Some Printers

General

• Still no 7th gen epson printers in the PH but already available in world release for the past 1-2 years
• World model has a model naming of "ET" while Asia or PH has the "L"

Model,Primary Use,Release Date,Approx. Price (PHP),Key Features EcoTank L6370 / L6390,Home Office / SOHO,Early 2026,"₱16,045 – ₱18,695","High-speed, duplex, ""New"" in current PH catalog." EcoTank ET-4950,Small Business,July 2025,"$25,000 (US $499)","2.4"" Touchscreen, ADF, Auto-duplex scanning." EcoTank ET-3950,Busy Home Office,July 2025,"$21,000 (US $419)","250-sheet tray, 18 ppm black / 9 ppm color." EcoTank ET-2950,Student / Family,July 2025,"~$15,000 (US $299)",Replaces ET-2850; compact with auto 2-sided print.

These are the "workhorse" models currently dominating the market in the Philippines and abroad due to their reliability and value.

Model,Category,Status,Approx. Price (PHP),Release Date (PH),Why it's popular EcoTank L121,Budget Print-only,Budget King,"₱5,495",Early 2022,Cheapest model; ideal for basic document printing. EcoTank L3210,Entry-Level AIO,Most Used,"₱8,795",Late 2021,"The standard ""student"" printer (Print, Scan, Copy)." EcoTank L3250 / L3256,Wireless Home,Top Seller,"₱10,225",Late 2021,Best balance of price and Wi-Fi/Mobile printing. EcoTank L8050,Photo Specialist (A4),Pro Choice,"₱15,985",Early 2023,Compact A4 photo printer; fast 6-color prints and PVC ID printing. EcoTank L18050,Photo Specialist (A3),Creative,"₱28,925",Early 2023,Wide-format A3+ version of the L8050 for posters and large prints. EcoTank L5590,Small Business,Most Versatile,"₱15,045",Nov 2023,Includes Fax and ADF (Auto Document Feeder). EcoTank L15150,Wide Format (A3),Heavy Duty,"₱47,795",Mid 2020,High-volume A3 printing with pigment inks (smudge-proof).

Goal,Recommended Model,Ink Type,Result Max Beauty,L8050,6-Color Dye,"Best for ""Art Prints"" and indoor stickers." Max Durability,L6460,4-Color Pigment,"Best for labels and ""Outdoor-ready"" stickers." Entry Level,L3250,4-Color Dye,"Good for starting, but stickers must be laminated."

Series,Model Examples,Role,Key 7th Gen Upgrades L6000 Series,L6370 / L6390,Premium Office,"Fast 18.0 ipm speeds, Dual-sided Scanning (new for A4), and Mesh Wi-Fi support." L4000 Series,L4360 / L4370,Home Office,"Improved ""Smart Panel"" app integration and faster duplex (2-sided) printing." L3000 Series,L3550 / L3560,Home/Student,"More compact ""boxy"" design and faster wireless setup via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi."

Feature,"4-Color (e.g., L3250 / L6270)","6-Color (e.g., L8050 / L18050)" Photo Realism,Good (looks like a home print),Elite (looks like a store-bought sticker) Gradients,"Can be ""steppy"" or grainy",Silky smooth Ink Cost,Slightly cheaper per bottle,Nearly identical per ml (but uses 6 tanks) Specialty,Documents & Basic Labels,Art Prints & Premium Stickers

Model,Function,Approx. Price,Key Features Canon G570,Print Only,"₱14,995",ID Tray included. Direct rival to the L8050. Canon G670,"Print, Scan, Copy","₱18,595","ID Tray included. The ""All-in-One"" alternative to the L8050."

Feature,L8100 (2025),L8180 (2021) Max Paper Size,A4,A3+ (Much Larger) Release Year,2025 (Brand New),2021 Functions,"Print, Scan, Copy","Print, Scan, Copy" Color System,6-Color Dye,6-Color (Dye + Pigment Black) ID Card Printing,✅ Yes (Official Tray),✅ Yes (Official Tray) LCD Screen,"2.4"" (Non-touch)","4.3"" (Touchscreen)" Approx. Price,"₱22,000 – ₱23,500","₱32,000 – ₱35,000"

Feature,Epson L8050,Epson L8100 Primary Feed,Rear (Best for thick vinyl),Bottom Tray (U-turn path) Scanner/Copier,❌ No,✅ Yes LCD Screen,❌ No (Buttons only),"✅ 2.4"" Color Screen" ID Card Tray,✅ Yes,✅ Yes Price,"₱15,985","₱22,500 – ₱23,500" Footprint,Smaller (Save desk space),Larger (Needs more room)

Sticker paper is notoriously difficult for printers for three reasons:

Thickness (GSM): Premium vinyl or "heavy" sticker paper (200gsm+) is stiff. Forcing stiff paper to do a U-turn often causes paper jams or "feed errors" where the printer can't grab the sheet.

Adhesive "Oozing": As sticker paper bends sharply in a U-turn, the pressure can sometimes cause microscopic amounts of adhesive to squeeze out of the edges. This gunk's up the internal rollers of a front-loading printer over time.

Curling: Thick paper that has been forced through a U-turn often comes out with a "memory curl," making it harder to feed into your cutting machine (like a Cricut or Silhouette). Rear-fed stickers come out flat.

Naming Convention:

Epson’s naming convention can be a bit of a headache because they use different prefixes for different regions, but once you break down the numbers, there is a very clear logic to it.

Since you are in the Philippines, you will primarily see the "L" series, while Western reviews often refer to the "ET" series.

1. The Regional Prefix

• L-Series (e.g., L3250): Used in the Philippines, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
• ET-Series (e.g., ET-2850): Used in the USA, Canada, and Europe.
  • Tip: If you see a review for an "ET-2850," the "L" equivalent in the PH is usually the L4260.

2. The First Digit (The Tier/Series)

The first number tells you the "class" or intended use of the printer:

• 1000 Series (L121): Single-function (Print only). Budget-friendly.
• 3000 Series (L3210, L3250): Basic All-in-One (Print, Scan, Copy) for students and home use.
• 4000 Series (L4260): Home Office. Adds Auto-Duplex (2-sided printing).
• 5000 Series (L5590): Small Business. Adds ADF (Auto Document Feeder) for scanning multiple pages.
• 6000 Series (L6370): Premium Office. Uses PrecisionCore (faster, sharper) and high-capacity paper trays.
• 8000 Series (L8050, L8180): Photo Enthusiast. Uses 6 colors instead of 4 for better gradients.
• 15000/18000 Series: Large Format. Can print on A3 size paper.

3. The Second/Third Digit (Features)

As the numbers go up within a tier, more "quality of life" features are added:

• xx10 (L3210): No Wi-Fi. USB connection only.
• xx50 (L3250): Adds Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct (mobile printing via Smart Panel app).
• xx60 (L4260): Usually adds a small LCD screen and auto-duplex.
• xx90 (L5590): Usually adds Ethernet (LAN port) and Fax.

4. Special Letter Codes

Sometimes you'll see letters at the end or in the middle:

• "M" (e.g., M1100): Monochrome. These are EcoTanks that only print in Black and White.
• "U": Usually refers to a "bundle" version that might include extra ink bottles in the box.

Summary Table for Quick Decoding

Dye vs Ink Based Pigment or:

1. Dye-Based Ink Think of dye ink like dissolving sugar in water—the colorant is completely dissolved into the liquid. The Strengths: It produces stunning, vibrant colors and a wider color range. It's the standard for printing high-quality, glossy photographs because the ink spreads evenly and sinks directly into the paper. It is also generally cheaper. The Weaknesses: It is usually not waterproof and can smudge if the paper gets wet. It is also susceptible to fading over time if exposed to sunlight (UV rays) or ozone.
2. Pigment-Based Ink Think of pigment ink like mixing incredibly fine sand into water—the color comes from microscopic, solid particles of pigment suspended in the liquid. The Strengths: It is incredibly durable. Pigment ink is water-resistant, highly resistant to smudging with highlighters, and extremely fade-resistant (archival quality). It is excellent for printing crisp text, professional documents, and fine art prints meant to last for decades. The Weaknesses: The colors don't always look quite as vividly punchy on glossy photo paper as dye inks do, because the microscopic particles sit on top of the paper rather than sinking into it. It is also generally more expensive.

For labels, better to have thermal printing rather than cartridge inkjet or inktank. Thermal Printing Efficiency: Switching from standard paper and tape to a thermal printer saves time and reduces waste, as labels are printed to the exact size without needing ink

Dye ink definitely discolors and fades over time. Unlike pigment ink, which is made of solid particles that sit on top of the paper, dye ink is water-based and gets absorbed into the fibers.

How to make Dye Ink last longer:

Laminate them: This is the most common solution in the PH. It seals the ink away from humidity and some UV rays.

UV-Protective Glass: If framing a photo, use glass that has UV filtering.

Avoid Sunlight: Never hang a dye-ink print where it will hit direct "sikat ng araw."

Use Quality Paper: Specialized "Photo Paper" often has a coating that helps lock the dye in better than plain bond paper.

Pigment ink performs exceptionally well on Matte, Lustre, and Fine Art (Cotton) papers. Because the ink consists of tiny solid particles, it sits on the surface of the paper rather than soaking in, which results in very deep blacks and a rich, "painted" look.

Unlike dye ink, which will run and ruin the photo if a single drop of water touches it, pigment ink is highly water-resistant once dry. This is a huge advantage in humid environments or if the photo will be handled frequently.

Dye Ink: Best for ultra-glossy, "shiny" photos where you want the colors to pop immediately (like family snapshots). Pigment Ink: Best for professional portraits, wedding photos, and anything you intend to frame and keep for decades.

the original Epson L8050 uses Dye Ink. The L8050 is a 6-color photo printer that uses the Epson 057 ink series. According to Epson’s official specifications, all six colors (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan, and Light Magenta) are dye-based.

If you are using an Epson L8050, the quality of the paper is just as important as the coating. RC (Resin Coated) Photo Paper: Use "RC" paper instead of cheap "cast-coated" paper. RC paper has a microscopic plastic-like layer that "locks" the dye ink inside. Combine RC Paper + Photo Top: This is the "Gold Standard" for dye ink. It will make your L8050 prints look professional and last for many years. Are you looking to protect some specific items like photos for an album, or are you making products to sell, like stickers or IDs?

3. Fixative Sprays (The "Invisible" Shield) If you want to keep the look and feel of the original paper without adding a layer of plastic, you can use a UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Spray (like Bosny, Krylon, or specialized art fixatives). How to do it: You spray a very light, even mist over the print. Pros: It makes the dye ink "water-resistant" (water will bead off) and adds a UV-blocking layer. Cons: It can be tricky to get a perfectly even coat, and you need to do it in a well-ventilated area.

If you’ve seen stickers or photos with a glitter, matte, 3D, or "holographic" finish, that’s a "Photo Top." It’s a thin, adhesive plastic film applied to the top of the print. Best for: Business cards, stickers, and photos that will be handled often. Benefit: It provides a strong UV filter, significantly slowing down the fading process.

Portable Inkjet Printers

For fun and occasional memory archiving, yea sure. Otherwise, no. It can get expensive real fast.

Most standard Canon portable inkjet printers (like the popular Canon PIXMA TR150 and the older PIXMA iP110) use a 2-cartridge system.

(Note: If you are looking at the Canon SELPHY line of mini portable photo printers, like the CP1500, those are a bit different. They don't use liquid ink tanks. Instead, they use 1 solid ink cassette—a dye-sublimation ribbon—that is usually sold bundled in a box with the exact amount of photo paper it can print on.)

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MAXIFY GX5170 L4360

GX5170 release date

G3780 release date

G3780

No (All MAXIFY GX printers have borders)

L6370 release date 2025 gx6120 rlease date gx6140 rlease date