Printing and preserving photos has come a long way from dropping film rolls off at the drug store. Today, professional-quality photo printing is available right from your home thanks to online services like mpix and Nations Photo Lab. But how do you decide which service to trust with printing your treasured memories?
In this in-depth review, we’ll compare mpix and Nations Photo Lab across key categories like print quality, product selection, pricing, and ordering experience. Read on to see which company comes out on top for quality photo printing.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | mpix | Nations Photo Lab |
| Print Quality | Excellent, professional-grade | Excellent, “museum quality” |
| Products Offered | Standard prints, enlargements, wall art, photo books, cards, calendars, etc. | Standard prints, wall art, home decor, photo books, cards, calendars, etc. |
| Ordering Process | Very smooth online experience | Straightforward but slower website |
| Turnaround Time | 1-3 day standard, 24 hr rush available | 1-2 day standard, next day rush available |
| Pricing | Affordable starting at $0.19 per print | Very affordable starting at $0.18 per print |
| Customer Service | US-based support, very responsive | Fast response times, pushes back sometimes |
| Specialties | Extremely large wall prints | Greater home decor selection like blankets, pillows |
Key Differences Between mpix And Nations Photo Lab
- Print Quality
At the end of the day, print quality is what really matters when choosing a photo printing lab. You want sharp, vibrant photos that capture memories just as you remember them.
mpix has an excellent reputation for professional-grade photo printing. They use FujiFlex printers which are some of the highest quality on the market. The result is photos with rich colors, deep black levels, and crisp details. mpix offers a 100% print quality guarantee as well.
Nations Photo Lab also produces fantastic photo prints according to customer reviews. They use modern Noritsu printers to achieve accurate colors, subtle skin tones, and sharp lines & textures. Black & white photos are especially striking. Nations promises “museum quality” prints.
When comparing print quality side-by-side, mpix and Nations are pretty evenly matched. Both services deliver gorgeous, gallery-worthy prints you’ll be proud to frame and display. You really can’t go wrong with either for brilliant colors and clarity.
- Photo Products
The range of available photo print products is another important consideration when choosing a service. You likely want options beyond just standard prints.
mpix offers an extensive selection of photo gifts and specialty print products including:
- Canvas, metal, acrylic and wood wall art
- Photo books, calendars, cards, and stationery
- Prints on chromaLuxe metal and photo panels
- Enlargements up to 12 feet wide!
Nations Photo Lab also provides a stellar variety of print products:
- Canvas, acrylic, and metal prints
- Photo books, cards, calendars
- Mounted and floating prints
- Dye sublimation products like phone cases, pillows, and blankets
Both mpix and Nations offer tons of creative ways to display photos beyond basic prints. Nations has a particular edge in home décor offerings like blankets and pillows. But mpix lets you create larger-than-life wall displays.
Also Read: Comparison Between mpix And Artifact Uprising
- Ordering Experience
Submitting your order should be a seamless process. Here’s how the experience compares between mpix and Nations:
mpix provides an incredibly easy online ordering system. Their upload tool works smoothly to import photos from your computer, Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos and more. Intuitive design features make it simple to create personalized products like calendars, cards, and photo books.
Nations Photo Lab also makes ordering very straightforward from their website. You can upload photos right from your computer or social media accounts. Their online editing allows tweaking images before printing. One downside some users report is slower/clunky website performance at times.
Overall, mpix offers the smoother ordering experience with faster website speed and more intuitive interface. But Nations still makes it easy to customize and purchase high-quality prints.
- Turnaround Time
How quickly you get your prints is an important logistical consideration.
mpix offers standard print turnaround in 1-3 business days. Rush processing is available for an additional fee, delivering in 24 hours. Orders ship from production facilities closest to you to minimize transit time.
Nations Photo Lab also provides speedy turnaround with standard prints shipping in 1-2 days. They also offer next day rush production so you can get your order quickly. Based on location, orders arrive in 1-6 days on average.
Both mpix and Nations deliver orders rapidly, especially if you pay for expedited shipping. mpix is slightly faster for standard service, but Nations has comparable rush options. Overall, speedy turnaround that gets you prints quickly.
- Pricing & Cost
Pricing often comes down to your budget and print volume needs. Here’s how mpix and Nations photo printing costs compare:
mpix offers affordable pricing starting at just $0.19 per print. Regular prints run $0.29 each. Photo books start at $14.99 and canvases $24.99 and up. Overall very reasonable pricing for the high print quality.
Nations Photo Lab print pricing is also budget-friendly. Standard prints run $0.18 for 4×6” and $0.25 for 5×7”. Books start at $15 and canvases around $45. Specialty products like phone cases and blankets cost more.
Nations tends to be a bit cheaper than mpix for basic photo prints. However, mpix regularly offers sitewide sales that make products more affordable. Both balance cost and quality nicely.
- Customer Service
If any issues arise with your order, you want a photo lab with responsive customer service.
mpix provides US-based customer support by phone, email, and online chat. Most users praise mpix service for resolving problems promptly and politely. They offer a price match guarantee as well.
Nations Photo Lab customer service is available by phone and email. Response times are generally fast and satisfactory per reviews. One complaint is phone agents pushing back on reasonable requests. Their “No Risk Guarantee” assures satisfaction.
mpix edges out Nations just slightly when it comes to supportive customer service. But both offer guarantees and responsive options if order issues arise.
Also Read: Comparison Between mpix and Mixbook
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Still have some questions about mpix, Nations, and online photo printing? Here are answers to some common queries:
Yes, taking advantage of Nations Photo Lab’s free color correction service is recommended to get the most accurate colors and white balance on your prints. Their technicians will digitally adjust the image so colors, contrast, and exposure match your original photo as closely as possible. Just upload your image and Nations will color correct it prior to printing.
If Nations Photo Lab is not accepting certain image uploads, it is likely due to file formatting issues or size restrictions. Make sure photos are JPG, PNG, or TIFF files under 50MB each. TIFF files over 50MP may fail to upload as well. If still struggling, contact Nations customer support for troubleshooting assistance.
Mpix uses premium photo paper from brands like Kodak and Fujifilm to print your memories. For standard prints, mpix uses Kodak Professional Endura paper for glossy or matte finish. For larger sizes, they use Fujifilm Crystal Archive paper up to levels of museum quality. You can rest assured your photos will be printed on archival-grade paper.
Miller’s Photo Lab and mpix are owned by the same parent company, Miller’s Professional Imaging. mpix provides broader consumer printing capabilities online while Miller’s focuses more on professional photographers and selling gear. But both print photos to the same high standards using similar technology and processes for great results.
Also Read: Comparison Between Mpix And Bay Photo.
Final Thought
Based on this detailed review, mpix comes out on top as the superior online photo printing service compared to Nations Photo Lab. Key advantages of mpix include:
- Consistently stellar print quality and color accuracy
- Huge range of print products for thoughtful gifting
- Smoother online ordering experience and faster turnaround
- Affordable pricing with regular promos and sales
- Slightly better marks for customer service
However, Nations Photo Lab also produces beautiful, professional-grade photo prints at very competitive pricing. Their wall art and home décor selection is hard to beat. You won’t go wrong using Nations for standard prints and canvas gallery wraps.
But for the best overall user experience from uploading to unboxing your order, mpix is the winner! Their combination of print quality, product selection, and customer support makes them our top recommendation for preserving your memories with beautiful photo prints.