A sublimation printer is a great investment as it can serve as both a normal printer and a sublimation printer. However, you shouldn’t use them for normal printing purposes too often as their ink might be much more expensive than normal ones. A sublimation printer vaporizes the ink and prints the vaporized ink on top of almost any surface.
Product | Features |
 | Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer Affordable Higher ink holding capacity Impressive print quality In-built scanner  |
 | Kodak Dock Premium 4x6” Portable Instant Photo Printer Affordable Higher ink holding capacity Impressive print quality In-built scanner |
 | Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Printer Portable Water resistant Stylish and compact design Diverse Connectivity |
You can use a sublimation printer to print your favorite images or texts on top of papers, glossy papers, ceramics, mugs, metals, etc. Mostly these sublimation prints can last much longer and are fade-proof. We have added a few key points to help you find the best sublimation printer on a budget.
Best Sublimation Printer On A Budget – Buying Guide
Cost Of Product: If you are on a tight budget and looking to buy a sublimation printer, first check out the price. To find an affordable sublimation printer, look at its printing technology. Inkjet printers are much more cheap compared to dye-sublimation printers. If you are using it for home purposes, an inkjet sublimation printer might be a good fit for you.
Printing Speed: An average printer can print 15 – 25 pages per minute. However, it will vary. But if you use a dye-sublimation printer, it will take around 50 seconds to print a single color image. But the quality of the image will be much superior to inkjet printer’s prints.
Auto Duplex: Basically, auto duplex is a feature that comes with advanced printers which print both sides of the paper without having to flip it over. This saves a lot of time for the user. It will be much useful if you buy a printer with an auto-duplex feature.
Best Sublimation Printer On A Budget Reviews
1. Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
Description
- Brand: Epson
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
- Compatible Devices: Smartphones, Pcs, and Laptops
- Auto Duplex: No
- Printer Color: White
- Printer Output: Color
Performance:
Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is the best sublimation printer on a budget because of many of its features. The printer has a super-sized ink tank that can hold 30 times more than a normal sublimation printer can hold. This increases the ink holding capacity and reduces the wastage of cartridges, making it safer for the environment.
Comparison:
This printer can print high-quality images within a short span of time but won’t slack off from the quality of the prints. Each print is an ultra-high-definition print. Also, it has an in-built scanner making it incredibly useful for multiple purposes.
Usage:
You can use this printer to print normal prints on normal paper or can create ultra-high-definition prints on glossy paper or your favorite t-shirt. We can conclude safely by saying that this is the best sublimation printer for the money.
Pros
- Affordable
- Higher ink holding capacity
- Impressive print quality
- In-built scanner
Cons
- No auto duplex feature
- Wireless problems
What’s New?
The printer has huge connectivity options, including USB, Wi-Fi, and ethernet. You can also connect your printer through your phone with a USB wire or with wireless connections.
Why Should You Buy It?
This is the best sublimation printer that you will get at this price. Also, it comes with a two years limited warranty which includes the whole unit replacement. Also, the printer prints ultra high definition prints, which will make your print look several times better.
2. Kodak Dock Premium 4×6” Portable Instant Photo Printer
Description
- Brand: Kodak
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth
- Compatible Devices: Smartphones
- Auto Duplex: No
- Printer Color: White
- Printer Output: Color
Performance:
This is the best inexpensive sublimation printer on our list. The printer uses dye-sublimation technology which makes the printing process much slower, but the out quality is significantly better than printed by a normal inkjet printer. The printer uses multiple layers of vaporized ink to produce to make a fine print.
Comparison:
The cost of this product is much cheaper than other sublimation printers. Also, it is portable and can be carried around easily. It allows you to connect your iPhone directly through the inbuilt phone connector. Or else you can connect it through wireless connections like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Usage:
You can use this to print your favorite images or texts on glossy paper and T-shirts. But you can print on top of big and round materials. The average printing time of this printer is 50 seconds for high-definition prints. The ink dries as soon as the print is over and ready to be taken by hand. It is also ultra water and fade-proof. Each print can last up to 100 years.
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Fade proof
- Portable
- Wireless connections
Cons
- Can’t print on bigger objects
- Short-lived cartridges
What’s New?
The printer comes with a mobile application called Kodak Dock Photo Filter, which has tons of in-built filters, templates, and photos with which you can experiment on. Also, it can make borderless prints on 4 x 6 inches papers.
Why Should You Buy It?
The printer uses a 4Pass printing technology which basically prints four layers of ink on top of the surface to yield stellar prints which are flawless. Also, it is the best sublimation printer on a budget.
3. Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Printer
Description
- Brand: Canon
- Connectivity: USB
- Compatible Devices: Smartphones
- Auto Duplex: No
- Printer Color: Black
- Printer Output: Color
Performance:
The Canon SELPHY CP1300 is a small printer that is geared for mobility. It includes a wide range of connecting features, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Because of its unique printing process, which employs the heat transfer method, it is one of the best sublimation printers. Unlike inkjet printers, this printer blends each color with the next to create a sophisticated image.
Comparison:
This printer uses dye-sublimation technology to print on glossy surfaces. Usually, a dye-sublimation printer takes more time to print, but it takes less than a minute to create high-quality print on glossy photo papers.
Usage:
The main purpose of this printer is to print top-quality selfies taken from mobile phones. But you can also print photos from a computer and cameras. It comes with an adapter and is very portable. The printer is user-friendly and can be accessed by anyone with decent knowledge of electronics.
Pros
- Portable
- Water-resistant
- Stylish and compact design
- Diverse Connectivity
Cons
- Defective borderless prints
- Hard to setup
What’s New?
This is an ultra-stylish portable printer that can be carried around in a backpack. It is lightweight but can print high-definition images in a minute. This is one of the best sublimation printer on a budget.
Why Should You Buy It?
The printer uses dye sublimation technology which gives hyper-realistic output. They also come with a warranty which will cover the service expenses.
FAQs
1. Can I do sublimation printing with any printer?
Generally, you can do sublimation printing with a normal printer. Only a sublimation printer can do that task. But recently, printers have been designed to use sublimation inks to print. These printers can do sublimation printing; however if you need a sublimation printer for commercial purposes. It is better to find a dye-sublimation printer.
2. Is sublimation ink expensive?
Yes, sublimation inks are much more expensive compared to normal inks. But these inks are known for their fade-proof and water-resistant qualities. Thus, they are worth the money.
3. Is the inkjet printer the same as sublimation printers?
No, inkjet printers and sublimation printers follow different printing methods. An inkjet printer will print the ink in its liquid form, whereas a sublimation printer will vaporize the ink and apply it to the printing surfaces. This makes the print fade-proof and water resistant.
4. Is it worth getting a sublimation printer?
Getting a sublimation printer can be quite useful. If you see an image printed by an inkjet printer and a sublimation printer, you can clearly see that the sublimation printer’s prints have more details in them. Inkjet printers create consistent microdots when viewed by the naked eye, which seems like a picture. At the same time, a sublimation printer paints the image on the printing surfaces with high-temperature vaporized ink.
I’m Susan Rockett, I am dedicated to providing effective solutions for all your printing needs. From troubleshooting common printer issues to recommending the best printers for your specific requirements, our website offers valuable insights and resources.