Even though we live in a technologically advanced society where every document can be sent, saved and signed online, the need for an old-fashioned printer is still here. There are times when we need to have the document on hand. That’s why printers are so widely available and a popular office tool. They’re used in offices, schools, banks and even at home. They’re easy to work with and are very practical. With several different options on the market, you should know which one is the best for your needs.
Types of Printers
Inkjet
These types of printers are the most popular ones for both homes and offices. They use liquid ink and are a very budget-friendly option. Plus, the ink is cheap and very easy to replace. This highly functional and convenient A4 printer will give you great monochromatic and coloured prints. They need a specific ink to work and are great if you print occasionally. These printers are the perfect balance between speed, quality and price.
Inkjet printers give you the biggest range of printing capabilities. You can use photo paper to print high-quality photos, use regular paper for texts and even do labels on specialty stickers. If you enjoy creating scrapbooks, photo albums, and your own DIY projects, this is the right printer for you. Some models even have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity and you can print anything from your laptop and phone.
Laser
Just like the name suggests, laser printers use a laser to create pictures and words on paper. The laser heats up the toner materials and infuses them into the paper. Most of them are monochromatic but you can find coloured laser printers as well. The toner they use lasts longer but it’s more expensive than the others.
Because of this, you get higher-quality pictures and text compared to inkjet printers. Plus, they’re quicker. If you use printers a lot, this is an investment worth making. They’re fast, efficient and easy to use. Replacing the toner is a bit complicated but if you follow the instructions, you won’t have an issue. Another thing that’s great about laser printers is that the toner won’t dry up even if you don’t use it for a few days.
All-In-One
This all-in-one printer combines printing, scanning, and occasionally faxing into a single device. Sending and receiving documents, copying them, printing them, and saving them to your computer are all tasks you can complete on just one small machine. These printers come in two varieties: inkjet and laser. All-in-one printers will require extra room in your house or office because of their multiple features. But they’re still space-saving because they replace 3 machines.
Supertank
Supertank printers fall under the all-in-one or inkjet printer category. Rather than cartridges, they use refillable tanks. Because disposable cartridges can have a huge negative impact on the environment, they are ideal if you need to print a lot and you care about environmental protection.
Supertank printers are good for many reasons. To make them more durable, they have permanent, instead of disposable nozzles. This way you don’t have to replace them all the time and you’ll save some money in the long run. This is a pricier A4 printer and may seem like a big investment in the beginning, but they’re worth every dollar you spend.
Dye Sublimation
Dye sublimation printers are created with one purpose: to make printing on different materials possible. This is the ideal printer if you plan to print on unusual materials like plastic, fabrics, ceramics, acrylic etc. You’ll always get a superior print without sacrificing durability. Every product will look professional and the print will last for a long time.
What to Consider When Buying
Printer Consumables
One important thing to consider when you’re looking for A4 size printers is the consumable options you have. They will influence the cost and maintenance time for the printer. You have three choices if you’re looking for an inkjet printer, one black, one all-in-one and one two-in cartridge.
The second choice is a 4-ink cartridge system where you get black, cyan, magenta and yellow. The third option is inkwells, which are bigger and rechargeable. If you want to get a laser printer, you have 2 options. OEM toner cartridges give you awesome prints but are more expensive, and compatible toner cartridges are more affordable and need to match the printer model.
Print Quality & Speed
A few things that determine the printer’s quality are its design, its driver and of course, the ink quality. One thing to be mindful of is the printer’s DPI (dots per inch). This illustrates how many dots a printer can accurately position on a square inch of paper to produce the best possible print.
The DPI of inkjet printers ranges from 600×600 to 4800×4800. For laser printers is 1200×1200 DPI or more. The printer’s speed is measured with PPM (prints per minute). Laser printers have around 20-50 PPMs and inkjet ones have 5-25 PPMs.
Printer Size
You’ll find printers of all shapes and sizes. Manufacturers are trying to make a printer for every space no matter how limited it may be. In some cases, you might have to skip some features, such as scanning or faxing, if you are short on space, but you will still have a functional printer. But if you have the space, you can invest in a bigger, multi-function printer and have it all in one device.
Paper Handling
If you have a specific type of paper you need to work with, make sure the printer you want to buy can handle it. It should handle the paper’s weight, size and volume without you having to adjust it all the time.