additionally a calendar, which supplies you the choice to rapidly navigate to pictures taken from a sure date fairly than scrolling all the way in which again by.  

Like another rivals, the app has some wasted areas on the homepage, with the handbook and battery ranges tucked away in drop-down menus on the prime. It could be a a lot better use of area if this stuff had been simply viewable on the principle display screen.  

In any other case, the app is straightforward to arrange and simple – only a few format tweaks would make it even higher.  

Print High quality 

• Spectacular prints
• Two codecs
• 20 sheets could be loaded in a single go

Just like the Polaroid Hello-Print, the Canon Selphy QX20 makes use of the thermal dye course of, which suggests it transfers dye by three passes of cyan, yellow and magenta, earlier than including a closing overcoat to guard it. Canon says prints can last as long as 100 years if saved in optimum situations – issues comparable to daylight will trigger them to fade over time.  

In consequence, the prints take longer than rivals to eject at round 40 seconds. Nevertheless, the outcomes are vivid, daring, detailed high-quality pictures. They’re a notable enchancment on pictures that use Zink paper and on par with shiny pictures discovered on actual movie prints by Instax. In addition they want no growth time as soon as they’re printed. 

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

The outcomes are extra putting on the bigger sq. prints, however the smaller card-sized ones have peelable adhesive backs, making them nice for scrapbooking. Peeling is a bit fiddly, so that you’ll in all probability want the assistance of somebody with longer nails.  

As much as 20 sheets could be loaded in a single go, one of many advantages of getting a barely chunkier construct, as many printers solely help as much as ten. As well as, you’ll be able to swap out sheets and ink cartridges with out it ruining the remainder of the paper – one thing you’ll be able to’t do when you use a printer that helps actual movie, like Instax.  

Nevertheless, be very cautious dealing with the paper. A few of my take a look at prints acquired noticeable fingerprint smudges on.

Battery Life & Charging 

• Slighty greater than 20 prints on a single cost
• 80 minutes to cost
• Brief USB-C cable included

In response to different publications, the Canon Selphy QX20 lasts for round 20 prints earlier than needing recharging. I discovered it to be a bit extra beneficiant, with round 10 depleting it by lower than half. Nonetheless, it is a lot stingier than Instax printers, which permit customers to print round 100 pictures earlier than needing a cost.  

Charging is comparatively fast, juicing from flat to full in 80 minutes based on Canon, which is in keeping with my testing. Nevertheless, the included cable may be very quick and annoying when you’re charging from the again of a PC. That is USB-C to USB-C, so chances are you’ll want an adaptor or use your personal cable for charging when you don’t have a tool with this port (comparable to an previous Mac).  

You don’t get a particular proportion for the battery stage, simply that it has ‘adequate cost’. The app additionally doesn’t let you know what number of sheets are left, or whether or not the ink cartridge is near working out. It might probably solely notify you when you’re empty, which could possibly be a ache when you don’t have any spare inventory handy.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Worth & Availability 

The Canon Selphy QX20 prices £124.99/$149.99. You should purchase it from Amazon and Canon within the UK, and Amazon, Canon and B&H within the US. 

That’s loads pricier than its closest rival, the Polaroid Hello-Print, which retails for £89.99/$99.99. The Instax Sq. Hyperlink has the identical RRP because the Canon, however many retailers have it accessible for round £94 on the time of writing, and this produces actual movie.  

After all, neither of those manufacturers supply a printer with twin printing sizes, so that is your solely possibility if you need that flexibility. 

In addition to the printer itself, you’ll additionally wish to take into account the price of the movie and ink cartridges. Each these are bought collectively, and one pack of twenty card prints (plus a cartridge) is £16.99 from Amazon, although you should purchase in bulk to get extra in your cash. 

That’s across the similar value as Instax and Polaroid movie, however much more costly than Zink – although the standard just isn’t pretty much as good on these types of prints.  

Neither the Polaroid Hello-Print nor Instax will want the cartridges changing, so simply hold this in thoughts when you’re aware about waste, although there are ink recycling programmes accessible.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Do you have to purchase the Canon Selphy QX20? 

The Canon Selphy QX20 is a singular possibility within the transportable printer area as a result of it provides you two print sizes in a single gadget. The closest rival manufacturers don’t supply something instantly comparable on the time of writing.  

The easy-to-use app additionally has some helpful options, comparable to the choice to print and edit in bulk, and a calendar to rapidly discover pictures from a sure date.  

Nevertheless, the character of the construct means its bulkier and heavier, and the battery life is hardly spectacular – neither is the accompanying quick charging cable. Enhancements could possibly be made within the app to enhance the expertise, comparable to notifying customers what number of prints are left. And most significantly, it’s a costlier funding in comparison with different transportable printers.  

That each one apart, if you need high-quality prints in two totally different codecs straight out of your smartphone, then that is definitely a smart and dependable possibility.