Laser Printer VS Inkjet is one of the most discussed comparisons in the world of printing especially. However, in this article, we shall only compare both in terms of photo printing.
If you are looking for the best printer for printing photos, then you should know which one of these works best for printing photos.
In order to find out this, we have to go deeper into each and know exactly how they are different from each other. So that you can have a clear picture in your mind of what to buy.
Below, you’ll find a proper guideline on a laser printer vs inkjet for photos and which one to go for. Have a look!
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Laser Printer vs Inkjet for Photos – Differences to Look for
Instead of discussing irrelevant things, we shall directly talk about the difference between laser printers and inkjet printers. We will discuss 5 features you should compare when choosing a printer for photo printing.
1. Picture Standard
The most essential feature to consider while comparing both printers is the quality of the picture. Every model of printer produces a different quality of the picture.
To be very precise, inkjet printers are better than laser printers in this aspect. Because inkjet printers use liquid ink stored in small tanks or jets, which makes the image more vibrant and clear. Hence, while printing photos, it provides the best quality print.
However, laser printers are not left behind in the race of printing clear images. It’s a fact that they cannot provide that sharpness and clarity an inkjet can provide, yet they can still print a neat photo. Most of the newer laser printers have the latest technologies having the capability of printing excellent quality photos.
We can say that laser printers can also provide low to medium-quality photos. But the inkjet printers stand out in printing the best quality photographs. Anyone who is looking for a
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2. Printing Speed
In terms of printing quality, the inkjet printers are better. But in terms of speed, laser printers are one step ahead of them. For speed, a laser printer will always perform better than an inkjet one.
Laser printers have advanced components and features which help them print a lot of pages or photos in very little time.
For example, a simple inkjet printer can print approximately 10 to 20 pages in a minute. On the flip side of the coin, laser printers can range from 20 to 100 pages per minute.
However, in photo printing, speed is not valued more than quality.
3. Printing Volume
As you have got a nice idea about the printing quality and speed of both printers. Now, it’s time to discuss the printing volume of each. You can say that laser printers are faster than inkjet printers, hence they can produce a larger volume of print.
When it comes to the printing volume, laser printers beat the inkjet ones. Laser printers are capable of printing high volumes of pages without putting much stress on the device. While the inkjet printers are less efficient and tend to have much strain on the parts of the machine.
If we compare the printing volume of both printers we can see a huge difference. A laser printer can print almost 500 to 3000 pages per month. While an inkjet printer can only print a maximum of 500 to 800 pages.
Surely, a laser printer can offer a high volume of print but that comes at the expense of quality as well.
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4. Initial Cost
Another most important factor in buying a printer is the upfront cost of it. An upfront cost is the amount of money you spend at first to purchase anything. Bear in mind that if you are looking to find a printer for photos then it might be a big investment.
So, the initial cost of your printer must follow your requirements. For example, if you intend to start a photo printing business, then you will need a long-term economical machine.
To make a better understanding, we can say that an inkjet printer that can produce a decent amount of prints monthly may range from $150 to $400. Whereas, a laser printer with the same capacity may go from $200 to $500. Sometimes, it may be even higher than that.
However, you may find the cheapest printers at the costs of $50 and $200 for inkjet and laser printers respectively.
Similarly, the high-end models of inkjet and laser printers can go up to $1000 as well. But surely these are for industrial or high-volume businesses.
To make it short, we can say that laser printers are the more expensive of the two. If you are looking for a smaller initial cost, go for the inkjet.
5. Working Cost
In the comparison of a laser printer vs an inkjet for photos, we found that an inkjet printer is cheaper than a laser one. But this may change with time. You may spend a lot of money on a laser printer when buying it. But you will surely save a lot when using it.
How?
This is because the cost per page of both printers differs a lot. The cost per page of an inkjet may go from 2.5 to 3 cents. Whereas, for a laser printer, it may be around 1 to 2 cents maximum. This means for 100 pages, an inkjet will cost you $30, while a laser will cost you around $20.
You will also find that toners may produce more prints than ink cartridges. A laser printer can print up to 5000 pages per toner. While an inkjet printer will only produce around 200 to 1000 pages per cartridge.
Apart from the cost, you will have to change the ink cartridges more often than the toner. However, the toners are a little bit more expensive than the ink cartridges yet the cost per page is still lower.
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Laser printer vs inkjet: Which one to buy?
After reading this comparison, you must have been sure of which one is the best for you. But if you are still confused, we will tell you that also.
If you prefer quality over quantity and volume, then the inkjet is right for you. Although it can be more expensive in the long run, the initial cost of an inkjet is cheaper than the laser one. An inkjet printer is an ideal choice if you don’t want to invest much at once.
A laser printer will be the ideal choice if you are concerned with the printing volume and speed. However, they can be a big investment at first, despite being cheaper in the long run.
However, this article on laser printer vs inkjet for photos has enabled you to know which one fits best according to your need. Here are some of the best laser and inkjet printers you will find on the internet. Click the links to purchase them.
1. HP LaserJet Pro M15w Wireless Laser Printer
World’s smallest laser printer in its class – HP’s smallest LaserJet Pro is 35% smaller than its predecessor yet still delivers the same professional-quality black and white prints you’ve come to expect.
Fast printing – Prints up to 19 pages per minute, with the first page out in as few as 8.1 seconds
Designed for simplicity – This LaserJet Pro is extremely intuitive to use and measures at only 13.6″w X 7.5″d X 6.3″h, making it the smallest LaserJet in its class
2. Canon ImageCLASS LBP6030w (8468B003) Monochrome Wireless Laser Printer
FAST PRINT SPEEDS: Print up to 19 pages per minute.
COMPACT DESIGN: Space-saving, compact design fits anywhere in your home, school, or small office.
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY: Print from almost anywhere in your workspace.
GENEROUS PAPER CAPACITY: Paper capacity of up to 150 sheets.
SUSTAINABILITY: Uses less than 2 watts in Energy Saver mode.
TONER: Uses Canon Genuine Toner 125 (1,600-page yield).
3. HP ENVY 6055 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer
All-in-1 versatility: Handle tasks at home with print, scan, and copy versatility, and save time and paper with automatic two-sided printing from a color printer made with 20% recycled plastic
1-year limited hardware warranty: Get help with 24-hour, 7 days a week free Web support. Use genuine HP 67 Black/Tri-color ink cartridges
Ink delivered to your home: Get your first 2 months free when you enroll in HP Instant Ink (optional) during printer setup; plans starting at 0.99 dollars per month after the trial period, shipping and recycling included
4. Brother MFC-J805DW INKvestmentTank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer
UP TO 1-YEAR OF INK IN-BOX: Experience truly uninterrupted printing, exceptional savings, and super convenience with up to 1 year of ink, based on printing approximately 150 pages per month, using only the cartridges provided in-box.
REVOLUTIONARY INVESTMENT TANK SYSTEM: Brother Investment Tank inkjet all-in-1 printers feature re-engineered ink cartridges that hold more ink and work with an internal ink storage tank to deliver uninterrupted printing.
