The Canon SELPHY CP1500 is an updated version of the CP1300. The new model has a fresh look, with a more boxy appearance, a textured top face, a simplified button configuration, and a larger and fixed LCD.
Like its predecessor, the CP1500 is available in black, white, and pink colorways. Overall, the cosmetic changes to the new iteration give it a more stylish and cleaner appearance. Changes aren’t just in the design, though. The CP1500 also boasts faster print times and a new USB-C port. We’ll examine its performance and features more closely to assess whether it deserves a place in our best compact printer guide.
Type: Compact portable printer
Print speed: 41 secs for a 6x4” print
Color: Yes
Connection type: WiFi, USB-C, SD, SDHC, SDXC memory cards
Screen: 3.5-inch LCD 230k-dot
Dimensions: 7.2 x 2.3 x 5.2-inch
Weight: 30 oz
Warranty: 1 year
The best portable printers, such as Canon’s SELPHY CP1500, are handy for printing on the go. However, the maximum print size is 6x4”, which could be a limiting factor if you need to make larger prints.
It comes boxed with a wall charger, and users also have the option of powering it from an NB-CP2LI battery pack, which is sold separately at an extra cost, though it provides truly mobile printing - handy if you’re going to places where you can’t rely on mains power.
A common issue with inkjet printers is that print head nozzles can get clogged when not consistently used. The CP1500 uses dye sublimation technology, so you never have to worry about this problem with this printer.
This mini printer’s portability and small print size make it a good option for scrapbooks, projects, children’s homework, or even a fun and novel centerpiece at a party so your friends and family can print their pictures. Let’s test it to see if you should buy one…
Canon SELPHY CP1500: Setup
Setting up the Canon SELPHY CP1500 is pleasantly simple. To begin, you’ll need to decide whether you’re powering the printer with the stock wall charger, which has been redesigned and is about 30% smaller, making it more portable (it has a slightly longer cable reach, too, which is nice), or whether to use the NB-CP2LI optional battery, which costs $199.99 and lasts for about 72 prints from a full charge. The CP1500 is notably quieter on startup than the CP1300. However, noise levels are similar to the CP1300 during printing.
Like its predecessor, the CP1500 takes an identical 21 seconds to boot up from pressing the power button. While we would have liked to have seen a peppier starting time, it is snappy and quick to get printing once it’s booted up. We also found print speeds improved by about 10%, with the CP1500 taking, on average, 57 seconds to print a 6x4” postcard-size photo.
To begin printing, you’ll need to insert the paper cassette. Different cassette options are available for various paper sizes, such as 2.1x3.4” cards, though it comes with a 4x6in cassette, the largest compatible paper type. The included cassette has had a bit of a makeover and is made of white and semi-transparent clear plastic material, giving it a much cleaner appearance. One improvement we would have liked to have seen would have been to simplify the cassettes and create a single cassette compatible with all the different paper types to save on clutter, confusion, and extra peripherals you need to spend more money on.
The button layout has been simplified, losing the Home, WiFi, Print, and Zoom buttons, leaving just the core menu, directional, OK, and power buttons. This works well, as the streamlined interface makes it more user-friendly.
The Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app allows you to print images stored on your device from your smartphone. The app also offers options for Photo Print, Document Print, SELPHY Photo Layout, and Smartphone Copy, which allows you to take a picture and print it.
Alternatively, you can use the memory card reader, compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, or MicroSD, MicroSDHC, and MicroSDXC cards with an SD card adapter. The new USB-C port allows you to connect cameras, computers, and flash drives with a USB-C type connection or pair old USB devices with an adapter, though sadly, one is omitted.
- Score: 8/10
Canon SELPHY CP1500: Design & features
The maximum print size remains the same as the prior model at 6x4” with a max resolution of 300x300dpi. However, Canon claims the CP1500 promises a print speed of 41 seconds for 6x4” prints, compared to the CP1300’s claimed 47-second print speeds. In our testing, we timed the duration between pressing the button to start printing and stopped our stopwatch when the print was completed and found the CP1500 to take a total of 57 seconds on average to produce a 6x4” print, while the CP1300 took about 63 seconds. This is still a 10% improvement, but the printing times are longer than Canon claims.
Like its predecessor, the CP1500 features an SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory card slot for easy printing directly from a camera’s memory card (microSD, microSDHC, and micro SDXC cards can also be used via an adapter). It also boasts the same WiFi connection, allowing you to print through the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app, and is compatible with Apple AirPrint and Google Mopria.
One notable change is that the CP1300’s USB-A and USB-mini ports have been swapped out for a more modern USB-C connection. While a USB-C is undoubtedly a more modern port that helps future-proof the CP1500, Canon has perhaps overlooked the fact that many users will still be using those older devices with USB-A and USB-mini ports, so we’d have rather seen this as an extra add-on rather than a replacement. You could use an adapter to convert USB-C to one of those older ports, though one is omitted.
One of the most significant physical changes comes from the LCD screen, which is about 10% larger than the one on the CP1300, though, unlike its predecessor, it is fixed in place and can’t be tilted upwards. This makes it more challenging to see the screen when you’re sitting down as you have to lean forward to look directly down at it, and it seems like a bit of a step backward to take a good feature away. On balance, one upside to having a fixed screen is that the build feels more robust as there’s one less moving part that could get damaged over time.
The CP1500's dimensions are similar to those of the CP1300, though it’s slightly wider and shallower, measuring 7.2 x 2.3 x 5.2 inches and 0.35 oz lighter. It is compatible with PCP-CP400 and PCC-CP400 cassettes and offers postcards, credit cards, credit card stickers, square stickers, and mini stickers in various paper sizes.
- Score: 6.5/10
Canon SELPHY CP1500: Performance
Conventional inkjet printers use ink cartridges, and if you don’t print regularly, the wet ink can dry up inside the ink nozzles, causing clogs. If you’ve ever owned an inkjet printer, you’ll likely be all too familiar with this problem. One neat feature of the CP1500 is that it uses dye-sublimation technology and heat, so you never have to worry about blocked print heads. The three yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are built up gradually with each printer pass, with a fourth and final pass giving each print a protective coating. Canon also claims the prints are good for 100 years.
Each color has 256 shades for 24-bit depth and 16.7 million colors for true-to-life prints and realistic skin tones. The maximum print size is 6x4”, and the maximum resolution is 300x300 dpi.
When we reviewed the CP1300, we were impressed by its print quality due to the fantastic detail and bright colors, and we’re happy to report that it’s the same story as this new version. When we compared prints of identical images between the CP1300 and CP1500, the prints looked almost similar, though blue skies appeared to be slightly more vibrant on the CP1500 - this was the only noticeable difference we saw. Image Optimiser was enabled on both printers.
- Score: 8.5/10
Canon SELPHY CP1500: Price & value
When writing, the Canon SELPHY CP1500 was $139.99 and came with a one-year guarantee in the US. It also has a paper cassette and a plastic tray for holding your media, but it doesn’t come with ink or paper. This means it’s likely you’ll also need to purchase the RP-108 pack, which comes with enough paper and ink to produce 108 4x6” postcard prints. The RP-108 pack costs $35.99, making each 6x4” postcards about $0.33 each, or $0.77 per 54x86mm label. The prints are pretty pricey compared to a conventional inkjet printer, but obviously, it has the advantage of being very small and portable.
Our largest issue with the cost was the expensive $199.99 NB-CP2LI battery, which decreases its value if you need it for photography. Changes from the CP1300 to the CP1500 have been relatively conservative, and including a built-in battery feels like a missed opportunity. Compared to the CP1300, the CP1500 seems like a small step forward rather than a giant leap.
- Score: 6/10
Canon SELPHY CP1500: User reviews
At the time of writing, the Canon SELPHY CP1500 is still very new, so reviews are hard to come by. That said, the comments that we did find online were very positive.
“Excellent 4x6" printer! The prints from this are fantastic, with perfect color, contrast, and saturation. The app is easy to use. I'm looking forward to trying the stickers and hope to get the battery soon to make it fully portable. I already own the CP1200, which I also like, but this produces better prints. And this uses the same trays, paper, and cartridges that the CP1200 uses, so I don't have to buy them. The printer is larger than the other portables like the Ivy, Instax, and Sprocket, which only print 2x3" photos.” - 5-star review, Best Buy
“I ordered this for family pics as well as passport pics. Delivered the next day. This is tiny. A lot smaller than expected. Setting up and connecting to the phone and camera took a couple of minutes. Prints very quickly. The quality is incredible. A nice-sized screen makes editing pics from an SD card super simple. It has the option to crop and add border design/animations, as well as an ID feature to help with requirements for passports, ID cards, etc. I would recommend getting the battery to make it truly portable. The ink cartridge stays inside the printer, and the tray is smaller than the printer, so you can stack the tray and printer when not in use. It can also fit in a mini backpack or a handbag. My only complaint is that the cost per picture is relatively high (around 30 cents).” - 5 Star review, bhphotovideo
Would I buy the Canon SELPHY CP1500?
If you’re looking for a portable printer and don’t need to produce prints larger than 6x4”, consider the Canon SELPHY CP1500. It has fantastic image quality and very reasonable print speeds. The small size of the prints can be a limiting factor, though if you don’t need to print larger than this, it’s ideal and fun to scrapbook and create prints at a party.
This new iteration sees subtle enhancements such as a larger display, a simplified interface for better operability, and faster printer times. Improvements are a small step rather than a big leap forward, which we hoped for. We’d have loved to have seen a universal paper cartridge and a built-in battery, but this model has no dice.
If you’re interested in the CP1500, consider the older but still capable CP1300, which costs about $99 and has the same excellent print quality. You’ll need to decide whether to spend extra money on the latest model, which has better features and faster print times.
