A fluid printhead including a plurality of heater elements that are driven to nucleate bubbles in fluid so that the fluid is ejected from the printhead in the form of drops, a plurality of drive elements, each drive element selectively driving a corresponding one of the plurality of heater elements in accordance with a printer controller, and a drop detection system that includes a plurality of drop detection cells, each drop detection cell detecting a change in electrical resistance of a corresponding one of the plurality of heater elements that occurs upon drop formation.