Canon SELPHY CP1500 vs QX20: Postcards or Pocket Stickers?
Canon SELPHY CP1500 vs QX20 is a choice about what you want to do with a photograph after it leaves your phone. The CP1500 suits traditional album prints and small frames. The QX20 suits journals, small gifts and photos you want to stick directly onto something. Decide on the finished object before choosing the printer.
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Illustration of the two printing styles; the devices shown are not exact product photographs.
Quick verdict
Choose the CP1500 when 4 × 6-inch photos are the priority and you usually print near a socket. Choose the QX20 when a built-in battery and small sticker formats matter more than postcard size. Both use dye-sublimation, but they take different supplies and are not interchangeable alternatives for every project.
At a glance
Start with the frame, album or journal
A 4 × 6-inch print is easy to plan around because many photo albums and small frames are built for it. That is the CP1500's clearest advantage for family photographs, holiday albums and sharing a stack of prints after a visit. Check the actual image crop before printing: your phone's usual picture shape may not match the paper.
The QX20 offers square and card-format sticker media. That is useful when the print becomes part of a scrapbook page, planner or gift tag. It does not replace a 4 × 6-inch printer. Measure the space in your project and compare it with the supported media dimensions rather than judging size from a product photograph.
Portable means different things here
The CP1500 can travel, but its battery is an optional purchase. For occasional use at a friend's house, taking the supplied AC power unit may be simpler than buying another accessory. If you need printing without a socket, include the correct battery in the total and read the setup instructions before the event.
The QX20's rechargeable battery is built in. Its USB-C connection is for charging, not a substitute wired printing path. Canon lists the charging adapter separately from the included cable, so check your charger arrangement too. The CP1500's USB-C port should not be mistaken for a way to charge its optional battery.
Buy supplies for the exact printer
Dye-sublimation uses matched consumables; a pack of ordinary glossy inkjet paper is not a replacement. Confirm the model compatibility, sheet format and number of prints in the kit before checkout. With the QX20, choose between its compatible square and card media according to the project rather than assuming every SELPHY refill works.
Work out refill cost per usable photograph, not just the cost of the box. Include shipping and any adapter or battery you actually need, then allow for a few test prints. Avoid committing to a large stock of media until you know the format, adhesive backing and surface suit your album or journal.
Check the phone workflow before an event
The QX20 is designed around Canon's SELPHY Photo Layout app. Check current phone and operating-system compatibility before buying it as a gift. For the CP1500, its own display and supported connection options may suit a shared household better, but you should still verify the exact source you plan to print from.
Do a complete practice run with the phone, app, power source and refill you will use away from home. Prepare a small album of selected pictures so guests are not waiting while you search years of images. Keep a crop preview in the routine, particularly when faces are close to the edges.
Choose convenience you will keep using
The CP1500 makes the most sense when you want repeatable postcard prints at a table. Leave enough clear space for the printer's paper movement, follow the manual and protect the supplies from dust. A simple permanent printing spot often matters more than another app feature.
The QX20 makes more sense when the small sticker itself is the attraction. You pay for that convenient form, so compare the ongoing refill expense with how often you will use it. Neither option needs to win every specification: it needs to make the photographs you will actually keep or give away.
Final choice
Buy the CP1500 for 4 × 6-inch photo routines and the QX20 for small battery-powered sticker projects. Confirm refill compatibility and the complete power setup before ordering either one.
Sources and further reading
Related buying guide
For a wider home-printing setup, see our photo printers for home creators guide.
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