Which color printer to choose for your home

The printer is a very convenient device. Thanks to it, you can print the necessary document or image at any time. The advent of a color printer significantly expanded the capabilities of this device and relieved users of the need to go to special workshops in order to make a color printout or photograph.

Nowadays a large number of different models are produced. Some of them are intended for industrial use, others for home use. Knowing all the nuances, choosing the most suitable option will not be difficult.

Types of color printers, their advantages and disadvantages

To choose the right printer for home use, you first need to know what types of devices exist, how they differ, and what their pros and cons are.

Jet

Printing is carried out using a special matrix through which color and black and white drops of the smallest size are passed. For work, from 3 to 6 different colors are used. The advantages of this type include:

• inexpensive cost;
• ease of maintenance;
• compact dimensions;
• low amount of electricity consumed;
• Can print on thick photo paper.

The disadvantages include:

• high cost of original cartridges;
• If used irregularly, the ink will dry out;
• the price of one printed page is quite high.

ATTENTION! To reduce the cost per page, you can install a trouble-free printing system. However, if the device is new, it will be excluded from warranty service.

Laser

The image on sheets of paper is formed by transferring magnetized particles of coloring pigment to the photo roll. Laser devices provide high printing speed. However, they are more suitable for office use as they cannot print on photo paper.

The advantages include:

• the coloring pigment does not dry out, so the product can be used irregularly;
• the pigment lasts for a long time;
• The price of one printed sheet of paper is inexpensive.

The disadvantages are:

• cannot print on high-density paper;
• the resolution of the resulting image is slightly lower compared to the result obtained using an inkjet printer.

LED

The operating principle of this printing device is similar to that of a laser printer. The main difference is the light source. Unlike a laser printer, the light source here is LEDs. Also, the product does not have an image drum.

An LED printer has the same advantages as the laser version. At the same time, it is more environmentally friendly, and the resulting result is of high quality. Also, due to the absence of a photo roller, the user does not have to look for analogues to the original refills, since the price of branded ones is low.

The disadvantages include the rather high cost.

What criteria to consider when choosing a color printer for your home

All models differ not only in the way they print images. When choosing the most suitable device, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. Supported paper size. Types of printers are designed for different paper sizes, from A0 to A4. For home use, the best option is A4 format.
2. Print quality. If a printer is purchased to print pictures or text, then resolution is not an important characteristic. If you plan to print photographs, then you should choose models that provide quality at least 4800x1200.
3. Speed. An inkjet printer provides faster printing speed. But for home use this parameter is not the main one.
4. Availability of Wi-Fi. This is a very convenient feature. It allows you to print from a tablet or smartphone using wireless data transfer.
5. Manufacturing company. When purchasing a product, you should not skimp on the brand. Positively proven companies produce devices that provide excellent quality of work. They have good service in branded services. And buying original spare parts or cartridges is not a problem.
6. Model. Before purchasing, you need to decide exactly how often the device will be used. Each printer has a monthly usage limit. That is, the printer will not be able to print more than the pages specified in the instructions.
7. Equipment. Some products have additional trays or a built-in hard drive. Therefore, it is extremely important to know what exactly you plan to use after purchasing a printer.
8. Refilling method. When purchasing, you should clarify whether or not you can refill the cartridge yourself.

REFERENCE! Some models have a special chip.It does not allow owners to refill the printer themselves, forcing them to purchase a new cartridge each time.

The best color printer models for home use

Among the huge range of printers, it is difficult to choose which one is best. Below is a small rating.

Canon PIXMA MG3040

The product is very compact, yet functional and very easy to use. Can print both documents and photographs. Has the following characteristics:

• type - jet;
• printing - color;
• A4 format supported;
• tray holds 60 sheets;
• the cartridge is enough for 180 sheets;
• there is the possibility of self-filling with coloring pigment;
• Can print on plain, photo and glossy paper.

Xerox Phaser 3020BI

Despite the fact that this model is more designed for office work, the product is perfect for home use. Provides high-quality and fast printing.

Characteristics:

• type - laser;
• printing - color;
• A4 paper format;
• the tray holds 180 sheets of paper;
• The coloring pigment is enough for 1500 pages.

Despite the fact that this is a laser printer, this model has a very compact size. Suitable for people who type regularly. It allows you to issue up to 15,000 pages per month.

Brother HL - 3170CDW

Is an excellent option for use at home. It does not have any additional features that you need to pay extra for.

Main characteristics:

• type - LED;
• printing - color;
• paper format - A4;
• prints on glossy and matte paper, envelopes, cards, photo paper;
• produces about 30,000 pages per month;
• has Wi-Fi and LAN connector.

Before purchasing a suitable printer, the buyer needs to clearly determine the required parameters and how often the device will be used.