Printers

Buying Guide

Printers

Whether you’re a student, a home office worker, or a business professional, choosing the right printer is essential for your daily tasks. Let’s dive into the various types of printers available, their functionalities, and key features.

Top 8 Things to Consider While Buying a Printer

This guide will help you navigate key features and pick the perfect printer for your home or office.

Inkjet or Laser?
Additional Types
Print Speed
Print Quality
Paper Handling
Connectivity
Features

Inkjet or Laser?

How to Choose between Inkjet and Laser?
Before moving on to other types of printers, let’s understand the difference between the two most popular types of printers: inkjet and laser.

INKJET PRINTER

Perfect for home use or small businesses with moderate printing needs and a variety of paper types.
Ideal for high quality colour printing and photos with print speeds of usually 5-20 pages per minute.
Lower upfront cost but higher cost per page due to frequent ink cartridge replacements and usage.
Ink is prone to smudging, particularly on glossy paper, making it less suitable for quick handling.
Capable of handling a wide variety of paper types, including standard, glossy, and photo paper.

LASER PRINTER

Ideal for offices or businesses that need frequent, high speed printing with minimal interruptions or delays.
Best suited for high-volume black and white document printing with faster speeds of about 20-100 pages per minute.
Higher upfront cost but offers lower cost per page due to efficient toner usage and longer-lasting cartridges.
Toner is smudge-resistant and dries instantly, making it ideal for high-volume and professional document printing.
Limited in paper types, as it primarily handles standard paper.

Additional Types

Explore and Select from More Printer Types
Let’s take a look at other types of printers, too, so that you can find the perfect one for your specific needs, be it high-quality photo printing, fast document handling, or multifunctional use.

All-in-One Printer

An all-in-one printer combines printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing into one device. It’s an excellent choice for home offices or small businesses looking for multifunctional equipment.

Photo Printer

Designed specifically for printing high resolution photographs, photo printers produce lab quality images right at home. They work best for photography enthusiasts or professionals needing crisp, detailed color prints.

3D Printer

3D printers create three-dimensional objects by building layers of material. Ideal for designers, engineers, or hobbyists, they offer creative flexibility and precision for producing prototypes, models, or custom parts.

Solid Ink Printer

Solid ink printers use melted ink blocks to produce vibrant colours with minimal waste. They are eco-friendly and ideal for businesses seeking high-quality, cost-efficient colour printing.

LED Printer

LED printers use LED lights instead of lasers, offering fast, energy efficient printing. They are reliable and perfect for businesses that need high volume printing with consistent performance.

Large-Format Printer

Large format printers are designed for printing posters, banners, and plans. Ideal for designers and architects, they handle wide papers and deliver high resolution, detailed prints.

Print Speed

Pick the Right Print Speed for Your Needs
Print speed directly impacts how quickly you can get your documents or photos, so consider your workload before making a decision.

10-20 Pages Per Minute (PPM)

Perfect for light printing needs, such as casual home use or occasional documents. Ideal for users who don’t print frequently.

20-30 Pages Per Minute (PPM)

This range balances speed and efficiency for home offices or small businesses. It’s suitable for regular document printing without significant delays.

30-40 Pages Per Minute (PPM)

Ideal for mid sized offices, as this range offers fast, reliable printing for high volume workloads with minimal waiting time.

40+ Pages Per Minute (PPM)

High speed printers are designed for large businesses or frequent, high volume printing, ensuring quick turnaround times and increased productivity

Print Quality

Select the Right Resolution for Clear and Detailed Prints
Print quality is measured in DPI (dots per inch), and it affects the sharpness and clarity of text and images.

300-600 DPI

Suitable for everyday document printing, including black and white text and basic graphics, this quality range is commonly used for standard office work.

600-1200 DPI

Offering a balance between clarity and speed, this range is ideal for presentations, colour documents, and basic photo printing.

1200-2400 DPI

Perfect for high resolution photo printing, detailed graphics, and marketing materials where quality is critical. It’s great for creative professionals

2400+ DPI

This level of resolution is often used by photography studios or designers to produce ultra-high-quality prints with rich details and vivid colours.

Paper Handling

Get the Right Paper Handling for Your Printing Needs
The paper handling capacity and types of paper supported impact how efficiently your printer can manage different tasks.

100-150 Sheets

Great for personal or light home use, this capacity range is suitable for occasional printing tasks without frequent paper refills

150-250 Sheets

A good fit for home offices or small businesses, this range is suitable for handling moderate workloads and reducing the need for constant refilling.

250-500 Sheets

Designed for mid sized offices or frequent print jobs, this range allows for higher capacity without sacrificing performance or adding delays

500+ Sheets

Ideal for large businesses or those with high volume printing needs. Some models also support automatic duplex printing and multiple paper trays for different paper types.

Connectivity

Choose the Right Connectivity for Easy Access and Flexibility
A printer’s connectivity options determine how easily you can print from various devices, both wired and wireless.

USB

Basic and reliable for single device printing. Ideal for users with a direct connection to their printer from a desktop or laptop.

Wi-Fi

Offers wireless printing from multiple devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets, making it perfect for shared home or office use.

Ethernet

Provides stable network printing for office environments, allowing multiple users to print over a wired network connection.

Bluetooth

Allows for quick, close-range printing from smartphones, tablets, or laptops without the need for a wireless network, making it ideal for personal use.

Features of Printers

Let’s go through the essential features of printers that enhance productivity, convenience, and efficiency in both home and office environments.

Automatic Duplex Printing

Allows printers to automatically print on both sides of the paper, saving time and reducing paper usage, making it ideal for high-volume document handling.

Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)

Speeds up the process of scanning, copying, or faxing multi-page documents by automatically feeding them into the machine

High-Capacity Paper Tray

A larger tray means less frequent refilling, which is ideal for businesses or households with heavy print workloads that require consistent, uninterrupted printing.

Ink or Toner Efficiency

Modern printers come with eco-friendly ink or toner-saving modes that reduce overall printing costs and extend cartridge life.

Mobile Printing

Enables printing directly from smartphones and tablets using apps like Apple AirPrint or Google Cloud Print, offering flexibility for users on the go.

Cloud Printing

Provides seamless printing access to documents stored on cloud platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox, adding convenience for remote users or collaborative teams.

Touchscreen Control Panel

A user-friendly touchscreen interface that simplifies navigation and customization of print settings. Manage tasks and monitor printer status with just a few taps.

Voice Control

Integrates with virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, enabling hands-free operation by allowing users to issue voice commands for printing tasks.

Security Features

Advanced printers offer password protection, data encryption, and secure print release features, ensuring sensitive documents are protected during the printing process.