Best Printer Types: Inkjet vs Laser vs Ink Tank

With so many printer types on the market, it can be difficult to know which is best for your needs. Thankfully, there are some clear distinctions between each type that can help you to decide which best meets your needs.

Inkjet Printers

These are the most common printer type on the market and use liquid ink, which is sprayed onto the page in droplets.

Advantages of Inkjet Printers

• More affordable upfront printer model: Printer manufacturers make money one of two ways, either on the printer or the cartridges. Inkjet printers often cost less upfront, with manufacturers making more money over time on the cartridges.
• More compact: Many inkjet printers are perfect are small and sleek, making them perfect for a home office or a student pad.
• Good for high quality images: As inkjet printers use liquid ink, they are the best printer for printing photos and graphics with accuracy and colour depth.
• Can use different types of paper: Inkjets are designed for use with many different types of paper, including photo, matte, and glossy. A special type of paper called inkjet transfer paper can be used with an inkjet printer to create designs for heat transfer to textiles.

Best Printer For: Home Office Use

Laser Printers

Laser printers use a type of powder called toner, which is applied to the paper with heat.

Advantages of Laser Printers

• High quality graphics and text: As toner printers use a laser beam to draw designs, they are better for high quality text printing. They are able to produce text documents with very crisp text.
• Quick Printing: The use of a laser also results in a faster printing speed than the spray ink method of an inkjet printer.
• Long Life: The powder cartridges used in laser printers have a longer shelf life than liquid inkjet cartridges. A laser printer can also be used less often than an inkjet printer, which needs to be kept in operation regularly to prevent ink from solidifying and clogging the machine.
• Lower Chance of Smudging: As laser printers don’t use liquid ink, their outputs are less prone to smudging than inkjet prints.

Best Printer For: Businesses and individuals who need a high volume of text printing, in a cost effective manner.

Ink Tank Printers

These increasingly popular printer types have refillable reservoirs, which are refilled using ink bottles instead of disposable cartridges.

Advantages of Ink Tank Printers

• Saves Money: Ink tank printers need to be refilled less frequently than inkjet or laser printers, providing significant savings to the customer in the long term.
• More Environmentally Friendly: Ink tank printers are a more sustainable choice due to reduced plastic use compared to ink cartridges, which can have a disposable print head. Many ink bottles are also recyclable and are therefore less likely to end up in landfills. As ink bottles don’t need to be replaced as often, this further cuts down on waste.

Best Printer For: Individuals or businesses who to print a high volume of high- quality documents.

Which Printer Should you Buy?

With so many printer types on the market, the key is to pick a machine that matches your use. Whether you require a large volume of text, high quality photos, or just occasional printing, there is bound to be a printer for you.