Chances are you’ve been on the market for a new printer and can’t decide which to invest in. That’s because there are two major types of printers for consumer use, and they are Inkjet and Laser Printers. The question is, which one is right for your particular needs? Let’s find out.
What is an Inkjet Printer used for?
As the name implies, the inkjet printer uses ink to print text, graphics, and images onto various types of paper. You will primarily find these printers in homes, small offices, and many commercial printing companies.
What is a Laser Printer used for?
A laser printer does not use ink or die, but instead, it takes advantage of toner powder. Since this is the case, these printers are better suited for printing text-based content than anything else, but that doesn’t mean they cannot do a good job printing photos.
How do I choose a Printer?
You choose a printer based on your needs and your budget. If you plan on printing a lot of images, then a cheap inkjet printer is what you should acquire.
Inkjet vs Laser Printers, Which is better?
Which of the two is the better choice? The information below will answer your questions, so keep reading to learn something valuable.
- What are the major differences between laser and inkjet printers?
- How do they compare in terms of quality?
- The cost of owning a laser or inkjet printer right now
- The bottom line.
1] What are the major differences between laser and inkjet printers?
OK, so laser printers are a bit more complicated since they make use of powder that is layered onto the paper, and from there, it is melted together by the way of a heated drum. Such printers support monochrome and multicolor processes, so choose the one that is best for your needs.
As for Inkjet printers, they tend to be more straightforward in terms of operation. When in use, they drop ink from a nozzle onto the paper. Additionally, they too support multicolor and monochrome, so you cannot go wrong with your decision.
2] How do they compare in terms of quality?
We can say for certain that both types of printers can deliver high-quality print jobs, but when it comes down to printing photos, the inkjet variety is better. This is because such printers make use of ink, so if you are the type of person who prints out images on the regular, then an inkjet would make more sense.
Now, in terms of laser printers, they are much more appropriate for printing text. Because they do not use ink, it simply means there is no chance of smudging. Furthermore, the text on paper is usually crisper and clearer when compared to inkjet printers.
We should note that laser printers perform faster than inkjet printers at the simple job of printing on a piece of paper.
3] The cost of owning a laser or inkjet printer right now
If you’re on a budget, then this is the part that should interest you the most. Then again, it could all boil down to use-cases rather than price.
Right off the bat, we must say that inkjet printers are cheaper to acquire when compared to their laser printer counterparts. However, the cost begins to go up when you realize the constant need to buy ink. Sadly, printer ink is not cheap, which is why printing a single piece of paper these days can cost more than expected.
Laser printers, on the other hand, are more expensive to acquire. But despite that, the cartridge yield of a laser printer is higher than an inkjet, so you’ll get a much longer use, therefore, no need to top up often.
4] The bottom line
When it comes down to deciding which printer is better, it’s difficult to say right out. One could say laser printer is better due to faster performance and cheaper long-term cost. However, it is not the best for printing high-quality photos, and that’s where you’ll need the services of an inkjet printer.
