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Photography & Printer Comparisons · Reviewed September 24, 2026

Canon SELPHY CP1500 vs Epson PictureMate PM-400: Which Photo Printer?

The CP1500 is a dye-sublimation printer built around matched ink-and-paper sets, postcard and smaller specialty formats, a 3.5-inch display and an optional battery. The PM-400 is a four-color dye inkjet that supports borderless 3.5 by 5, 4 by 6 and 5 by 7-inch media with a 2.7-inch display and Wi-Fi Direct.

Best for

Families, scrapbookers and event users choosing a compact printer for physical photos from phones, computers or memory cards.

Probably not for

General office documents, poster-size prints, archival guarantees beyond manufacturer conditions or claims that nominal dpi alone predicts visible print quality.

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Canon SELPHY CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer

Canon uses dye-sublimation thermal transfer at 300 by 300 dpi with a protective overcoat. Its postcard paper finishes at about 3.94 by 5.83 inches, and the system also supports L-size, card-size and specified label media when the matching cassette and ink-paper set are used. The printer has a 3.5-inch color display, an SD-family card slot, USB-C for computer or flash-drive printing and Wi-Fi. AC power is standard; compatible NB-CP2LI or NB-CP2LH battery packs are optional.

Pros

  • Matched dye-sublimation ink-and-paper sets make the remaining print count easier to plan around.
  • The 3.5-inch screen, smaller specialty media and optional battery support event-oriented printing.

Cons

  • Its postcard print is slightly smaller than a true 4 by 6-inch sheet, and it does not provide the Epson model's 5 by 7-inch option.
  • Paper, ink cassette and paper cassette must match, so a generic photo-paper stack is not interchangeable.

Who it’s for: Choose it for matched dye-sub supplies, postcard and small specialty formats or optional battery operation. Skip it when 5 by 7-inch prints are required.

Check Canon SELPHY CP1500 Wireless Compact Photo Printer on Amazon

Epson PictureMate PM-400 Personal Photo Lab

The PM-400 is a four-color dye inkjet with a published maximum resolution of 5760 by 1440 dpi and one CMYBK cartridge. It supports borderless 3.5 by 5, 4 by 6 and 5 by 7-inch photo sizes, with a 20-sheet capacity for specified glossy photo media. The printer offers a 2.7-inch color display, SD-family card support, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct. Epson lists the stored footprint as 9.0 by 6.9 by 3.3 inches and weight as 4.0 pounds.

Pros

  • Borderless 5 by 7-inch support gives it a larger photo option than the CP1500.
  • Wi-Fi Direct, a memory-card slot and a 20-sheet photo-paper capacity support small print batches.

Cons

  • The inkjet process uses a cartridge and separate compatible paper rather than a matched one-print-per-sheet dye-sub set.
  • It has no manufacturer-listed optional battery workflow like the CP1500 and requires space to open its input and output path.

Who it’s for: Choose it for true 4 by 6 and 5 by 7-inch borderless prints and inkjet media flexibility. Skip it when optional battery use or card-size dye-sub labels are central.

Check Epson PictureMate PM-400 Personal Photo Lab on Amazon

The print processes change the supply decision

The CP1500 transfers dye from a ribbon in repeated color passes and applies an overcoat. Canon sells ink and paper together for a fixed media format, so the ribbon and paper quantity are designed to run down together. That simplifies estimating a batch, but the correct cassette, paper and ink set must all match the chosen size.

The PM-400 sprays four-color dye ink from one cartridge onto separate compatible paper. Epson sells print packs that combine supplies, but the cartridge and loaded sheet are still distinct components. An inkjet can accept several supported photo-paper sizes, while idle time and maintenance are different considerations from a dye-sub ribbon system.

Media size is a bigger difference than nominal resolution

Canon lists a postcard result of 100 by 148 mm, about 3.94 by 5.83 inches, plus L-size and card-size options. Epson lists borderless 3.5 by 5, 4 by 6 and 5 by 7-inch sizes. Scrapbook pockets, frames, invitations and label projects should determine which format is useful. A buyer needing 5 by 7 should not assume every compact photo printer supports it.

Canon publishes 300 by 300 dpi for its dye-sub process; Epson publishes up to 5760 by 1440 dpi for inkjet output. Those figures describe different marking systems and are not a reliable cross-technology quality ranking. Source-image resolution, scaling, color management, media and viewing distance matter too.

Screens, cards and wireless printing reduce computer dependence

Both printers accept SD-family memory cards and offer wireless printing. Canon adds a 3.5-inch display and USB-C that can connect a computer or supported flash drive. Epson provides a 2.7-inch display, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct. App support and phone operating-system requirements can change, so verify current compatibility before relying on a specific mobile workflow.

The CP1500 can use an optional compatible battery, which is meaningful for an event table without a convenient outlet. The PM-400 remains compact at 4 pounds but is designed around AC power and needs working clearance when its trays are open. Portable does not mean pocket-size, weatherproof or ready to print without carrying supplies.

Do not compare manufacturer speed headlines as a stopwatch test

Canon lists about 41 seconds for a glossy postcard print, measured from the initial yellow pass until ejection under its stated conditions. Epson says a 4 by 6 borderless print can be produced in as fast as 36 seconds in default mode. The media dimensions, print engines, start points and quality settings differ, so those values do not prove a five-second real-world advantage.

Choose the CP1500 for its dye-sub supply model, specialty media and optional battery. Choose the PM-400 for 5 by 7 support and its inkjet paper workflow. Confirm the exact printer listing and included supplies because bundles may add paper or ink without changing the printer model. The portable-scanner guide may help if the goal is digitizing existing prints rather than making new ones.

Official sources and further reading

Sources reviewed on September 24, 2026. Prices, availability and terms can change; recheck before buying.

Related reading

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