We Ordered 5 Custom Photo Gifts Under S$100 - One Was Surprisingly Good

Custom photo book and canvas print gifts ordered from Photobook Singapore under S$100

We Ordered 5 Custom Photo Gifts Under S$100

Personalised photo gifts sound great until you receive a blurry canvas print or a mug where your face looks like a potato. We ordered five products from Photobook Singapore, each under S$100, to test whether budget custom printing can actually look professional.

Product 1: Hardcover Photo Book (S$79) - The Winner

This is the product that surprised us. The 8x8 inch, 40-page hardcover photo book arrived looking like something from a professional photography studio. Lay-flat binding means your double-page wedding or travel spreads have zero gutter loss. Colours were accurate even on phone photos taken in Singapore's harsh midday sun.

The test: We used 40 photos from a Singapore trip - Gardens by the Bay, hawker centres, Marina Bay Sands, HDB heartland shots. Mixed lighting, mixed quality, all from an iPhone. The printed results were sharper than expected. Dark hawker centre shots were slightly muddied, but outdoor photos were crisp.

Verdict: The standout product. At S$79, it competes with S$200+ custom books from local photography studios. During Photobook's frequent 50-70% off sales, this drops to S$25-40, which is frankly ridiculous value.

Product 2: Canvas Print 16x20 inch (S$89) - Great Value

We printed a Marina Bay Sands sunset shot. Gallery-wrapped edges, ready-to-hang hardware included. The print quality matched canvas prints from framing shops at Bras Basah Complex that charge S$150-250.

Tip: Use photos at least 3MB for canvas. Low-resolution photos look blurry at 16x20 inches. The preview tool warns you, but many people ignore it.

Verdict: Excellent for home decor. A personalised canvas print of your wedding photo or family portrait makes a better gift than another Takashimaya voucher.

Product 3: Custom Phone Case (S$39) - Acceptable

We printed a Jewel Changi waterfall photo. The image was sharp and colours were vibrant on the case surface. Protection is basic - this is not an Otterbox. The case fits well on iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models.

Verdict: Fun gift for friends or family. Not for daily use if you need drop protection. At S$39, it is a novelty item, not a serious phone case.

Product 4: Photo Mug (S$29) - Decent

We printed a group photo on a white ceramic mug. The image was clear but colours were slightly muted compared to the screen preview. Dishwasher safe as claimed. The handle placement sometimes crops awkwardly - use the preview editor carefully.

Verdict: Solid office gift or Secret Santa option. At S$29, expectations should match the price.

Product 5: Greeting Cards 10-pack (S$35) - Practical

Personalised photo cards with our own images on the front. Good quality cardstock, envelopes included. We used these for Chinese New Year with family photos - much more personal than generic CNY cards from Popular.

Verdict: Best value for seasonal gifting. 10 cards at S$35 means S$3.50 per card with a personal touch.

Price Summary

| Product | Price | Quality | Best For | |---|---|---|---| | Hardcover photo book | S$79 (S$25-40 on sale) | Excellent | Travel, wedding, baby | | Canvas print 16x20 | S$89 (S$30-45 on sale) | Excellent | Home decor, gifts | | Phone case | S$39 | Good | Fun gifts | | Photo mug | S$29 | Decent | Office, Secret Santa | | Greeting cards x10 | S$35 | Good | CNY, Deepavali, Raya |

Never Pay Full Price

Photobook runs 50-70% off sales every 2-3 weeks. The S$79 photo book drops to S$25-40. The S$89 canvas becomes S$30-45. Sign up for their email alerts and wait for a sale - you will never wait more than 3 weeks.

Photobook vs Local Alternatives in Singapore

Snapfish: International platform with Singapore delivery. More templates but generally pricier than Photobook even during sales.

Chatprint: Singapore-based instant photo printing (passport photos, prints). Not the same category as custom photo books.

Shopee custom sellers: Budget phone cases and mugs from S$10-20. Quality is inconsistent. Fine for casual gifts, not for important occasions.

Professional studios: Bras Basah Complex and Funan shops offer premium photo books at S$200-400. Quality is marginally better but 3-5x the price.

Singapore Gift Occasion Guide

Wedding gift: Hardcover photo book of the couple's engagement or pre-wedding photos. Design it yourself or ask the photographer for digital files. S$25-40 on sale.

Baby's first year: Monthly milestone photo book. Photobook has baby templates in the app. One spread per month, done in 30 minutes.

Parents' anniversary: Canvas print of a favourite family photo. The 16x20 inch canvas at S$30-45 on sale looks like a S$200 gift.

CNY, Deepavali, Hari Raya: Photo greeting cards with family pictures. The 10-pack at S$35 covers extended family.

National Day, Teacher's Day: Custom mugs with class photos or team photos. Order in bulk for S$20-25 each.

Tips for Singapore Buyers

PayNow accepted: Photobook Singapore accepts PayNow for instant transfer with zero fees.

Delivery: Standard 5-7 business days within Singapore. No self-collection option currently.

Photo resolution: Minimum 2MB for photo books, 3MB+ for canvas. Singapore's bright outdoor light produces great photos for printing - use those over indoor shots.

Design time: Budget 1-2 hours for a 40-page photo book. The app auto-fills but manual tweaking improves results significantly.

FAQ

Is Photobook Singapore good quality? Yes. The hardcover photo book and canvas print are genuinely impressive for the price, especially during sales. Comparable to professional studios at 20-30% of the cost.

How long is delivery in Singapore? Standard 5-7 business days. No express option currently.

When does Photobook run sales? Every 2-3 weeks with 50-70% off. Never pay full price. Sign up for email alerts.

Can I use PayNow to pay? Yes. PayNow, credit card, and debit card accepted.

You Might Also Like

Related Reading

OnlyCodes Deals

Visit OnlyCodes for the latest deals.

---

OnlyCodes may earn a commission when you purchase through our links. This does not influence our recommendations.