Digital Product Analysis & Reviews

Best Black And White Photo Printer 2023

by Remington May

You might be wondering, who buys black and white printers today? Well, the answer is, quite a lot of people. Black and white printers are used a lot in office spaces where mass prints are done.

They are also used by certain photographers to bring out the depth in their photos by printing in monochrome. Basically, they are still very useful in a lot of places where you want to highlight monochrome prints.

If you are on the market for a black and white printer, we have good news for you. Our article here covers some of the best black and white photo printer models out there today.

These come with exceptional quality that highlights your photos even though they are in monochrome. All you need is the right technology and combination to receive the smoothest prints, and we are here to help you get that.

List of Top 10 Black And White Photo Printers

1. HP OfficeJet 3830

2. Canon Pixma MG3620

3. Polaroid WiFi Wireless

4. HP DeskJet 3755

5. Canon TS5120

6. Epson EcoTank ET-2720

7. Canon Selphy CP1300

8. HP ENVY Photo 7855

9. Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless

10. Canon Pixma iX6820

Comparison Chart For Top 10 Black And White Photo Printers

Image Product Resolution (dpi) Speed Specialty feature
HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa (K7V40A) HP OfficeJet 3830 1200

8.5 ppm black, 6 ppm color

2.2-inch mono touchscreen
Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-In-One Color Inkjet Printer with Mobile and Tablet Printing, Black Canon Pixma MG3620 4800x1200

9.9 IPM black, 5.7 IPM color

12000x2400 dpi scanning resolution
Polaroid WiFi Wireless 3x4 Portable Mobile Photo Printer (White) with LCD Touch Screen, Compatible w/ iOS & Android Polaroid WiFi Wireless N/A

N/A

20MP built-in camera
HP DeskJet 3755 Compact All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa - Blue Accent (J9V90A) HP DeskJet 3755 4800x1200

8 ppm black, 5.5 ppm color

600 dpi scanning resolution
Canon TS5120 Wireless All-In-One Printer with Scanner and Copier: Mobile and Tablet Printing, with Airprint(TM) and Google Cloud Print compatible, Black Canon TS5120 4800x1200

13 ipm black, 6.8 ipm color

6-Color Individual Ink System
Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer with Scanner and Copier - Black Epson EcoTank ET-2720 5760 x 1440

10.5 ppm black, 5.0 ppm color

Voice-activated print
Canon Selphy CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer with AirPrint and Mopria Device Printing, White Canon Selphy CP1300 300x300

4 x 6 inch in 47 Seconds

PictBridge compliant
HP ENVY Photo 7855 All in One Photo Printer with Wireless Printing, HP Instant Ink ready, Works with Alexa (K7R96A) HP ENVY Photo 7855 1200

15 ppm black, 10 ppm color

35-page auto feeder
Canon SELPHY CP1300 Desktop or Portable Inkjet Laser Bluetooth Wireless Compact (4x6 Label) Photo Printer (White) Canon KP-108IN Color Ink Paper Set | Includes USB Printer Cable Gentle Cleaning Cloth Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless 300x300

4 x 6 inch in 47

3.2-inch LCD
Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer with AirPrint and Cloud Compatible, Black, 23.0 Canon Pixma iX6820 9600 x 2400

14 ipm (black), 10.4 ipm (color

5 Individual Ink Tank System

Best Black And White Photo Printer Reviews

Best Black And White Photo Printer Reviews
Best Black And White Photo Printer Reviews

1. HP OfficeJet 3830 - Best Photo Printer For Black And White Photography

The OfficeJet 3830 printer from HP aims to save your time and allows you to print mobile thanks to all the connectivity features available on this. First of all we want to talk about how this is an all-in-one printer that gives you the complete package.

You can print, copy, scan and even fax all from this one device. This makes it ideal for home offices or workspaces where you are short on desk space. Not to mention it also saves your money since you don't require an individual machine for other features.

Coming to the print quality, the OfficeJet 3830 features a 1200 dpi resolution. This is an excellent resolution for photo printing since it can smoothly showcase all the details.

Even if you are buying to only print black and white photos, the resolution is still important, and a good one like this can highlight your photos in monochrome just as much.

The printer lets you be mobile due to its HP Smart App. With this you can now use your printer through your phone, check your ink levels, print from multiple sources like social media sites and Dropbox, and scan using your phone as well.

HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa (K7V40A)
HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa (K7V40A)

Highlighted Features

  • Comes with an auto document feeder
  • Comes with optional high yield cartridges
  • Features a 2.2-inch mono touchscreen
  • Input capacity is 60 sheets, output is 25 sheets

2. Canon Pixma MG3620 - Best Inkjet Printer For Black And White Photography

With the Canon Pixma MG3620 you get convenience and simplicity in one device. This inkjet printer is also an all-in-one cheap printer that lets you scan and copy besides printing.

We call it convenient because of all the different wireless printing methods you get. The Wi-Fi set up is easy and quick, and lets you use the device remotely from anywhere in your house.

Mobile printing is another, where you can use your phone to scan or copy pictures thanks to the AirPrint, Google print, and many more options. Coming to the resolution, you get a 4800x1200 dpi which is amazing for photo printing.

You might be wondering why you require such a high resolution for black and white prints. Well, monochrome prints too come with a lot of details and shades, and a good resolution like this can help you realize that.

Besides print, the scan resolution is also pretty impressive on this with a 1200 dpi. Speed is another factor that makes a device convenient. The Pixma MG3620 has auto duplex printing that lets you save time by printing twice as much.

And of course you also get quite high print speeds as it is with the 9.9 IPM for black and 5.7 IPM for color.

Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-In-One Color Inkjet Printer with Mobile and Tablet Printing, Black
Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-In-One Color Inkjet Printer with Mobile and Tablet Printing, Black

Highlighted Features

  • Comes with mobile device printing
  • Has print speeds of 9.9 IPM (black), 5.7 IPM (color)
  • Features auto duplex printing
  • Easy Photo Print + allows for edits before print

3. Polaroid WiFi - Best Printer For Black And White Photos

The Polaroid WiFi is made for those who like to print on the go. If you are someone who enjoys printing out photos instantly at events, this is the printer for you.

Being small, you can simply throw this in your bag and print photos as you go. Compatible with all devices, Android or Apple, this miniature printer will help you get 3.5 x 4.25 inch prints in a matter of seconds only.

It does not make use of inks, toner or cartridges, but has the ZINK Zero Ink Technology instead which prints beautiful photos in both color and monochrome.

It might be small, but the quality surely does not lag for the photos have rich color payoff, high vibrancy, and precise details. Besides being a portable printer, this also doubles as a camera.

So now you can take instant shots using the 20MP camera that is built-in, and print them right out afterward. It can also be used to record videos thanks to the speaker and microphone.

Last of all, this small printer also lets you edit your photos on screen before you can print them out, and the handy 4-inch touchscreen helps too.

You can write captions, put in frames or apply filters to make your work more fun and have a physical copy too!

Polaroid WiFi Wireless 3x4 Portable Mobile Photo Printer (White) with LCD Touch Screen, Compatible w/ iOS & Android
Polaroid WiFi Wireless 3x4 Portable Mobile Photo Printer (White) with LCD Touch Screen, Compatible w/ iOS & Android

Highlighted Features

  • Can print 3.5 x 4.25 inch sized photos
  • Comes with a 20MP camera built-in
  • Has a 4-inch touchscreen LCD
  • Enables you to edit photos before print

4. HP DeskJet 3755 - Best Black And White Printer For Home Use

The HP DeskJet 3755 is an ideal printer for your home for a lot of reasons. The first being, it has an attractive white and blue exterior that blends in nicely in a homely atmosphere, without looking too bulky.

But alongside that it also has a lot of great features that make it a good printer. We shall start with the resolution. Coming with a high resolution of 4800x1200 dpi, this can surely print all sorts of photos at excellent qualities.

So whether you are printing in black or white or with numerous colors, you will visibly be able to see the intricate details and beautiful gradients. Since this is an HP printer, you get the HP Smart App as well which helps to make work a lot easier.

Simply connect this to your phone and command your prints and scans, check your ink levels, or print from social media, all from the palm of your hand.

Besides mobile printing, you also get Wireless Printing, Wireless Direct, and AirPrint, all dedicated to making your work simpler. The last thing we want to highlight is the impressive print speed.

You can print out pictures at high speeds of 7.5 ppm for black and white photos, and 5.5 ppm for color. For a printer to use at home, this is a good speed to keep the pace going.

HP DeskJet 3755 Compact All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa - Blue Accent (J9V90A)
HP DeskJet 3755 Compact All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa - Blue Accent (J9V90A)

Highlighted Features

  • Input tray capacity is 60 sheets, output is 25 sheets
  • Has print speeds of 7.5 ppm black, 5.5 ppm color
  • Comes with a 600 dpi scan resolution
  • Features an LCD for easy navigation

5. Canon TS5120 - Best Canon Printer For Black And White Photos

If you want a printer that lessens your work, we believe the Canon TS5120 is an optimal choice for you.

Like most of us want, this comes with wireless printing where you can easily connect the printer to all your devices, and work remotely from other locations. This makes it ideal for the home or home offices where you can monitor work from a different room.

It prints borderless, so now you don't have to edit or cut out the edges of your photos manually anymore. If you like to frame or exhibit your work this is something you should look for.

It might not seem like much at first, but if you have more than a few photos, the manual work will become a burden. Another reason we love this printer is that it packs a lot of thoughtful designs.

The document removal reminder is one, which reminds you to remove your papers after you're done scanning them. Then we have the duplex printing, that lets you print on both sides.

You might not be using this for photos specifically, but you will surely love it for other work.

Canon TS5120 Wireless All-In-One Printer with Scanner and Copier: Mobile and Tablet Printing, with Airprint(TM) and Google Cloud Print compatible, Black
Canon TS5120 Wireless All-In-One Printer with Scanner and Copier: Mobile and Tablet Printing, with Airprint(TM) and Google Cloud Print compatible, Black

Highlighted Features

  • Comes with a 2.5 inch LCD screen
  • Can print borderless photos
  • Comes with auto two-sided printing
  • Has both front and rear paper support

How To Choose The Right Black And White Photo Printer

Resolution

You might be wondering why we need to look at resolution even though this is a black and white printer. The resolution determines how well your prints come out.

When discussing photos, resolution plays a big part in the color density of the prints. If you have a low resolution, the prints will not be as clear as you want them to be.

This factor can be measured using the dots per inch or the dpi. You can easily find this in the product specifications, and this is a must check before you buy a printer.

Ink Cartridge Capacity

When buying the best printer for black and white photos, do make sure to check the ink cartridges. What you should check is the size of the cartridge, or how often they need replacing.

Since you will only be printing in black and white, you will be running out of ink very frequently.

Large ink containers or high capacity cartridges can help you retain a lot of ink at a time, so you don't need to order replacements too soon.

Number of Black Inks

To a normal person, there is only one kind of black. However for a professional who prints black and white photos, there are many sorts of blacks.

You have a range here of monochrome prints to tonal graduations that let you achieve prints in grey to luminous black to pure black. This is determined by the number of black files in a printer.

A good black and white printer will have at least 3 variations of the shade to be able to print various tones of black onto the same print.

Naturally, the more grayscale ink tones there are, the more even-toned your prints become. Make sure to check for printers that come with more ink pots.

Paper compatibility

When you are printing photos, we expect there will be different media to be printed on. Professional photographers tend to print their work on various types of paper to bring out the best in their work.

You need to ensure that the printer you are buying is compatible with all these papers. The very basics include glossy and matte papers, both of which are compatible with most black and white printers today.

However, if you are looking to print on museum-quality media or fine art papers, which tend to be more delicate, do check their compatibility with a printer before purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Is The Best Black And White Printer?

The black and white printer that will be ideal for your printing needs depends on your personal preference and the number of pages you will print every day.

In general, it should provide you luminous prints, grey, and pure black prints. The input tray capacity of the top-notch black and white printer should be quite high so that you don't have to refill it repeatedly while printing.

Among the numerous superior quality black and white printers available in the market, the Canon Image CLASS D1620 is one of the finest units for monochromatic printing. Its paper capacity is 550 sheets and can be extended up to 2,300 sheets, which is one of the highest in the market. The printer also features the One-Pass duplex scan and offers a printing speed of 45 ppm.

2. Can You Buy Just A Black And White Printer?

Of course, you will be able to buy just a black and white printer. Basically, there are two types of printer color printers and black and white printers.

The black and white printers are specially made for monochromatic printing as they are equipped with only one black cartridge.

Specifically, purchasing a black and white printer will right away reduce your costs since you will just have one cartridge to change.

3. What Is The Difference Between Monochrome And Black And White Printer?

Monochrome is generally interpreted the same as black and white. However, monochrome printers are basically used to print images and documents with only black and white color. On the other hand, the black and white printer is capable of providing grey prints, luminous prints, along with truly black and white prints.

4. What Is The Most Economical Black And White Printer?

Popular printer brands such as Brother, Epson, and even Canon produce cost-effective printers which have the ability to print amazing black and white photos. These printers will offer you a satisfactory printing performance without you having to spend a fortune to buy them.

A good economical black and white printer should come with at least an input capacity of 250 sheets and offer a printing speed of 30 ppm. In addition to that, the printer should also have both wired and wireless connections.

Amongst the tens of hundreds of economical black and white printers available in the market, the Brother HL-L2370DW is one of the finest. The printing speed of this unit is 36 pages per minute, and it features a 64MB Automatic two-sided printing. It is also equipped with a paper tray with a capacity of 250 sheets.

5. What Is The Best Printer For Printing Professional Photos?

The first and foremost requirement of printing professional photos is to produce good quality pictures. So the ideal printer for printing professional photos should generate high-resolution images.

The inkjet printers are the ones that can provide superior quality photos in the shortest time possible. In addition to that, the recently launched inkjet printers feature a pigment-based ink system along with different monochrome inks for unrivaled multiplication of black color.

Which unit will be best for your professional photo printing depends on your personal preference and expertise, but one of the most commonly used printers for printing professional pictures is Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000.

It is equipped with Full-Photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) technology which specializes in providing high-res pictures with bright and vibrant colors.

Final Word

So you want the best black and white photo printers for your work, and you might think there isn't much to it. Well, that's not entirely true!

Just because it prints in black and white, it does not mean you can buy just any model and get away with it. The quality will show in the prints.

You need to consider certain factors that let you enhance your prints in the finest way possible. If you take a quick look, you will find that this article above covers all these topics, and can guide you to buy your next printer.

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Buy on Etsy, Walmart, eBay (quality guaranteed)

Epson SureColor P800 17" Inkjet Color Printer,Black - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 Professional Photographic Inkjet Printer, 17 x 22-Inches - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

PIXMA iX6820 Wireless Inkjet Business Printer - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Canon Pixma iX6820 Wireless Business Printer with AirPrint and Cloud Compatible, Black, - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer, Amazon Dash - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer with Mobile Printing, Black, Works - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer, HP Instant Ink, Works with Alexa (K7V40A) - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

HP DesignJet Studio Steel Large Format Wireless Plotter Printer - 24", with High-Tech - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

1. HP OfficeJet 3830 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

2. Canon Pixma MG3620 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

3. Polaroid WiFi Wireless - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

4. HP DeskJet 3755 - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

6. Epson EcoTank ET-2720 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

7. Canon Selphy CP1300 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

8. HP ENVY Photo 7855 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

9. Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

10. Canon Pixma iX6820 - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Canon Image CLASS D1620 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

About Remington May

Remington May is a digital product blogger who loves to write about the latest and greatest in the tech world. She's always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to make her life easier, and she loves to share her findings with her readers. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, Remington enjoys hiking and exploring new places.

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