How do I choose a home printer?
Ensuring that you choose the right printer for your home will depend on what and how much you’re printing. There are several factors to take into account when picking your perfect home printer.
Inkjet or laser? This is the primary consideration. Inkjet printers are generally smaller, lighter and cheaper than their laser counterparts and will also print higher-quality colour prints and photographs, but they are slower. Often the best choice for light users, these general-purpose machines can be ideal for home use. Many tend to drink ink though, while if used infrequently there’s the risk that the ink may dry up before the cartridge runs out. Laser printers use toner instead of ink and tend to be pricier and bulkier, but faster. Perfect for high-volume printing, they produce better-quality and more precise text, which is why they’re the go-to printers of many workplaces.
Running costs: With lower running costs than an inkjet, it’s worth considering a laser printer for your home. While many people opt for inkjet printers because of the lower initial outlay, it must be remembered that some models’ replacement cartridges can cost almost as much as the machine itself. Inkjets that are cartridge-free, such as Epson EcoTank printers, reduce ink costs considerably, while laser models are also cheaper to run, with toner cartridges being surprisingly long-lasting. You can work out the cost per page printed by dividing the price of an ink cartridge by the number of pages it’s likely to print (this is often stated in the stats section of a manufacturer’s product description) and compare the printers on your shortlist.
Multifunction or print-only? Does your printer need to be capable of scanning, copying or faxing too? If so, an all-in-one printer is your best bet. Otherwise, a single-function version should suffice.
Wired or wireless? Will your printer be connected via USB cable or wirelessly? Many models are now wifi or Bluetooth-compatible – just be sure to confirm that the printer you choose will work with the PC, laptop or mobile device you’re using. Wireless ones allow you to print from any device and from anywhere, making them ideal for mobile printing.
Size and weight: Home printers vary significantly in size, so it’s wise to get out that tape measure to ensure that your chosen model will fit where you want it to go. The more features it has, the larger it’s likely to be – and don’t forget to take into account paper trays, document feeders and other additional attributes. Weight-wise, laser printers tend to be heavier than inkjets, some around 20kg or more, so take note of your chosen device’s heaviness if you plan on moving it on a regular basis.
Speed: When printing in volume, a high-speed printer is a worthwhile choice. Unless you’re a heavy user, a slower home printer is likely to be sufficient, though do take note of a model’s print speed prior to purchasing.
What is the best printer for home use?
The best printer for home use is the HP Envy 6032 Wireless All-in-one Colour Printer. It suits most households as it pretty much does it all, is easy to set up and will print wirelessly – and quietly – from anywhere and from all devices. Its output quality is good, as is its price point, and it’s easy to see why this small printer repeatedly crops up in posts on the Mumsnet forums for all the right reasons.
We love that it’s capable of double-sided printing and that music plays and colourful lights appear on completion of a print job. The included five-month trial of HP’s Instant Ink service – which includes ink, postage and recycling, reducing costs by up to 70% – is an added bonus.
How we chose our recommendations
We first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which home printers discerning Mumsnetters recommended and had bought themselves, noting their feedback about these brands. We then drew up a shortlist of those that were repeatedly mentioned.
From there, we did some research across the wider web, consulting independent review sites and taking into account what customer reviews said about the products featured. Having collated all that information, we picked the home printers we thought were worthy of taking the titles in an array of interest categories.
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Main image credit: Canon