After many hours of research and the comparison of around thirty printer models from all categories, we have selected the 6 best printers of the moment, among which we particularly recommend the Canon Pixma TS6250 . Versatile, complete, ergonomic, it also stands out for its print quality and attractive cost per page.
Why trust us
The Selectos editorial team spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and comparing products in order to find those that offer the best value for money.
None of our articles are sponsored. We sometimes receive a commission when you buy a product through our links, which allows us to finance our work while remaining completely impartial.
How did we choose?
The main challenge, when buying a new printer, lies in the ability to choose a printer with an attractive price / quality ratio (including over time) and truly adapted to one’s personal needs.
For this, it is necessary, first of all, to know the 3 main types of printers offered on the market:
- Laser printers : ideal for printing in black and white and in large quantities thanks to their very low cost per page, they are often less suitable for color printing, unless you pay the price. They have a high printing speed, and are durable thanks to their absence of moving parts, motor or ink nozzle subject to clogging. However, they are often bulky. For more details, do not hesitate to consult our dedicated comparison .
- Inkjet printers : often criticized because they are more prone to fouling and breakdowns, they are nevertheless the most versatile, allowing any type of printing, including quality color and photo prints, and often multifunction (scanner, photocopy,…). Slower than laser printers, they are the best compromise for individuals. We also dedicated a dedicated comparison to them .
- Photo printers : specifically designed for photo printing, they are generally not compatible with office printing. Most of them give access to a multitude of image editing options, often via a dedicated application, in order to leave the printer itself more free of buttons and to be as transportable as possible (for use it at an event like a wedding, for example). They too have been the subject of a specific comparison .
It is therefore essential, before purchasing, to determine the type and quantity of prints you want to make, so that you can choose a suitable printer.
Once done, the question of functionality arises:
- Multifunction printers : for home use, it is often preferable to favor an all-in-one printer: printer, photocopy, scan and even fax. This represents a saving of space and economy. Most of the time, it is the inkjet printers that offer this type of options.
- Connectivity : it is important to check whether the printer is compatible in terms of connectivity with all the devices from which you are likely to start printing. Thus, a USB 2.0 printer will probably not be able to recognize your USB 3.0 key. Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, dedicated mobile application… It’s up to you to determine what you need based on your equipment.
- Duplex printing : this concerns both the printing part and the scanner part for multifunction printers. It is a time saver not to be overlooked for those who process a large mass of documents every day, not to mention the ecological gesture.
- The compatible paper type : not all types of paper are suitable for all printers (risk of jamming of the rollers, etc.). In this category, inkjet printers are champions: they can print on more or less all surfaces.
- Cost price : The problem with printers these days is that some entry-level models sometimes cost less than cartridges. So do not forget to always look at the price / page, which is not always (not to say never) indicated on the technical sheets. The easiest way is to consult specialist tests.
For this selection, we started from our comparatives respectively dedicated to laser , inkjet and photo printers , for which careful research had been carried out to select the best printers in each price range.
We then listed the models presenting the most attractive price / quality ratios, and those which prove to be the most versatile, both in domestic use and in an office.
This is how, all types combined, we present you the 6 best printers on the market.
The best cheap printers
In this low budget segment, we have selected two models which, although very different, each offer the most attractive price / quality ratio in their field.
And just because these models are inexpensive does not make them, for some, the best possible option, as the first printer in our selection will show you.
Canon Pixma TS6250 : the best cheap
We open our selection with a rather compact multifunction inkjet printer (31.5 x 13.9 x 37.2 cm), which will easily find a place on a small desk. With its matt black coating and all curved shapes, it will even bring a touch of elegance to its environment, while remaining discreet.
It has a tray at the front with a capacity of 100 sheets of plain paper and at the back a tray that can accommodate 100 sheets of plain paper or 20 sheets of photo paper (better to go through the back for these , in order to reduce the risk of jamming).
Between its color touch screen and its shortcut keys, it is rather simple to handle. It offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, direct access to certain online storage services and operates through a dedicated, very complete and highly intuitive application.
In terms of printing, you should know that the Pixma range is particularly effective in photography. So, whether in this area or in office automation, you get quality prints.
With a printing speed of 15 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 10 ppm in color, it does pretty well. And if you have to print a photo, it takes about 37 seconds (for a standard format 10 x 15 cm). It is honorable, especially at this price.
As for formats, it supports automatic two-sided printing, both for A4 format and for A5, B5, letter and plain paper.
The life of the ink cartridges can vary greatly depending on the type of cartridge you choose and the color of the cartridge. By opting for the brand’s XXL cartridges , you get a very low cost per page, with an average of € 0.03 / page for black and white printing, and € 0.09 / page for color printing.
In addition, it is possible to obtain compatible ink cartridges at a lower price and for a satisfactory result (but we invite you to always consult user feedback beforehand, because quality is not always there).
In the end, here is a small printer offered at a low price, offering print quality in all areas, with honorable speed and with additional features like the scanner. It is probably the best quality / price ratio of the moment.
Brother HL-L2350DW : the cheap alternative
We now come to a laser printer. Of course, at this price, it is a monochrome printer, but it is very efficient in office automation, thanks to its very high printing speed: 30 pages per minute!
Its relatively compact design (36 x 35.6 x 18.3 cm) is thought to be able to place it on a small desk without it cluttering it too much. And if we must admit that it is not the most engaging, all the materials that make it up are very solid, which will certainly give it an excellent lifespan.
Here no touch screen, but a limited number of buttons which makes it a very intuitive machine to use. It also has Wi-Fi.
It offers a tray with a capacity of 250 sheets. This allows you to print large documents without having to go back and forth.
When purchased, it comes with 700 page starter toner. But in use, its cost per print is quite low, in that the high capacity toners offered have a very high yield: up to 3000 pages! (But you can go to much smaller versions, if you don’t print often). A high-capacity replacement toner from the brand costs around € 75, which puts the cost per page around € 0.025.
This, combined with its duplex printing capacity and its really low energy consumption (the range of monochrome laser printers from Brother has been rewarded in this regard by a whole series of labels), making it a printer at a time little expensive to buy and inexpensive over time.
Unfortunately, some users have sometimes encountered problems with the toners: they are smart toners and, sometimes, the printer sometimes detects that the cartridge is empty but it is not. But suddenly, in this case, she refuses to try the impression. When this happens to you and the cartridge is only half empty, it’s quickly frustrating!
In the end, except for this defect, here is a printer that is inexpensive to buy and use, which we particularly recommend for SMEs or individuals with a large printing mass to carry out in office automation.
The best mid-range printers
In this category, here are two printers that stand out for the different options they offer, their print quality, their hardware quality and their print speed.
Brother MFC-L2750DW : the best mid-range
The second Brother model in our selection is also a monochrome laser printer. But what sets it apart from its entry-level companion is its 4-in-1 multifunctional use: printing, scanning, photocopying and faxing.
With its 58.5 x 51.5 x 44 cm, it is more imposing but it continues to easily find a place on a desk. The materials used are undoubtedly qualitative.
Its connection is very complete: Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet port, NFC. If your smartphone is equipped with an NFC chip (this is generally the case today), you do not even need to configure to start printing from it.
It offers a touch screen allowing you to quickly make your adjustments. You can even create shortcuts to the features you use frequently. Finally, it gives direct access to many Cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Evernote.
Its tray this time offers a capacity of 250 sheets and it is equipped with an automatic feeder that can accommodate up to 50 sheets. As for its printing speed, it is the best of our selection: it goes up to 34 pages per minute!
If it is supplied with a starting toner of approximately 1200 pages, it is, once again, possible to supply you with high capacity toners of approximately 3000 pages (BROTHER TN2420), which thus makes you a cost price of approximately € 0.025 / page.
In the end, here is a very powerful multifunction printer, which should delight anyone who needs a certain printing volume, without either printing thousands of pages per month, and occasionally needs other features like the to scan. However, you will have to ignore color printing.
Canon Pixma TS9150 : the mid-range alternative
So we come back here to an inkjet printer, and it is again a multifunction model from the Canon Pixma range, which this time also acts as a photocopier.
As with the previous model, a loading tray for up to 100 sheets is available at the front, but you can deploy another at the back if necessary (practical, if you want to work on various formats) .
It is very complete in terms of connectivity: Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth, Ethernet port, SD card reader … You can print almost from any device. And, of course, it supports the main cloud printing services.
Its color touch screen offers the same easy and fluid interface, in accordance with the dedicated application.
In terms of printing, it takes 15 ppm in black and white, 10 ppm in color, and 17 seconds for photo printing in standard format 10 x 15 cm. And in all cases (printing, copying, scanning), it offers excellent rendering!
Its cost per page, again, is correct. But this is a bit spoiled in that the printer too often starts cleaning the heads, causing a certain waste of ink.
On the other hand, it is very energy-efficient and very silent (less than 40 dB in intensive use). It is also available in red .
In the end, here is an excellent little printer that acts as a scanner and photocopier, while offering an excellent result, all with a consumption (in energy as in ink) very correct and a rather fast flow. Its price / quality ratio is nevertheless a little more mixed than with the other models in our selection (it is excellent, but perhaps not to the point of being always offered at this price).
The best high-end printers
The last two models selected are distinguished mainly by their higher basic investment, but their cost price really interesting, allowing to quickly amortize your initial purchase if you print a lot.
Brother MFC-J1300DW : the best high-end
We come back to Brother, but this time with an inkjet printer which, at first glance, does not appear to be the most attractive: with its white and gray design and its slightly odd shape, it does not make especially keep an eye on its future buyers. It nevertheless has the advantage of being relatively compact (34.1 x 43.5 x 19.5 cm).
It has three paper tank trays: a main one that can accommodate 150 sheets, an automatic reloading of 20 sheets, and a photo tray in 10 x 15 cm format that can accommodate 20 sheets. We note that the Brother has shown concern for its ergonomics.
Its connectivity is also very complete: Wi-Fi, Ethernet port, NFC, while being compatible with many Cloud services and Apple AirPrint. Easy access to the ink tank on the front is also very welcome.
The speed is unfortunately not its strong point: 12 ppm in black and white, and 10 ppm in color, while, on the photo side, it takes about 1 minute 49 seconds for a standard format 10 x 15 cm. However, the rendering is excellent!
As for cost per page, this printer is at an average (very) low: with XL cartridges of the brand (which allow printing from 5 to 6000 pages approximately), you can reach the cost of only 0.021 €! While the printer is a higher base investment than previous models, it pays off in the long run.
In addition, it is offered with the “All in box” concept, developed by Brother in October 2018. It is a program that offers you “3 years of total tranquility”: it is guaranteed for 3 years, and is delivered with 3 years ink (based on 200 pages printed per month, 60% of which in black and white). Unless you are a heavy consumer, this already guarantees you (at least) a few months of printing before having to consider reinvesting in cartridges!
In the end, here is a printer that has no faults, except its average design and its printing speed which will probably not be of size to satisfy SMEs. As for individuals who print often, they will be very satisfied with its print quality, cost per page and the performance of the “All in Box” program.
Brother HL-L8360CDW : the high-end alternative
We conclude our selection with a latest laser model from Brother. What makes its most (and its consequent investment) is its capacity to print in color.
With its 48.6 x 44.1 x 31.3 cm, it is always possible to place it on a desk. Its connectivity is very complete: Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, and an NFC badge reader which allows it to be used in businesses by securing its access. Clearly, this is its basic destination.
Everything is controlled via the dedicated application or the adjustable color touch screen (which is well thought out for people with reduced mobility).
It is, basic, supplied with a tray with a capacity of 250 sheets and a multi-purpose tray of 50 sheets allowing you to use different sizes of paper, whether it is thick paper or even envelopes. But since it is a model intended for use in business, it can easily be extended with trays of 250 or 500 sheets, or a ready-made module of 4 x 520 sheets. It is therefore possible, for example, to assign a tray to letters on letterhead or to print in different formats (A5, A6, etc.). Suffice to say that even the largest companies will find their account.
And the yield is there, between its printing speed of 31 ppm in both color and black and white, and its cost per page interesting. When purchased, it includes black and white toner with a capacity of 3,000 pages, and color toners with a capacity of 1,800 pages. Replacement toners range in capacity from 3000 pages (TN-421 toner – 1800 pages for colors) up to 9000 pages (TN-426 – 6500 pages for colors). The price of these is obviously substantial, but profitable if you have a very large volume of monthly printing. So, for example, the brand’s black toner gives you a cost price of € 0.013 / page.
In the end, here is a laser printer that stands out for its material quality, print quality, processing speed, modularity, and secure access. It is certainly a printer intended for a use in company, but an individual who prints a lot (an author, for example), could also find his account there.
Honorable mentions
Canon Selphy CP1300 : this photo printer mainly working on Wi-Fi, it is designed to create single prints from a smartphone, camera, tablet, or PC, with good photo quality and for a standard cost price (€ 0.30 / photo). It is sufficiently compact (18.6 x 13.59 x 6.33 cm for less than 1 kg) than to be transported to your various events, but requires for that to invest in an additional autonomous battery.
Brother MFC-J5330DW : very popular on the market, this multifunction inkjet printer (4-in-1) is very intuitive and efficient, reaching up to 22 ppm in black and white and 20 ppm in color. Excellent in office automation, it has something to attract SMEs, thanks to its support for multiple formats. By cons, in the photo, the result is quite mixed, and that is why she could not reach our main selection.
HP Tango X : it is a multifunction inkjet printer that proves interesting in photo printing if you subscribe to the Instant Ink cartridge subscription, which allows you to be able to print your photos up to a 13 × 18 cm format without being deducted from your monthly plan. The visual quality is there, even if the colorimetry is not the most faithful.
Epson EcoTank ET-4750 : on the inkjet printer side, this is probably one of the most cost-effective models per page. It works not with cartridges, but with ink cans, and if you use those from the 102 range recommended by the brand, you reach the cost of € 0.006 / page! All with printing at 33 ppm in black and white, and 20 ppm in color, it’s an investment that quickly pays for itself for those who print a lot.
In conclusion, which printer to choose?
Among the many models offered on the market, the most versatile, the most complete and the most pleasant to use, all categories combined, is probably the Canon Pixma TS6250 , a color inkjet printer offering excellent print quality, a attractive cost per page, and additional functions such as scanner and photocopying.
However, those who print a lot and do not need color printing will have an interest in turning to a laser printer, among which the Brother MFC-L2750DW is the best choice: it offers exceptional printing speed, cost minimal page and multiple functionalities (printing, scanner, photocopying and faxing).
Finally, the Brother MFC-J1300DW also caused a crush on the editorial staff because, if it represents a more substantial investment, this color inkjet printer quickly proves to be profitable, thanks to its really low cost per page. It also offers excellent print quality and is very quiet.
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