Buying guide for best home printers
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Printers have become essential tools not just in business, but in home-use situations as well. If you have a computer, laptop, tablet, camera or smartphone, chances are that you need a printer. How you intend on using that printer, however, will ultimately determine which is the best one for you.
Because the cost is comparable, and cartridges last for months instead of weeks, laser printers tend to be the wiser option. If you need your printer to perform other duties such as double-sided printing, scanning, copying, color printing, borderless printing or faxing, make sure that the model you are considering is capable of accomplishing these tasks. A decent capacity tray will come in handy, even if you don't print in high volumes.
Our top pick is the Brother Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer, which can tackle large jobs with ease.
Editors' picks
Print Quality: Up to 1200 x 1200 dpi | Print Speed: Up to 36 pages per minute | Connectivity Options: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Ethernet, USB 2.0
If you're tired of juggling multiple machines just to get your paperwork in order, the Brother DCP-L2640DW has you covered. This three-in-one workhorse prints crisp black-and-white documents at a breakneck 36 pages per minute and throws in reliable scanning and copying to boot.
Its compact size means it plays nice with tight desk space, while the dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB give you plenty of connection wiggle room.
The 50-sheet auto document feeder and duplex printing features help streamline big jobs without wasting time or paper. If you're looking for a machine that offers speed, reliability, and value, this one's a solid pick.
Print Quality: Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi | Print Speed: Up to 7.5 ppm (black), 5.5 ppm (color) | Connectivity Options: Single-band Wi-Fi, USB 2.0
The HP DeskJet 2855e is a solid budget pick for those that don't mind a bit of compromise. It's an affordable wireless printer with an intuitive mobile app and a pretty good color output.
It handles the basics well enough, whether you're printing school forms, grocery lists or family recipes. That said, the setup can be hit or miss, and the Wi-Fi connection is a little spotty. Ink tends to run dry quicker than you’d hope, and the print speed won’t be winning any races.
But if you just need a compact printer for light, occasional use, it will do the trick without breaking the bank.
Print Quality: Up to 1200 dpi (black and white) | Print Speed: Up to 10 ppm (black), 5 ppm (color) | Connectivity Options: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB
The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is the kind of printer that makes you feel like you’ve finally outsmarted the ink cartridge racket. It comes with generous, refillable tanks, meaning you won't have to top it off often.
It's built for the home office crowd that wants solid performance without babysitting their printer every week. However, color quality is a mixed bag; some prints pop while others fall a bit flat, and setup can be a bit of a hassle, too. But generally speaking, the ET-4800 is a workhorse. If saving on ink is high on your priority list, this one is worth a look.
Key considerations
Output statistics
The BestReviews lab staff examined each printer’s output statistics: pages per minute, color quality, and so on.
Features
Few printers just print anymore; multifunctional models abound. What’s more, the prices of these machines are now well within reach of the average home user. Are print-only machines worth the expense? Do these models save you money or grant a better performance? Our lab staff noted and tested the features offered by each printer we considered.
Connectivity options
Most printers can still plug into a computer, but WiFi is everywhere now, and an increasing number of machines print wirelessly from smartphones and tablets. During testing, we noted the offerings of each model.
Color vs. monochrome
Little difference exists between the cost of a color printer and the cost of a black and white printer. So why not have the color option? There are several reasons, actually.
The best monochrome printers are:
• Compact
• Fast
• Easy to use
Although a color printer may be more cumbersome and slightly more expensive than a black-and-white model, the benefit is undeniable: you get color prints.
As such, some consumers find it prudent to buy a cheap monochrome printer for text printing and an all-in-one color printer for everything else.
Notably, all of the monochrome models we looked at were laser printers, designed for rapid output of large amounts of text and/or black and white images. Even the very best inkjets struggle to produce text that's as sharp (particularly at sizes below 12 point), and when they do, they run much slower because they're on a “high resolution” setting.
Expert TIp
I recommend plugging your printer directly into a wall AC outlet and not into a power strip or extension cord. Printers can pull a lot of power when they first start up, or when they first start a print job, and that can cause issues if you’re using a power strip or extension cord that isn't designed to handle that kind of power.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
Single-function printer vs. multifunctional printer
Should you buy a single or multifunctional printer? In general, this is an easy question to answer. If you can find a quality color printer with fax, scanning, and copying capabilities for the same price as a printer without those functions, the decision is a no-brainer.
However, some situations exist in which you might prefer a single-function printer. Consider the following:
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If you want photo-realistic output of high quality, you almost certainly want a specialist machine that focuses solely on the task at hand.
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A printer with a built-in scanner would probably serve the needs of most consumers, but if you require high-resolution scans for trade printing or graphic displays, a machine dedicated entirely to high-resolution prints could be your best bet.
- Business owners might prefer a more robust single-function unit that can consistently handle their heavy output demands.
Expert Tip
When you first set up your printer, do a test print of at least 12 pages. This can help work out any issues you may run into with smearing or debris stuck in the machine.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
Inkjet vs. laser
This is always going to be a difficult question to answer, and even the BestReviews lab testers had differing opinions.
However, all agreed that your final choice should depend largely on what you intend to use the printer for.
In the early days of home printers, the choice between inkjet and laser was rather straightforward. Back then, laser printers created images with superior detail, but the machines were prohibitively expensive.
Inkjets were far more affordable, but the final product wasn’t nearly as sharp.
Today's printers employ the same basic technologies, but much has changed.
Expert TIp
Always keep extra printer paper around. It stinks to run out of paper in the middle of an important print job--so be sure to stock up on paper.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
Features
Most inkjet and laser printers offer similar features. Almost all can communicate wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet. Many offer WiFi so you can share the printer with other users. And, as we've seen, scanning, copying, and faxing are common.
Here are some notable “other” features you might be interested in:
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Paper tray capacity: If you do a lot of printing, a large-capacity paper tray comes in handy.
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Automatic feeding: If you print lots of envelopes or cards, automatic feeding of multiple sizes is useful.
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Automatic duplexing: This feature is great for those who want to execute rapid double-sided printing.
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Borderless printing: This is great if you want to print lots of photos, but you should check the print sizes available before making a purchase.
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Ink refill subscription program: A program such as this could save you money, but we urge consumers to think about their usage patterns before choosing a printer with this feature. It’s not necessary for everyone.
Price
It's possible to buy a cheap printer for less than $50, but the faults of these bargain models frequently outweigh the savings. And, the truth is, a decent machine could cost you just a little more than $50. Even at the top end of the pricing scale, a high-quality multifunctional printer is remarkably affordable.
A note about ink quality
Of course, you want your prints to last forever — especially if you use your printer to create copies of treasured photos. But some inks fade over time. Here’s what you need to know about ink technology as it stands today:
- Inkjet inks fall into two categories — dye-based and pigment-based. Dye-based inks are 100% liquid; the color is dissolved in water. Pigment-based inks have solid particles in the mix and consequently last longer.
- Testing suggests that some images created by cheap replacement ink fade in as little as three months. This may be extreme, but it’s a known danger of buying remanufactured cartridges.
- Ink purchased directly from the printer manufacturer may cost more, but the images rendered from it could last longer. The reason: this ink will probably be part pigment (the black) and part dye (the colors).
- If you want your photo images to retain their richness for years, consider a specialist photo printer and the corresponding ink and paper. You'll pay more, but you’ll enjoy remarkable technology.
Tips
We wholeheartedly endorse our highlighted printer models, but what if you’re still not sure which product is right for you? After all, your printing needs may differ from those of your neighbor.
Keep these pointers in mind when making your final decision —
If you need high quantities of monochrome/grayscale printing, choose a monochrome laser printer. This unit will offer you:
- Fast printing
- Sharp detail
- High-volume capability
If you need high quantities of business printing, choose a color laser printer. This unit will offer you:
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Fast printing
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Fine detail
If you need a general-purpose home or small business printer, choose a color inkjet model. This unit will offer you:
- A lower initial investment
- Cheaper ink
- Good photo quality
If you need large quantities of high-quality photo printing, choose a specialist color inkjet printer. This unit will offer you:
- Exceptional visual quality
- Prints that hold their color for decades
Expert Tip
When connecting your printer to WiFi, make sure you connect to your primary WiFi network and not your guest network. Connecting it to your primary WiFi ensures that your printer will be able to receive print jobs from other devices on your network.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
What printers are best for working from home?
While the tasks you need to do as you work from home will dictate many of the features and functions that make a printer right for you, there are a few particular things you'll want to consider when choosing a printer for your home office.
- If you work with mostly Mac devices, make sure the printer you buy supports AirPrint
- Paying a little more can get you a smaller printer, which is handy in home offices where space is tight.
- If you have to sign a lot of paperwork for your job, get one with a scanner
- You may be able to claim your printer as a business expense, so keep your receipt.
