The Samsung SPP-2040 Digital Photo Printer ($150 street) is the third dedicated photo printer we've seen recently for essentially the same price (the other two are the Canon Selphy DS810 and CP710 Compact Photo Printer). As with its direct competitors, the SPP-2040 offers features that are quickly becoming standard for the price: a 2-inch previewing LCD, and the ability to output from computers, PictBridge cameras, and memory cards. You'll get excellent speed and high-quality photos, but cost per print is higher than we'd like and you're limited to 4- by 6-inch paper.

Setup is standard: Slide in the dye ribbon, push in the loaded paper tray, and you're ready for direct printing from a camera or card. To print from a computer, run the automated setup and connect by USB cable.

At just 2.4 by 7.1 by 5.4 inches (HWD) and 2.4 pounds, the SPP-2040 is typical for this class. It takes up relatively little space and is highly portable. There's no battery option, though, so it has to be within reach of a power outlet.

We rated the quality of output as very good, which means that most prints are true photo quality with a few minor flaws. When we tested the SPP-2040 in Normal mode (the default), the color in some photos was oversaturated, and images tended to lose a bit of detail in light areas (clouds in a light-blue sky, for example). Best mode actually exaggerated those problems, so ironically, Normal is the best mode—it's easily good enough for snapshots, photo albums, and even framing, for most photos. With the previously mentioned competitors, the thermal dye Canon Selphy CP710 Compact Photo Printer also earned a very good quality rating—but intriguingly, the ink jet Canon Selphy DS810 did a little better.

The SPP-2040 is one of the faster thermal-dye photo printers today. Printing from a computer, it turned in times of just 1 minute 3 seconds to 1:04 on our standard test suite for dedicated photo printers. Unlike most printers, it didn't slow significantly when the image source was CompactFlash, taking 1:03 to 1:07. Even when the source was a camera (a Canon PowerShot S60), speeds were just a little slower, with a range of 1:13 to 1:16. The only overall faster thermal-dye printer we've seen is the pricier Sony DPP-FP50, which, printing directly from a camera, is up to 10 seconds faster depending on the photo.

Printing cost is the SPP-2040's Achilles' heel. Depending on which paper and ink-roll pack you choose, you'll pay 42 to 62 cents per photo. That's not unusual for thermal-dye printers, but the Canon CP710 manages to keep costs as low as 28 cents per photo—a difference of 14 cents at the low end. In a year, that adds up to $60.48 if you print the equivalent of one roll of film per month (36 images).

The cost per print makes the Samsung SPP-2040 hard to recommend over other printers, such as the Canon CP710, that have the same purchase price, similar features, and lower running costs. But if you use it little enough that you don't mind spending a few cents extra per image, or you're willing to pay extra for the speed, the SPP-2040 is attractive in every other way.

Check out our side-by-side Photo Printer Comparison Table.

Benchmark Test Results Don't miss the Samsung SPP-2040's benchmark scores.

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Copyright © 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.