Choosing the perfect printer can feel overwhelming with so many options out there. With a saturated market, making the right choice is difficult at best. But finding one that delivers both quality and value is key.
EcoTank Photo ET-8500
Canon Pixma MG3620
Brother MFC-J6955DW
Epson SureColor P900
Zebra GK420d
Best Printer Overall:Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
The EpsonEcoTank Photo ET-8500stands out as our top choice of printer for several reasons. While it may not be ideal for office environments, it’s (almost) faultless as an all-in-one (AIO) printer for households.
This machine can deliver high-quality, vibrant color photos and regular monochrome documents with sharp text, in addition to excellent scans and photocopies. It also prints borderless photos up to 8.5 x 11 inches (for up to 13 x 19 inches, you may consider theET-8550) and even gives a personal touch to family media collections with its CD/DVD printing.
The cartridge-free design offers significant long-term savings. Photo printing costs as little as four cents per image, while ink bottles can last up to two years (or 6,200 color pages). Finally, this design means the printer is also friendlier to the environment by conserving ink and reducing waste from discarded cartridges.
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500
The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 excels as a household all-in-one printer with vibrant color photo printing, borderless images of up to 8.5 x 11 inches, and cost-effective, eco-friendly ink bottles.
Best Budget Printer:Canon Pixma MG3620
For an affordable AIO home printer, you could do a lot worse than theCanon Pixma MG3620. This reliable 3-in-1 inkjet printer also scans and photocopies, delivering sharp, detailed documents and surprisingly vibrant color photos. While the print speed is only on the sufficient side, at this price point, you can’t expect anything else. However, it has a 100-sheet capacity and automatic two-sided printing.
Thanks to the affordable cartridges, the cost per print is low, and it supports a variety of connectivity options, including USB, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint, Mopria (for Android), and the Canon PRINT app. There’s also the luxury of Alexa integration, which not only helps with voice-activated printing but will notify you when the ink is low and even automatically reorder ink through Amazon.
The Canon PIXMA MG3620 is an excellent budget choice for anyone seeking an affordable all-in-one printer. It’s an inkjet that delivers superb print and scan quality with sharp, detailed images and accurate color. While the print speed is a little on the slower side, the cost per print is pleasing, thanks to its inexpensive cartridges. It has wireless capability via Wi-Fi and is also compatible with other wireless printing technologies and apps.
Best All-in-One (AIO) Printer:Brother MFC-J6955DW
The high demands of a busy office are usually met by laser jet printers. However, theBrother MFC-J6955DWdistinguishes itself in this respect as a comprehensive inkjet solution well-suited to bustling workplaces.
This AIO machine supports printing, scanning, photocopying, and even faxing and does it all with quality and efficiency. With a print speed of 30ppm and a resolution of 1,200 x 1,200dpi (1,200 x 2,400dpi for scanning), the speed is good, and documents are sharp and clear.
The MFC-J6955DW supports up to tabloid-sized sheets (A3), making it an excellent choice for full duplex printing and scanning for large-format tasks such as posters or brochures.
The dual paper trays each accommodate 500 A3 sheets, with more capacity in the multipurpose and automatic document feeder (ADF) trays. This effectively reduces the need for frequent reloading, minimizing interruptions.
However, this inkjet printer’s high-yield ink system is what makes it a winner. Its standard cartridges can print up to 3,000 black-and-white and 1,500 color pages, and optionalXL cartridgesfurther increase efficiency.
The Brother MFC-J6955DW is a versatile inkjet printer designed for busy offices, offering efficient printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. It supports large-format prints and features high-capacity paper trays and a cost-effective, high-yield ink system.
Best Printer for Photo Printing:Epson SureColor P900
For pro-grade photo printing, you’ll need a pro-grade photo printer. While theEpson SureColor P900is pricey, the image quality it delivers is exceptional. Vibrant colors and deep blacks across various media types make it a good choice for professional photographers and artists seeking top-tier prints with longevity.
The SureColor P900 delivers premium prints of up to A2 in size using ten pigment-based inks for outstanding color and monochrome output. Additionally, the printer boasts a dedicated ink channel for each color, which not only improves image quality and efficiency but also reduces maintenance.
However, the P900 is a pricey machine and appeals more to professionals. If you’re just after a portable, high-quality device to print images from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, consider theKodak Step Printer. It uses Zink (zero ink) technology and delivers high-quality 2 x 3-inch images on durable, sticky-backed paper. It connects to any iOS or Android device and is not much bigger than a small paperback book. It easily slips into a bag and is ideal for parties and traveling.
For professional photo printing, the Epson SureColor P900 is a high-end choice that delivers exceptional image quality with vibrant colors and deep blacks.
Best Printer for Label Printing:Zebra GK420d
TheZebra GK420dis a versatile printer suitable for a variety of label types, including barcodes, name and address tags, and mailing or binder labels. It’s also an excellent choice for printing standard 4 x 6-inch shipping labels.
It’s compact and easy to use, with good print quality. It prints using direct thermal technology (it applies heat to the paper to form the text) on direct thermal label stock. It isn’t designed for high-volume output, but the print speed is still good at 5ips (inches per second).
However, if you seek a machine with a sufficient resolution for printing complex graphics on your labels, you’ll need something higher than the 203dpi resolution this simple label printer offers.
On the other hand, if it’s a dedicated shipping label printer you’re after, theRollo USBis fast, reliable, compact, and requires little maintenance.
Easy to use, lightweight, and compact, the Zebra GK420d delivers quality shipping labels at high speed. It’s also versatile, and this direct-thermal label printer can print various types of labels via USB, Serial, and Parallel.
Q: Do I need Wi-Fi to connect my printer to my computer?
Awireless printertypically needs Wi-Fi for the setup. That is unless your printer has Bluetooth connectivity. You can also use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi if your printer has this option. This gives you the advantages of faster speeds and a more reliable and stable connection. Furthermore, if you have a wired printer, you can connect it directly to your computer via USB, while Wi-Fi Direct means you can connect the two devices without the need for a Wi-Fi network.
Q: Can I print from my smartphone? If so, how?
Yes, you can print directly from your smartphone. You have several options, including Wi-Fi Direct, which facilitates a direct connection between your smartphone and printer without the need for a Wi-Fi network.
However, if both your printer and smartphone are connected to the same network, you can print from a compatible app or the printing options on your device.
You might also be able to use cloud printing services from anywhere, such asApple AirPrint. You can also use the printer’s mobile app for remote printing from your smartphone.
Q: Can I connect to a printer via Bluetooth?
You can connect to a printer with Bluetooth only if the printer has a Bluetooth option. verify to check if the printer you are buying has this feature, should Bluetooth be your preference. Bluetooth is less common in printers and it has a shorter range, but it is still a good option to have.
