Introduction to the Best Printers
What’s the best printer you can buy in 2019? The best printer for you will hugely depend on your needs. If you are out there looking for a simple printer that can handle your minor home needs, then a simple and inexpensive option is your best bet. On the other hand, if you are looking for a powerful office printer capable of making dozens of printouts per day while also handling other similar office tasks then what you need is a multi-function printer or what we also call all-in-one printers. These are printers that can handle dozens of text documents both color and black and white while also offering other functions such as photocopying, scanning, faxing while some will go as far as supporting printing of dynamic photos. These printers also come with a variety of other features for a seamless experience. For instance, a majority of them will also support wireless printing, making them even more convenient to use. In this review, we will focus on the all-in-one printers.
Inkjet vs. Laser
The choice between inkjet and Laser will hugely depend on the type of documents that you are hoping to be printing. If you don’t see yourself printing anything beyond typical text documents, then you can settle for a laser printer. It’ll get the job done perfectly while keeping the cost per page reasonable. Meanwhile, if you want to print dynamic color texts and photos, then you are better off going for an inkjet printer.
Printers Buyer’s Guide
With so many options to choose from, it is vital that you stay aware of all the essentials that you need to look for when buying a printer. The following are some of the key factors that you should keep an eye on:
Quality of Printouts
It’s important to note that while one printer may have stunning quality in a particular aspect e.g., graphics, it’s quality when it comes to text or photos may be the complete opposite. It is, therefore, in your best interest to make sure that you investigate the quality of all these outputs separately. You might not get one that nails it on all fronts but ensures that they are all at least above average.
Speed
In an office setting, speed is very crucial; otherwise, you might have to deal with a huge pile-up of work, which will ultimately affect the employee’s performance. You need to check the speed of the specific printer you are getting and see how it measures up with your office needs. On the other hand, if you barely print more than a couple of documents and you don’t see your needs changing in the near future, then you can compromise a bit on speed and perhaps prioritize output quality.
Connectivity
Getting a printer with more connectivity options improves the experience of every user in the office or at home. Such printers usually come with the typical USB port, Ethernet ports, and Wi-Fi and NFC capability, which allows mobile devices to sync and print from your printer. Getting a printer with wireless connectivity options is ideal not just because it is convenient but also due to how neat it is.
Size
Don’t forget to check the footprint of the printer. While most printers are getting compact with every passing year, some models are still relatively large. You must, therefore, consider the size of the printer to see whether you have sufficient space to house it or if you’ll need to invest on a bigger desk.
Cost
When buying a printer, you need to look at more than just the initial price of the printer. Check the cost per page on all types of documents you expect to print per year and add the total to get comprehensive data. You can then make an informed decision to get a unit that is cost effective without compromising on performance.
Our Top Picks
HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer
The HP OfficeJet 3830 is a top-rated all-in-one printer well known for delivering laser-quality printouts. Whether you are looking for colored documents or photos, this device will make sure that the final output looks professional.
What makes the OfficeJet 3830 an even better buy is the fact that it also functions as a scanner, photocopy and faxing machine. With all these functions in a single unit, you will finally get to free up some space in your office. The only thing more interesting than how versatile this printer is its insanely compact design. At just 17.7” by 14.3” by 8.5” the printer should comfortably sit in your office desk and still leave sufficient space for your other accessories.
As a modern printer, the OfficeJet 3830 is also designed with wireless technology that allows you to conveniently print from your tablet and smartphones directly. This is achieved through the HP ePrint app that’s available for free on Android devices and AirPrint which supports wireless printing from iPhones. You can also print through Wireless Direct. These wireless capabilities should finally bring some sanity to your home office setting by completely getting rid of cables.
The HP OfficeJet 3830 features Instant Ink ready which will make sure your ink never runs out unexpectedly. It also allows you to choose between HP Instant Ink and Amazon Dash replenishments. The former attracts up to 50% in savings while the Amazon alternatives can help you save as much as 10%. You are also allowed to cancel your subscriptions at any time.
Other Features
- Optional quiet mode
- 2.2-inch mono touchscreen
- 32-page automatic document feeder
- Optional high-yield cartridges
- 8.5ppm black and 6ppm color printouts
- 60 Input and 25 Output sheets capacity
- Supports letter and legal paper sizes; 4 by 6-inches; 5 by 7-inches and 8 by 10-inches
Canon TS5120 Wireless All-in-One Printer
The Canon PIXMA TS5120 is an incredible all-in-one printer designed to satisfy all your printing needs. Whether you are looking to print black or color documents, photos, or even colored tickets, the TS5120 will help you do precisely that.
The printer supports various wireless connectivity options, including Wi-Fi (1), PictBridge, Bluetooth 4.0, and Mopria Device Printing. You can also print from your tablet or smartphone using the Canon Print app, or the AirPrint. You don’t have to download documents from your cloud just so you can print them. With the Google Cloud Print (3), you can print the documents directly from your online cloud services. You can still print via the USB slot in case you still want to go the old fashion way.
The TS5120 also comes with a couple of other features that will make your printing experience hassle-free. The automatic 2-sided printing capability, you can save yourself time and resources significantly. It also has a document removal reminder and automatic power on and off. The 2.5-inches LCD is also very intuitive.
As an all-in-one printer, the TS5120 will also allow you to scan and copy documents. The printer is very compact measuring just 14.2 x 16.8 x 5.8 inches.
Other Features
- Print borderless 5 by 5-inches photos or 4 x 6 x 7 – inches
- Versatile paper support
- Very compact
- Reduction/Enlargement of up to 25% to 400%
- Diverse wireless printing options including built-in Wi-Fi
Canon PIXMA iP110 Wireless Mobile Printer
If your primary focus is printing and you want a compact printer perfect for that job, then this is one of your best picks. The PIXMA iP110 from Canon is a brilliant printer that sports various features that boost its performance significantly. The printer has a diverse built-in wireless technology that connects with devices of a different operating system, allowing you to print your documents from anywhere in the house. Through various apps such as the Canon Print and AirPrint app, you can sync your Android and iOS mobile devices to the iP110 and print directly from your smartphone. The printer also supports Google Cloud printing that allows you to print from various online cloud services.
Something else incredible about the iP110 is the Photo Print+. This easy-to-use application software allows you to edit and print photos. All you need here is an internet connection, and you can easily turn your favorite movie clips into stunning prints. The fact that you can get them in border-less 4 x 6 inches gives the printer a huge advantage over its peers.
With up to 9600 x 2400 color dpi, you can expect to get high-quality printouts from this printer. Therefore, the printer is not just ideal for casual purposes, but you can also rely on it for professional documents.
The Canon PIXMA iP110 has a very compact design. It measures just 12.7 x 7.3 x 2.5-inches which should be compact enough even for relatively small desks or shelves.
Other Features
- Supports several online cloud services
- Easy Photo Print+ supports editing and printing of lab-quality photos
- Supports borderless printing