Are you finding it difficult to decide which printer is best for you; Laser or Inkjet? Don’t feel alone because you are not. There so many others like you.
First off, let me tell you this ; the most significant differences between laser printers and Inkjet printers is the fact that an inkjet printer uses ink, is suitable for low volume printing, and is mostly preferred by home users, while a laser printer uses toner, ideal for high volume printing, and is mostly utilized in (but not exclusive to) office settings.
To make an accurate choice, the first question, you need to answer a very important question. What will you use the printer for?
If you need your printer for home use where all you do is occasional printing, most people will advise you to go for an inkjet printer, but I will say you should go for laser. This is because the ink in inkjet printers dries up over time. So, except you have such budget I suggest you get an affordable laser printer because the toner of laser does not dry up.
If you would have to be printing gallery quality images, then you should go for photo inkjet printers as these would get the job done, if you would be printing ordinary images you should stick to laser printers.
Here’s a summary of the differences between an inkjet and laser printer.
Inkjet Printers
PROS
- In cases where space saving is valued, Inkjet printers should be considered as they are usually smaller and lighter – making it ideal for a bedroom or home office.
- Great at producing high-quality photo prints and image-heavy documents. This is because inkjet printers do a better job of blending and producing vibrant colors than laser printers.
- The cost of getting an inkjet printer is actually less than most laser printers.
- Does not need warm-up time before action.
- Capable of printing on a variety of paper types, including glossy photo paper, textured art paper, and fabrics.
- Can accommodate larger paper sizes.
- Cost of printing can be reduced by Ink refill kits.
CONS:
- Ink cartridges can only print a few hundred pages, therefore forced repurchasing of more ink cartridges which are kind of expensive can increase overhead cost.
- Inkjets are much slower than laser printers.
- Inkjet comes with low-capacity paper trays of 50 to 100 sheets, which can be frustrating for a user who prints a lot.
- The maximum amount of prints possible in a given month without causing damage to the printer (duty cycle) is relatively low.
Laser Printers
PROS:
- Most laser printers have a better print speed than inkjet printers. As much as this is not a strong selling point for casual printers, high-volume users will notice a huge difference.
- Laser printers are the way to go for high volume printers that only requires text documents as they produce sharp text.
- Higher monthly duty cycle means they are better prepared to handle high-volume jobs.
- A price-by-price comparison favours laser printers over inkjet printers if you print on a frequent basis and are not producing documents that are graphically complex.
- On the average, toner is cheaper in the long run for high volume printers because their cartridges can print out thousands of pages in comparison to ink cartridges.
CONS:
- Laser can handle simple graphics, but complex images and photos are a challenge.
- Laser printers are generally bigger and heavier than inkjet printers.
- Laser printers can’t handle the same variety of paper that inkjets can.
- The upfront cost of a laser printer is usually more than that of an average inkjet printer.
At this point, it is important to mention that deciding on whether you should go with an inkjet or laser printer comes down to what and how much you print.
Inkjet printers are best suited for small, image-heavy documents, like photos and school projects. But, if you’re looking for a printer that can handle heavy volumes of text-based documents, a laser printer is the more efficient and economical choice.
Also, thinking farther down the road, if you project your print needs will change, you should stick to the type that will serve the future purpose.
Happy Shopping!