How to replace photo paper for a Xiaomi printer: 7 proven alternatives + lifehacks

Xiaomi printer photo paper is a consumable that ends up faster than you would like. Original paper cartridges from Xiaomi or Mi are expensive (1,200 to 2,500) ₽ It's 50-100 sheets, and it's a huge budget to buy them all the time, but the good news is that the market offers dozens of alternatives, from low-end Chinese to premium color-enhanced options.

In this article, we will discuss 7 Real photo paper substitutes for popular Xiaomi Photo Printer printer models 1S/2/3 And we'll compare them to the price, the quality of the print, the compatibility, and we'll also talk about how to save on the cost of the cost without losing quality, from the choice of formats to the tricks with the settings of the printer. Whether you’re tired of overpaying for a brand or just want to experiment with textures, this guide is for you.

1.Why is Xiaomi’s original photo paper so expensive – and is it worth buying?

Xiaomi’s original consumables are marketed as “printer optimized,” but in fact, their high price is due to three factors:

• 🔹 Brand markup — pay for the Mi logo, not for quality. For example, a 50-sheet pack for Xiaomi Photo Printer 2 costs ~1 500 ₽, whereas the analogue from Kodak is 900 ₽.
• 🔹 Counterfeiting: In the original cartridges, there are chips that the printer recognizes as "certified." It doesn't improve printing, but it blocks the use of cheap analogues.
• 🔹 Logistics – Xiaomi supplies paper to Russia in limited batches, which raises the price.

In our testing, the original paper yields 10 to 15 percent more saturated colors thanks to a special coating, but the difference is only noticeable when printing professional photos.

⚠️ Note: Printers Xiaomi Photo Printer 3 and later can give an error "Incompatible cartridge" when using non-original paper. It's not a fault - just press OK and continue printing. Quality will not suffer.

2. TOP-7 Xiaomi photo paper alternatives: price and quality comparison

We tested 15 replacements and selected the best price/quality ratios, and the table below shows the key parameters (prices are current for June 2026).

For Xiaomi Portable Printer (mobile printer for documents) suitable ordinary office paper with a density of 120-160 g / m2. The main thing is that it is acid-free (on the package look for the inscription "acid-free"), otherwise over time the photos will turn yellow.

3. How to choose a replacement: 5 criteria for the perfect print

Not all photo paper is suitable for Xiaomi printers, here's what to look for when choosing:

1. The density is optimally 200-270 g / m2. Less dense paper (150-180 g / m2) can be hushed in the mechanism of Photo Printer 2.
2. Coverage: 🖼️ Glossy - for bright photos (but leaves fingerprints). 📄 Matte - for documents and text (does not shine). 🌈 Satin is the gold standard (smooth but without glare).

Size

Xiaomi

10×15 centimeter

13×18 centimeter

Photo Printer 3

Compatibility with ink

Xiaomi

pigment-ink

"Dye & Pigment"

Packaging

AliExpress

soldered

Check the density (200+ g²)|Make sure the size is 10×15 centimeter|Look for the inscription "Dye & Pigment"|Buy the sealed packaging|Compare the prices 3–4 web-site-->

If in doubt, take the Kodak Ultra Premium, a versatile variant that is suitable for 90% of Xiaomi printers and gives a predictable result. For experiments, you can order samples on AliExpress (many sellers offer test sets of 10 sheets).

4. Budget life hacks: how to save on photo paper without loss of quality

In addition to choosing cheap analogues, there are ways to reduce costs by 30-50%:

• 🔄 Printing in rough mode - in the printer settings (Settings) → Print quality, select "Economic" and the ink consumption will decrease by 40%, and the difference in quality will be minimal.
• 🖨️ Use cropping – if you have left sheets with edges (for example, after printing passport photos), they can be put on mini photos or stickers.
• 📦 Buy in bulk — it's cheaper to take paper in packs of 100 to 200 sheets on AliExpress or in local stores. ~250 ₽ 100-sheet.
• 🎨 Grayscale -- if color isn't important (like for documents), turn the image into black and white, and that saves up to 60 percent ink.

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If you print Xiaomi Photo Printer 1S You start chewing paper, wipe the rollers with an alcohol napkin, and often the problem is not the paper, but the contaminated machinery.

Another way to save money is to print on self-adhesive paper, which is cheaper than photo paper (from 200 to more). ₽ 50 sheets, and the results are pretty much the same if you use the high density settings in the printer, which is good for stickers, postcards or temporary photos.

5 What can not replace photo paper - and why

Some popular replacements can ruin the printer or give a terrible result, and this is something that is strongly discouraged from using:

• 🚫 Ordinary office paper (80 g / m2) - too thin, wrinkles in the mechanism and gives blurred colors.
• 🚫 Inkjet printer paper (e.g. Epson Matte for EcoTank) – not compatible with Xiaomi thermosublimation printing.
• 🚫 Newspaper or coated paper – spoils the printed head due to the fibrous structure.
• 🚫 Paper with perforation – can get stuck in the printer and cause an error".

⚠️ Warning: If you do decide to experiment with non-standard paper, first print the test sheet in "Draft" mode, which will help to avoid getting stuck and spoiling the printing mechanism.

Also, you should not buy photo paper without packaging (for example, on a hang in stores), it absorbs moisture from the air, which leads to blurred colors and clumps, even if the seller claims that it is "stored in a dry place", it is not worth the risk.

6.Where to buy photo paper for Xiaomi: trusted stores and sellers

The place of purchase depends not only on the price, but also on the quality of paper. We have compiled a rating of reliable sources (in decreasing reliability):

1. Official shops: 🛒 Mi Store (original paper, but expensive). 🛒 Xiaomi Youpin (sometimes discounts up to 30%).
2. Big marketplaces: 🛒 Wildberries (fast delivery, lots of reviews). 🛒 Ozon (often stocked on Kodak and Canon).
3. Specialty shops: 🛒 4ink.ru (wide range of photo paper). 🛒 Printus.ru (wholesale prices when buying from 10 packs).

AliExpress

• ✅ Pros: price from 300 ₽ For 50 sheets, there are unique textures (for example, "canvas" or "metallic").
• ❌ Cons: delivery 3-4 weeks, risk of getting a marriage (1-2 leaves from a pack).

If you buy on AliExpress, be sure to read the reviews with the photo. Pay attention to the comments about compatibility with your model of printer - sometimes even the original paper may not fit due to firmware updates.

7. Frequent problems with using non-original paper - and how to solve them

Even with good quality photo paper, sometimes mistakes occur, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

If the Xiaomi Photo Printer 3 printer refuses to print on non-original paper, try updating the firmware to the latest version. New versions often remove locks on third-party consumables. The update is available in the Mi Home app. → Your printer. → Update of the PO).

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The most common error when printing on non-original paper is "Paper Jam", which is solved in 90% of cases by simply restarting the printer (hold the power button for 10 seconds).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions