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How to choose a printer for home? Types of printers, which is better. How to choose a color printer for home? The best color laser printer for the home

We will make a reservation right away: we compiled this rating solely on the basis of customer reviews. We did not include in it those models that were either negatively reviewed or not commented at all. Therefore, this rating can include both expensive and sophisticated models, as well as budget ones. And in general: it cannot be considered objective - keep this in mind if you use it to select a printer.

Before we go directly to the rating, you should answer yourself a question.

Choosing a laser printer for the home

Laser printers are good because the cost of printing in them is low. In addition, they feature fast printing speeds, making them ideal for offices. For the home, people most often buy inkjet models with color printing technology - they are inexpensive. But a color laser printer will be very expensive, but it is preferable for home use, because. allows you to print not only documents, but also photos.

A few words about the cost of operation. Few people understand, but this parameter is one of the most important when choosing. Usually people pay attention to the initial cost of the device and forget that further operation is the biggest cost item. Usually, cheap laser printers and MFPs have a small cartridge and drum life, therefore, they have to be changed often (if the cartridge can still be refilled a couple of times, then the drum has to be changed completely), and this involves spending money. Having overpaid once when buying an expensive laser printer with a long drum and cartridge resource, you can save money in the future. It turns out that expensive laser printers have a low cost per document. Of course, this is more important for offices where you need to print very, very often, but it also matters when choosing.

Printer Rating

1st - HP LaserJet Pro P1102w ($160)

Deservedly takes first place HP LaserJet Pro P1102w worth $160. This is a device with black and white printing technology and a fairly large resource - 5,000 pages per month. Standard print resolution - 600x600 dpi, speed 18 pages per minute.

One advantage is the 1600 page yield cartridge (usually 1000 page yield), which makes the cost per print lower. There is also wi-fi, which is another plus: it is not necessary to install it near the computer.

Reviews about this printer are positive, so we put it in first place. This is a high-quality product with a high-capacity cartridge - it lasts for a long time even with frequent use.

The disadvantages here are banal: the price, slow wi-fi, short cable and the complexity of setting up wireless printing. Actually, that's all.

2nd place - HP LaserJet Pro P1102 ($120)

A good printer for a small office or home with b/w laser printing technology. Unlike the previous one, this model is connected exclusively via the usb interface.

However, the rest of the parameters are the same:

  • resolution: 600x600 dpi;
  • cartridge yield: 1600 pages;
  • print speed: 16 pages;
  • productivity: 5000 pages per month.

This is a compact device that is easy and quick to set up. It is convenient and resource-intensive, because of the high-capacity cartridge, the cost of printing is reduced, which cannot but please the owner.

There are also disadvantages, but the most important of them is the cartridge, which, after refilling, prints either very dimly or “swears” at the lack of toner. However, the cartridges are not meant to be refilled. It is believed that they must be changed completely after the consumption of the entire resource.

3rd place - Panasonic KX-MB1500 ($130)

Slightly more expensive printer with b/w printing up to 18 pages per minute. Unlike previous models, this is not just a printer, but an MFP - a multifunctional device that also includes a scanner and a copier.

Its productivity is also 5,000 pages per month, the standard resolution is 600x600 dpi (like a copier). Productively claims that the kit comes with a cartridge designed for 2500 pages, which is much more than the resource of cartridges of previous models in the rating.

The device collects positive customer reviews, and this is quite logical: this is an excellent and inexpensive MFP that works quietly and quickly. The device is reliable and due to the high-capacity cartridge, printing is cheap.

As for the shortcomings, we can highlight: a weak scanner, bad scanner software and the fact that it sometimes jams sheets at the exit. All in all, this is an almost perfect and cheap MFP for a home or even a small office.

4th place - Brother DCP-7057R ($160)

Another representative of the MFP family, which is equipped with one of the best printers. It is inexpensive, practical and fully meets the criteria of our today's rating, so we included it in this rating.

Immediately about the main thing: productivity is 10,000 pages per month, which allows you to print about 300 pages per day. The device has a resolution of 2400x600, and its speed is 20 pages per minute.

The cartridge, however, is a weak point - its resource is only 1000 pages, and with such a high performance, this is very small. However, according to customer reviews, it refills easily and quickly, the toner counter is easily reset, and this allows you to continue printing pages after refilling. This significantly reduces the cost of ownership and makes this model one of the best among black and white MFPs.

Otherwise, everything is fine too: speed, print quality, convenient and simple software - everything is on top. Recommended.

5th place - HP LaserJet Pro MFP M125rnw ($195)

And again, an MFP with black and white printing technology. This model is equipped with an Ethernet port and Wi-fi, which allows you to make it a network device. Only this suggests that the device is primarily intended for offices, but, judging by customer reviews, it is also convenient to use it at home.

The main thing:

  • productivity: 8000 pages per month;
  • resolution: 600x600 dpi;
  • 1500 page yield cartridge.

Despite the presence of Wi-fi, the device does not have any unique features. In general, it is good: it prints quickly, and it does it efficiently, quickly and easily configured, the cartridge has a pretty good resource, and after the end of the toner it is easy enough to refill and use again. This is one of the main advantages, so we can recommend this model with a clear conscience.

6th place - Kyocera FS-1040 ($110)

Inexpensive laser printer with black and white printing technology Kyocera FS-1040. According to the manufacturer, the device is designed for a small office, which is consistent with its characteristics.

Productivity is 10,000 pages per month, resolution 600x600 dpi, print speed up to 20 sheets per minute, comes with a cartridge with a resource of 2500 pages. Even the drum resource is indicated - 100,000 prints, which is a very solid indicator.

In their reviews, buyers characterize this model as a “workhorse for the office”, however, given its possible price, this is one of the best options for the home. The cartridge is refillable, which we attribute to the merits.

As for the shortcomings, we first of all highlight the design: everything is assembled on latches, without any reliable fasteners. Therefore, it should be used very, very carefully. Also, some buyers indicate “buggy” software, but such reviews are rare.

7th place - Ricoh SP 111SU ($130)

MFP from a little-known manufacturer with black and white laser printing technology. The model is intended for a small office, but it is quite suitable for the home.

If you skip the copier and scanner and stop only at the printer, then the model turned out to be very successful:

  • productivity: 10,000 pages per month;
  • resolution: 600x600 dpi;
  • cartridge yield: up to 2000 pages

One of the main advantages is refillable cartridges. The manufacturer is not opposed to users refilling the cartridges themselves and even sells a special toner. It works well: it does not jam the paper, the print quality is good. He works out his money 100%, as the users themselves say.

8th place - Ricoh SP 111 (70-75 dollars)

Again, a model from the manufacturer Ricoh, which is ideal for the home. This is one of the cheapest printers, which will cost only $ 75 (perhaps the cheapest in this ranking).

The productivity is 10,000 pages per month, the print resolution is 1200x600 dpi, the cartridge for 2000 prints is included, which makes the cost of printing very cheap. In addition, the original cartridge can be refilled, which is a big plus.

Ilya 2179

In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best laser printers of 2014, according to experts. Manufacturers of various companies and firms are trying to improve their devices and devices. As for manufacturers digital technologies, then they need to work twice as hard to meet the needs of consumers. In this regard, a person can see a huge variety of equipment on store shelves or in shop windows. In order not to get confused when choosing, experts create reviews and ratings of various products, based on which the buyer can decide on his choice.
So, what kind of printer has become advanced this year? We will help you deal with this by presenting you the best copier devices developed using modern technologies.


Nice-looking printer, costing from 3,000 to 4,000 thousand rubles. The print is black and white, the maximum print resolution of this model is 600x600 dpi. The built-in memory is 8 MB and the print speed is 18 pages per minute. First print out - 7.8 seconds. Designed to work under Linux, Mac and Windows operating systems. Relatively low noise level, but rather inconvenient design and high cost compared to functionality. Prices in online stores:

Quite practical printer, budget class (cost 2500 rubles). It is a high-quality print (2400x600 dpi) and a low cost of printing one sheet (only 1 ruble). The output of the first print lasts 10 seconds, and a minute can print up to 20 pages. A distinctive feature of this device is that it works under almost all operating systems. The memory is 8 MB, as is the case with most other devices.

One of the few budget-class monochrome printers. For only 2500 rubles, you can buy this device. The maximum resolution of this printer is 1200x1200 dpi. The print speed is 20 pages per minute and the warm-up speed is 25 seconds. Built-in memory is 64 MB. Compatible with operating systems such as Mac, MS Windows, Mac OS X 10.5 and above, Linux. The cost of printing a sheet in A4 format is only 1 ruble, using standard cartridges.

Printer with monochrome printing, with an average cost of 3000-3500 rubles. The model of a well-known Korean manufacturer can please you with high print quality and a convenient design. The print speed is also not low, this unit can print more than 20 pages per minute. And the output speed of one sheet is 8-8.5 seconds. Linux, Windows, Mac OC X operating systems are supported. The cost of one sheet is 1.5 rubles.

Prices in online stores:

cactus 600 R

compyou.ru 11 180 R

mtoner.ru 1 190 Р

Having looked at some of the best printer models produced in 2014, from a variety of manufacturers and companies, you can see how significantly they differ from each other.
Therefore, the most rational decision it would be to make your choice on the Xerox Phaser 3010 printer. Nowadays, you rarely see a device with such a rich filling for a very small price.

The printer is a highly demanded device in modern world. It is essential both at work and at home. Therefore, they are gaining popularity faster, and manufacturers offer more and more options for this technique.

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For printing photos or a printer that supports Mac in 2014? We've rounded up five of the best devices you'll want to literally paper feed.

Choosing one model among many printers is not an easy task for a novice photographer who needs a printer for printing photos, and for office needs, and for a person who prints a document only occasionally. We did some hard testing, including calculating the cost of each printer.

Printers are not like other appliances. These devices are both mechanical and electronic, which means that build quality and reliability are extremely important factors, as is the cost of printing. It is unlikely that the limit of your dreams is a faulty printer, chewing paper and wasting ink just at the moment when you need to print some important document.

This does not mean that printers cannot have "chips" such as WiFi support, Apple AirPrint, and Google Cloud, which enable wireless printing from a smartphone or tablet (such as the iPad Air or Nexus 7).

Also, remember that printers have a longer lifespan than most other devices. After two years, you may want to replace your laptop, phone, or tablet, but if your printer continues to print well, then there is little need to change it. That is why it is so important to make the right choice once and for all. Of all the printers we have reviewed, we have selected the very best so you can be sure that you are choosing the best model that will fully meet your expectations.

Whether it's a dedicated laser printer for the office, a high quality photo printer, an all-in-one for home use, or a printer for occasional use, we'll help you decide what to buy for under $167.

Best Printer of 2014

5 TOP Models

1. Brother DCP-1510

The best printer in the price range under $150

Key features:

  • good print quality;
  • simple LCD display;
  • ease of installation.

The Brother DCP-1510 is a simple, decent-performance multifunction laser printer that's ideal for use at home or in student dorms where text is the primary focus. The printer also stamps copies at a speed of about 16 pages per minute, its scanner is capable of reproducing pages of text for optical recognition and has the necessary parameters for scanning identity documents. One cartridge refill is enough for 1000 pages. The cartridges make a little noise when printing. Based on the speed and print specifications, the printer is an excellent value for money.

2.HP Officejet 6700 Premium

The best wireless printer

Key Features

  • USB connector for scanning and printing;
  • fax with speed dialing;
  • wireless direct printing, AirPrint for Apple devices

The HP Officejet 6700 Premium is a sub-$150 printer with all the essential features and wireless printing from PCs, Android smartphones and tablets. In addition, it is equipped with a USB connector and supports Ethernet, and scanned pages can also be translated into PDF format and JPEG.

It delivers a decent 8.1 ppm for 5-page black and white text and tops out at 12.6 ppm for 20-page text. There are two quality levels of ink cartridges available for this printer. The XL version is enough for 1000 standard pages in black and white text and 800 in color. In the HP Officejet price range, few printers can match its performance.

3. Canon PIXMA MG7150

The best photo printer

Key features:

  • 4-color output;
  • touch screen and touch control panel;
  • AirPrint and WiFi Direct

The Canon PIXMA MG7150 is an inkjet printer well equipped to print on both plain paper and optical discs. The resulting photos are very good. In terms of connection options, the device has three memory card slots and even CompactFlash support (for those used to single-lens reflex cameras).

The print quality, in general, is no different from that of any other inkjet printer. The print text is clear, the colors are bright, the fill lays down confidently and without streaks. The text prints well on a colored background. Printed photos have natural colors and smooth transitions, all the details are visible even in the dark places of the pictures. This excellent multi-functional model should be appreciated by those amateur photographers who do not like the idea of ​​digital photo frames.

4. Brother MFC-J6920DW

The best printer for printing in A3 format

Key features:

  • slots for memory card, USB and PictBridge;
  • support for NFC and cloud printing Cloud Print;
  • scan and copy capability

In terms of large-scale printing, the Brother MFC-J6920DW can be considered a worthy device for printing in A3 format. It has enough connectivity options to work equally well with cameras, tablets and smartphones. There is a USB connector, support for SD and MemoryStick, PictBridge and NFC (near field communications). Thus, you can also transfer images to the printer at a distance from your phone (if, of course, this technology is available in it). The XL black cartridge is rated for 2,400 A4 pages, so you won't have to change it every few days. Colors in printed photos are natural, text on plain paper is clear and legible. This modern and multifunctional inkjet printer has established itself as the best in its class.

5. Brother HL-3140CW

The best color laser printer

Key features:

  • wireless connection as standard;
  • high speed printing;
  • low cost of black and white printing;

For a compact color printer aimed at home use, the Brother HL-3140CW has a fairly high print speed and a very low price. With wireless connectivity included as standard and USB, you'll have plenty of options to get photos from your PC or Mac.

The color print speed matches the black and white speed and reaches 9.1 pages per minute, which is quite fast for a printer in this class. The print quality is exactly what you would expect from a mid-range laser printer. If you're considering buying a laser color printer, keep in mind that this model is neat, fast, and, most importantly, inexpensive to use.

The best color laser printers for home and small office

The first group in our review are machines that are capable of producing full color images, but do not have high performance. Used primarily at home or in small offices. First, let's say a few words about the manufacturers.

  1. Canon- a world-famous brand of printers and other printing devices (in this rating, we are talking only about printers, excluding copiers, MFPs, and other printing machines). Founded in the late 30s of the last century in Japan. The headquarters and key production facilities are located there to this day.
  2. Brother Industries Ltd is another Japanese company on our list, but it is already a product of globalization. The company appeared on the horizon big business literally a few decades ago and managed to develop into a large transnational corporation with production facilities in many countries.
  3. Ricoh Company Ltd.- the third transnational "Japanese" in our first list. No worse than the first three, and in some places better, especially in terms of assortment (it also produces cameras, digital cameras and similar devices).
  4. Finally, the undisputed giant of the market is an American company Hewlett Packard, namely its divisions specializing in the production of laser printers. It does not require special introductions, since this name has long become a legend.

The first small office laser printer in Expertology's ranking is Canon's popular laser printer. This is a rather ascetic device in terms of design with dimensions of 400x223x398 mm, weight of 12.3 kg and an average power consumption of about 868 W in operating mode.

The nominal number of printed pages is set by the manufacturer at 15,000 per month. Format: A4 or smaller. Full color is achieved by using four toner cartridges according to the CMYK color model.

As for the resolution, it is a maximum of 600x2400dpi for b/w and color printing. As for the print speed, everything will depend on the color. So, on one color (monochrome printing), the machine will produce 16 sheets per minute. With full-color printing, this figure will be 4 times lower.

It takes 66 seconds for the full warm-up time of the drum to dispense the first copy of this model. The first image comes out within 13.6 sec (monochrome) and 24.7 sec respectively – full color.

There are no frills in terms of built-in support for online printing in this model: built-in PostScript support is not implemented, the amount of RAM is only 16 MB, the resource of each individual color cartridge is almost the same as the resource of black - 1.2 thousand pages - black and 1 thousand pages - any color.

The device is connected via a universal USB 2.0 port, which is found in every computer. The operating noise level should nominally not exceed 50 dB.

There is one feature in this laser printer that is typical for Canon printers - special dimensions of the paper tank up to 216x355 mm and support for Canon's "proprietary" language - CAPT, using which a noticeable increase in print quality is possible.

Advantages

    excellent work speed;

    reliability and reliability;

    support for "proprietary" CAPT technology.

Flaws

  • sometimes hangs while working under Linux.

The second item in the ranking of the best laser printers from Expertology is a model from the Japanese brand Brother. Despite the fact that this Japanese brand is far from the most famous, printers of this model do not stop breaking sales records. The secret is simple - the optimal combination of quality, performance, price and maintainability.

The linear dimensions of the device are 410x313x486 mm, weight - 21.8 kg. Noise declared by the manufacturer in operating mode should not exceed 49 dB. The design and execution are typical for this class of devices, the color scheme is predominantly white. Power consumption in operating mode is about 580 watts.

The machine is capable of producing on average about 40,000 A4 prints per month. Built-in 2-sided printing function, which is activated automatically.

The resolution limit for monochrome and full color printing is the same - 2400×600dpi. The intensity of printing in full color and in black and white is the same - 31 copies per minute. The printer needs 29 seconds to warm up. The first monochrome print comes out in 15 seconds.

The standard loading of the automatic paper feed tray is 300 sheets, the limit is 1050 sheets. The laser printer also has a separate manual feed tray. Its capacity is 50 sheets.

Technically, the device is able to work with paper from 60 to 163 gsm. meter. The material may also not necessarily be paper in its pure form - envelopes, special transparent or “rice” films, labels, and so on are acceptable.

The printer contains 256 MB of built-in RAM, the operation of the device is controlled by a processor with a frequency of 800 MHz. Connection is via Ethernet or USB, as well as wireless - Wi-Fi. There is built-in support for AirPrint technology, you can also print directly or through a convenient web interface. What is important for printers is that this laser printer supports PostScript 3, PCL 6, PDF with 66 PostScript fonts preinstalled.

Advantages

    wide opportunities;

    PostScript support;

    ease of use;

    wireless connectivity.

Flaws

  • no obvious shortcomings were noted by users.

Next in our ranking is the product of the American technology giant Hewlett-Packard. The linear dimensions of the device are 392x247x435 mm, weight - 13.8 kg. Operating power consumption does not exceed 381 W - this is the most economical device in this group in terms of direct power consumption.

All electronics are controlled by a processor with a frequency of 800 MHz. Installed 128 MB of RAM. This is its maximum volume and it is impossible to expand the RAM.

The nominal productivity of the model is 40,000 copies per month. The maximum media format is A4. 2-sided printing works in automatic mode. The device can print up to 21 pages per minute.

Resolution is not the strongest side of this model. For b/w and full color, this figure is 600×600dpi. The first copy comes out in 10.7 seconds for b/w and 12.1 seconds for color.

The paper weight range is from 60 to 220gsm. meter. You can print on other media - films, photo paper, envelopes, and more.

The laser printer supports PostScript and is compatible with all popular operating systems. The connection is made to choose from - via USB 2.0, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Nominal noise in the operating mode is up to 50 dB.

Advantages

    a wide range of cartridge or toner options;

    built-in PostScript support;

    significant common resource.

Flaws

    low resolution for black and white printing.

    expensive consumables.

The dimensions of the device are 400x320x450 mm, the printer weighs 23.8 kg. In operating mode, consumes 1300 watts. Full color printing is realized by the interaction of four cartridges in the CMYK color model. The maximum resolution for b/w and full color is the same and is 2400x600 dpi. The maximum format is A4. Nominal productivity - 30 thousand pages per month.

The speed for monochrome printing and full color is 20 pages per minute. There is an automatic two-sided printing function. The time required for warming up is 30 seconds. The first print comes out in 14 seconds.

The maximum capacity of the automatic paper feed tray is 751 sheets (standard is 251 sheets). There is a separate tray with a capacity of 1 sheet for manual feed.

The black cartridge has a nominal yield of 2,000 pages. Any of the color cartridges - 1.6 thousand pages. There are 4 cartridges in total in accordance with the CMYK color model.

The laser printer can print on paper weights from 60 to 160 gsm. m. It is also allowed to print on labels, glossy paper, envelopes, cards.

The device is powered by an Intel Celeron-M processor with a frequency of 350 MHz. Connection - via USB 2.0, Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The maximum amount of RAM is set to 128 MB.

Advantages

    affordable price;

    a high resolution;

    reliability.

Flaws

  • not supported by PostScript.

The best black and white laser printers for home and small office

The next group in the ranking of the best laser printers from Expertology is a trio of black-and-white machines, manufactured by companies that have already been discussed above. These are three "Japanese" - Brother, Canon and Ricoh - the best in their class. Ideal for home use or a small office.

General characteristics for all three models:

  1. maximum format - A4;
  2. desktop placement;
  3. no PostScript support;
  4. connection via USB 2.0 or wireless via Wi-Fi;
  5. AirPrint supported (except Ricoh SP 150w);
  6. Compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS.

This rating group is opened by a laser printer from Brother Corporation. This device measures 356×183×360mm and weighs 6.9 kg. In the operating mode consumes 455 W of electricity (58 W - in standby mode). Nominal noise in operating mode - 49 dB and 30 dB - in standby mode.

The maximum resolution is 2400×600dpi. The resource of the original cartridge is about 1200 pages. The nominal resource of the photoconductor is 12,000 pages.

The laser printer prints up to 26 pages per minute. It takes 9 seconds to warm up after switching on. The automatic paper feeder holds 251 sheets. Built-in separate 1-sheet tray for manual feed. 2-sided printing is automatically enabled.

The electronic “stuffing” of the laser printer runs on an ARM9 processor with a frequency of 266 MHz. 32 MB RAM installed. Statuses and other information are displayed on a convenient external LCD panel. Acceptable paper weight - in the range from 60 to 163 gsm. meter.

Our experts also emphasize the special feature of this laser printer - it uses the GDI printing language.

Advantages

    high speed printing;

    two-sided printing;

    stylish design;

    excellent integration with Android.

Flaws

  • from sleep mode via Wi-Fi is not displayed "on the fly" - only by pressing a button.

The performance declared by the manufacturer is very modest - only 5 thousand copies per month. Also, this laser printer does not have a particularly outstanding maximum resolution - no more than 600x600dpi. But these indicators are quite enough for use at home or in a small office. The electronics in this model is also very ascetic - 32 MB of RAM is installed.

The device can print up to 18 sheets per minute. It takes 10 seconds to warm up. The first copy comes out after 7.80 seconds. The nominal life of the cartridge is 1.6 thousand copies. The paper weight limit is 60 to 163 gsm. meter.

The declared noise level in the operating mode is no more than 49.2 dB.

Advantages

    cute design;

    non-chip cartridge (no problems with refilling);

    high speed printing;

    quiet;

Flaws

  • the kit may include a starter cartridge with a very limited resource - you need to clarify.

And the laser printer from Ricoh completes the rating group of b / w printers with modest performance. The dimensions of the device are 351x106x266 mm, weight - 6.5 kg. With intensive work consumes up to 880 watts of electricity. In standby mode - no more than 50 watts.

In terms of maximum resolution, this laser printer is exactly between the two previous ones - 1200x600dpi. The print speed is also "average" - 22 copies per minute. The printer takes 25 seconds to warm up. The first copy comes out after 11 seconds.

This laser printer noticeably loses to the previous two in terms of cartridge resource. This figure here is only 700 pages. The range of allowable paper weight has also been reduced - from 60 to 105 g/sq. meter. The automatic feed tray is also very modest in volume - 50 sheets.

Advantages

    compact;

    high speed;

    nice design;

    economical;

    very decent print quality.

Flaws

  • a small resource of a cartridge, a number of other restrictions.

Best Color Laser Printers for Medium to Large Offices

Let's say a few words about those manufacturers that have not yet been heard in our review.

  1. Lexmark is a world-famous transnational corporation headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. One of the most recognizable brands of printing devices.
  2. KYOCERA- also a huge corporation with a worldwide reputation. Based in Kyoto, Japan. The headquarters is now located there. Representative offices of the company operate in 68 countries. The total staff includes more than 60 thousand employees.
  3. Xerox- a brand that at one time became a household name for copiers. However, the Xerox product range includes hundreds and hundreds of SKUs, lines and product lines. There is a misconception that Xerox is a Japanese company. But in reality it is an American manufacturer headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut and Rochester, New York.

The first number in this rating group from Expertology is a very worthy model from Lexmark. This is a very large device with dimensions of 559x536x523 mm and a weight of 62.14 kg. The desktop location of the printer is assumed, despite the size and weight.

Nominal conditional productivity - about 175 thousand pages within a month. The size limit is A4. Full color is formed from four basic colors (CMYK). The maximum resolution for monochrome mode is 1200×1200dpi, for full color - 2400×600dpi. 2-sided mode is activated automatically.

The printer can print up to 60 pages per minute - both full-color and monochrome. The first copy comes out after 7 seconds. The conditional resource of any of the cartridges is about 8 thousand copies.

A positive "side effect" of the dimensions of this model is the capacity of the auto feed tray. The recommended load is 650 sheets, the limit is 4.5 thousand. There is a separate "manual" tray for 100 copies.

Also the range of admissible paper weight from 75 to 300 g/sq. meter. PostScript is supported, which is important for operational printing.

The electronics are controlled by a rather powerful processor at 1.33 GHz. Nominal installed RAM - 1024 MB (expandable up to 3072 MB). You can only connect a laser printer "by wire" - via USB or Ethernet. Wi-Fi connection in this model, unfortunately, is not implemented.

Advantages

    solid design;

    decent print quality;

    high speed;

    efficient printing on C4 envelopes;

    endurance (suitable for the production of large print runs).

Flaws

    wired connection only;

    problems with the availability of cartridges.

Next in the ranking of the best laser printers from Expertology, we present the only model in this group with a maximum format of A3. Of course, this characteristic most significantly influenced the dimensions of the printer - 602x790x665 mm and weight - 89 kg. Despite such "physics", the placement is supposed to be desktop.

The full color is formed from the 4 base colors of the CMYK model. There are also four cartridges, respectively (the conditional capacity of any color is 20 thousand pages, black - 30 thousand). The maximum resolution is the same for any mode - 1200x1200dpi. Supports automatic 2-sided printing.

Operation speed changes significantly when format and color mode settings are changed: up to 60 A4 copies per minute for monochrome printing; 55 copies in full color on A4; 30 pages monochrome on A3 and 27 cpm full color on A3. It takes 17 seconds to warm up.

The maximum capacity of the auto feed tray is 7150 sheets, the manual feed tray is 150 sheets. Acceptable paper weight for printing is from 52 to 300gsm. meter. Supported by PostScript.

The electronic component of this model is controlled by the central processor Freescale QorIQ 1.2 GHz. RAM - 4 GB, hard drive 320 GB, solid state drive (SSD) 8 GB. There is also a slot for reading SD cards.

You can connect to a laser printer via USB 2.0 or Ethernet. Supports AirPrint technology.

Advantages

    extremely attractive design;

    large and convenient LCD screen control panel;

    stability and continuity;

    high performance;

    a serious resource of cartridges.

Flaws

  • high price.

Next in this rating group, we present a laser printer from the legendary company Hewlett-Packard. This device is already much more modest in terms of dimensions and weight than the previous ones. Dimensions - 510x640x458 mm, weight - 37.5 kg. Power consumption in the operating mode - 780 watts, in standby - 31 watts. Nominal noise during operation - up to 53 dB.

Declared productivity - conditional 120 thousand copies within a month. Format restriction - A4. Full color printing is based on the CMYK color model (4 cartridges with a yield of 10,500 copies for any color and 12,500 copies for black). Implemented 2-sided printing in automatic mode. The maximum resolution is the same for all modes - 1200x1200dpi. Supported by PostScript.

The speed of work also does not depend on the mode and is equal to 56 copies per minute. The first one comes out in 5.80 seconds in both b/w and full color. The maximum capacity of the automatic feed tray is 1750 sheets, the manual feed tray is 100 sheets. Acceptable paper weight is 60 to 220 gsm. meter.

The electronics of the device operates under the control of a central processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. Integrated 1GB RAM (expandable up to 2GB).

The range of connectivity options deserves special praise: wired USB 2.0 and Ethernet interfaces and wireless wifi and bluetooth. Supported by AirPrint.

Advantages

    a wide range of connection options;

    exceptional reliability and reliability;

    famous brand;

    very good picture quality.

Flaws

  • no obvious deficiencies were noted.

The fourth model in the ranking of the best color printers for a large office is an interesting "Japanese" from Brother. The printer is even lighter and more compact than all its predecessors: dimensions - 410x445x495 mm, weight - 28.3 kg. During operation, it consumes 540 W, in standby mode - 65 W. Nominal noise - 55.1 dB in operation and 27.3 dB in standby.

The maximum print format is A4. The resolution for black and white and color printing varies considerably. So, in b/w mode, the maximum resolution will be 2400x600 dpi, and in full color - no more than 600x600dpi. The full color is formed from 4 base colors of the CMYK model (the resource of any cartridge is 6 thousand copies). PostScript is supported.

The machine can print up to 30 copies per minute in any color mode. 2-sided printing works automatically. Warm-up time - 29 seconds. The first print comes out in 15 seconds in any mode. The capacity of the automatic feed tray is 800 sheets, the manual tray is 50 sheets. Acceptable paper weight is 60 to 163 gsm. meter.

The electronic component of this model is as follows. Installed CPU StarSaphire with a frequency of 400 MHz. The amount of RAM is 128 MB (can be expanded up to 384 MB). The device is connected via USB 2.0, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. AirPrint is also supported.

Small but nice bonus This model has NFC.

Advantages

    affordable price of the printer and original consumables;

    wireless connection;

  • relatively compact and lightweight.

Flaws

  • limited resolution for full color printing.

Another model from the legendary company Hewlett-Packard continues this rating group. Dimensions of the device - 458 × 399 × 479 mm, weight - even less than the previous model - 27 kg. When working at full load, the device consumes up to 571 W, in sleep mode - no more than 33.2 W. Nominal noise during operation - up to 51 dB.

The declared productivity of 80 thousand conditional copies within a month is an acceptable indicator for a medium-sized office. The size limit is A4. 2-sided mode works automatically. The maximum resolution is the same for all modes - 1200x1200dpi. Full-color printing is formed from four colors (the capacity of any color cartridge in terms of copies is 5 thousand, black - 6 thousand).

In any mode, the laser printer is capable of printing up to 33 copies per minute. The first full-color print comes out after seven seconds, black and white after six. The maximum capacity of the auto feed tray is 1200 sheets, the manual tray is 100 sheets. It is allowed to print on paper with a weight of 60 to 220 g/sq. meter. Supported by PostScript.

Electronics is controlled by a fairly powerful processor with a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz. Integrated RAM of the maximum allowable volume - 1 GB. Connection is possible only wired - USB or Ethernet.

Advantages

    high speed of work;

    reliability;

    decent picture quality;

    relative compactness and lightness.

Flaws

  • wired connection only.

And the model from the American legendary brand Xerox completes this group of ratings. This is the most relatively compact and light printer in the group - linear dimensions 491x399x488 mm, weight 26 kg. At full load, it consumes up to 705 W of electricity in operation, in stand-by mode - 76 W. Nominal noise in operation - no more than 52.3 dB.

Performance is similar to the previous model - about 80 thousand pages per month. The size limit is A4. 2-sided mode works automatically. The maximum resolution is not the most outstanding - 600x600dpi for any mode. The number of cartridges is 4 (CMYK color model), the resource of any of them is 2500 copies. Resource photoconductor - 60 thousand copies.

In any color mode, the machine is capable of printing up to 35 copies per minute. It takes 60 seconds to warm up. The first color print comes out after 13 seconds, monochrome - after 12. The maximum capacity of the auto feed tray is 1250 sheets, the manual feed tray is 150. The allowable paper weight is from 60 to 220 g / sq. meter. PostScript is supported.

The electronics are controlled by a central processor with a clock frequency of 1050 MHz. The amount of integrated RAM - 2048 MB. Wired connection - USB or Ethernet. Supported by AirPrint.

Advantages

    spectacular design;

    high speed of work;

    exceptional reliability and reliability.

Flaws

  • limited limit resolution.

The best black and white laser printers for medium to large offices

There are six models in total. There are a number of characteristics that are common to all monitored devices:

  1. desktop installation;
  2. format restriction - A4 (except for the model from KYOCERA);
  3. automatic 2-sided printing;
  4. maximum resolution - 1200 × 1200dpi;
  5. supported by PostScript.

Opens the last group of devices in the Xerox High Performance Printer overview. Quite a large device - 541x420x476 mm, weight - 34.6 kg. When fully loaded, it consumes up to 675 W of electricity, in stand-by mode - no more than 80 W. Nominal noise during operation - 52 dB, in stand-by - 28 dB.

The declared productivity is 275 thousand copies per month, which meets the needs of a large-scale office. The machine produces up to 62 copies per minute. It takes 15 seconds to warm up. The first print comes out after 7.80 s.

The electronics are controlled by a processor with a frequency of 600 MHz. Installed 256 MB RAM (expandable up to 768 MB). Wired connection only - via USB or Ethernet. The laser printer has 139 PostScript fonts and 81 PCL fonts.

Advantages

    high performance and speed;

    exceptional reliability and "endurance";

    long life of the cartridge.

Flaws

  • not marked.

The high-performance laser printer from Hewlett-Packard continues the final group of the rating. Device dimensions - 431x505x466 mm, weight - 26.3 kg. When fully loaded, the device consumes up to 780 W of electricity, in stand-by mode - 15.3 W. Nominal noise during operation - 55 dB.

Claimed performance is even higher than the previous machine - 300 thousand pages per month. The device is capable of producing up to 71 copies per minute, almost a record speed. The first print comes out after 5.40 s.

The maximum capacity of the automatic feed tray is 4400 sheets, the manual feed tray is 100 sheets. Permissible paper weight - from 60 to 199 g/sq. meter. The resource of the cartridge is less than that of the previous model, but still decent - conditional 11 thousand copies.

Electronics is controlled by a processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. 512 MB RAM is installed, which can be expanded up to 1536 MB. Connection is possible wired - USB 2.0, Ethernet or wireless - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. Supported by AirPrint.

The control panel is equipped with a 4.3-inch LCD color screen.

Advantages

    exceptionally high performance;

    many ways to connect;

    stylish design;

    large LCD display control panel;

    record speed of the press;

    impressive cartridge life.

Flaws

  • no obvious deficiencies were observed.

The rating of the best laser printers from Expertology continues with a high-performance model from Ricoh. Linear dimensions of the printer - 420x345x410 mm, weight - 18 kg. In operating mode, the device consumes 1400 watts of electricity. In standby mode - no more than 9.4 watts.

The declared performance of the model is 275 copies per month. The machine is capable of producing up to 60 copies per minute. It takes 25.4 seconds to warm up. The first print comes out after 6 seconds.

The maximum capacity of the automatic feed tray is 2.6 thousand sheets, the manual feed tray is 100 sheets. Acceptable paper weight is 60 to 220 gsm. meter. The resource of the cartridge is almost a record in the context of the models considered in the review - 25 thousand pages.

The electronics of the device is controlled by a processor with a frequency of 1460 MHz. RAM is set to a maximum of 2 GB. A little disappointing is the fact that you can only connect the printer via wired local network ethernet. But there is support for AirPrint. There is a slot for reading SD cards. A 320 GB hard drive is available as an option.

This model supports PostScript and contains 136 built-in PostScript fonts. 45 PCL fonts are also installed.

Advantages

    affordable price;

    reliability, stability of work;

    high speed printing;

    exceptionally high cartridge yield.

Flaws

  • Ethernet connection only.

The fourth position in this rating group is a high-performance device from KYOCERA. Its dimensions are 469x320x410 mm, weight - 20 kg. During operation consumes up to 642 watts of electricity. In standby mode - up to 14 watts. Rated operating noise - no more than 50.4 dB, in stand-by mode - no more than 30 dB.

This is the only model in this group that can print on A3 format. The printer can print up to 40 A4 pages per minute and 2 times less - A3. It takes 18 seconds to warm up. The first copy comes out after 7.50 c.

The maximum capacity of the auto feed tray is 2.6 thousand sheets, the recommended loading is 600 sheets. There is a separate manual feed tray with a capacity of 100 sheets. Allowed paper weight from 60 to 220 g/sq. meter. The amount of toner in the cartridge is designed for conditional 15 thousand copies. According to user reviews, the resource of the cartridge and photoconductor is perhaps the most strengths this model.

The electronics of the laser printer is controlled by a PowerPC 465 processor with a frequency of 750 MHz. The "factory" amount of RAM is 256 MB, and it can be expanded up to 1280 MB. Connection is possible only wired - USB or Ethernet, but there is support for AirPrint. There is also a slot for reading memory cards.

Advantages

    spectacular design;

    high reliability and uninterrupted operation;

    A3 format;

    Affordable price, as for such a format.

Flaws

  • questionable maintainability.

The penultimate model in this rating group is production American company Hewlett Packard. Linear dimensions - 381x216x357 mm, weight - 8.58 kg. When fully loaded, the machine consumes up to 591 watts of electricity. In sleep mode - no more than 6.1 watts. Nominal noise during operation - no more than 54 dB.

The declared performance is conditional 80 thousand copies per month - it meets the needs of a medium-sized office. The laser printer can produce up to 38 copies per minute. The first print comes out after 5.70 seconds.

The capacity limit of the auto feed tray is 900 sheets, the recommended loading is up to 350 sheets. There is a separate "manual" tray for 100 sheets. Permissible weight of paper used - from 60 to 175 g/sq. meter. The resource of the cartridge is rather weak compared to other models in the group - only 3100 copies.

The electronic part is controlled by a processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. The RAM of the maximum possible volume is integrated - 128 MB and is not subject to expansion. Connection is possible only "by wire" - via USB or via Ethernet.

Advantages

    affordable price;

    sufficiently high speed in the context of devices of this class;

    relatively compact and lightweight;

    high and stable print quality.

Flaws

  • limited cartridge life.

And finally, the last model in this rating group completes the review - this is the Canon i-SENSYS LBP252dw. Dimensions of the device - 400x298x377 mm, minimum weight - 12.4 kg. At full working load consumes up to 1150 W of electricity. In stand-by mode - no more than 12 watts. Noise is the weakest point of this model - as much as 71 dB.

Declared performance meets the needs of a medium-sized office - about 50 thousand copies. The machine produces up to 33 copies per minute. It takes 16 seconds to warm up. The first print comes out after 6 seconds.

The capacity limit of the auto feed tray is 800 sheets. The recommended load is 300 sheets. There is a separate manual feed tray with a capacity of 50 sheets. Permissible grammage of the used paper is from 60 to 163 g/sq. meter. The cartridge resource is even less than that of the previous model - only 2100 copies.

The device is running a processor with a frequency of 525 MHz. 1 GB RAM installed. There are several connection options: wired - USB or Ethernet, or wireless - Wi-Fi. AirPrint is also supported. There is an NFC function.

Advantages

    affordable price;

    NFC function;

    possibility of wireless connection;

    the most compact and lightest in the group;

    sufficiently high speed.

Flaws

  • the most limited resource of a cartridge among models in this group.

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Having a printer at home is just as necessary as having a computer or TV. It allows you to quickly print photos and documents stored digitally. This is convenient and does not require additional costs, except for the periodic replacement of cartridges. Which printer model is better to buy for regular home use?

All printer models are equipped with a print head designed to apply ink to paper or any other solid material. There are two types of heads - thermal and piezoelectric. The former are used mainly in inexpensive office printer models. They wear out fairly quickly and do not have a high quality of information transfer. Piezoelectric heads are used both in office devices and in production-type devices. They are suitable for both small and large runs.

Varieties of printers

There are 7 main types of printers that differ in the principle of operation, scope and print quality - dot matrix, inkjet, sublimation, laser, photonic, thermal printers and solid color. Each technology has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, inkjet models are cheaper than laser and sublimation ones, but they have worse print quality and more expensive consumables. Let's discuss each type separately.

Matrix

Dot matrix printers create a pattern from small dots by driving ink into paper. They are considered the most outdated among the models in use. The print head has a set of thin tungsten alloy needles that move with the help of electromagnetic force. The needles in a certain sequence strike the ink ribbon, which transfers the color to the paper. The image can be either monochrome or color, depending on the type of device. The resolution of the output material, as well as the maximum print time, is directly dependent on the size and number of needles in the head. The more of them, the higher the image quality.

Advantages:

  1. Despite the low functionality of such printers, they are still in demand in organizations that require a huge amount of output material for little money. For example, in check machines or ticket offices.
  2. High savings on consumables when compared with inkjet or laser devices. Folded paper is also inexpensive.
  3. High durability due to relatively simple design.

Flaws:

  1. Very noisy compared to modern printers. They should not be used at home or in a quiet office setting.
  2. Poor print quality, even with a good printhead with many needles.
  3. Limited color printing functionality.


Inkjet

Like dot matrix printers, inkjet printers form an image from many small dots. However, instead of a needle print head, they use a full-fledged matrix for color transfer using liquid dyes. They are supplied in special cartridges and are also consumables. The quality of the image depends on the resolution of the printer, the number of supported colors, and the type of ink. An inkjet printer device includes not only a print head and a carrier system, but also a paper supply system, a power supply, a control panel, and, importantly, a system for cleaning nozzles from cured ink.

Advantages:

  1. They are quieter than matrix models and suitable for home use.
  2. They have a higher image quality due to the increased resolution.
  3. Have universal system suitable for both document and photographic printing. The potential of the printer directly depends on the number of supported colors.
  4. Lower cost per page than other printers.

Flaws:

  1. Most inkjet models have built-in protection against the use of third-party cartridges. If you purchased a device with expensive consumables, then most likely you will not be able to use cheaper cartridges than what is written on the chip.
  2. Not as durable as matrix devices.
  3. Nozzles get clogged quickly and need to be cleaned.


Sublimation

The principle of operation of thermal sublimation printers is very different from matrix and inkjet models. It is based on the transition of a solid to a gaseous state, without converting to a liquid. For this, a built-in heating element is used, over which there is a special coloring film. The ink evaporates from the film when exposed to high temperatures and transferred to paper. Sublimation printers are characterized by high image quality, due to the exceptional possibilities of mixing different shades of paint. By adjusting the temperature conditions, you can achieve maximum color saturation.

Advantages:

  1. Sublimation models have high print quality and pigment durability, since the ink is not fixed on the surface of the paper, but deep in its pores.
  2. Pixels are difficult to see even under microscopic exposure.
  3. They are quieter than other types of devices.

Flaws:

  1. These printers are overpriced. The same applies to the cost of consumables.
  2. Despite the functionality and print quality, they have a rather slow speed, so they are not suitable for office or production use.
  3. The ink used has a high UV sensitivity. However, many manufacturers produce additional coating varnishes that protect against the harmful effects of the sun.


Laser

Printing in laser devices is carried out using toner (special printing powder), which melts under the influence of high temperatures. First, a magnetized area is created on the material, which attracts the paint to itself. The ink then melts and settles tightly into the pores of the paper. Even laser printers from the budget price segment allow you to get images High Quality superior to inkjet and matrix devices. Refilling toner cartridges is quick and relatively inexpensive. The consumption of paints is much lower than that of inkjet devices.

Advantages:

  1. Superior image quality compared to inkjet and matrix devices.
  2. High-speed printing of photos and bright, glossy images.
  3. Low ink consumption in cartridges.
  4. Inexpensive consumables, compared with sublimation and inkjet models.

Flaws:

  1. Higher cost, even if you take devices from the budget price segment. But at the same time, laser models quickly pay for themselves, thanks to the economical consumption of toner.
  2. When the ink is heated and transferred to paper, many toxic substances are released, such as formaldehydes, nitrogen oxides, acetone fumes, etc.


Photonic

Photonic printers are considered the most professional when compared with other printers. These include full-fledged photo labs that transfer images on photographic paper. Such devices allow you to print with a resolution of up to 4000 pixels per inch without striping and screening. This the best quality of all existing in the world market. However, photonic instruments require special roll paper. With excellent color reproduction, the print speed reaches 2-3 sheets per minute (for comparison: laser models can print at speeds up to 35 sheets per minute).

Advantages:

  1. The images are highly resistant to UV radiation. Photos may not fade for more than 10 years if placed indoors, and more than 1 year if placed in direct sunlight.
  2. Suitable for professional photographers, thanks to the excellent quality of color reproduction.
  3. Allows you to print on large format materials.

Flaws:

  1. The cost of one sheet is slightly more than 1 euro, which exceeds the average price for printouts by about 18 times.
  2. The high cost of consumables and accessories.
  3. Slow print speed compared to other printers.

Thermal printers

Sufficiently economical devices, rarely found on the modern market. The thermal print head acts on a special heat-sensitive paper that darkens where the ink is heated. Such devices are easy to use and do not require consumables, such as ink or toner cartridges, but they have more poor quality image transmission than other types of printers. The print speed is much faster than inkjet or laser models and can be up to several sheets per second.

Advantages:

  1. Low cost of printouts and consumables. The only thing you need to buy regularly is thermal paper.
  2. Instant printing of even large images.
  3. Thermal printers have the maximum environmental friendliness, in comparison with other models. They do not create noise and do not pollute the atmosphere with harmful fumes from ink or toners.
  4. Image size is limited only by printer capacity and software.

Flaws:

  1. Low resistance to external damage and UV radiation. The image fades quickly and can be damaged by any friction.
  2. Thermal printers print exclusively on thermal paper and do not support other media.


Solid color

Solid color or, as they are also called, solid ink devices use exclusively solid dry briquettes to print images. In the process of transferring an image, the printer melts the consumables and applies them to a heated sheet of paper using a special roller. Printing is not segmented, but solid, which provides high speed image output. Such devices are often used in office or industrial premises.

Advantages:

  1. Solid ink printers are highly durable due to their simple design. Image quality remains high even after prolonged stagnation.
  2. Solid dye perfectly conveys all the necessary shades, provides the image with a glossy finish.
  3. Allows you to print on any media, including paper, cardboard, film, fabric, and so on.
  4. You can replenish ink briquettes even at the time of printing.

Flaws:

  1. Low resistance of images to high temperatures.
  2. Large power consumption.
  3. Noticeable ink consumption when restarting the system.


How to choose a quality printer

A printer is an indispensable device designed to convert digital information into analog form. Its main task is to print documents, photographs, brochures, posters, etc. Despite the prevalence, choosing a printer without the appropriate knowledge is quite difficult. When buying, you must rely on the technical specifications. These include: device type, print format, image output speed and size, resolution, and ease of management. Let's discuss these options in more detail.

  1. Device type. Depending on the principle of operation, printers are divided into 7 main types: matrix, inkjet, sublimation, laser, photonic, thermal printers and solid color. For home use, inkjet and laser models are better suited because they have high print speeds and inexpensive consumables. If printing photos is important to you, pay attention to sublimation devices. They are slightly more expensive to operate, but have excellent image quality. All other species are more highly specialized.
  2. Print format. Most printer models support multiple print formats at once. This makes them versatile and comfortable. Make sure the selected device can print in A4 and A3 sizes. They are suitable for most documents and photo cards.
  3. The speed and volume of printing. An important criterion when choosing a printer is the speed and the required amount of printing. You should not buy highly functional and expensive models if you plan to print only 50-100 pages per month. For home use, devices with an output speed of less than 20 sheets per minute are excellent. Make sure that the maximum amount of issued volume per month exceeds your personal norm.
  4. Permission. This parameter implies the maximum number of dots per inch of the image. The higher the resolution, the better and more detailed the picture will be. Again, don't invest in a high-resolution device if you're only going to print documents or letterhead. The optimal performance for inkjet devices are 5760x1440 or 4800x1200 dpi. This is enough for high-quality photo printing.
  5. Ease of controls. For a student or an elderly person, it is better to choose devices with a screen. In such printers, information is easier to perceive, from a visual point of view. If you don't have the budget to buy a printer with a display, make sure the control panel is as clear and simple as possible. Ideally, a breakdown into separate blocks for all the main functions.

You can choose the right printer without the help of a specialist. The main thing is to consider the cost of consumables and the volume of printing. A good printer should be economical and well-assembled.

Summing up

In 2019, there are many innovative technologies print. People began to actively use thermal sublimation and photonic printers for professional photos. When choosing a device for your home, it is important to compare the technical characteristics of models. It is not necessary to buy high-tech devices for regular printing of documents.

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