Which printer is better, laser or inkjet?

The need to preserve information and create printed media has always existed. People used paper media to record important data, make copies, maintain documentation... Nothing has changed over time, people also use paper data sources. But with the development of various fields of activity, there is a need to remember increasingly large amounts of data. Therefore, the volume of printing has increased in almost all spheres of human activity.

However, technological progress also did not stand still. Thanks to modern technologies, advanced developments and ideas in the field of computer technology, new powerful devices with high productivity have appeared that can provide any volume of printing work. This made life much easier and made it possible to print entire documents in a short time. We are talking about printers of various versions, differing in mechanism and principle of operation.

REFERENCE! Printers are peripheral devices connected to a computer to output and present information in printed form.

In our article we will talk about inkjet and laser printers, consider the main advantages and tell you which option is recommended to choose for personal use and office work.

What is the difference between a laser and an inkjet printer?

Before understanding the advantages of each type of equipment, it is worth understanding the main distinguishing features, mechanism of action, printing method... This is necessary for further understanding and selection of equipment for personal use. For a complete picture, you should refer to the history of creation and modern changes in devices.

This information can be found on special websites and studied in detail. We are interested in the principle of printing and the process of transferring data from a computer database to paper in the form of text and images.

Let's start our acquaintance with an earlier version of the printer and understand the design of the inkjet model. It has a special compartment in which printing is performed. The principle of operation and the main mechanism of action is to use special ink refilled in a cartridge. When a sheet is sent for printing, a special machine is driven by a ribbon and belt attached to it.

From a large number of small holes, paint is supplied to a sheet of paper, which forms the image. This is how the entire sheet of paper passes, the machine gradually makes an imprint, forming text or a picture. It is the use of ink that is the main difference and disadvantage of this option, but we will talk about this further.

Now let's look at the laser version of the equipment, which appeared later and adopted the experience of advanced technologies and developments of its time. Here is a basic list of differences compared to an inkjet printer:

1. The body and all external parts are made in the classic version and are similar to previous models. However, the internal structure and printing components are different.
2. The principle of operation and imprinting is the use of special laser beams created by a strong electric field due to the difference in charges.
3. The laser is one of the important, but not the most basic components. To function, a special powder (toner) is required, which is a polymer with the ability to stabilize the current charge received from the laser. It comes in different densities, differs in granule size, consistency, and color. Therefore, different brands of equipment use a certain type of toner. Typically, manufacturers indicate information about this in the relevant documentation or on the device body.
4. The printing itself is carried out by heating the powder with a laser beam. Under the influence of high temperature and electrical charge, the powder begins to stick to the paper sheet, thus forming an imprint to display the desired information.
5. The design of the cartridge and the printing press differs from the inkjet method by applying the print and installing the elements inside the printer body.

In appearance, the equipment is practically the same; it contains all the main components: a paper compartment, a feed roller, a compartment for applying an image, a cartridge with refilling. The differences lie only in the principle of operation and the materials used to apply the picture to paper.

IMPORTANT: When choosing equipment, it is worth comparing all performance and performance indicators.

It is worth paying attention to the advantages and disadvantages of each model. You should also compare the equipment with each other in different price categories from the budget version to the premium class.

What are the advantages of a laser printer?

After becoming familiar with the distinctive features and internal structure of the equipment, you can move on to the advantages of each printer. Since laser versions appeared later and occupy leading positions in the ranking according to user reviews, it is better to start by listing their main advantages:

1. There are black and white and color printing options. Both have excellent performance.
2. Excellent quality of the resulting texts and images (in color).
3. Using powder allows you to avoid problems with spilled and smeared paint. This problem is typical for inkjet printers.
4. High resolution (maximum number of pixels on the sheet area) allows you to achieve excellent quality, clear and rich display of information.
5. Fast and minimal time required to print one page ensures high productivity.
6. Refilling using a special powder allows you to keep your equipment and your hands clean. But some models are designed only for original elements and refilling is not provided for them.
7. Pairing with other users via a network connection ensures quick interaction and synchronization of work.
8. Combination of several devices in its design. This type of technology is called a multifunction device (MFP) and is typically used in large offices and businesses, but can also be useful in the home.
9. Despite the high costs of purchasing toner, the cost of one sheet is much cheaper due to the fact that one refill is enough for a long service life.

These indicators highlight the advantages and indicate that the equipment deservedly occupies a leading position and is popular among various categories of buyers.

IMPORTANT: The main disadvantage is the high cost of the equipment. Consider your financial capabilities and choose the right price-quality ratio.

Benefits of an inkjet printer

Now let's take a closer look at inkjet printers. Inkjet options have a much smaller list of advantages compared to laser models. The main advantages are as follows:

• Excellent color quality in both text and pictures. Possibility of printing photos in high resolution.
• Low cost of equipment and its further maintenance.
• Low price for purchasing new cartridges or refilling them.
• Modern models have good speed and performance.

IMPORTANT: This option is quite suitable for performing small amounts of work. If you don't often need to print documents, this would be a great option.

Unfortunately, each version has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is impossible to say for sure which model is better to choose for working at home. It all depends on your personal preferences, type of work performed, and financial capabilities. It’s also worth considering how often you need to print something.

Your further choice and purchase of equipment will depend on these criteria; try to independently understand the purpose for which you are buying a printer. For small volumes, the inkjet option is perfect for printing abstracts, reports and any text messages, as well as for creating perfect photographs.

For large volumes of work and high printing rates, you will need an appropriate device with high printing speed. In this case, a laser model will be required.