You need to take into consideration many factors when buying a new printer. When you're shopping for a new printer, there are many things to consider. Also, you want a durable model that can last for as many years as possible.
Consumer Reports evaluates printers on several criteria, such as the quality of photos and text. CR's ratings encompass more than 200 different models, ranging between $39 and $800 for a top-of-the-line color laser printer.
Home Printers in 2020
You want a printer to perform reliably, both in the beginning and over time. That's why Consumer Reports runs each model through a battery of tests and surveys its members about brand reliability and owner satisfaction. The data allows CR to estimate the likelihood that a model will experience problems in its fourth year, or halfway through its expected lifetime.
Ink Costs & Maintenance Cleaning
Consumer Reports tested models for two different uses: continuous printing and intermittent, or "maintenance" printing. This simulated real-world use. To find out, Consumer Reports tested models for two different uses: continuous printing and intermittent, or "maintenance," printing, which simulated real-world use.
In continuous printing, they used less than half of their ink. In intermittent printing, however, some models used up to 20 percent.
Refillable Tank Inkjets
This newer type of printer, which uses refillable tanks instead of cartridges, is more energy efficient. They need fewer ink cartridges and usually use less for cleaning. These models are also more expensive at first, but should last much longer than older models.
Best Home Printers 2020
The best laser printers for small businesses and home offices are those that are easy to use. They should also be able handle heavy workloads. HP Envy 7855 combines a multifunction with an excellent print-quality and productivity features, including a duplexer. HP's system of five ink tanks should allow it to print lots of photos, without wasting much ink.
Arial is a great font, but switching to Times New Roman will save you money. It's a simple change, but will get you 27% longer life from your cartridges. Inkjet models that let you choose which fonts you use can save even more.