Buying one of the best printers out there can save you time and money in the long run if you create hard copies all the time. Most printers also include scanning and copying features, so you are essentially setting up a print shop in your home with a single purchase. However, you have to be careful since there is more to this category than what is actually shown on store shelves.
The first rule of buying the best printers is that if the device is cheaper, then the ink will most likely be more expensive. You can easily get one for around $50 now, complete with scanner and copier capabilities, but most of these models use the dreaded ink cartridge. Some black and colored combination sets can cost as much as the printer, so you aren’t really saving money.
Why Trust Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has a proven way of testing several products, guaranteeing great results. They design their own gauntlet of tests, but each level is scientific and objective, so the results are very accurate. CR conducts thousands of tests on different products, from small home devices to vehicles.
They also don’t get sponsored, so every review or recommendation is unbiased and untainted by “gifts” in the form of free samples. Each review piece was bought off retail shelves, so these items aren’t perfected prototypes as well. Every result Consumer Reports offers for its members is as objective as can be, allowing you to make accurate decisions that won’t disappoint.
Best Printers by Consumer Reports 2023
The best printers are arranged in several categories and ranked according to Consumer Reports ratings.
Ink Tank Printers
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 (58)
The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 is one of the most expensive options out here, but it offers the cheapest cost per black and white and color page. It’s fantastic for printing graphics, and each load to its reservoirs can last for years. It prints clean text and vibrant graphics for a tank model, and it has six ink reservoirs versus the usual four.
Epson EcoTank ET-3843 (56)
The ET-3843 is a cheaper alternative to the ET-8500, although it is not as good at printing graphics as the latter. It still produces excellent text and photo output, but its main draw is its low per-page cost, which is achieved using Epson’s bottles of ink. It also has an auto feeder for scanning and copying, but it can take more time to finish a few pages when compared to a dedicated scanner.
Epson EcoTank ET-3830 (53)
The ET-3830 is a smaller version of the lot above, making it perfect for home and personal office use. It performs quite well, so it is usable for a myriad of projects and not just printing your tax forms. However, its best characteristic is its economical ink refills, which are sold in affordable bottles everywhere.
Laser Printers
Brother MFC-L5700DW (73)
The MFC-L5700DW prints pages as fast as lightning with its 23.1 ppm output. It offers WiFi connectivity and faxing, but its large size might not make it suitable for home use. It’s also a fact that the cartridge for this printer is cheaper than most competitors, so you save even more money in the long run.
Brother DCP-L5500DN (72)
The Brother DCP-L5500DN’s only disadvantage to the model above is that it doesn’t feature WiFi, networking, and faxing. However, it also features extra cheap and fast printing, so you aren’t losing much by going with it. The DCP-L5500DN also has an auto document feeder, which is a breeze to use if you are scanning or copying multiple pages at once.
Canon Color imageCLASS MF754Cdw (67)
What sets this model apart is its ability to laser print colored documents and images, unlike most laser printers. It includes all desirable features like ethernet and fax, plus it can do auto duplex printing and scanning. The only downside is its size, which might be too much for most home areas.
Inkjet Printers
Canon PIXMA TR7820 (58)
The Canon PIXMA TR7820 is a decently priced printer with an affordable cartridge set that is accessible and easy on a budget. It features excellent clarity and vibrance from its text and picture outputs, so it’s your best bet for home use. It also has scanning and copying, so you don’t have to buy dedicated devices if you need to scan something like your ID you’re an online application.
Brother MFC-J1010DW (54)
The MFC-J1010DW is very small, but it has all the necessary features for home use. It’s not the best in print quality, but it’s very versatile and economical when it comes to ink consumption. This unique feature also helps preserve its print heads, so you won’t have to buy a new printer for some time.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e (53)
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e is a very popular home and office inkjet printer for good use. It’s versatile, and it produces very good printouts. It also comes with the HP Plus program, which extends the warranty and delivers ink when you need it the most to your doorstep.
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