Get the Sawgrass SG500 if:
- The 3-year or 100,000-print warranty matters to you.
- You want Sawgrass’s color presets instead of setting up color yourself.
- You mostly print up to Legal size, or will add the bypass tray for long prints.
The short answer
Refillable bottles, long prints, small desk? Epson F170
Longer warranty, color presets? Sawgrass SG500
Both are 4-color (CMYK) sublimation printers that take paper up to 8.5 in wide. The F170 refills from 140 mL ink bottles, prints up to 47.2 in long from its standard feed, and is the smaller unit. The SG500 uses SubliJet UHD cartridges, manages color through Sawgrass Print Utility presets, and carries a 3-year or 100,000-print warranty against Epson’s 1 year. For most hobby setups the F170 is the simpler fit; pick the SG500 if the warranty and Sawgrass’s color tools matter more.
Best for warranty and color presets
Pick the Sawgrass SG500 if
- You want the longer warranty: 3 years or 100,000 prints (bought on or after October 1, 2025), plus unlimited tech support.
- You want color handled for you: free Sawgrass Print Utility presets and the MySawgrass design platform.
- You want USB, Ethernet and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
The Amazon link is a bundle (model 500N STD): printer, 4 x 31 mL SubliJet UHD inks and TruePix paper. It ships from Amazon and is sold by Sawgrass Technologies.
See the SG500 bundle on AmazonBest for refillable ink and long prints
Pick the Epson SureColor F170 if
Full Epson SureColor F170 review
- You want refillable ink bottles: 140 mL of each color in the box and in replacements.
- You print long: paper up to 8.5 x 47.2 in without an add-on tray.
- Desk space is tight: 13.7 x 13.7 x 7.4 in when stored, 10.2 lb.
Epson lists the printer, 4 x 140 mL ink bottles, a maintenance box, AC cord and user guide. The Amazon listing is sold and shipped by JPPlus, a third-party seller (the listing calls it an Epson authorized partner), and is non-returnable.
See the F170 on AmazonBefore you buy: The SG500 link is an ink-and-paper bundle, not the printer alone. The F170 link is sold by a third party, not Amazon or Epson, and Amazon marks it non-returnable. Both printers are designed for their maker’s own ink. Listings change, so check the seller and what’s in the box before you order.
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Key specs
1Sawgrass SG500
spec rows won
spec rows won
3Epson F170
spec rows won
spec rows won
8even or
unclear
unclear
The SG500 wins on warranty. The F170 wins on print length, ink in the box and size. Resolution gets no check because the makers rate it differently and a higher dpi figure doesn’t by itself mean a better transfer.
A green check marks the clearly better spec for most people. No check means a tie, a gap that depends on how you work, or missing data. Figures come from Sawgrass’s and Epson’s own pages; Amazon-only facts are labeled.
| Sawgrass SG500 | Epson F170 | |
|---|---|---|
| Print tech | Purpose-built dye-sublimation inkjet, auto maintenance cycle | PrecisionCore MicroTFP head, 784 nozzles |
| Max print size | 8.5 x 14 in; 8.5 x 51 in with optional bypass tray | 8.5 x 47.2 in from the standard feed |
| Resolution (maker) | Up to 4,880 x 1,200 dpi | 1,200 x 600 dpi |
| Ink | SubliJet UHD (or VersiFlex) cartridges, CMYK | UltraChrome DS refillable bottles, CMYK |
| Ink in the box | 4 x 31 mL (in the Amazon bundle) | 4 x 140 mL |
| Connections | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Software | Sawgrass Print Utility (color presets), MySawgrass | Epson dye-sub print software |
| Computers | Windows 8+ or Mac 10.13+, Intel/AMD | Windows 10 and 11, macOS 10.7–15 |
| Paper tray | Main tray + optional bypass tray; 100 sheets (Amazon only) | 150 sheets |
| Size | 15.75 x 17.25 x 8.5 in | 13.7 x 13.7 x 7.4 in stored, 14.8 x 19.8 x 7.4 in printing |
| Weight | Unknown (Sawgrass doesn’t list it) | 10.2 lb |
| Warranty | 3 years or 100,000 prints (2 years if bought before Oct 1, 2025) | 1 year, unit exchange |
Spec notes
- Print speed is left out. Sawgrass publishes times for one sample image; Epson’s spec sheet gives none, so there’s nothing to compare.
- Ink yields aren’t published by either maker, so cost per print isn’t compared here.
- F170 power: about 13 W printing, 4.1 W ready, 0.7 W sleep (Epson).
- Support: Sawgrass lists unlimited tech support; Epson lists toll-free phone support Monday to Friday.
Where the sources disagree
- SG500 warranty: the Amazon listing’s title says 3 years and its description says 2 years. Sawgrass’s FAQ says 3 years or 100,000 prints for printers bought on or after October 1, 2025. We use Sawgrass’s figure.
- F170 weight: Epson says 10.2 lb; Amazon lists about 16 lb, likely the shipping weight. We use Epson’s figure.
- F170 resolution and ink: Amazon’s spec fields list 5,760 x 1,440 dpi and a “White” ink color. Epson says 1,200 x 600 dpi and CMYK. We use Epson’s figures.
- F170 mobile printing: one Amazon listing says mobile isn’t supported, another says it is (Amazon only). Epson’s spec sheet we checked doesn’t settle it.
What it can print
Common print jobs, judged only from each maker’s paper sizes, connections and listed software.
- Can do the maker’s specs cover it
- Just barely possible, with a limit or add-on the maker states
- Can’t the maker’s specs rule it out
| Job | Sawgrass SG500 | Epson F170 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet sizes | ||
| Letter or A4 sheet | Can doMain tray takes A4 and Letter. | Can doLists sizes up to 8.5 x 14 in and A4. |
| Legal (8.5 x 14 in) | Can doUS model has an extendable tray for Legal. | Can doLists 8.5 x 14 in. |
| Long prints | ||
| 30 in strip | Just barelyNeeds the optional bypass tray. | Can doUp to 47.2 in from the standard feed. |
| 50 in strip | Just barelyOptional bypass tray, up to 51 in. | Can’tMax paper length is 47.2 in. |
| Wider than 8.5 in | Can’t8.5 in max width. | Can’t8.5 in max width. |
| Setup | ||
| Print over Wi-Fi | Can do2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. | Can doWi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct. |
| Print from a Mac | Can doMac 10.13 or later. | Can domacOS 10.7 to 15. |
Both print onto sublimation paper; you still need a heat press to transfer the design. Follow your paper and blank maker’s settings.
Notes and sources
Sources: Sawgrass’s SG500 product page, FAQ, brochure and user manual; Epson’s SureColor F170 spec sheet (CPD-59817R1) and product page. Checked October 16, 2026.
Who should buy which
Get the Epson SureColor F170 if:
- You’d rather refill bottles than swap cartridges.
- You print long designs up to 47.2 in without extra trays.
- You want a small, light printer (10.2 lb).
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Skip it if
Skip the SG500
Skip it if you want refillable ink bottles or long prints without buying the optional bypass tray.
Skip the F170
Skip it if you want more than a 1-year warranty, or you need prints longer than 47.2 in.
Questions about this pair
Can I use other inks in either printer?
Both makers design these printers for their own ink: SubliJet UHD (or VersiFlex) cartridges for the SG500, Epson T49M UltraChrome DS bottles for the F170. Epson says damage from non-genuine ink isn’t covered.
Which one prints longer sheets?
The F170 takes paper up to 47.2 in long from its standard feed. The SG500 takes up to 14 in from the main tray, or up to 51 in with its optional bypass tray.
Which has the longer warranty?
The SG500. Sawgrass lists 3 years or 100,000 prints for printers bought on or after October 1, 2025 (2 years before that). Epson lists 1 year with unit exchange for the F170.
Do they work with a Mac?
Yes. Sawgrass lists Mac 10.13 or later (Intel/AMD, internet needed during install). Epson lists macOS 10.7 to 15 and Windows 10 and 11.