10 Best Color Thermal Printers 2025 in the United States

The Liene M100 4x6'' Photo Printer stands out as a portable and user-friendly option for those who want to print high-quality photos from their smartphones and other devices. Using thermal dye-sublimation technology, this printer offers vibrant and durable prints that are resistant to water, scratches, fingerprints, and fading. This makes it an excellent choice for preserving memories. The built-in Wi-Fi hotspot ensures an easy and stable connection, eliminating the need for external networks or cables. Additionally, it can handle up to 5 simultaneous device connections, making it convenient for family and friends to use together.

The accompanying Liene app adds further customization options, such as adding borders, filters, and adjusting contrast and brightness. The printer includes a solid package with 100 sheets of photo paper and 3 color cartridges, providing good value for money right out of the box. The print resolution of 300 x 300 dpi might not be as high as some users expect, especially for professional use. The print speed of 1 page per minute is relatively slow, and the initial page print time of 59 seconds may be a drawback for users needing quick prints.

While the Liene M100 4x6'' Photo Printer excels in portability, ease of use, and print quality, it is best suited for casual home or office use rather than high-volume or professional photo printing. The maximum media size of 4x6 inches could limit its usability for larger prints, and the cost of proprietary cartridges could add up over time.

The Liene PixCut S1 is a compact color thermal dye-sublimation printer designed especially for creating custom stickers and labels with built-in cutting functionality. It offers sharp 300 dpi print resolution, delivering vivid and true-to-life colors that make your stickers look professional and eye-catching. However, the print speed is quite slow at about one page per minute, so it's better suited for small batch or personal projects rather than high-volume printing. Connectivity is simple and modern, relying on Bluetooth to connect with smartphones, making it very convenient for casual and creative use without needing a computer. This device supports 4x7-inch media sizes mainly on sticker and photo paper, ideal for crafting but less flexible for other print sizes.

Durability is a strong point: prints come laminated and are waterproof, scratch-resistant, and fade-resistant, so your stickers will last a long time. The all-in-one print-and-cut feature, boosted by AI for precise auto-cutting, adds great value by eliminating the need for separate equipment and reducing wasted material. The included app appears user-friendly, helping beginners easily edit and produce stickers. On the downside, the printer handles just one sheet at a time with a small input capacity, and consumables like specialized sticker paper and ink cartridges might add to the ongoing cost.

The PixCut S1 is a smart choice for hobbyists, DIY crafters, and small-scale sticker makers who want a simple, versatile machine for vibrant, durable stickers but don’t need fast output or large print volumes.

The ZEBRA ZD621 Thermal Shipping Label Printer is a robust and specialized device tailored for high-demand, short-term printing tasks such as shipping labels, barcodes, and receipts. One of its strongest points is the direct thermal technology, which eliminates the need for ink or toner, making it cost-effective in the long run. With a print speed of up to 8 inches per second (IPS) at a resolution of 203 DPI, it is efficient for handling large volumes quickly. However, it’s important to note that the print output is monochrome, not color, which may not meet needs for color printing tasks despite being categorized under color-thermal-printers.

Connectivity is versatile with options including USB, Ethernet, serial, Bluetooth, and NFC, simplifying integration with various systems and devices. The printer also boasts robust security features like PrintSecure, which help protect data and prevent unauthorized access, making it suitable for sensitive business environments. The user interface benefits from a color LCD touch screen that enhances ease-of-use by providing clear and intuitive navigation. Users can also design their labels easily using the ZebraDesigner software, which is straightforward and requires minimal technical skills.

Durability is another positive aspect, given its solid build quality and a two-year warranty. On the downside, the initial cost might be a consideration, along with the fact that it only prints in monochrome. The cost of consumables, primarily the media rolls, should be factored into the total cost of ownership. This printer is ideal for businesses that need reliable, high-speed label printing without the hassle of managing ink or toner supplies.