The 2026 test: 10 photo books
The same book, ordered from 10 providers on the same day. These are the rules, published before the first order.
The common configuration
- Hardcover, the format closest to 20 × 20 cm.
- 28 pages, or the first possible count above 28.
- The provider's standard paper, no paid upgrades.
- Standard delivery to the same address in Romania, paid by card, no personal discount codes.
The same 60 photos
- Our own photos and licensed images, no customer photos.
- A colour chart and a sharpness chart, each on a full page.
- Different skin tones, backlight, night, black and white, a gradient sky.
- A small phone photo, to see whether the editor warns.
- One photo across the spine, to measure how much the binding swallows.
Scoring grid (100 points)
Version 1.0 · 2026-10-18. It does not change after the first order. Methodology
| Print quality | 35 pts |
|---|---|
| colour against the reference chart | 15 pts |
| sharpness under a loupe | 10 pts |
| paper: thickness and feel | 10 pts |
| Binding and cover | 20 pts |
| how much of the photo the spine swallows | 8 pts |
| how the pages open | 4 pts |
| cover and corners | 8 pts |
| Editor and ordering | 15 pts |
| time to build the book | 5 pts |
| automatic layout | 5 pts |
| warnings for weak photos | 5 pts |
| Price | 15 pts |
| total paid to the door | 10 pts |
| price per page | 5 pts |
| Delivery and service | 15 pts |
| real days against promised days | 7 pts |
| packaging | 4 pts |
| support's answer | 4 pts |
The ranking
The ranking appears once every book has arrived and been measured.
Our own book
We make photo books too, at albume-foto.com. Our book goes through the same measurements and the blind panel, but is shown separately, outside the ranking.
Frequently asked questions
When are the results out?
The results, ranking and comparison film are planned for 3 December 2026.
How did you pick the 10 services?
Five sell in Romania, three are European and two come from outside Europe, so the test also covers readers in France, the UK and Hungary.
Is your own book in the test?
Yes, the albume-foto.com book goes through the same measurements but is shown separately, outside the ranking.
Who pays for the books?
We do, at list price, without telling the providers.