Canon SELPHY CP1500 vs QX20: choose the print format first

Choose the Canon SELPHY CP1500 in white for larger, loose photos to put in an album or frame. Choose the Canon SELPHY QX20 for smaller adhesive prints and a battery already inside the printer. They share the SELPHY name, but they use different supplies, different paper sizes, and USB-C ports that do different jobs.

Start with where the finished picture will go. A journal sticker, a wallet-size print, and a photo for a frame are different purchases. This comparison focuses on format, consumables, and power — the differences that can make an otherwise appealing printer the wrong fit.

Which format fits your plans?

Your priority	CP1500 (White)	QX20 (White)
Larger loose photos	Postcard paper finishes at 100 x 148 mm (about 3.94 x 5.83 in)	Smaller sticker formats only; not a substitute for postcard-size prints
Journal or card stickers	KC card-size and label sets need the PCC-CP400 paper cassette	XS square-format (72 x 85 mm sheet) and XC card-format (54 x 85 mm sheet) sticker supplies
Printing away from an outlet	NB-CP2LI or NB-CP2LH battery, sold separately; otherwise the external adapter	Built-in rechargeable battery, charged over USB-C (DC 5 V, up to 1.5 A)
USB-C connection	Data and flash-drive printing; no charging or power over USB-C	Charging only; the included cable is not used for communication
Pictures on an SD card	Direct SD, SDHC, and SDXC insertion (adapters for mini/micro sizes)	Documented workflow is Wi-Fi printing from a smartphone app
Size and weight	About 182 x 58 x 133 mm and 850 g (body only)	About 102 x 33 x 146 mm and 455 g (excluding cassette and label)

CP1500: choose it for the larger photograph

The CP1500 is the more suitable of these two for an album of loose postcard-size photos. Its finished sheet measures 100 x 148 mm after you remove the perforated ends — close to the familiar 4 x 6-inch category, but not exactly the same measurement, so check your frame opening if edge coverage matters. The extra paper at the ends is part of the printing sheet, not extra usable photo size: before separation, Canon lists that sheet at 100 x 177 mm, and comparing that starting dimension with another printer's finished output would exaggerate the size advantage.

For postcard printing, Canon lists RP-108 and KP-108IN ink-and-paper sets, each with a stated yield of 108 prints. That is the yield of the set, not a promise of 108 prints from any single part inside it, and regular postcards cannot be used. Check the exact printer listing for included supplies before adding a refill pack. The CP1500 can also make smaller labels: KC card-size paper and label sets require a PCC-CP400 cassette, L-size paper uses an adapter in the cassette, and accessory availability varies by region — so price a sticker project as paper plus cassette, not paper alone.

The CP1500's connectivity favors existing cameras and cards. It accepts SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards directly, connects to a computer over USB-C with an IFC-100U cable, and reads FAT/exFAT USB flash drives. Its USB-C socket provides no charging or operating power, so a phone charger and cable do not replace its power arrangement: plan on the compact power adapter or a separately sold NB-CP2LI or NB-CP2LH battery. A 3.5-inch screen, Wi-Fi printing, and dye-sublimation output at 300 x 300 dpi round out a printer built around the larger sheet. Its downsides are bulk and the power kit: at 850 g plus adapter or extra battery, it is the less portable machine, and supplies are not interchangeable with the QX20's.

QX20: choose it for adhesive prints on the move

The QX20 is the more direct choice for a journal or small sticker project when you also want an integrated battery. Canon lists a 72 x 85 mm sheet for XS-20L square-format stickers and a 54 x 85 mm sheet for XC-20L card-format stickers. Those measurements describe the paper, not a guaranteed image area, so preview the layout in SELPHY Photo Layout (version 4.0 or later for iOS and Android) before committing a favorite picture to a particular composition.

Canon rates output at approximately 40 seconds per sheet and a new, fully charged battery for approximately 20 sheets, both at room temperature under its test conditions — plan around your printing session rather than assuming that yield in the field. The feeder holds 10 sheets and each finished print must be removed as it comes out. Charging is rated at DC 5.0 V up to 1.5 A, about 80 minutes at 23 C, or about 4 hours from a fully discharged battery. The box includes a charging cable that Canon states is for charging only, not communication; ink and label sets (XC-20L, XS-20L) are purchased separately, and the listing notes paper is not in the box. Pairing runs over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi direct with QR-code setup for up to 6 devices. Its downsides are format ceiling and throughput: nothing it prints substitutes for a postcard-size loose photo, the per-session yield is bounded, and you feed small batches by hand.

Compare the complete basket before ordering

Album or frame: CP1500 White, the correct postcard ink-and-paper set, and a compatible battery only if you must print away from its adapter. Check finished dimensions against the album or frame.
Small adhesive prints: QX20 White, the XS or XC set matching your layout, and a suitable USB power source for charging.
Stickers from a CP1500: check the KC set and the PCC-CP400 cassette together before pricing the project.
Only occasional photos: compare ordering the prints you need with owning a printer and keeping its dedicated supplies. If an existing printer already produces the size you want, a smaller machine earns its keep only by solving a recurring need.

Where to buy the exact variants

Both options below are observed Amazon US listings for the exact White variants compared above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At observation on 11 September 2026, Amazon.com listed the CP1500 White at $155.00 with an Only 11 left in stock marker, sold by Digital Village with shipping from Amazon Fulfillment; and the QX20 White at $189.00 with an Only 4 left in stock marker, sold and shipped by Focus Camera LLC. Confirm the current price and the exact White variant on the listing before ordering.

Buy the Canon SELPHY CP1500 (White, model 5540C002) on Amazon US — confirm the White variant and ASIN B0BF65S5J5 on the listing.
Buy the Canon SELPHY QX20 (White, model 6753C001) on Amazon US — confirm the White variant and ASIN B0DGQTLRVV on the listing.

For these two models, the buying decision is larger loose photos versus smaller adhesive prints with an integrated battery. Compare the required supplies and accessories alongside the printer price; the shared brand name does not make the systems interchangeable.

Compare your options

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.