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The Epson Expression Photo XP-980 is a six-color photo-focused all-in-one that can print borderless photos up to 11 × 17 inches, scan and copy. Epson’s published specifications make it a plausible fit for households that want larger photo prints at home, but they do not establish how well it performs in independent testing. This review assesses the documented features and explains what buyers should verify before choosing it.
What kind of printer is the XP-980?
Epson identifies model C11CL95201 as a wireless color all-in-one built around six-color Claria Photo HD ink. It combines printing with scanning and copying, with photo printing as its defining emphasis. The advertised maximum print resolution is 5760 × 1440 dpi. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent measures of output quality. See Epson’s XP-980 product specifications.
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Photo printing: the headline capability
The XP-980 supports borderless photo printing up to 11 × 17 inches, a larger format than standard snapshot printing. Epson also advertises a 4 × 6-inch borderless photo in as little as 11 seconds. That speed claim applies to the specified photo size and is not a measured result or a speed estimate for other paper sizes, print settings or jobs.
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The printer uses six ink colors: black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta. Epson positions this system for photo printing, but the published specifications alone do not establish color accuracy, detail, skin-tone rendering, durability or how prints compare with competing printers. Consider those questions unresolved unless you can consult independent testing or see prints made with the printer.
#1 Best Overall
- Professional-quality photos and prints — 6-color Claria Photo HD inks and a 5760 x 1440 dpi print resolution produce stunning borderless prints up to 11" x 17"
- Fast photo printing — delivers 4" x 6" borderless photos with astounding detail and accuracy in as fast as 11 seconds¹
- Convenient, easy operation — features 4.3" color touchscreen, plus Easy Mode for enhanced visibility and ease of use
- Versatile paper handling — separate trays for plain and photo paper, plus a rear feed for specialty paper
- Easy wireless printing — print from your laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet³; use Wi-Fi Direct⁴ for router-free printing
Paper handling, scanning and controls
Epson lists separate plain-paper and photo-paper trays, plus a rear feed for specialty paper. The available product information does not establish every tray capacity or the complete list of supported specialty media, so check the current manual and media specifications for the paper types and sizes you intend to use. Epson advertises a 4.3-inch color touchscreen. The product is also a scanner and copier, although published information cited here does not provide independent scan-quality, copy-quality or speed results.
Ink choices and the limits of advertised yields
The XP-980 is compatible with Epson’s six-color 279 and 279XL cartridge families. The XL line is the high-capacity option; both families include separate light cyan and light magenta cartridges as well as the four standard colors. Epson recommends genuine Epson cartridges. Check Epson’s XP-980 ink compatibility listing.
Rank #2
- Epson printing system is designed to be used exclusively with Epson Genuine Cartridges. Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the printer’s ltd. wnty.
- Superior photo quality with 5-color inks — Print stunning photos up to 8" X 10", Plus Sharp text for eye-catching documents; includes dedicated photo and DVD trays.
- Fast 4" X 6" Photos — in as little as 15 seconds (1)
- Convenient FEATURES — Auto 2-sided printing, built-in USB and memory card slots (3).
- Hands-free, voice-activated printing (2) — Print a variety of creative projects and everyday documents, including your to-do and shopping lists.
| Cartridge family | Black yield | Color yield |
|---|---|---|
| 279 standard | 240 ISO pages | 360 ISO pages |
| 279XL high-capacity | 500 ISO pages | 740 ISO pages |
These are Epson’s ISO/IEC 24711 Default Mode continuous-printing yields, not a promise of how many pages every owner will get. Epson says results vary with image content, settings, temperature, humidity, printing frequency and color use. Some supplied ink is consumed during initial setup, and a variable amount may remain when the printer signals that a cartridge needs replacement. For those reasons, the yield figures alone cannot establish a guaranteed cost per page or the cost of printing photos in ordinary use. Epson describes its yield methodology and limitations on the product page.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat has not been independently established
The available evidence for this review consists of Epson’s product and support materials. It does not include independent measurements or hands-on testing. In particular, it does not establish real-world photo fidelity, text quality, scan quality, actual print speed, noise or practical cost per print. Epson’s January 6, 2026 launch announcement described the intended results as “vivid, studio-worthy,” but that is promotional language from the manufacturer, not an independent test finding. Read Epson’s launch announcement.
Rank #3
- Lab-quality photos and prints — 6-color Claria Photo HD ink and high print resolution for amazing borderless prints up to 8.5" x 11"
- Fast photo printing — delivers 4" x 6" borderless photos with astounding detail and accuracy in as fast as 10 seconds (1)
- Convenient, easy operation — features flush 4.3" color touchscreen, plus Easy Mode for enhanced visibility and ease of use
- Versatile paper handling — separate trays for plain and photo paper, plus a rear feed for specialty paper
- Easy wireless printing — print from your laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet (3); use Wi-Fi Direct (4) for router-free printing
That distinction matters when deciding whether a feature list is enough. The specifications confirm that the XP-980 is designed for larger borderless photos and has dedicated photo-paper handling, but they do not show whether the output quality or running costs will suit a particular buyer. If those are decisive, look for independent sample prints and testing before purchase rather than treating Epson’s claims as verified results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who should consider the XP-980?
- Consider it if you want a single wireless device for printing, scanning and copying, and value the option to print borderless photos as large as 11 × 17 inches.
- Check further before buying if photo quality, routine printing speed, scanning results or ongoing ink expense will determine your choice; the specifications here do not answer those questions independently.
- Confirm media fit if you rely on a particular paper size, specialty stock or tray capacity. Epson lists multiple media paths, but not every relevant capacity or supported paper detail in the product information summarized here.
For setup and model-specific troubleshooting, Epson maintains an XP-980 support page. Its support topics can help owners find instructions; their presence does not show that any particular issue is common.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Save time print 4 inch x 6 inch photos in as fast as 15 seconds (1).
- Superior photo quality with 5 color inks print stunning photos up to 8 inch x 10 inch, plus sharp text for eye catching documents
- Fast print speeds 15.8 ISO ppm (black) and 11.3 ISO ppm (color)
- Convenient, hassle free features auto 2-sided printing, built-in USB and memory card slots (2), and 2.4 inch color LCD and touch panel
- Versatile printing dedicated photo and DVD trays
Rank #4
- CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — Print lab-quality photos, graphics and creative projects; Get vibrant colors and sharp text with Epson's high-accuracy printhead and Claria ET Premium 6-color inks
- INK BOTTLES — Save on photos1 and creative projects with affordable in-house printing; All-in-one printer allows you to print 4" x 6" photos for about 4 cents each vs. 40 cents with traditional ink cartridges1
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; Printer, scanner and copier lets you print up to 6,200 color pages³
- PRINT FOR LONGER — Up to 2 years of ink in the box² (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations with this wireless printer
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — Epson EcoTank printer helps reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills; Cartridge-free printer uses high-yield ink bottles; Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 100 individual ink cartridges⁴
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