![]() Finally, we combed through each category and only selected printers that had average user ratings of four stars or more from customers who purchased these models from Amazon and Walmart. Next, we divided our picks into categories to make it easier to choose a printer that will meet your specific needs. Trusted reference points like PCMag and TechRadar helped us narrow down our selections. First, we sought out respected resources to offer their takes. We used a thorough selection process to find you the best cheap printer options on the market in 2022. If you rarely print documents, an inkjet printer might be a better option. The difference between the two is that laser cartridges are more expensive but more efficient. Inkjets use ink and laser printers melt toner powder. Keep in mind that if you’re not printing a ton, this is less important. The PPM, or pages per minute, will give you a good idea of how quickly a particular model will print documents. If you need to print a lot of documents, you don’t want your printer holding you up. This reduces cord clutter and makes the printing process more user-friendly. Connectivityįor simple installation and printing, you're going to want a printer that connects via Wi-Fi. We've included dimensions for all the models we cover below. If you were working in an office with a ton of people, a big printer would likely be necessary, but if your printer is solely being used in your home office, you don’t want something that takes up a ton of space. The most important will likely be the size, connectivity options, print speed, and the type of printer. Ready to choose the model that’s right for you? Here are a few of the best home printers from our testing, available to CR members.When you’re shopping for a cheap printer, there are a few factors you’ll want to consider before making a purchase. Color laser printers are also an option, though their relatively high price and toner costs make them better suited to a small business or professional office. With tank printers, which use refillable ink reservoirs instead of disposable ink cartridges, you can spend less than $10 a year on bottled ink as opposed to $70 and up for ink cartridges. Some people do need to print in color quite frequently, and if that’s you, there’s a way to do so that’s more cost-friendly. What about those times when you need to print in color? Most office supply stores can print your document or those family photos on a professional-quality printer for relatively little money. ![]() Our survey data says they’re generally more reliable than inkjets in the long term, which is why many of the survey respondents who bought laser printers really love them. They print crisp text and they print it fast and economically. And that’s where monochrome laser printers excel. Our research shows that people print lots and lots of text in black and white, rarely print graphics, and almost never print photos. For typical home use, the best type of printer is generally a black-and-white laser. That’s why we find it difficult to recommend conventional inkjets. The typical consumer might spend $70 a year or more on ink cartridges, which can double the cost of ownership for a printer in as little as two years.Īnd finally, data from our surveys of CR members suggests that inkjet printers are not as reliable as laser printers.Īdd all that up and it’s no surprise that consumer satisfaction with inkjet printers, as measured in those same surveys, is quite low. Second, while they can be cheap to buy, they tend to saddle you with high ink costs for expensive replacement cartridges and wasteful ink maintenance cycles that are necessary just to keep the machine working. ![]() For starters, they often don’t do a great job of printing text, the primary job people want them to do. And while we understand that impulse-cheap is good-our consumer research and laboratory testing have found that for most consumers, there are better alternatives.Īccording to our expert evaluations, inkjet printers have three fundamental problems. If you’re like most shoppers, you’re probably looking for a cheap inkjet model.
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