When thinking about buying a printer, most customers have the same problem: inkjet or laser? Asking the seller can be a solution, but they may be advising you on the most expensive model or simply don’t have the knowledge to tell you which one is best for you. On a basic level, it all depends on your budget: if you want to print faster and are willing to spend a little more, then buy a laser printer; if your budget is tight, get an inkjet one.
However, things are a bit more complicated than that. Each technology handles a different set of needs, and you need to consider what you’ll need the printer for. Do you only need to print documents or also photos? If you want to print images and want them to look professional, an inkjet printer is a better choice. In fact, a cheap inkjet printer outperforms the most expensive and sophisticated laser printer when it comes to color images. But if you only have documents to print and you need to print them fast, you should know that a laser printer is 4-5 times faster than an inkjet.
In case you have a high volume of printing, a laser printer will save you some money in the long run. The cost of a printed page is about 5 times less with laser printers than with inkjets. In fact, many cheap models can turn out to be less efficient in the end, so you have to plan things carefully. Most inkjet printers use a single cartridge. This means that if one color runs out, you have to replace the entire cartridge. Laser printers need less frequent recharging. On the other hand, the cheapest printer models also use more affordable cartridges.
Final cost is another factor you may want to consider. Some printers require periodic replacements of some parts and accessories, which adds to their total cost. The seller likely knows if this is the case you are looking to get. Memory is another important element. Printers with low memory may have trouble printing pages with many graphic elements or move more slowly if the document has many pages.
Of course, these are just a few of the things you can consider when looking for a printer. Others include its ability to print front and back, print formatting, compatibility with other network equipment, print management options, and many others. It all depends on how you will generally use it. For office, high-volume printing, laser printers generally work best, while inkjet printers are a more suitable option if you need to print a lot of color photos.