Everyone in school or in the business world is going to find that they need a printer quite often. Even people who need to print the occasional concert ticket or Groupon are going to need a reliable device to complete the task, but with so many printers on the market today, which one is right for you? Prices and features vary, and depending on what you need the printer for, so will your requirements. This is a list of the best printers dependent on you specific needs. Most people need printers for either text or photos, while some consumers need a printer that can do both while also being able to fax, copy and scan. This buyer’s guide will show you the best text-only choice, photo lover’s choice and all-in-one option so that you know exactly which printer to purchase.
The Text-Only Choice: Brother HL-L2340DW
Price: $121.12
Description: If you only need a printer for the occasional concert ticket or school paper, and if images aren’t really a concern, then this is the printer for you. Understanding that the budget choice is still going to be around $100 is important- at the end of the day, printers aren’t cheap compared with other purchases. But this printer will cost you about $27 per a thousand pages, which is an incredible deal if you only need a printer sporadically. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t the printer for you if you want high quality images transferred to a page- this is best for text-only applications, and it will serve you well for a very long time if that’s all you need.
Buy if You: Need a printer for invoices, tickets or the occasional document.
Amazon Reviews: This printer has an overall 4 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with critics complaining about difficulty setting the printer up (with one user pointing out that once he did figure out how to set it up, it was amazing), and others praising the quality and durability of the device.
The Photo Lover’s Choice: Canon Pixma MG7520
Price: $99.00
Description: If you’re an amateur photographer or simply want to decorate your wall with a collage of beautiful pics, this is the printer for you. The MG7520 prints pictures that look just like their digital counterparts, so you’ll be getting high quality images consistently. This is an inkjet printer, however, so the overall cost is going to be more than a laser printer, but it’s worth it if you want excellent printed pictures at a moment’s notice.
Buy if You: Want to be able to print high quality pictures and don’t care about spending a little extra to do so.
Amazon Reviews: Positive reviews praise the beautiful images that the MG7520 can produce as well as the ease of set up. The printer has an overall four star rating, with only 9% of them being one star. These poor reviews claim that the printer has connectivity issues and that it takes a long time to print.
The All-In-One Choice: HP OfficeJet 4650
Price: $109.99
Description: If you run a home office and need a fax machine, scanner and printer all in one, you can’t go wrong with the OfficeJet 4650. HP has long been a big name in the printer world, and this product shows why. It’s everything you need in one compact package, and while it doesn’t boast the best quality text or pictures, its versatility more than makes up for it. It’s also a bit slow, so it’s not the best for high-demand office applications, but it can do so much for the occasional at-home printing/scanning/faxing jobs that it’s well worth the price.
But if You: Are more concerned with budget and don’t care about quality, and if you want an all in one machine for a decent price.
Amazon Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars with positive reviewers loving the simplicity and versatility of the printer. The single one star review on Amazon complains about customer service issues with HP, though no other reviews mention any problems.