Are you in the market for a new printer for the workplace, home office, or your small business? Still can’t decide whether to go for the good old inkjet or to futureproof your printing capabilities with a modern laser printer? Well, both have their pros and cons, and each type of printer works for specific types of users and tasks. This entry will talk about why choosing laser printers can be the better choice for you. More importantly, this post will help you choose the best laser printers that fit your needs.
Understanding the laser printing process
Laser printers work by converting digital images into hard copies of paper. The mechanism is comparable to photocopying machines. The latter uses a beam of light to create images on a sheet of paper, while the former uses a laser beam.
Unlike inkjet printers, the laser beam from this type of printer moves at a very fast rate. It is equipped with dozens of nozzles that move side to side over the paper, all while spraying extremely fine and tiny droplets of ink onto the paper to produce text or images. Inkjet printers, on the other hand, blend cyan, magenta, and yellow or use pigment-based ink in different levels to produce images. This is why laser printers tend to have faster print speeds, making them excellent for workplaces and businesses that require large printing jobs.
Aside from speed, this type of printer is also known for precision and great print quality. If print quality is imperative to you, especially if it’s in your line of work, then a laser printer is your perfecet choice. Whether you are looking to print black and white documents or print color documents, you get excellent print quality
More importantly, it has more affordable running costs. While laser printers tend to be more expensive than inkjet printers, the print cost (more affordable cost per page of print) will pay dividends over time, making the former the more practical choice for some occasions. Besides, laser printers, or printers in general, have gotten much more affordable in the past decade. Today, you can get a basic laser printer with all-in-one capabilities (print copy scan), a flatbed scanner, four toner cartridges and even touchscreen displays for an affordable price.
Best Laser Printer
We’re going to look at the top-tier printer options on the market currently. But before we do that, let’s look at some of the things you should know about before you choose the right one for your home.
Laser versus Inkjet: which one is better?
There are certainly some things monochrome lasers do better than inkjets. First, they print by using toner, not ink. That means your text will show up crisp and clear with no color bleed.
A former printer will typically provide more printed pages per color toner cartridge than ink-only printers will, too. The reason is that the toner is more of dust that gets laid on the plain paper by the laser, while the ink has to be sprayed in minuscule droplets. It takes more of the black and white ink to print the text than it does toner, too. Also, while the ink is prone to drying up, toner is not.
Those who have owned inkjet printers know that if you leave it sitting for weeks at a time, you will lose ink through drying. You may then be dealing with clogged sprayers. The replacement toner used by some printers doesn’t dry out like that. You can go weeks or months even without printing anything and you shouldn’t have any issues with your next automatic document feeders with a two-sided printing job.
Speed
If you require a high volume of prints in a short period, look for a laser printer with a faster printing speed (pages per minute). Consider how quickly the printer can produce both black and white as well as color prints.
The speed at which the laser can produce your two-sided documents will be higher than an ink printer. It takes a lot more time for the sprayer to distribute the droplets on the paper that will make up your text or picture. The sprayer arm has to go all the way across the page and back over and over again to lay the ink droplets. It is capable of laying down toner so much more quickly so you don’t have to wait as long.
Speed varies widely, and depends on a lot of different factors, including the graphic intensity that is being printed. Some of the top-tier ones can print 200 monochrome pages per minute.
The easy way to figure out the print speed is to do a test page if you can. The printer speed will be indicated, though, by the number of pages per minute or ppm. Many of us are working from home now and may need to print things quickly. Or, we may just prefer not to wait for things we don’t have to.
The duty cycle of a printer is generally higher than that of an inkjet printer. What do we mean by duty cycle? This is the workload the manufacturer will indicate to be the maximum you should put on the printer in a month so as to maintain it in good working order. They have a higher capacity of print workload in their duty cycle so you can get more pages from this type of most printers.
What Should I Consider When Buying A Printer?
It’s tough to know what kind of features to look for when you might be trying something new for a document feeder. These days there are so many choices of products from different manufacturers, that the choice can be overwhelming, in some cases. Here’s a list of features and other factors you should consider before deciding on getting the right one for your home.
Buying a laser printer can be a significant investment, so it’s essential to consider a few key factors before making a purchase. Here are some useful tips to guide you in buying the right laser printer:
Use
Determine your printing needs, and consider the volume and type of printing you’ll be doing. Also, determine whether you need a it primarily for text documents, graphics, or both. This will help you choose a machine with the appropriate specifications for your needs.
Try to get an idea of how much use you’ll need your printer for. If it’s going to be used frequently, then you need a printer with a heavy-duty cycle to keep up with the workload.
Type
You have to decide what you want your printer to do. Are you going to want to duplex scanning on things, make copies, and print pictures on your printer? If so, you have to choose a color laser AIOs model.
Paper Trays
Evaluate the machine’s paper handling capabilities, such as input and output tray capacity, as well as the supported paper sizes and types. Ensure that the machine can handle your desired paper size and has sufficient capacity to meet your requirements.
If you have a need for printing pages in different sizes much of the time, you may want to look into a printer that includes different paper handling trays so you can stow various paper sizes.
Toner Capacity
Look into how much toner different printers can hold. If you’re doing a high volume of printing, it’s more economical to go with the one that has a high capacity for four laser toner cartridges.
Interface
There are some printers that work strictly from the pushing of buttons. The more recent and advanced lasers include a touchscreen interface with more extensive options to choose from and multiple menus.
Connectivity
Consider the connectivity options available on the machine. USB connectivity is standard, but if you need to connect multiple devices or require wireless printing, look for printers with Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity. Some devices also support mobile printing options such as AirPrint or Google Cloud Print.
Functions
A great laser printer has more than one print job function. Others prefer to get an all-in-one printer with improved optical character recognition for better scan quality (able to do scanning through scan app), copying, fax capability, and even more tasks in the same machine.
Resolution
The resolution determines the sharpness and clarity of the prints. Higher resolution is essential for detailed graphics and images. Look for a laser printer with a resolution of at least 1200 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi) for crisp text and quality graphics.
Energy Efficiency
Look for energy-saving features such as sleep mode or automatic power-off. Energy-efficient printers can help reduce electricity consumption and save on utility bills.
Reliability
Research and learn more about the device you plan to get. Read reviews from reputable sources or user reviews to get an idea of the printer’s reliability, performance, and overall customer satisfaction. Also, make sure to pay attention to feedback on factors such as print quality, durability, and customer support.
Price
Always compare prices when you’re shopping for a new electronic device or any other consumer products like this. You’ll want to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples, though, not apples to oranges. Look for models in the same range of functionality when you’re comparison shopping so you narrow down to the greatest value.
Best-Selling Laser Printers Available On Amazon
Brother MFCL2700DW with Wireless Networking and Duplex Printing
Brother MFCL2700DW is a very reliable printer for a number of uses compared to its competitors. It can print at a rate of 27 ppm. The print quality of this Brother MFC L2700DW is 600 x 2400 dpi so you get clear text on every page. The reliable paper handling tray has a 250 page capacity, too, so you don’t have to keep refilling it. It is also a multifunction laser printer as it is able to scan and copy also.
Pros:
- One of the Low-cost
- Automatic duplex printing capability
- Included high-speed USB cable for easy connection options
- Straight-through paper path
- With toner save mode
- Mobile printing feature from a mobile device
- With a print speed of up to 27 pages per minute
Cons:
- This Brother HL series has ho Wi-Fi integration
- Paper guides can shift
- No color
Brother Compact Monochrome HL-L2350DW
It has a small footprint and prints very economically. It can be used with the Brother high-yield toner option so you get good value for money. The good part? You can print from the comfort of your mobile device because this compact machine is Wi-Fi capable. You can also use different types of paper and different sizes in this printer. And, this Brother HL, it prints at a rate of up to 32 ppm. You can choose to print from the paper waste tray, or manually feed sheets through so you can print on any size sheet you’d like.
Pros:
- Wireless connection or mobile printing capability from a laptop or mobile device
- High quality yet very affordable
- Automatic document feeder duplex printing to save on paper
- Toner save mode (no waste toner)
- LCD display and interface
- USB connection included
- Super fast print speed
- With 250 sheets of paper capacity
- Can do up to 32 pages per minute
Cons:
- Connecting to Wi Fi can be tricky
- Manual feed documents can get wrinkled
- Deep sleep mode causes some issues
HP M281fdw All-in-One (Best Wireless Color Printer)
This HP laserjet is one of the better color printers on our list. The HP Color Jet Pro costs about $100 more than either of the ones listed above, but you get the color pages and printing along with wireless printing capability. You can also download the HP Smart app and control panel to connect the machine to your mobile device. There is an ethernet port, too, if your home is wired with ethernet already. The print speed is at a rate of 22 ppm and with auto duplex printing. The Jet Pro color printer has built-in security, too, so you can connect your devices without any worry. The versatility of this machine allows you to print all sorts of different sizes of documents and on different types of paper.
Pros:
- Can print photos with colored
- Easy setup and operation
- Features duplex printing
- Small footprint
- Mobile device printing
- Features Google Cloud Print
- This M281fdw has built-in security
Cons:
- Power save mode has a flashing LED light
- Loud operation
- Small interface screen
HP M404dn Monochrome with Built-in Ethernet & Double-Sided Printing
Unlike the LaserJet Pro above, this monochrome printing machine prints in black, no color. It’s intended to be a home or office printer for those who have a need to print many documents full of text. It has a print speed of up to 40 ppm. The main paper tray has a capacity of 350 sheets, while the output tray can hold up to 150 pages. There is a small 2-line LCD display screen for viewing settings. This machine come with a black toner cartridge, a starting guide, and a power cord. There is a USB port, but no cable is provided.
Pros:
- Prints fast
- 250 sheet paper capacity in its input paper tray
- JetIntelligence for efficient toner use
- Strong security
- High Capacity
- ENERGY STAR certified
Cons:
- No wireless printing
- Pricey
- No USB cable included
- Replacement toner is expensive
Conclusion
Laser printers are fast, convenient, and multifunctional, gives low operating costs, print the type of documents or pictures you need it to, and are priced to fit your budget. Look at the specs of the device to see what ppm rate they print at, if they print with color lasers, how much space they need, what their capacity is, and what kind of recommended duty cycle they have. The top-tier ones can make your work, small office, school, and personal printing much faster, more economical, and more efficient.
Top Printer: Wrapping Up
We hope this list helped you find the perfect printer for your home! Don’t forget to check out the Amazon links so that you can peruse the products and their reviews. If you found this list useful, make sure to leave a comment down below and stay tuned for more information on laser printers here on Family Hype! We hope to help you again soon!
Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Printers
What Printer Is Good For Private Use?
The greatest overall laser printer for home use is the HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw.
Do Lasers Or Inkjets Last Longer?
Generally, lasers last longer because they require less maintenance and they don’t clog with ink.
Which is better: HP or Brother?
HP eprint lasers are better for ease of use and low maintenance. Brother costs more upfront but isn’t as expensive in the long run. You can check the HP Neverstop MFP. This features high-volume printing and large print-only jobs compared to its competitors.
Source: flickr.com
Which Printer Has The Cheapest Toner Cartridges?
If you are looking for cheap toner cartridges, one of the cheapest you can get is the Brother HL – L2300D Monochrome. It offers lower printing costs.
Is Laser Printer Worth It?
Most laser printers are worth it. As long as you choose the type that will give you the most use. If you want to print photos, you can use a color printer to do so, however an inkjet may be a better option. Overall, they are great for value for money.
Is Brother a good brand?
Brother is a very reputable company, and one of the top brands in the market. They cost more than some other brands, but end up being one of the better budget laser options in the long run because the toner cartridges don’t cost as much.
Does Laser Dry Out?
Lasers do not dry out. Toner is technically already dry. There is no risk of toner drying out like ink does.
LaserJet Printer Disadvantages
The biggest thing is these lasers aren’t a good choice for photo-quality printing. They don’t give bright and vibrant color graphics as what you’ll get from an inkjet.
Which Colour laserJet has the cheapest toner?
Canon image CLASS MF743Cdw has the cheapest toner for color printing, while Brother MFC-L2750DW has the most affordable toner for monochrome.
Which brand or model uses the least amount of ink?
What brand is most popular for processing pictures?
Which is the best laser brand?
Do printers use a lot of electricity?
Since not all printers are the same, different brands, types, and models consume varying amounts of electricity. Generally, lasers consume more power than their inkjet counterparts, since the former uses heating and fusing processes. However, newer models today come with improved energy efficiency and energy-saving features (sleep mode, automatic power-off, etc.) to help reduce the electricity consumption when the machine is idle.
Does LaserJet ink fade?
Laserjets don’t use ink, rather, they use toner, which resembles a dry powder. Unlike their inkjet counterparts, their work is far more resistant to fading. This is because the ink fuses into the paper through a heating process, creating a more durable and long-lasting print, making them the preferred choice for documents and materials that require archival quality.
Are lasersjets cheaper to maintain?
Yes, they are cheaper to maintain compared to their inkjet counterparts. Thanks to their efficient use of toner cartridges, which have a higher page yield and result in less frequent cartridge replacements. Moreover, laser printers tend to have fewer issues with printhead clogging or damage, thus, minimizing the need for maintenance and potential repairs or replacements.
Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Raymond Sy Tamco
DISCLAIMER (IMPORTANT): This information (including all text, images, audio, or other formats on FamilyHype.com) is not intended to be a substitute for informed professional advice, diagnosis, endorsement or treatment. You should not take any action or avoid taking action without consulting a qualified professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions about medical conditions. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice or treatment because of something you have read here a FamilyHype.com.