The days when printers were solely used for printing are long gone. Today, all-in-one printers have become a staple in any workplace and home office. And why not, when they can bring in a lot of functionalities and convenience by being a versatile piece of equipment that can do anything and everything for virtually the same footprint as their traditional counterpart? All-in-one printers can scan, make photocopies, and even send fax documents.
All-In-One Printers Are Making Work More Convenient
New models today even offer more nifty features such as being able to connect to a compatible mobile device for mobile printing, Wi-Fi direct connectivity for wireless printing in the same wireless network (such as the Epson iPrint app), and even cloud printing (through Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint). Other printers even come with automatic duplex printing for double-sided printing images and documents, faster printing seed, and high-resolution flatbed scanners for scanning documents, printing color printing documents, and detailed images on photo paper or glossy paper.
All-In-On Printers Have Bigger Ink Tanks
Moreover, more and more printers even come with bigger ink tanks and black ink and colored ink cartridges that can make more prints and allow third-party affordable ink replacement to save money on your running costs and keep you from spending big on expensive inkjet cartridges. If you are looking for all-in-one printers for your home office or workplace, then you are in the right place. Here’s our rundown on the best all-in-one printers in the market.
Why Opt For All-In-One Printers
More people are working from home than ever before. That means the demand for home office equipment has skyrocketed, especially for jobs that require you to print photos and print job documents as well. There is more of a need for items like copiers, scanners, fax machines, and printers. Home offices do not typically have the same amount of space for all of these machines, though, that you might find in an office building environment. But what you can do is look for the top all-in-one printers that provide all of those functions within a single unit.
Whether you have a dedicated office room in your home, or you are tucked into the corner of a bedroom with a desk and very limited space, the all-in-one printers can be beneficial to you. Read on to find out how to choose an AIO printer to buy and see some of the options and the fewer printer features that are out on the market currently.
Two Types Of Printing Technology You Can Find In All-In-One Printers
There are two main types of print technology—laser (e.g. color laser printers, monochrome laser printers) and inkjet (e.g. inkjet all in one). The biggest difference between them is a laser printer uses toner while an inkjet printer uses enough ink stored in an ink tank. Inkjet printers tend to do better for situations where there won’t be a lot of volume in terms of printed pages. Laser printers can produce many more pages much quicker and without using as much toner to do it.
Either type of printer will work well for a home office setup and can produce pages with excellent print quality. They both have benefits to offer, however, they also both have their downsides.
Functions And Features To Consider
Choosing all-in-one printers like the all-in-one inkjet should start with deciding which type of print technology you would prefer for your color prints and color pages—laser printers or inkjet printers. Next, look at the scanning function to see if there is an automatic document feeder, single-pass duplex scanning, and if it is a high-resolution scanner. Check the printer’s output quality indicator and look for a higher number. Also, look at the print speed – of course, fast printing is preferred. The connectivity options (e.g. USB flash drive, Ethernet connectivity) are important; a wireless office printer is usually better for at-home use and is seen in many models. Finally, the replacement ink cartridges need to be easy to find and have a reasonable price so that you can save in the long run.
Laser All-In-One Printer Pros:
- High volume printing
- Prints fast (15-100 pages per minute)
- More economical
- The toner doesn’t dry up if not used for long periods
- Toner cartridges have a higher page yield
Laser All-In-One Printer Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- Colors are not as vivid for photo printing
Inkjet All-In-One Printer Pros:
- Low upfront cost per page
- Can print elegant gallery-style and decent-looking photos
- More range of color
- Easy to find ink cartridges
Inkjet All-In-One Printer Cons:
- Slow print times (up to 16 pages per minute) but these are considered budget all-in-one models
- Lower page yield per ink cartridge
- Higher ink costs due to ink evaporation
- Ink on paper can smudge if no dry time
If all you are needing is a dedicated printer that you will be using from time to time to print small-volume projects and reports or you will be printing photos, then go with an inkjet printer. On the other hand, if you need something to print frequently, laser printers make more sense for that (e.g. monochrome laser). Check out the links on our site.
Scanners In All-In-OnePrinters Aren’t All the Same
We do not all need a good scanner, but for those who do, the scanning function needs to be given ample consideration. Scanners do not all result in the same resolution. A lower-quality scanner can cause documents to look blurry or fuzzy.
The resolution of a scanner or printer is measured in DPI or dots per inch. You want your scanner to have a higher DPI so your documents come out with sharp image quality and crisp text that is easy to read. Look for a DPI that’s no lower than 600 x 1,200 and a bit depth (scanner) of at least 24 bits.
It is important to get a scanner that has a high-volume automatic document feeder, as well, if you need to scan many multi-page documents frequently. You do not want to get stuck having to feed each page in one at a time. Look for an automatic document feeder that has multi-page feed capability.
One other thing to consider is if you need to scan odd-shaped pictures, papers, or other types of things. You’ll be better off going with a flatbed scanner for those.
It’s Best To Know The Print Quality Resolution
You can get good print quality from either laser printers or inkjet printers. You just need to check for what the print resolution is. As we mentioned in the last section, the print quality will be indicated in DPI. The higher numbers you see indicated, the better the print quality will be from that multifunction printer. You will get sharper images, clearer text, and crisper lines.
A note to remember about the resolution indicated by the manufacturer is that they usually are sitting their highest print quality taken while at the slowest print speed. At faster print speeds, you can lose some of the print quality.
Toner And Ink Cartridges In All-In-One Printers
The way to truly compare the top all-in-one printers and their costs is by looking at the availability of and price tags on the toner or ink cartridges. This is what is really going to determine the cost-effectiveness of different printers.
Generally, toner cartridges will cost more. The reason for this is they last longer. You’ll get about 2,000 to 10,000 or more pages out of one toner cartridge. You also won’t lose any of the page yields due to drying.
Ink cartridges only yield about 135 to 1,000 pages per cartridge. They also dry out causing the page yield to decrease in inkjet printers that don’t get used for long periods of time.
Now, let us take a look at some of the top all-in-one printers that are currently selling.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8025
This is a reasonably priced home office printer that can print up to 20 pages per minute. It’s a reliable wireless printer that can print from anywhere in your home. You can also print remotely through the HP Smart app. This is one of HP’s latest inkjet printers that replaces the 6968 model. You can enroll in the HP Instant Ink plan to have your ink cartridges delivered directly to your home on a schedule. There’s a 1-year limited warranty on the hardware of the printer. It’s easy to set up and super easy to use, also.
Pros:
- HP Smart app is designed to save time
- One of the better all-in-one printers
- Automatic document feeder on top
- Includes ethernet connection
- Easy-to-use color touchscreen display
- Duplex printing
- ENERGY STAR certified
Cons:
- Drops network connection sometimes
- No enlarged or reduced feature
- The paper capacity tray is hard to slide in and out
HP Envy Pro 6455
The HP Envy prints, scans, and copies. It has automatic duplex printing. There is an automatic document feeder that can handle 35 pages at a time. You’ll have the HP Smart app to work through so you can print remotely and organize documents. The HP Envy inkjet printers allow you to easily share your printer across all of the devices in your home. You can also sign up for the HP Instant Ink plan to have your ink cartridges automatically delivered straight to your home.
Pros:
- Easy step-by-step setup process
- High-volume automatic document feeder
- Duplex printing
- Self-healing dual-band WiFi
- 24 months of free mobile fax capabilities
Cons:
- Slow printing speed
- No display screen
- The paper input capacity tray light is bright
HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw
This favorite laser printer comes at a much higher price than the previous two inkjet printers. It’s also quite a bit larger. This one is meant to take your business printing and scanning operation up a few levels so you can stay on track. It has a large color touchscreen display for making selections for better scan quality. Or you can print through WiFi. It’s energy-efficient, has a 50-page automatic document feeder, and can print up to 28 pages per minute. You’ll be supported with 24-hour service and there is a 1-year warranty included.
Pros:
- Prints fast
- Very high-quality print
- Automatic duplex printing
- Recommended monthly volume of 750 to 4,000 pages
- Built-in security features
Cons:
- Pricey
- Large physical footprint
- Slight tilt to feeder scanned images
HP Smart-Tank Plus 651
This is an inkjet printer, but instead of using traditional ink cartridges, it uses ink tanks. Ink tanks are actually bottles of ink that hold enough in them for up to 2 years of printing. You can print remotely, scan documents, print labels, and use the copier with this machine. There’s a small touchscreen display for controlling settings and checking ink levels. You can also do this through the HP Smart app. The printer is small enough to fit just about anywhere, too and convenient for proper paper handling.
Pros:
- No expensive ink cartridge refills
- Very easy to set up
- Sharp, high-quality prints
- Easy to see how much ink is left
- Vivid colors
Cons:
- Expensive
- The paper feed tray located in the back
- Touchscreen display is too small
Final Words: What Makes All-One-Printers A Good Choice
All-in-one printers provide a convenient and cost-effective choice for small businesses or even individuals who require a versatile solution for their limited-space office. As its name suggests, it can pretty much do everything, from printing, making copies, scanning, and even faxing (for some models), eliminating the need for separate devices and reducing office clutter.
All-in-one printers are not portable printers. They are chunkier, but for good reason – they have more components that allow you to perform more tasks with them. This is what makes them good additions to any home office. Just make your choice between inkjet and laser, then check out the print quality of some of them. Make sure you look for additional features that will help you, such as automatic document feeders for scanning functions, the resolution of the scanner, and the print speed. You will need to look into the cartridge prices, too. Choose the best one that is the most cost-effective for your needs to make your home office more complete.
FAQs
Which All-In-One Printers Is Best For Home Use?
The best for a small home office is the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025.
What’s The Best All-In-One Printer 2023?
Aside from Brother MFC j4335dw, you can count on Brother MFC-J895DW.
What’s The Best All-In-One Printer For Home Use In The UK?
The best for the UK is the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650.
Which Printer Brand Is Most Reliable?
This gets debated a lot. HP is our pick for the most reliable printer brand, overall. Aside from the fact that it has been in the industry for decades, it is known to have the fewest issues.
HP, Canon, Or Epson Printer, Which Brand Is Better?
HP is the most reliable overall. Canon is the best for color images with lots of contrast. When it comes to Epson, it is capable of producing printers that can offer the best of both worlds.
What Is The Most Reliable Printer For Home Use?
This is the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025.
Which Has The Cheapest Ink?
This goes to the Brother MFC-J995DW. It’s great for families.
Which Has The Best Value For Money?
The best home printer to buy in the best budget wireless printer category is the Brother MFC-J805DW INKvestment Tank.
Which Has The Longest-Lasting Ink Cartridges?
Go with the HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 or the HP OfficeJet Pro 9150.
What Is The Disadvantage Of An All-In-One Printer?
As with most multifunction printers, all-in-ones have their drawbacks too. For one, if one component or part fails, there is a good chance the device will not function at all. Meaning, you could lose multiple functions at the same time. For example, if the scanner fails, then you may not be able to use the print function of your machine.
How Long Do All-In-One Printers Last?
Printers usually last anywhere around three to five years, depending on the model and your usage. You can of course, always improve the longevity of your machine by performing regular maintenance and cleaning it out. If your machine prints slower than normal or the quality is lower than usual, then it may need replacement.
Which Is The Cheapest All-In-One Printer?
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8025 All-in-One Model is considered one of the best cheap printers. It works as a printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine all rolled into one.
Which Printer Is Good In Low Maintenance?
Canon MF3010 Laser Printer is said to print up to 18 pages per minute, with a monthly duty cycle of 8,000 pages. It comes with a one-cartridge system, making it a lot easier and more convenient to maintain.
Should A Printer Be Left On All The Time?
Yes. This may seem odd but in most cases, printers should be left on, even when you are not printing. This is because when your printer is plugged in and turned on, it will calibrate from time to time, which you can hear from its mechanical movements. This will prevent the printhead from drying out faster.
Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Raymond Sy Tamco
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