Printers

Laser or inkjet

• Laser costs less per page and never dries out when the printer sits unused for weeks — the safe choice for documents.
• Inkjet gives better photos and colour. Refillable-tank models bring the cost per page close to laser.
• Thermal needs no ink or toner at all — see label printers.

What else matters

Duplex printing halves your paper use. Wi-Fi lets you print from a phone or laptop with no cable. A4 covers 95% of jobs; A3 is for drawings and posters. If you also need scanning and copies, take an all-in-one.

Don't forget the supplies

A printer runs exactly as long as its cartridges and paper last. Check the cartridge price and page yield for that model before you buy — that is the real cost of ownership. Full department: printing & office.

FAQ

The printer often sits idle? If you print less than once a week, choose laser — there is no print head to dry out.

Is a cheap printer a good buy? Look at the cartridge: a cheap machine with expensive supplies costs more over a year than a pricier printer with affordable ones.