Price: $159.99 - $99.99
(as of Apr 06, 2025 05:36:40 UTC - Details)

The Best Printer for 2021: Your Ultimate Buying Guide

Introduction

Finding the best printer can be a daunting task, especially with the multitude of options available. Whether you need a printer for home use, an office setup, or for creative projects, it’s crucial to choose one that meets your specific needs. In this guide, we’ll explore various types of printers, including inkjet, laser, and all-in-one models, focusing on their features, pros, and cons. This article is designed to help you navigate the complexities of printer shopping and find the best printer to suit your requirements.

Understanding Different Types of Printers

Inkjet Printers: Perfect for Home Use

Inkjet printers are often considered the best printer option for home use due to their versatility and affordability. They excel at printing high-quality photos and documents. If you’re looking for a printer that can handle everything from school projects to family memories, an inkjet model might be the right fit for you.

Key Features of Inkjet Printers

• Print Quality: Inkjet printers are known for their vibrant colors and sharp details, making them ideal for photo printing.
• Cost: Generally less expensive upfront than laser printers, inkjet models can be a budget-friendly choice for families and casual users.
• Size: Many inkjet printers are compact, making them easy to fit into small spaces.

Laser Printers: Efficient and Fast

If you need a printer that can handle high volumes of printing quickly, a laser printer is a fantastic choice. These printers use toner instead of ink, which can make them more cost-effective in the long run for businesses and heavy users.

Advantages of Laser Printers

• Speed: Laser printers are typically faster than inkjet printers, making them perfect for busy offices.
• Cost Efficiency: Although the initial cost may be higher, laser printers often have a lower cost per page, especially for black-and-white printing.
• Durability: Laser prints are generally more durable and smudge-resistant than inkjet prints.

All-in-One Printers: Versatile and Convenient

All-in-one printers combine printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing capabilities into one machine. They are perfect for users who need a multifunctional device at home or in the office.

Benefits of All-in-One Printers

• Space-Saving: Instead of having multiple devices, an all-in-one printer consolidates everything into one unit.
• Versatility: These printers are great for various tasks, from printing documents to scanning important papers.
• Cost-Effective: Purchasing one device instead of several can save you money and space.

Choosing the Best Printer for Your Needs

Best Printer for Photo Printing

If you’re passionate about photography, you’ll want a printer that can deliver exceptional print quality. Look for models specifically designed for photo printing, which often feature additional color cartridges for better color accuracy.

Top Recommendation: Canon PIXMA Pro-100

• Print Quality: This printer offers an 8-color dye ink system, ensuring stunning prints with a wide color gamut.
• Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connections, making it versatile for different setups.
• User-Friendly: Easy-to-use interface and software for hassle-free printing.

Best Printer for Small Office Use

For small businesses, efficiency and cost-effectiveness are crucial. A laser printer is often the best choice for this scenario.

Top Recommendation: Brother HL-L2350DW

• Speed and Efficiency: This compact laser printer can print up to 32 pages per minute, perfect for busy environments.
• Automatic Duplexing: Saves paper and time with automatic double-sided printing.
• Affordable Toner: Low-cost replacement toner keeps printing expenses down.

Best All-in-One Printer for Home Use

For families or individuals who need a versatile printer, an all-in-one model is ideal. Look for one that balances quality, speed, and features.

Top Recommendation: HP OfficeJet Pro 9015

• Versatile Functionality: Prints, scans, copies, and faxes, covering all your home office needs.
• Smart Features: Includes mobile printing options and smart tasks to automate repetitive tasks.
• Affordability: Competitive pricing with lower ink costs compared to similar models.

Conclusion

Choosing the best printer for your needs doesn’t have to be complicated. By understanding the different types of printers available—inkjet, laser, and all-in-one—you can make an informed decision that fits your specific requirements, whether that's for home use, business needs, or creative projects. Always consider factors like print quality, speed, and versatility to find the right match. With the right printer, you can enhance productivity and enjoy high-quality prints for all your projects. Happy printing!

FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Best for home printing, including basic color documents like recipes, forms and travel documents. Print speeds up to 8.5 pages per minute in black or 5 pages per minute in color.
KEY FEATURES – Print, copy and scan in color, plus mobile and wireless printing
INCLUDES HP+ SMART FEATURES – Upgrade to HP+ during setup to get advanced features for mobile printing, security, automatic updates and more. HP+ only works with an HP account, internet connection and Original HP Ink for the life of the printer
CONNECTIVITY – Dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset automatically detects and resolves connectivity issues. Also includes USB 0 port.
HP SMART APP – Simple, step-by-step guided setup. Print, scan, and copy everyday documents from your phone—from anywhere. Get advanced features with HP+ in the Smart app including mobile fax and advanced scanning features such as multi-item recognition
3 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK INCLUDED WITH HP+ – Print up to 700 pages a month and get ink delivered only when you need it. After 3 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled, and you'll save up to 50% on ink
This printer is intended to work only with cartridges with original HP chips or circuitry and will block cartridges using non-HP chips or circuitry. Periodic firmware updates will maintain the effectiveness of these measures. More at hp.com/learn/ds