Home printers - recommendations for ones that aren't awful

[Spudulike3]

Hi all. Need a new home printer, preferably with scanner. My previous ones have all been total prinadonnas - HP never again! Can anyone recommend one that is good or at least not throw it out the window awful?

Many years experience tells me they're all shit, so despite my preference for sustainability and non-disposable goods I've concluded that the only way to have a printer is to buy the cheapest one on offer. Run it till it decides it doesn't want to recognise the ink cartridge or connect to the network or accept paper and then replace it for another cheapest printer available.

They are all shit, but the key thing is to AVOID HP.

Depends what you want it for. If you can make do without colour then a basic b/w laser printer is best. Colour lasers have come down in price but aren't very good if you want to print out photos. We don't print often but do sometimes need to. A laser doesn't dry up and clog its ink nozzles like an ink jet will. They can be got as an "all in one" with a scanner but have you considered using your phone to scan? I have an iPhone and the Notes app works very well for scanning the odd document.

Funny thing, I've had an HP colour laser printer since May 2015 and it's been absolutely fine, never given me any problems, got it from Staples. I don't use HP brand toners, StinkyInk ones are much cheaper and work fine. I got so fed up with colour ink jets - clogging, using up expensive ink very quickly, I decided to try a laser and have never looked back.

We have a really cheap HP one and honestly it's fine for the odd bit of printing we do. I very rarely faff with it and the only time I do to be quite honest is when I'm printing via wi-fi and the signal fluctuates but can hardly blame the printer for that. Plus it's easily resolved by turning of/on again.

We've had more expensive ones (mid range type I suppose) before and I wouldn't have said they're any better. All seem to just be roughly the same to me.

Agree with PP, go for a laser-jet printer if you can afford it

People round our way leave inkjet scanner/printer combos as 'wall treasure' for people to take, I scored an Epson which I use for scanning only with no ink cartridges installed.

I have a HP Laserjet MFP M175a.

Plus points :

It always works.

It does everything, scan photocopy print. You can get rid of tons of paper by scanning bills, receipts etc.

You can leave it for ages not printing and it will print fine first go. All lasers are like this. This is useful, because these days I can go weeks without printing anything.

The cartridges last a long time (but I rarely print in colour).

Negative Points :

Cartridges are expensive - but probably no more expensive than inkjet ink once you total up the failed cartridges.

Photo printing is not quite as good as inkjet on special paper, but if you want photo quality prints probably better to send away.

It is probably not great if you have kids who want to print 10 pages filled with green for some reason. That could get expensive pretty quickly.

I would never buy another inkjet. They are a waste of money and infuriating.

I’ve got an HP and it’s absolutely shit. So unreliable. Tells me there’s a paper jam when there isn’t. Other times just refuses to print without reason. Piece of shit.

We have a Epson ET-3750. It has the advantage that the ink is refillable so although the printer was a bit more expensive, the ink is a lot cheaper, and seems to last well.

Not had any problems with it so far (I think we got it in late 2020) but we don't print as much as we used to either.

Epson 235 ok
I think with all home printers a lot of the time it there so little used at home the jets clog with dry ink

I have got an HP ink tank printer and so far so good. It’s the white and red one. It doesn’t stay connected to the wifi but neither of the last two did either (canon and Epsom)
Print quality is ok and generally it behaves itself

I've got a brother colour laser, WiFi enabled printer. It's great, never had a problem with it. It was pricey at the time (about 7 years ago) but more than paid for itself. When it gives up the ghost I'll fo some proper research on which and other comparison sites before I buy. I won't bother asking a bunch of randoms on MN because I doubt anyone on this thread has in depth knowledge of 2023/4 printers.

I have a Canon PIXMA which (touch wood) works well. I've had it 4 years now. I've been using it for WFH, so probably more than 'domestic' use

This is what I came to say.

Multifunction are crap unless spending upwards of a grand, same for colour.

The only reliable ones are black and white lasers which don't do anything else - Oki, Kyocera or Brother mid range and upwards so 500+ are all good.

Do you actually need a printer? We only really need to print stuff occasionally, so get our printing done at the library. It's only caused problems once in the past 5 years, which is probably better reliability and lower cost than owning a printer.

My HP is currently not recognising the (genuine HP) cartridges. I'm not happy about this. I think it is because it was moved rooms and it wanted to stay where it was.

If you do get an HP you need to treat it like a delicate being, be gentle and not too demanding and it should last a few years.

It tells you off if you don't turn it off properly and the paper can't be too thin, my HP likes quality.

I have an Epson that's stayed exactly where it is, plugged in, connected to the Wi-Fi with no hurty feelings or anything and it wont recognise the genuine Epson cartridges either. Tried everything, now I just glare at it and whisper horrible names when I walk past it.

Simple black and white laser printer will be our next

Photos printed by a local shop - who have printed anything else that we have needed this year

I hate printers

Another vote for a B&W laser printer, cheapest available usually fine.

Use a scanning app on your phone or just take photos instead of the scanning function.

You must have done something to hurt its feelings, like breathing wrongly or something.
Mine will only function though the internet, I bought it a cable as our internet can sometimes be dodgy, but no.

Useful thread, thznk you. Our B&W Epson laser has just given up the ghost after 8 years. I really need colour unfortunately but looks like I should stick to laser.

Great tips - thanks all!