Best small color printer for home: HP OfficeJet 250 Review – RTINGS.com

The 5 Best Home Printers – Summer 2023: Reviews

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Intro
  3. Best Printer

    1. Best Upper Mid-Range

      1. Best Mid-Range

        1. Best Budget

          1. Best Cheap

            1. Notable Mentions
            2. Recent Updates
            3. All Reviews
            4. Discussions

            Updated Jul 18, 2023 at 11:19 am

            By Ryan Lim

            When shopping for the best printer for home use, you’re likely looking for something versatile enough to satisfy everyone’s needs. Your family might need to copy documents to sign, scan delicate old photos, or print long essays or reports at a moment’s notice. Good scanning features ensure you can digitize your work quickly and efficiently, while a low cost-per-print is a must to help keep you within your budget. Various connectivity options are ideal if you want to print easily from any device.

            We’ve tested over 125 printers, and below are our recommendations for the best home printers you can buy. You can also check our picks for the best all-in-one printers, the best photo printers, and the best office printers.

            1. Best Home Printer

              Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500

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              Family

              8.6

              Expected Maintenance

              8.0

              Estimated Black Page Yield

              4,978 prints

              Estimated Color Page Yield

              3,319 prints

              Third Party Cartridge

              No Cartridges

              Cost-Per-Print

              10

              Connectivity

              9.0

              See all our test results

              The best home printer we’ve tested is the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500, a cheaper variant of the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 we tested. Aside from the ET-8550’s higher price, the difference is that the ET-8550 supports wide format paper up to 13″ x 19″, which is only relevant to a limited subset of people. Simply put, the cheaper ET-8500 is a better option for most households. Regardless of which variant you choose, remember that this is a photo printer first, so if you only plan on printing documents, you can easily find cheaper models that are just as good, like the printers we recommend below.

              Printing-wise, this supertank model produces sharp, high-quality documents and incredibly detailed and colorful photos. Its overall printing speed is good; it only takes 12 seconds to initialize and get a single page out, and for multi-page documents, it prints up to 15 black or 10 color pages per minute. A full tank gets you thousands of prints, and replacement ink is cheap, so you don’t need to worry about high maintenance costs. Its flatbed scanner performs incredibly well, as it can pick up even the tiniest details, so it’s excellent for digitizing your old photos. However, there’s no automatic document feeder, so you must scan each page manually.

              See our review

            2. Best Upper Mid-Range Home Printer

              Epson EcoTank ET-3850

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              Family

              8.3

              Expected Maintenance

              6.5

              Estimated Black Page Yield

              7,885 prints

              Estimated Color Page Yield

              4,681 prints

              Third Party Cartridge

              No Cartridges

              Cost-Per-Print

              10

              Connectivity

              8.0

              See all our test results

              If you only need a printer for document printing and general office tasks, get the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 instead. Like the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500, it’s also an all-in-one color inkjet model with a refillable ink tank, making it a great choice for households that print a lot. It prints black and color documents well at a decent speed, churning out 15 black or seven color pages per minute. Printed photos look good but aren’t as detailed or color-accurate as the pictures the ET-8500 produces since it’s more of a general-purpose printer.

              For connectivity, you get Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, and support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. The scanner produces exceptionally high-quality scans and is equipped with an automatic feeder to process multi-page documents. It’s slow, though, as it can only scan up to three pages per minute and doesn’t support duplex scanning. It’s compatible with Epson’s mobile app, which you can use to print, scan, copy, and perform maintenance tasks.

              See our review

            3. Best Mid-Range Home Printer

              Brother MFC-J4335DW

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              Family

              8. 2

              Expected Maintenance

              6.0

              Estimated Black Page Yield

              2,280 prints

              Estimated Color Page Yield

              825 prints

              Third Party Cartridge

              No Cartridges

              Cost-Per-Print

              9.5

              Connectivity

              7.0

              See all our test results

              The best printer for home use we’ve tested in the mid-range category is the Brother MFC-J4335DW. This all-in-one inkjet model yields around 2200 black and 800 color pages with a set of full cartridges, and you can get XL cartridges that’ll last even longer. Of course, it’ll never match the page yield or cost-per-print of a supertank printer like the models we recommend above, but its page yield is highly impressive for a printer that uses ink cartridges. It produces high-quality black and color documents, and although it doesn’t have the best color accuracy or color range, printed photos still look very detailed.

              As for printing speed, it doesn’t take long to initialize and get a single page out, and for longer documents, it churns out 17 black or 15 color pages per minute. The scanner processes up to 20 pages per minute through its automatic feeder, but it doesn’t support duplex scanning, so you’ll have to scan double-sided sheets manually. If you need Ethernet connectivity or NFC support, you can get the Brother MFC-J4535DW variant; just expect to pay more. You also get an additional 250-sheet input tray and a larger touch-sensitive display for the price increase.

              See our review

            4. Best Budget Home Printer

              Brother MFC-J1205W/MFC-J1215W

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              Family

              7.9

              Expected Maintenance

              6. 0

              Estimated Black Page Yield

              1,178 prints

              Estimated Color Page Yield

              766 prints

              Third Party Cartridge

              No Cartridges

              Cost-Per-Print

              9.5

              Connectivity

              7.0

              See all our test results

              Our best budget home printer pick is the Brother MFC-J1205W, also known as the Brother MFC-J1215W at Walmart. It’s a good option for households with a light to moderate print load. It has the usual Wi-Fi and USB connectivity and supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. Although the scanner produces high-quality scans, it has trouble capturing finer details, so it might not be the best for digitizing photos. There’s no automatic feeder or duplex scanning, which is typical for a budget model.

              As for its printing performance, it produces very sharp documents; it just isn’t very fast, as it can only push out nine black or six color pages per minute. Also, it doesn’t support automatic duplex printing, so you’ll have to flip the pages manually when double-sided printing. For photo printing, it’s excellent at reproducing very fine details but struggles with bright, saturated tones, so pictures tend to look a little flat. It yields around 1100 black and 700 color pages, so you won’t have to replace the ink cartridges often unless you print a lot. Plus, they’re relatively cheap, which helps keep running costs low.

              See our review

            5. Best Cheap Home Printer

              Canon PIXMA MG3620

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              Family

              7.6

              Expected Maintenance

              7.0

              Estimated Black Page Yield

              225 prints

              Estimated Color Page Yield

              210 prints

              Third Party Cartridge

              Purchased One Worked

              Cost-Per-Print

              7. 9

              Connectivity

              6.0

              See all our test results

              If you only print occasionally, we recommend the Canon PIXMA MG3620. It prints sharp documents and colorful photos, but unlike the models above, it yields significantly fewer prints, meaning you’ll often have to replace the ink cartridges. The cost per print is still low because the ink cartridges are relatively cheap; it just requires more maintenance. Also, since it uses a tri-color cartridge, you replace the entire cartridge if one color runs out, which is wasteful. You can get XL cartridges that’ll last longer; however, they’ll still yield fewer prints than the budget Brother MFC-J1205W or the mid-range Brother MFC-J4335DW.

              Unfortunately, this is a pretty slow printer. It takes longer than most inkjet printers to initialize and only prints up to nine black or three color pages per minute. It supports automatic duplex printing, so you don’t need to flip the pages manually when printing double-sided. The Canon also has USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, and is compatible with Canon’s mobile app. The scanner produces excellent scans where the colors look a little washed out, but there are a lot of fine details.

              See our review

            Notable Mentions

            • Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300:
              The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is a good alternative to the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 if you only care about photo printing quality. Its color accuracy is much better than the Epson’s, but it prints slower and costs more to maintain because the ink cartridges don’t last as long. It’s also a print-only unit, so you’ll have to get a separate scanner if you want to scan anything.
              See our review
            • Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850:
              The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is a great alternative to the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 if you mainly print documents. It produces higher-quality documents and prints faster at up to 25 pages per minute. It also has an automatic feeder with single-pass duplex scanning. However, its scan quality isn’t as good because the scanner struggles to capture finer details, and the printer isn’t as good for photo printing due to its narrower color range.
              See our review
            • HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e:
              The HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e is a good alternative to the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 if you need duplex scanning. However, it produces low-quality scans, and its ink cartridges yield fewer prints. The HP comes with six months of free ink through HP+, HP’s ink replenishment subscription service. However, if you subscribe to it, you can no longer use third-party cartridges, even if you unsubscribe from the service later.
              See our review
            • HP Smart Tank 7301 [6001, 7001]:
              The HP Smart Tank 7301 is a good alternative to the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 if you print more color documents. It produces better quality color documents than the Epson and yields significantly more color prints. However, it has a narrower color range, making it less suitable for photo printing, and its scanner doesn’t perform as well, as it has trouble capturing finer details.
              See our review
            • Epson EcoTank ET-2400:
              The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 is a cheaper alternative to the Epson EcoTank ET-3850. It prints higher-quality photos than the ET-3850 but lacks an automatic feeder, Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service support, and automatic duplex printing. It also prints slower and yields fewer prints than the ET-3850.
              See our review
            • Canon PIXMA TR8620a:
              The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-J4335DW to print photos. It produces more colorful pictures with less grain but doesn’t yield as many pages, so you’ll have to pay more for ink.
              See our review

            Recent Updates

            1. Jul 18, 2023:
              Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations. Added the HP Smart Tank 7301 as a Notable Mention.

            2. Jun 22, 2023:
              Added the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 and the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 as Notable Mentions. No change in recommendations.

            3. May 24, 2023:
              Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.

            4. Apr 28, 2023:
              Ensured all main picks still represent the best fit for user needs.

            5. Mar 31, 2023:
              Minor text changes. Replaced the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 with the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 variant because it’s cheaper.

            All Reviews

            Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best home printers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.

            If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here’s the list of all our printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

            The 6 Best Photo Printers – Summer 2023: Reviews

            1. Table of Contents
            2. Intro
            3. Best Printer

              1. Best Upper Mid-Range

                1. Best Mid-Range

                  1. Best Budget

                    1. Best Cheap

                      1. Best Portable

                        1. Notable Mentions
                        2. Recent Updates
                        3. All Reviews
                        4. Discussions

                        Updated Jun 29, 2023 at 03:37 pm

                        By Ryan Lim

                        Whether you’re printing off photos to save in your scrapbook or want to have some glossy prints of your best pictures handy, a good photo printer can make a huge difference when you’re saving those important images. While most printers can print images, the best printers for pictures can accurately and vividly reproduce colors while still retaining detail from your original photo. Inkjet printers also tend to be better suited for printing photos, and some inkjets even include special photo cartridges to give you an even better color reproduction.

                        We’ve tested over 125 printers, and below are our recommendations for the best photo printers you can buy. For other options, check out our picks for the best home printers, the best inkjet printers, and the best all-in-one printers.

                        1. Best Photo Printer

                          Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300

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                          Photo

                          8.9

                          Color Gamut

                          9.0

                          Color Accuracy

                          8.5

                          Small Details

                          9. 5

                          Photo Printing Sizes

                          10

                          Photo Printing Cost

                          0.731 US$/print

                          Expected Maintenance

                          7.0

                          See all our test results

                          The best photo printer we’ve tested is the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300, a professional-grade photo printer. It produces incredibly detailed, vibrant, color-accurate pictures without banding or other artifacts. It supports borderless printing and various paper sizes up to 13″ x 19″, making it a great choice for printing posters. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet, and there’s support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, so you can easily print from your Apple and Android devices without installing any drivers or a third-party app.

                          This printer uses nine cartridges, including specific photo cartridges that work only on glossy photo paper, meaning you won’t have to worry about depleting the photo ink if you shift to printing documents or reports. That said, the cartridges are only good for about 400 color prints, and they’re expensive, so you’ll have to spend a fair amount of money on maintenance. If you haven’t already noticed, this is a print-only model, so you’ll need a separate scanner to digitize photos.

                          See our review

                        2. Best Upper Mid-Range Photo Printer

                          Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500

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                          Photo

                          8.8

                          Color Gamut

                          9.0

                          Color Accuracy

                          6.8

                          Small Details

                          9.5

                          Photo Printing Sizes

                          10

                          Photo Printing Cost

                          0.070 US$/print

                          Expected Maintenance

                          8.0

                          See all our test results

                          If you don’t need a professional-grade printer but still want high-quality photos, get the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 instead, a variant of the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 we tested. It performs identically to the flagship ET-8550; however, it can only print on papers up to 8.5″ x 11″, whereas the ET-8550 supports up to 13″ x 19″. It also has a smaller 8.5″ x 11.7″ flatbed scanner (8.5″ x 14″ on the ET-8550). Wide-format printing is more of a niche use case, so the ET-8500 probably makes more sense for most people. If you need wide-format printing or a larger flatbed scanner, the ET-8550 is an excellent choice; just expect to pay more.

                          Like the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 above, this printer produces detailed and colorful photos, but it isn’t as color-accurate as it tends to oversaturate colors to make them more vibrant. The pictures still look amazing, just don’t expect them to be exactly like the original. Its refillable ink tank yields thousands of prints, and replacement ink is cheap, so you don’t have to worry about high maintenance costs. As this is an all-in-one, you also get a scanner that produces high-quality scans, which is great for digitizing photos. It has the usual Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connectivity and can print directly from an SD card.

                          See our review

                        3. Best Mid-Range Photo Printer

                          Epson EcoTank ET-2800/ET-2803

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                          Photo

                          8.0

                          Color Gamut

                          7.5

                          Color Accuracy

                          6.8

                          Small Details

                          9.0

                          Photo Printing Sizes

                          9.5

                          Photo Printing Cost

                          0.028 US$/print

                          Expected Maintenance

                          6.0

                          See all our test results

                          For a more modest mid-range pick, we chose the Epson EcoTank ET-2800, also known as the Epson EcoTank ET-2803 at Walmart and Target. Like the pricier Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550, it’s an all-in-one supertank model that yields thousands of prints with its ink reservoir filled to capacity, keeping costs of ownership very low. However, it only uses the usual cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. It still prints very detailed photos, but because it has a narrower color gamut, some colors, like bright, saturated tones, don’t come out as well.

                          You can connect via USB or Wi-Fi, and there’s support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. This printer works with Epson’s Smart Panel mobile app, which you can use to print, scan, and perform maintenance tasks. The scanner produces good-quality scans with nice coloring, but it has trouble capturing finer details, so it might not be ideal if you’re looking to digitize photos. It also prints very slowly, taking around a minute and a half to print a single 4″ x 6″ photo.

                          See our review

                        4. Best Budget Photo Printer

                          Canon PIXMA TR8620a

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                          Photo

                          8. 0

                          Color Gamut

                          7.0

                          Color Accuracy

                          7.5

                          Small Details

                          8.5

                          Photo Printing Sizes

                          9.5

                          Photo Printing Cost

                          0.375 US$/print

                          Expected Maintenance

                          7.0

                          See all our test results

                          For those on a tighter budget, we recommend the Canon PIXMA TR8620a. This all-in-one produces detailed and vibrant photos and supports various paper sizes up to 8.5″ x 11″. You can connect to the printer via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet and print directly from an SD card. It has a high-resolution scanner, but the scan quality is only okay, so it isn’t the best for digitizing photos. The main downside of this model is that, unlike our EcoTank picks above, it uses more traditional ink cartridges with a comparatively low page yield, so you’ll be swapping them out pretty often. Thankfully, the cartridges are relatively cheap.

                          If you prefer a supertank model, get the Canon PIXMA G3260 instead. Its ink reservoir yields significantly more prints than the TR8620’s cartridges, making it incredibly inexpensive to maintain. It has a slightly wider color range than the TR8620 but isn’t as color-accurate, as printed photos have a noticeably warmer tone. It also prints much slower and isn’t as well-built as the TR8620.

                          See our review

                        5. Best Cheap Photo Printer

                          Canon PIXMA MG3620

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                          Photo

                          7.7

                          Color Gamut

                          6.5

                          Color Accuracy

                          7.4

                          Small Details

                          8.5

                          Photo Printing Sizes

                          9.5

                          Photo Printing Cost

                          0.316 US$/print

                          Expected Maintenance

                          7. 0

                          See all our test results

                          If you need a cheap printer to print the occasional photo, we recommend the Canon PIXMA MG3620. It prints good-quality, sharp photos with decent color accuracy, and it does so fairly quickly, taking only 50 seconds to print a 4″ x 6″ picture on glossy paper. The main drawback is that it only uses two ink cartridges: one black and one tri-color. These ink cartridges don’t last very long, meaning you’ll have to replace them often.

                          Also, since it uses a tri-color cartridge, you have to replace the entire cartridge if only a single color runs out. XL cartridges are available, but this printer will yield fewer prints than a model with more cartridges or a supertank model like the Epson EcoTank ET-2800. Thankfully, the cartridges are cheap, so your overall maintenance cost won’t rise too quickly.

                          See our review

                        6. Best Portable Photo Printer

                          Canon PIXMA TR150

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                          Photo

                          7. 1

                          Color Gamut

                          7.0

                          Color Accuracy

                          6.3

                          Photo Printing

                          0.221 US$/print

                          Expected Maintenance

                          6.0

                          See all our test results

                          If you’re looking for the best printer for printing photos on the go, check out the Canon PIXMA TR150, a print-only inkjet model with a built-in rechargeable battery. It has USB and Wi-Fi connectivity and supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service; you can easily connect your smartphone and start printing without installing any drivers or third-party apps. Printed photos look detailed and colorful, albeit slightly grainy. You’ll have to replace the ink cartridges often, as they yield only about 190 color prints; however, they’re relatively cheap, so you won’t have to spend too much to maintain them over time. The internal battery supplies enough power for around 330 prints and takes about two hours to fully charge.

                          If you want something even more compact, get the Canon SELPHY Square QX10. It’s significantly more compact, meaning it’s easier to fit into a handbag, and it has an internal rechargeable battery. However, it uses dye-sublimation to print photos and can only print on Canon’s 2.84″ x 3.35″ proprietary paper. The print quality isn’t as good as the TR150, though that’s to be expected, as it’s designed to produce more polaroid-like photos. Unfortunately, its cost per print is much higher, so it can get very expensive if you print a lot. Also, you can only print about 20 photos before the battery runs out of power.

                          See our review

                        Notable Mentions

                        • Epson EcoTank ET-2400:
                          The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 is a good alternative to the Epson EcoTank ET-2800. It has a wider color gamut than the ET-2800, but its photos look more grainy.
                          See our review

                        Recent Updates

                        1. Jun 29, 2023:
                          Replaced the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 with the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 variant because it’s cheaper and a better fit for the average user.

                        2. Jun 01, 2023:
                          Verified that all picks are still valid and available. No change in recommendations.

                        3. May 04, 2023:
                          Minor in-text adjustments. Ensured all main picks are still available and represent the best option for user needs.

                        4. Apr 07, 2023:
                          Minor text changes. Replaced the Canon PIXMA G3260 with the Canon PIXMA TR8620a because the TR8620a has better color accuracy, prints faster, and can print off an SD card.

                        5. Mar 09, 2023:
                          Verified accuracy of picks. No change in recommendations.

                        All Reviews

                        Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best photo printers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.

                        If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here’s the list of all our printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

                        9 Best Color Laser Printers in 2023 for Home or Small Business!

                        Finding the best color laser printer is no easy task with all the options out there. But we are here to help you make a smart and informed decision. We’ve done our research and found the best laser printers for home use and small businesses.

                        Laser printers have become a must have for small businesses and home businesses. They no longer require a large overhead. They are more efficient and cost effective than other printing alternatives. Therefore, they are the best solution for your printing needs!

                        Ischukigor (DepositPhotos)

                        Best color laser printers

                        These are our recommendations for the best color laser printer this year. We have taken into account the needs of various amateurs, professionals and companies.

                        This list has something for everyone. We have printers for small businesses and professionals working from home, for personal and family use.

                        All printers on this list have wireless printing features, but if you’re wondering what else to look for in the best color laser printer or why you need one, we’ve got the answers in the buying guide at the end of the article.

                        9. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw

                        Best All-In-One

                        The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw has all the features and functionality a small business needs. It is an all-in-one device with print, scan, copy and fax functions. It is small enough for a home if that is where you run your business. But he is more than capable of working in a professional office.

                        Overall performance is fantastic with a duplex print speed of 22 pages per minute. The print quality is excellent, with crisp text and vibrant color tones. The paper tray holds 250 sheets. An automatic document feeder is provided to increase work efficiency.

                        This printer is wireless. It supports Wi-Fi through Wi-Fi Direct options. Plus, get the most out of mobile printing with the HP Smart App on your phone or tablet. And the order of replacement cartridges is carried out in one click using this application.

                        The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw is equipped with a flatbed scanner. The scan to email feature means you can send paper documents anywhere. Another option available is to send a fax.

                        The flatbed scanner also allows you to photocopy paper documents. It can copy in black and white and color at the same speed as printing.

                        If your Wi-Fi network is unstable, you can use an Ethernet connection. And USB ports allow you to print directly from storage devices such as flash drives and hard drives.

                        Dash Replenishment is the highlight of this machine. It recognizes when the cartridge level drops below 10% and automatically orders new ones. They will never run out again! You can activate this service on the printer without a subscription fee.

                        Standard cartridges (HP 202A) are expensive. And the cost per page is what lets the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw down. High Yield Cartridges (HP 202X) actually provide better cost-effectiveness in the long run.

                        Pros:

                        • Excellent quality prints and colors
                        • Order cartridges with one click or automatically
                        • Scan, fax, and photocopy options
                        • Capable of using high performance cartridges

                        Vs:

                        • Expensive standard cartridges
                        • High cost per page (standard)

                        8. Lexmark C3224dw Color Laser Printer

                        Best for the home office

                        If you’re looking for a simple solution to home printing problems, the Lexmark C3224dw laser printer can be just that. It has a compact cubic shape, making it easy to place in your home or office. It has all the features you need to print efficiently, but the print quality isn’t as high as the other models on this list.

                        The Lexmark C3224dw is capable of 24 pages per minute. And it can maintain that speed when printing duplex in black and white and color. The paper tray has a maximum capacity of 250 sheets, so you won’t have to get up and reload it after a lot of printing.

                        It looks simple, but the Lexmark C3224dw still has excellent wireless printing capabilities. All you need to do is connect the printer to your local Wi-Fi network and you can print from any computer, tablet or phone. You can also connect using the ethernet and USB ports.

                        You have many options for mobile printing with several printing applications available. There is an application for mobile printing Lexmark, Mopria. You can also use Air Print or Google Cloud Print. They all work with this printer, giving you more options for printing and organizing.

                        The Lexmark C3224dw has 256 MB of built-in memory. The machine remembers the documents you type frequently, which is a fantastic time-saving feature.

                        Lexmark is aware of the environmental challenges we face. And they want to lower the operating costs of their users. The C3224dw has energy-saving modes and double-sided printing as standard to save paper. They also have a free cartridge recycling system.

                        Black toner cartridge (C3210K0) uses up to 1500 pages before replacement. All three color cartridges (cyan, magenta and yellow) have the same yield of 1,500 pages. This provides a reasonable average cost per page if you print a lot in color.

                        Pros:

                        • Small and compact
                        • Remembers documents you print frequently
                        • Environmental performance
                        • Good value per page

                        Vs:

                        • Poor print quality

                        7. HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn

                        Best Professional Laser Printer

                        The HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn is a professional grade printer. It was built for life in a busy office, producing high quality prints at a fast pace perhaps too large for home use. And with company-focused features, it’s the perfect color laser printer for growing businesses.

                        You get automatic two-sided printing for more efficiency. The paper capacity is 650 sheets, so you won’t have to spend all your time restocking. The printer has the highest productivity in this list – 35 pages per minute. It’s fast, especially for two-sided color printing.

                        The color touch screen is intuitive to use when you are at the machine. But you can also set up remote access using the HP Web Admin feature. You can give new devices access to the printer, delete old ones, and update features and settings. It gives authority to the person who needs it.

                        A wireless connection is required in an office environment. And the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn has plenty of wireless options. You have a standard Wi-Fi connection. Plus, there’s a Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth option if you don’t have internet access.

                        Security is no problem with the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M554dn. With HP Wolf Enterprise Security, your confidential information is safe. It uses layers of protection against malware and unauthorized access.

                        The printer is equipped with anti-counterfeiting toner cartridge technology. It recognizes when you are using non-HP original cartridges. This means that you will not be able to buy third party toner. But it also ensures that your printer performs well, producing the highest quality black and white and color prints.

                        You need HP 212A cartridges. All colors including black are sold separately. Black toner delivers up to 5,500 pages from a full cartridge. And color cartridges produce less, about 4,500 pages.

                        Pros:

                        • High quality prints
                        • Fast print speed
                        • Holds a lot of paper
                        • Malware and Tampering Protection

                        Vs:

                        • Expensive
                        • You cannot use third party cartridges

                        6.

                        Canon ImageClass LBP622cdw

                        Best print quality

                        The Canon ImageClass LBP622cdw is one of the smallest machines on this list. It may be small, but it has all the great features you need to run a business. This is one of the best color laser printers for home or small business.

                        The paper tray holds 250 sheets of paper. The print speed is 22 pages per minute. It won’t keep you waiting and the print quality is excellent. Text is always crisp and color graphics are bright and professional.

                        The recommended print volume for the LBP622cdw is 150 to 2500 pages per month. If you work alone, you can put the printer to the test. This is also sufficient for small businesses, and if your business is growing, then you can increase productivity.

                        The Canon ImageClass LBP622cdw has all the wireless features of large Canon printers. It has Wi-Fi connectivity. Alternatively, you can connect without an internet connection using the Wi-Fi Direct option.

                        Apple Air Print also gives you access to remote printing if you download the app on your mobile device. You can also connect the printer to an Alexa device for voice-activated printing. The control panel on the printer is easy to use. But voice activation takes simplicity to the next level.

                        Business documents contain confidential information. And when you connect the printer to the Internet, you may be worried about the security of the network. But the Canon ImageClass LBP622cdw is equipped with security features to keep your documents safe. And all security settings are hidden behind the administrator login.

                        Laser printer requires one black (054) toner cartridge with 1600 pages. Color cartridges give a smaller output – 1300 prints. You can purchase all four cartridges as a set.

                        Pros:

                        • Vibration prints
                        • Compatible with Apple print
                        • Voice activation with Alexa devices
                        • Security features to keep documents safe
                        • Cartridges sold as a set

                        Vs:

                        • Fewer color prints per cartridge set

                        5.

                        HP Color LaserJet Pro M454d

                        Best for Small Business

                        The HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dw is another wireless printer perfect for busy business lives. It is ideal for small offices and small businesses. It is also great for large enterprises. The size is also suitable for home office. But for personal use, it can be expensive.

                        The regular input tray holds 250 sheets of standard paper. However, you can fill additional trays to increase the total capacity to 550 sheets. You don’t have to reboot your device in the middle of a big print job.

                        The lack of an automatic document feeder reduces the capabilities of this model, of course, in terms of office use. However, the print speed is 28 pages per minute. The print quality is excellent, crisp lines and vibrant colors. And duplex printing is an automatic option, saving paper.

                        Printing wirelessly with the HP Color Laserjet Pro M454dw Printer is easy. The printer can be connected to a Wi-Fi service. And for wireless printing without an internet connection, HP Wi-Fi Direct is available. It allows you to directly connect the printer to your mobile device. You can also get the HP Smart App for remote printing.

                        Connecting devices to the Internet can be a concern for some. But HP Wolf Pro Security keeps documents and information safe and secure. This is a very important feature for businesses that work with sensitive information.

                        HP cartridges are not the cheapest. But the cost of a print isn’t that bad. They have standard and high performance options for black, blue, magenta and yellow.

                        Pros:

                        • High quality prints
                        • Fast print speed
                        • High capacity paper tray
                        • Privacy Features

                        Against:

                        • No automatic paper feeder
                        • Expensive for personal use

                        4. Brother HL-L3270cdw Color Laser Printer

                        Best for Color Photos

                        The Brother HL-L3270cdw is the ideal color laser printer for working from home or in multi-worker offices. It is compact and has great features. And the color print quality is second to none.

                        The paper tray holds a maximum of 250 sheets. This is enough for a home office. It can be adjusted for letter and legal size paper. The printer also accepts glossy photo paper, which means you can print color photos as well.

                        It is Wi-Fi compatible so you can print wirelessly from any device. You can also print remotely using the Google Cloud Print App. There are also USB ports for printing directly from storage devices.

                        Brother offers standard (TN223BK) and high performance (TN227BK) black toner cartridges. The standard yield is 1,400 pages and the high yield is 3,000 prints.

                        Color toner is available in standard cartridges only. They will last approximately 1,300 pages before reloading is required. But if you are printing color photos, the total yield will be less. Color printing from the Brother HL-L3270cdw is excellent. But the cost is increasing.

                        Pros:

                        • Low price
                        • Compact
                        • Fast duplex printing
                        • You can print color photos

                        Vs:

                        • High cost of printing color photos

                        3. Canon ImageClass MF741cdw

                        Best for Busy Offices

                        The Canon ImageClass MF741cdw MFP is a larger device and better suited for busy offices with multiple employees needing to print. This is a hard working machine. And it can handle all the requirements of a small business.

                        Printing speed is impressive. Canon ImageClass MF741cdw produces 28 pages per minute. Color prints come out slower, but it’s still a decent pace. This is a versatile laser printer capable of printing on a variety of paper types (Thin, Recycled, Color and Coated).

                        There are three USB ports for direct connection to devices. In addition, the device can directly read data from multimedia drives. You can connect and print wirelessly with the Wi-Fi Direct option if you’re more tech-savvy.

                        You can download the Canons Print Business App to your Android or iOS device. It allows you to print and organize documents remotely. If your printer is connected, you can print from anywhere!

                        You may be disappointed to learn that Canon no longer includes a fax function on its laser printer models. But you can add voice-activated printing by pairing it with an Alexa device.

                        You can purchase Canon color cartridges as a set. The initial overhead is expensive. But the black cartridge will last for 7600 prints until the resource is exhausted. Color cartridges are not as fruitful – only 5,000 sheets.

                        Pros:

                        • Allows printing on various papers
                        • Voice control with Alexa
                        • Cartridges sold as a set

                        Vs:

                        • No fax features

                        2.

                        Brother HL-L8360CDW Color Laser Printer

                        Best for Cost Savings

                        The Brother HL-L8360CDW MFP can handle high demand. It is designed for busy work environments and is capable of high volume printing. It is ideal for busy offices. But you can use it at home if you have a small business.

                        The HL-L8360CDW has automatic two-sided printing, which means two-sided paper is the norm. There are also dual-load trays so you don’t have to constantly refill paper. Each tray holds 150 sheets of paper, allowing you to make 300 prints before you need to reload.

                        This Brother laser printer is the leader in print speed. It is capable of outputting 33 pages per minute, which is ideal for large meetings, conferences, and company-wide memos.

                        The Brother HL-L8360CDW MFP gives you wireless printing options. You connect it to your local Wi-Fi network and then you can print from any device on the same network. You can also use the Google Cloud Print add-on for remote printing.

                        The color touch screen works well and the menus are easy to navigate. The printer is equipped with a USB port, which allows you to connect to it without Wi-Fi. You can print directly from other USB devices such as discs and external drives.

                        The Brother HL-L8360CDW MFP gives you options to reduce your operating costs. There is a toner saving mode and a power saving mode. In the first case, the amount of toner used for each print is reduced. They will look a little faded, but this is acceptable for less important documents. Energy Saver Mode puts the printer in sleep mode when you are not using it, reducing energy costs.

                        Toner cartridges are another strength of Brother laser printers. They have Brother brand toner cartridges, high yield toner cartridges that can turn out 4,500 pages. You will have to buy each color separately, which increases the price. But in terms of cost per page, it’s not much better.

                        Pros:

                        • Very fast printing
                        • Double loading trays
                        • Wireless and remote printing options
                        • Easy to use touch screens
                        • Toner and Power Saver
                        • High performance cartridges

                        Against:

                        • Cartridges sold separately

                        1.

                        HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

                        Best Allrounder 9The 0019

                        HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw is the best all-rounder on our list. It has great functionality in a compact package. It is affordable and has reasonable running costs. It is ideal for home use, professionals and small businesses.

                        Laser printers have a reputation for being large and bulky. But the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw refutes this trend. It is a compact cube-shaped device, so it is easy to find a place for it in your office.

                        This HP Color LaserJet product has automatic two-sided printing. You don’t have to fiddle with settings if you want double-sided prints. Plus, it’s a fast printer, delivering a print speed of 22 pages per minute.

                        You have a reliable HP wireless connection. Connect to a Wi-Fi network at home or in the office and you can print wirelessly from any device on the same network. And if you prefer to print this way, there’s a USB port on the front.

                        HP has taken wireless printing to the next level with the HP Smart App. It is available for iOS and Android systems. It gives you more freedom and control over your printing, allowing you to print from anywhere. You can also set up shortcuts for recurring tasks and organize your files on your mobile device.

                        The 2.7-inch color touchscreen makes the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw easy to operate. In addition, you have the option of voice-activated printing, which is another cool feature.

                        The toner cartridges available for this model provide high performance prints. The trial printer cartridges yield approximately 800 black and white pages and 600 color pages.

                        Replacement cartridges can be expensive, primarily because HP sells cartridges separately. You cannot buy a set of all four (black, blue, magenta, and yellow). HP-branded cartridges yield 1,350 pages per cartridge. However, there are third-party cartridge kits that will let you get more pages.

                        Pros:

                        • Availability and economy
                        • Decent print speed
                        • Compact
                        • Easy to use touch screen
                        • Wireless app features for Android and iOS
                        • Voice activation

                        Against:

                        • Cartridges sold separately

                        Why you need a laser printer

                        Color laser printers are ideal machines when you need a lot of paperwork. Whether for personal use at home or for a small business, they will meet your needs and help you optimize your business.

                        Until recently, a laser printer at home was unthinkable. They were too big and expensive for small companies. But the situation has changed. Now laser printers have become smaller and more affordable.

                        Laser vs Inkjet

                        It’s not just the initial overhead of buying a printer. Color laser printers are faster and more economical than inkjet printers. Inkjet printers are cheaper to buy and more versatile. But they are slow and inefficient for businesses.

                        Plus, cartridges are expensive. And inkjet machines don’t always use ink wisely, wasting precious ink on test pages and cleaning routines. Unnecessary use of ink increases running costs and hurts your budget.

                        Color laser toner cartridges can also be expensive. But they allow you to get much more prints from a single cartridge than ink alternatives. And laser printers have a much higher cost-per-page efficiency than inkjet printers. Simply put, a laser printer gives you more for your money.

                        Inkjet models are better suited for printing color photographs. But if you need a lot of documents in black and white or color, a laser printer will be more beneficial. They are faster, cheaper to run and more efficient. A laser printer makes sense if you have a home office or small business.

                        Ischukigor (DepositPhotos)

                        What to look for in a color laser printer

                        The best color laser printer for you may not be the best for someone else. Before buying a laser printer, there are a few things to consider. How much do you need to print? How important is paperwork to your business? And how many employees and clients do you have?

                        Price is the first thing most people look at. And many professionals and business owners are happy to see that the overall cost of laser printers has come down in recent years. They are no longer a luxury found only in large offices and corporate spaces.

                        While color laser printers are still more expensive than inkjet printers, you need to look beyond the initial retail price alone. You need a printer that will be more cost effective when used over a period of time. This may mean buying a more expensive machine initially. But lower running costs will save you money in the long run.

                        Cartridges, wireless features and other options

                        You need to look at the price of toner cartridges and how many pages you get from them. This will give you a good idea of ​​the cost per page. You also need to think about typing speed. You don’t want to waste time waiting for color documents to print.

                        Select new models now include wireless printing features for greater flexibility. Printing via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or an app cuts down on cables and gives you more freedom to print from anywhere.

                        More advanced models have the ability to send by e-mail. You scan the document at the printer and send it directly to an email address. The new models also allow you to create and save PDF documents. This is a convenient and time-saving feature.

                        Andrey Popov (DepositPhotos)

                        Conclusion

                        Forget about inkjet printers. If you run a paper-based business, you need an all-in-one color laser printer with high print speeds and low operating costs. They are much more economical for large print volumes.

                        The list includes laser printers for home business, small and large offices. Whether one person works in your living room or a small business is growing, this list has something for you.

                        We have small and large printers. But all of them have functionality that meets the needs of people who are busy with their work. All of them have wireless connectivity. Plus, you have remote printing and organization capabilities with mobile apps.

                        Choose the best color laser printer for your needs. You will immediately see an increase in efficiency and productivity!

                        10 reliable models for the home

                        Technologies

                        Reader Experiences F⁠—⁠F

                        Efim Gugnin

                        loves old printers

                        Author profile

                        We asked T⁠—⁠J readers to tell us about printers that have been faithfully serving them for more than a year.

                        And we received many stories about devices that have stood the test of time and printed more than one hundred pages – despite the fact that some of them were accidentally found by readers from relatives in the country, and others were picked up at all in a landfill. We publish a selection of the best printers that do not require replacement.

                        These are comments from readers from the T⁠—⁠F Community. Collected into one material, carefully edited and formatted according to editorial standards.

                        HP LaserJet 1020

                        How long has been working: 15 years

                        Andrey Primak

                        prints a lot

                        Author profile

                        I have been using HP LaserJet 1020 for about 15 years. As a sole proprietor and working from home, I print about 100 pages a month. Works great, has never been repaired – pah-pah.

                        Once printed about a thousand pages in a day without any problems. I printed 50 pages, then let the printer “rest” a little.

                        I fill it myself: I buy toner and put it into the cartridge. One cartridge is enough for three or four refills, then the drum wears out and starts to streak. There are plenty of instructions on how to refuel on the Internet.

                        The original cartridge is expensive. There are non-original ones much cheaper. I don’t know how they are, I always bought the original, since it lasts for a very long time.

                        HP LaserJet 1010

                        How long has been working: 20 years

                        user1249938

                        selects drivers professionally

                        Author profile

                        90 002 My HP LaserJet 1010 home printer has been working properly since 2001, during this time I changed the cartridge a couple of times, and all. Current expenses are cheap: I buy powder in wholesale stores, and my son refills the cartridge for free.

                        My student children and I used the printer, even when working remotely. The only negative is that he likes good thick paper. It is really possible to adapt to a thinner one, but it can chew a leaf or grab two at once.

                        Unfortunately, this model is no longer in production. There were problems with drivers – never lose installation discs. But even they may not help if the software is outdated: you install new hardware and programs, but you cannot find a printer driver. But nothing is impossible – just by typing you find a suitable driver from a newer model.

                        Canon Pixma TS3340

                        How long has been running: 3 years

                        Aleksandr Murin

                        refills cartridges with surgical precision

                        Author profile

                        9000 2 I urgently needed to print a whole bunch of articles for the customer, which I wrote for him on the site. There was not much extra money, and a sealed and stitched set of documents had to be handed over by a certain time. Therefore, by chance, without choosing anything and without thinking about the consequences, I bought a Canon Pixma TS3340 MFP to replace the broken old HP.

                        This printer cost 4500 R. Color, inkjet, with cartridges that do not seem to be refilled. Prints well. I did not notice any special problems when installing the drivers. Downloaded, installed, connected the device, waited a bit. Ready. There is a separate utility for tuning, cleaning, head alignment.

                        Prints clearly and is not too noisy. For a year of use, I chewed paper only once. I did not find any problems with color reproduction, although I cannot boast of perfect vision and the ability to distinguish colors. In the settings there is the ability to select the paper size – a rarely used feature in general, but it came in handy when I had to print on A5.

                        There are a lot of instructions for refueling, there is a video. But changing cartridges is expensive, each one costs 1500 R. And the paint kit is only 700 R. The refill kit contains syringes with thick needles, they do not fit inside the cartridge. I was afraid to drill, although a drill was included with the paint.

                        A friend taught me how to fill with an insulin needle. Such a needle fits perfectly into the cartridge, there is a small gap, therefore, when refueling, air calmly escapes from it. You need to press very smoothly on the piston, otherwise the needle may fly off. After one unsuccessful attempt, he adapted.

                        I wipe the cartridge head before and after filling with a cotton pad with ethanol or isopropanol. Everything must be done carefully, otherwise it will be difficult to wash off the paint from your hands later.

                        This thing has only one plus: it is cheap and you can use inexpensive consumables. Refilling cartridges is about as difficult as giving an injection. Suitable only for those who have few documents, need the ability to print in color, do not tremble hands, have enough patience.

                        The scanner of this unit is decent, though it works slowly. Requires creating a separate scan profile for A4 color documents. There is a problem with the “Photo” profile that comes with the driver: it can stop scanning in the middle of the sheet. The settings are intuitive.

                        HP LaserJet 1300N

                        How long has been in operation: 10 years

                        Kursor Ukazatel

                        respects the past

                        Author profile

                        900 02 I found an HP LaserJet 1300N with 110 sheets in the trash. I don’t know who lives so beautifully, but I have been using it for 10 years, and everything is fine with it. This is still an old HP, not a one-time modern UG. Because of PCL, there are no issues with Linux – I haven’t used Windows for 15 years. There are chips, but in their absence, he simply says, they say, the cartridge is over, please change it. And there is also a print server, plugged into the network with a wire – everyone who wants to print.

                        Epson Stylus Photo PX820FWD

                        How long has been working: about 11 years

                        Andrew

                        saved the printer from cold death

                        Author profile

                        I have two printers at home, it happened. The main one is the laser HP LaserJet P1102W. Compact, inexpensive, can be connected via Wi-Fi. The second is the Epson Stylus Photo PX820FWD inkjet MFP, a six-color printer-scanner. A rather bulky device, colleagues gave to my brother for the birth of his son, in order to capture the first steps. Rarely used.

                        After the birth of the second heir, there was not enough space in the apartment for the printer, and he was exiled to the dacha, where I took him from, so that he would simply not freeze uselessly in winter. It is in my closet, removed for printing a photo. It copes with this task well, although the head still dries up occasionally if you do not print for a long time. Then stripes appear on uniform gradients in the photo – for example, in the sky. It is treated with standard cleaning or washing.

                        I tried to refill cartridges – they are cunning there, with chips, you cannot refill the original ones. You can refill non-original cartridges with non-original ink, but this is quite inconvenient, and the ink level with them is not displayed. Once such a cartridge suddenly ran out, and the printer stopped printing even after refilling. Barely restored.

                        Now I buy original cartridges. With small print volumes, it is not so expensive, especially since they are separated by colors and you can buy them as needed. The whole set is enough for about a year. I think to try a set of ready-made non-original cartridges.

                        The Epson Easy Photo Print app is handy, with “enhancers” that actually improve results if used carefully. The only thing that is inconvenient is that there is no A5 (15 × 21) print format, only 10 × 15, 13 × 18 (5 × 7 inches) and A4. Here I usually print 13 × 18. Such paper exists, but is rare – you have to cut it out of A4. With a photo cutter, it’s not that hard. I use Lomond Premium Photo paper – it does not differ from the original Epson, but several times cheaper.

                        The scanner, as it turned out, is also needed, and almost more often than the printer. It scans well, you can load a pack of sheets at once, but it often draws two sheets from it at once, it’s better to put one at a time.

                        HP LaserJet M1120

                        How long has it been in operation: 5 years

                        Alexander Makaev

                        works on one cartridge

                        Author profile

                        Once upon a time, there was an action of unheard-of generosity at work: old office equipment was given away to those who wished, as bought a new one, and this one was simply written off. So I became the owner of the indestructible HP LaserJet M1120 MFP. I only needed to refuel it, which I did. Five years have passed since then, and I still have not finished refilling that same cartridge.

                        Quite often my wife prints patterns, sometimes we print coloring pages for a child. The only problem is that there is no paper input tray, as well as a stand to support the paper at the exit, and the printed sheets fall to the floor. But these are the costs of a freebie, and I’m not worried.

                        Xerox Phaser 3010

                        How long has been working: 7-8 years

                        Artyom Matynyan

                        studies himself and teaches others

                        Author profile

                        9 0002 Good old Xerox Phaser 3010 bought in 2013 or 2014 for about 2000 R, serves faithfully without breakdowns. Used purely for the institute and printouts for tutoring.

                        Recently, it has become difficult to pick up paper from the tray. I “finished” the threshold for taking paper and pulled out the spring from there – it works like a new one.

                        Cactus 2,300 page cartridges priced at R300 are ideal.

                        HP LaserJet 1018

                        How long has been working: 16 years old

                        Dmitry Kuzmin

                        does not like to sit in one place

                        Author profile

                        Purchased, if I remember correctly, somewhere in 2005, that is he is already 16 years old. He moved with me, worked in the office, then returned home again. As he printed without problems, he prints.

                        True, when I installed Windows 10, I did not find the drivers. But I installed a slightly newer model – 1020, and everything works.

                        Samsung SCX-4100

                        How long has been working: 16 years old

                        What It

                        rarely prints

                        Author profile

                        When in 2005 bought the first computer in the year, and also purchased this laser printer – Samsung SCX-4100. MFP, three in one, with a scanner. During all this time, it was refueled probably only five times – economical consumption.

                        It’s hard to tell if he makes me happy now. If I printed out a lot, I would probably change it: it takes only one page, and then not always. It can chew paper – I took it to the service, they did something, it helped for a while. In general, I worked out my money a long time ago, but I don’t throw it away and don’t take another one, simply because I rarely print, and a new MFP will cost more than 10 thousand. I will use it until it dies completely.

                        Canon i-SENSYS MF3010

                        0038 7 years old

                        Egor Ageshin

                        is not afraid of halftones

                        Author profile

                        The Canon MF3010 printer is generally excellent for its money. There is a scanner function, and quite good quality. I have been using since school. At first they bought standard cartridges, but then at the university I decided to try Chinese ones, and, surprisingly, everything still works fine. And for a long time already.

                        The only downside is that the printer is black and white.