The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 isn’t just another printer—it’s a compact all-in-one photo printer that can handle professional-quality prints, wide-format projects, and even specialty jobs like CD/DVD labels. In this review, we’ll show you what makes it stand out, what to expect in daily use, and how it compares to rivals like Canon’s Pixma TS9520.

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1.   Introduction

If you’ve ever spent hours scrolling through printer reviews, only to end up more confused than when you started, you’re not alone. Finding a photo printer that’s compact, affordable, and still delivers lab-quality results is harder than it should be. And that’s exactly why the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Small-in-One Printer is worth a closer look.

This isn’t just about specs on a page. It’s about whether you can count on this wireless all-in- one photo printer to print vibrant family portraits, run a small craft business from your home office, or create posters up to 11″ x 17″ without breaking the bank—or taking up too much space.

As technology experts with over 20 years of experience in hardware and application research and development, we deeply analyze each product based on real-world performance, durability, and value for money. Our goal is to help you find the best product in every category—whether you care most about budget, performance, reliability, or long-term usage. For photographers, small business owners, and creative hobbyists, our recommendations are based on extensive research, component analysis, hands-on usability, and industry expertise.

And here’s the perspective most reviews miss: printers aren’t just machines, they’re creative tools. The right one should take ideas from your screen and put them in your hands—without hassle, wasted ink, or endless troubleshooting. The XP-970 aims to do exactly that.

2.   Why This Blog Matters

Most printer reviews either overwhelm you with specs or gloss over how a printer actually fits into everyday life. That leaves you guessing about whether it can handle the kind of printing you actually need.

This guide takes a different approach. We’ll walk you through the Epson Expression Photo XP- 970 as both a wide-format photo printer and an all-in-one printer, highlighting where it excels and where it may fall short. We’ll also look at unique touches like CD/DVD printing and voice- activated printing—features you won’t find in every competitor.

So, whether you’re a photographer looking for high-resolution photo printing or a crafter who relies on handling specialty media, this review shows you exactly how this printer performs in the real world.

3.   What You Will Learn

Here’s what we’ll cover in this detailed review of the Epson Expression Photo XP-970:

• Technical Specs: A clear breakdown of the XP-970’s features, including 6-color Claria Photo HD inks and Wi-Fi Direct
• Unique Features: How borderless photo printing and wide-format inkjet printer capabilities give it an
• Real-World Uses: How it fits into home photo printing, small business workflows, and creative
• Pros and Cons: A straightforward look at what makes this one of the best all-in-one photo printers—and where it might not meet every
• Maintenance Tips: How to keep your Epson photo printer running smoothly and manage ink costs
• Competitor Comparison: How it stacks up against other wireless photo printers like the Canon Pixma
• Call to Action: Where to buy and how to share your own experiences with our

4.   Technical Specifications at a Glance

The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is a wireless all-in-one printer designed for high-quality photo printing and versatility. Below is a detailed table of its key features.

The XP-970 is a compact photo printer that delivers professional-quality A3 borderless prints in just 11 seconds for a 4″ x 6″. It supports smartphone printing and Scan-to-Cloud, though it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF).

5.   Why the Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Stands Out

5.1   Exceptional Photo Quality with 6-Color Claria Photo HD Inks

The heart of the XP-970 is its 6-color Claria Photo HD Inks, which include light cyan and light magenta alongside standard colors. This setup delivers vibrant, true-to-life photos with smooth color transitions and accurate skin tones, making it the best printer for professional photos.

Unlike standard 4-color printers, the XP-970’s photo printing technology captures subtle details, like the warm glow of a sunset or the soft texture of a portrait. While dye-based inks are less archival than pigment-based ones, they excel in glossy, vibrant output for photo printing at home.

The 6-color Claria Photo HD Inks make the XP-970 a top choice for photographers and hobbyists seeking high-quality photo printing without needing a bulky professional printer.

5.2  Wide-Format Printing for Bigger Ideas

As a wide-format inkjet printer, the XP-970 supports borderless photo printing up to 11″ x 17″ (A3), a rarity among compact photo printers. This feature lets you create large posters, framed artwork, or professional portfolios without visiting a print shop.

The rear feed supports glossy paper, cardstock up to 23 mil, and even CD/DVD printing for personalized discs.

Real-World Use Case: If you run a small business, you can print eye-catching promotional posters or branded CDs for events, saving time and money. For home users, it’s perfect for crafting large family photo collages or custom card printing for holidays.

5.3   Fast and Reliable Performance

The XP-970 can turn out a 4″ x 6″ photo in just 11 seconds (Draft Mode), making it one of the quicker printers in its class. For documents, it prints at 8.5 ISO ppm (black) and 8.0 ISO ppm (color), suitable for occasional text but slower than office printers. The flatbed scanner printer offers 4800 dpi for detailed scans, ideal for digitizing photos or artwork.

Without an ADF, you’ll need to scan or copy multi-page documents one sheet at a time, which can be tedious for large jobs.

5.4   Seamless Connectivity for Modern Needs

This best wireless photo printer offers USB, Ethernet photo printer support, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct printing for router-free operation. The Epson Smart Panel app and Epson Creative Print app make smartphone photo printing a breeze, letting you print photos or create custom card printing projects directly from your phone.

Voice-activated printing via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant adds hands-free convenience, perfect for printing shopping lists or photos while multitasking. The 4.3″ touchscreen enables PC-free printing, and the fold-over scan lid keeps originals secure during scanning.

Use the Epson Creative Print app to design personalized calendars or greeting cards, leveraging the printer’s specialty paper printing for unique gifts.

5.5   Scanning and Sharing with Ease

The photo scanner for home supports up to A4 scans at 4800 dpi, with interpolation up to 9600 x 9600 dpi for high-detail results. Built-in photo editing tools like red-eye removal and photo restoration enhance scanned images, while cloud photo sharing via Epson Scan to Cloud simplifies sharing with family or clients.

Digitize old family photos with the XP-970’s scanner, restore faded colors, and upload them to the cloud for easy sharing or printing.

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6.   Comparing the XP-970 to Competitors

To help you choose the best all-in-one photo printer, we’ve compared the XP-970 to the Canon Pixma TS9520 and Epson EcoTank ET-7750.

The XP-970 is the best Epson photo printer for fast photo printing and CD/DVD printing, but the Canon Pixma TS9520 offers an ADF for multi-page tasks. The EcoTank ET-7750 is more cost- efficient for heavy printing but has a higher upfront cost.

7.  Practical Use Cases and Benefits

• Photographers: Photographers can print gallery-worthy A3 shots for portfolios or exhibitions, thanks to its 6-color Claria
• Small Businesses: Create in-house marketing materials like posters or branded CDs with

CD/DVD printing, saving on outsourcing costs.

• Hobbyists and Crafters: Print custom cards, scrapbooks, or personalized gifts using the Epson Creative Print
• Home Users: Digitize old photos with the photo scanner for home and print vibrant memories with borderless photo printing.

Use 277XL high-capacity cartridges to lower ink costs and run the printhead cleaning cycle monthly to prevent clogs, especially for inkjet photo printer users who print sporadically.

8.   Pros and Cons

8.1   Pros

• Stunning high-quality photo printing with 6-color Claria Photo HD Inks.
• Wide-format photo printer supports A3 borderless photo printing.
• Fast photo printing (4″ x 6″ in ~11 seconds).
• Robust mobile device printing with Wi-Fi Direct printing and Epson Smart Panel app.
• Compact Small-in-One printer design (18.9″ x 14″ x 8″).
• Unique CD/DVD printing and specialty paper printing

8.2  Cons

• No ADF for multi-page scanning/copying.

• Higher running costs (~4.6¢ black, ~14¢ color) compared to bulk-ink
• Dye-based inks are less archival than pigment-based
• Slower document printing (8.5 ppm black) than office

The XP-970 is the best compact photo printer for professional-quality photo printing and creative photo printing, but it’s less suited for high-volume document tasks or archival prints.

9.   Solving Common Issues

Some users report connectivity hiccups or paper feed issues with wireless photo printers.

Here’s how to address them:

• Wi-Fi Connectivity: Use an 11n-compatible router and WPS setup for stable Wi-Fi Direct printing. Update firmware via Epson’s support site if needed.
• Paper Feed Problems: Load specialty paper printing media one sheet at a time in the rear feed and set the correct paper type in the driver to avoid
• Ink Costs: Monitor levels via the touchscreen and buy 277XL cartridges in bulk. Stick to Epson Genuine Cartridges to avoid warranty issues with this Epson photo printer.

For longer-lasting prints, apply a UV-protective spray to photos, as dye-based 6-color Claria Photo HD Inks are less fade-resistant than pigment inks.

10.    What Makes the XP-970 Unique

The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 is more than just an inkjet photo printer. Its wide-format photo printer capabilities, CD/DVD printing, and voice-activated printing set it apart from competitors. The fold-over scan lid ensures originals stay put during scanning, a small but thoughtful feature for a flatbed scanner printer.

For small businesses, the ability to print branded CDs or large posters in-house adds a professional touch without extra costs. The Epson Creative Print app also unlocks creative photo printing projects like custom calendars or collages, perfect for personal or gifting purposes.

Many reviews overlook how valuable the XP-970 is for small business branding. Being able to produce custom cards or branded CDs in-house adds a polished, professional touch while cutting outsourcing costs.

Ready to bring your photos and projects to life with the best wide-format printer for home?

The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 delivers professional-quality photo printing in a compact photo printer package. Grab yours now on Amazon and start creating stunning prints today!

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Only Printer Option: For those interested solely in the printer, check out the Epson Expression Photo XP-960 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner and Copier, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready.

Buy Now:
Epson XP-960 on Amazon

Let’s build a community of creators—drop your tips or project ideas in the comments!

Have you tried the XP-970 or another wireless photo printer? Share your tips, challenges, or favorite creative photo printing projects in the comments! Whether it’s a hack for smartphone photo printing or a unique use of specialty paper printing, we’d love to hear from you. Join our community and let’s inspire each other!