Inkjet vs laser printers: which one to buy
A direct comparison of inkjet and laser printers across print quality, speed, running cost, and the kind of work each is built for.
At a glance
Inkjet sprays liquid ink. Best for photos and mixed colour work. Laser fuses toner powder with heat. Best for fast, crisp text at higher volumes.
Print quality
Inkjet wins on photos, smooth gradients, and saturated colour. Laser wins on small, sharp text and pages that need to be smudge-proof.
Speed
Mono lasers are typically faster than mono inkjets, especially on the first page. Colour speeds depend more on the specific model than on the technology.
Running cost
Refillable-tank inkjets and high-yield mono lasers both have very low cost per page. Cartridge-based inkjets and colour lasers cost more per page than either.
Which one suits you
Mixed home use with photos? Inkjet. Office text and forms? Laser. High-volume mixed use? Tank inkjet or mono laser, depending on whether you need colour.
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