Product overview
Canon SELPHY CP1500: What to Know
The SELPHY CP1500 replaced the long-running CP1300 in late 2022 and is still the current model in Canon's compact photo printer line as of this writing. It uses dye-sublimation printing at 300 x 300 dpi, a three-pass process (cyan, magenta, yellow, plus a protective overcoat) that produces prints Canon says can last more than 100 years when kept in an album away from direct light and humidity; independent reviewers who've tested it generally describe the output as smooth and true-to-color rather than grainy, though exact longevity is obviously untestable in a desk review and depends heavily on storage conditions.
Beyond the standard 4x6 postcard size, the CP1500 also handles card-size prints (2.1 x 3.4 in), a square format (2.1 x 2.1 in), and mini stickers, using Canon's KP-108IN or similar ink/paper cassette systems where the ribbon and paper are sold together as a set. That bundled-consumable model is worth knowing about before you buy: you can't mix a lower-cost third-party paper with Canon ink, since the two are matched.
Connectivity is the printer's strongest practical advantage over the other snapshot printers in this guide. In addition to Wi-Fi and the Canon PRINT/SELPHY Layout app for phone printing, it has a built-in SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot and a USB-C port that reads flash drives directly, so you can print from a camera's memory card without a phone in the loop at all. A 3.5-inch color screen on the printer itself lets you preview, crop, and apply basic filters before printing.
At roughly 7 x 5 x 2 inches, it's meant to live on a shelf or travel in a bag rather than fit in a pocket, and it needs external power unless you add Canon's optional battery pack. Listed pricing on Amazon has fluctuated in the $140-$180 range across 2026 depending on the seller and whether a paper/ink starter bundle is included, so it's worth comparing the bare printer listing against bundle listings before buying.
Key Listed Features
Dye-sublimation printing at 300 x 300 dpi
Built-in SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot plus USB-C for flash drives
Wi-Fi printing via the Canon PRINT / SELPHY Layout app
3.5-inch color preview screen with basic in-printer editing
Product image from current catalog data

