Buying guide for Best all-in-one printers
Written by andrew
Updated January 2024
Maximizing efficiency presents one of the biggest challenges when creating a proper workspace. Of thedozens of ways to accomplish this – purging junk, designating locations for things, using planners –one of the most effective methods is consolidation. If you can get a job done with one tool instead of three, do that. That’s where the best all-in-one printers come in.
Also known as multifunction printers, all-in-one printers can copy, print, and scan. Some even fax. Not only does this save room and add convenience to your workspace, but all-in-one printers also reduce the cost of energy, maintenance, and supplies. These printers come in many forms: wired, wireless, inkjet, and laser.
Printers with flatbed copiers rather than feed trays enable you to copy directly from books and large items like maps.
Key considerations
Size
Large, bulky printers might be fine for an expansive corporate office, but if your workplace is small or you’re self-employed, you need to allocate your space strategically. One all-in-one printer is smaller than three separate devices, but keep in mind it can still be large. Research the dimensions and weight of your machine to make sure it will fit in your space before buying.
Responsiveness
Have you ever waited minutes for a printer to wake up? It wasn’t just you; some printers actually do take a while to respond, so peruse product descriptions for startup times. Even better than that, check user reviews because you’ll get some brutal honesty if a machine is laggy.
Another form of responsiveness is how quickly a printer completes its tasks, measured in pages per minute (PPM). The higher the better.
Cartridge efficiency
Saving money on your multifunction printer is important, but choosing a machine that uses ink efficiently is just as significant. Ink can get very expensive – some even call it “the other black gold” – so purchasing a printer that uses the material frugally while still providing good quality should be one of your main considerations. The way you decipher this is by determining the printer’s cost per page. Here’s how to do it:
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Determine what ink cartridge the printer uses.
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Research the number of pages that a particular cartridge can print before it’s completely empty. This is known as “page yield.” Cartridges with a higher page yield are usually more cost effective.
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Take the price of the ink cartridge and divide it by the page yield. The number you’re left with is the cost per page.
Also, confirm that your desired printer accepts third-party cartridges so you’re not stuck buying one type for as long as you have the machine.
Tray design
The price, feature set, and look of a printer don’t always translate to the quality of its paper trays. Some are small, flimsy, and seem like an afterthought even on expensive units. Survey user reviews for details on this, and pay attention to the design. Will the paper get jammed if jobs start to stack up? Can the trays hold the weight of large projects? Keep all this in mind when shopping.
Compatibility
Take a moment to check if your printer is compatible with other operating systems like macOS. Not all are, and if your computer and printer don’t jibe, you may lose settings and formatting when transferring your files.
When scrutinizing all-in-one printers, we find out how much volume they can handle. If you need a printer for a busy workplace, this is particularly important.
We perform extensive research on the image quality and consistency of each all-in-one printer on our shortlist.
All-in-one printers that require minimal long-term maintenance tend to garner our attention, especially if they deliver great results.
Onboard controls and ease of use are valuable features we look for in an all-in-one printer.
To help consumers find the right all-in-one printer for their needs, we note which sizes and types of paper each printer can handle.
When selecting all-in-one printers for detailed review, we consider how quickly they respond to commands and how many pages they can print per minute.
We appreciate all-in-one printers that work with bulk or refillable tanks, as this can help minimize long-term costs.
While assembling our shortlist of top all-in-one printers, we weigh the pros and cons of inkjet and laser printers so you know which is best for different applications.
When considering all-in-one printers for review, we find out what kind of connectivity is offered and how well each printer communicates with different computers and mobile devices.
Reliable hardware is essential in an all-in-one printer. Bonus points go to those with advanced features at a reasonable price.
All-in-one printer features
Color printing
The majority of printing jobs are done in black in white, so for most projects, this isn’t much of a concern for you. Even if you do print in color, especially if it’s rarely, you may save money by buying a monochrome printer and visiting a local print shop as needed.
There are instances when quality color printing is necessary, though, including photos, brochures, and marketing materials. If you specialize in those areas, spending more up front just might be worth it.
Wireless printing
The ability to produce documents without physically connecting your computer to a printer is extremely convenient, and while some still require a USB connection, it’s not hard to find all-in-one printers with wireless capabilities. This is generally done through WiFi, but certain models offer near-field communication (NFC), which allows you to print from a mobile device by simply touching it to a designated spot on the machine.
Duplex printing
Duplex printing is a fancy way to say double-sided printingor printing on both sides of the paper. It’s called duplex becausethe duplex unit inside the printermakes the process possible.
Some versions of the duplex simply reverse the piece of paper after printing and repeat the process on the other side; this is most common on consumer-grade and low- to medium-volume office printers. High-volume printers may fit two print engines inside a single device and are able to duplex print rapidly in a single pass.
Touchscreen
Rather than relying solely on buttons and dim LCD panels, top-flight multifunction printers have a touchscreen that’s large, color, and intuitive to operate. A proper touchscreen allows you to swiftly work your way through different menus, customize printing and copying settings, and send multi-page faxes in seconds.
Quiet mode
The last thing you want when you’re trying to get work done is the mechanical racket of a loud printer. Thankfully, some printers include a quiet mode or something similar. That way, if you’re in a zen-like working space and don’t need your job done quickly, you can use this mode to slow down the printing and reduce the noise. Print quality shouldn’t be affected, just duration.
All-in-one printer prices
The price bracket for all-in-one printers is wide.
Inexpensive
You can buy a basic inkjet model for around $50, but you’ll be limited to printing, copying, and scanning, with few conveniences such as quiet mode or wireless operation.
Mid-range
Double the price, however, and you’ll encounter units with all the features a home office would need – wireless printing, duplex printing, and a color touchscreen.
Expensive
Laser printers start at around $150 and offer faster production, with high-end models costing hundreds of dollars. You’ll enjoy exceptional PPM ratings with these printers, along with superb durability and features.
Did you know?
Double-sided printing is known as duplex printing, and single-sided printing is also referred to as simplex.
STAFF
BestReviews
Tips
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Have a backup in case your all-in-one printer fails. One of the disadvantages of an all-in-one printer is if it breaks down, you’ve lost your ability to print, scan, copy, and fax. An extra will come in handy if bad luck strikes.
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Try humidifying your office. Clogged ink jets are an inevitability of printing. Believe it or not, installing a humidifier can prevent this, but using the printer at least once every few days goes a long way as well.
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Cut down on printing costs. Meticulously editing your work won’t just improve its quality, it will cut down on printing costs, too. Save yourself erroneous prints by double- and triple-checking your work or employing the assistance of a colleague.
The paper you use can make a tangible difference in how the end result looks. Whiter, brighter paper makes text and graphics appear crisper and colors more vibrant. Use quality stock for the best results.
FAQ
Q. What is an inkjet printer?
A. As the name suggests, an inkjet printer uses liquid ink. The ink is sprayed via jets onto the printer paper. Inkjet printers are generally less expensive than laser printers, and they print more slowly. However, they provide better quality for photos and image-heavy documents.
Q. What is a laser printer?
A. A laser printer, sometimes called a laserjet printer, transfers toner to paper via a complex process involving static electricity. Laser printers typically cost more than inkjets, but they work faster and are exceptional for small fonts and fine lines.
Q. What is an acceptable PPM rating?
A. A modern inkjet printer churns out an average of 15 pages per minute in black and white and around 11 in color. Some are capable of 30 pages per minute and higher, but it depends on the type of document you’re working with. Laser printers can print more than 50 pages per minute.
