It is possible to find a laser printer that is both of good quality and affordable. In fact, there are a wide variety of printers out there that can meet your needs without requiring you to dig deep into your pockets.
Is it Possible to Get a Quality, Low-Cost Printer?
Some of the best printers on the market aren’t necessarily expensive. Often, price is determined by a printer’s feature set — but if you can make a list of the things you need a printer to do, as well as things you don’t need it to do, you can simplify your printer comparison.
Most expensive printers are all-in-one multifunction devices that include add-ons like fax machines, document copiers, and scanners. The real trick is to look beyond brand and price and find something that matches your needs. Before purchasing a printer, it is important to consider how you intend to use it. If your needs require fast printing, you should put print speed at the top of your list.
If you need fast and hassle-free connectivity to various devices, take the time to compare printers and look for models equipped with a conveniently accessible USB port at the front or Wi-Fi functionality. This enables you to print directly from your smartphone or tablet. For tasks involving printing large volumes, it’s advisable to prioritize printers that come with spacious paper trays.
What are the Most Important Features to Look for in a Printer?
This is wholly dependent on your needs. Although many printers are packaged as such, there’s really no such thing as a “one size fits all” approach to finding the best printer. Instead of trying to find the printer that’s going to offer you everything all the time, determine what your specific requirements are. Including the aforementioned print speed and paper tray size for high-volume printing, look for a printer that performs auto duplexing (the ability to print on both sides of a sheet of paper) if you want to save on paper usage and the costs associated with that. Likewise, you can cut ancillary costs by buying a printer that is Energy Star certified and has greater toner efficiency. This will prevent you from having to replace ink cartridges so frequently.
In recent times, a notable development has emerged in the form of “Eco Tank” printers, which eliminate the need for cartridge replacement. Instead, you can manually replenish the ink reservoir, providing a cost-effective alternative to purchasing an entirely new color cartridge, especially when you’re running low on a specific color. These printers utilize permanent print heads in place of disposable thermal print heads. While they come at a higher initial expense, typically ranging from $300 to $1000, many of them include an extended ink supply, ensuring you won’t need to frequently purchase more ink for a considerable period, possibly up to a couple of years. Although these printers may not be classified as budget-friendly, particularly at the outset, they have the potential to yield savings on ink cartridge expenditures in the long run.
Which of Those Features Might be Missing from Lower-Cost Printers?
Failing to do your due diligence is the only thing preventing you from finding a low-cost printer that has the features you require at a good price. The answer is to know what you need and shop around for it. For example, if you need a low-cost wireless printer, you can find it so long as you’re willing to forego additional features, like a fax machine and a scanner, that may not be so important to you.
Why Should a Consumer Pay More for a Laser Printer than an Inkjet?
If you want to produce high-quality printouts of photos, inkjet printers are the way to go but Laser printers are reliable and efficient for handling high print volumes, their quality is good for printing documents with graphs and charts but falls short in the area of reproducing professional-quality photo images. A notable advantage of having a laser printer is the potential for considerably reducing expenses on replacing ink cartridges. While laser cartridges typically have a higher average cost, they have the ability to significantly surpass the lifespan of inkjet cartridges.
