How each one prints
A laser printer uses the same process as a photocopier: a laser draws the page onto a drum, toner powder sticks to it and is fused onto paper with heat. An inkjet sprays tiny drops of liquid ink through a print head. Canon inkjets use thermal print heads; Epson uses piezoelectric heads. An ink tank printer is an inkjet with large refillable tanks instead of small cartridges.
Laser vs inkjet vs ink tank compared
| Laser | Ink tank | Cartridge inkjet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black text | Sharpest, fastest | Good | Good |
| Colour and photos | Mono models: none. Colour laser: good for graphics | Very good, low cost | Very good, high cost |
| Cost per page | Low for mono | Very low | High |
| Purchase price | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Idle for weeks | No problem | Risk of dried or clogged heads | Risk of dried cartridges |
| Smudge and water resistance | Good | Depends on ink; pigment black is better | Depends on ink |
| Typical use | Offices, steady document work | Homes, small offices, colour | Very occasional printing |
Which printer for which user?
- Student or home user printing colour assignments and photos: a colour ink tank all-in-one such as the Canon PIXMA G3730 or Epson EcoTank L3250.
- Small office printing invoices and letters every day: a mono laser such as the Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw, or a laser all-in-one if you scan.
- Office printing hundreds of mono pages a week on a budget: a mono ink tank such as the Epson EcoTank M3170, or a laser.
- Business wanting colour with scanning and an ADF: Canon MAXIFY GX6070 or Epson EcoTank L15180.
Browse laser printers and ink tank printers, or for heavier office use read the best printer for a high-volume office.
Questions about your own machine? Send the model and a photo, and the team in Kacheripady will reply.
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