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The prices cited below are snapshots from retailer and testing coverage, not permanent offers. Discounts, stock, included ink and model suffixes vary by country and can change quickly, so verify the current listing before ordering.
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What an all-in-one printer includes
An AIO combines a printer, flatbed scanner and copier in one chassis. Fax is an additional feature found on some models. Consumer Reports describes the two basic printer technologies as laser and inkjet, with AIO versions available in both categories.
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| Feature | Why it matters | What to check in the specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic document feeder (ADF) | Feeds several sheets for copying or scanning without placing each page on the glass. | Whether an ADF is included and how many sheets it holds. ADFs are especially useful for multi-page forms and school or office packets. |
| Automatic duplex | Prints on both sides without manually turning pages. | Confirm that duplex is automatic; “manual duplex” still requires you to reload the paper. |
| Wireless and mobile printing | Lets computers and phones print without a USB cable. | Look for Wi-Fi, the manufacturer’s mobile app and, when useful, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. |
| Paper handling | Determines how often you refill paper and whether different media can stay loaded. | Tray count, input capacity and supported paper sizes. A single tray is less convenient if you switch between plain and photo paper. |
| Ink or toner system | Controls the long-term cost more than the purchase price. | Cartridge type, refill-bottle pricing, stated page yields and whether the box includes a large starter supply. |
A low-priced AIO without an ADF can still be a good deal for occasional single-page scans. It is a poor fit for someone who regularly digitizes or copies multi-page documents.
#1 Best Overall
Inkjet, ink tank or laser: which technology fits?
Cartridge inkjet
Cartridge models generally have the lowest purchase prices and suit people who print infrequently. They handle color documents and photos, but replacement cartridges can make total ownership expensive. Consumer Reports warns that ink can add hundreds of dollars to printing costs over the years.
- Best for: occasional home printing, simple color pages and buyers focused on the lowest entry price.
- Advantages: inexpensive hardware and broad availability.
- Trade-offs: higher running cost and more frequent cartridge purchases when volume rises.
Refillable ink tank
Ink-tank printers use bottles that refill reservoirs instead of small disposable cartridges. Epson’s buying guide says entry-level tank models often start around £140 in the UK, while models with duplex, Wi-Fi Direct or advanced photo features cost more. The higher initial price is intended to be recovered through cheaper ink, fewer refills and less plastic waste.
- Best for: students, families and home offices printing a steady mix of black text and color pages.
- Advantages: low running cost, long intervals between refills and high in-box yields on some models.
- Trade-offs: greater upfront cost; inexpensive models may omit an ADF, use one tray or print text at only average speed.
Laser multifunction printer
Laser models use toner rather than liquid ink. Brother’s guidance characterizes inkjet as better suited to low-volume home-office work and laser as more common where high-volume, cost-effective printing is required. Monochrome laser AIOs are particularly appropriate when nearly every page is text. Color laser AIOs cost more but avoid the liquid-ink workflow.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
- Best for: busy offices, reports, invoices and other text-heavy workloads.
- Advantages: generally faster text throughput and predictable output for sustained volume.
- Trade-offs: higher purchase prices than the cheapest inkjets; color laser hardware is substantially more expensive than basic monochrome models.
Calculate total cost before you buy
Compare the purchase price and the consumables you will use over the period you expect to keep the printer. A practical estimate is:
Total cost of ownership = printer price + replacement ink or toner − the value of included supplies.
Use your actual monthly volume rather than the speed printed on the box. A cartridge machine at $50 can cost more than a tank model after a year of regular school or home-office printing. Conversely, an occasional printer may never print enough pages to recover a tank’s higher upfront price.
| Buying pattern | Usually the sensible starting point | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than a few dozen pages a month, mostly occasional documents | Cartridge inkjet | Lowest hardware cost; the convenience of a tank may not offset the initial premium. |
| Regular color pages, worksheets or photos | Ink tank | Bottled ink reduces the cost per page and refill frequency. |
| Large batches of black text | Monochrome laser | Designed for higher-volume, cost-effective office printing. |
| Frequent color documents in an office | Color laser or a high-yield tank | Choose between laser throughput and the tank’s lower color running cost according to volume and budget. |
Budget all-in-one models worth considering
| Model | Type and functions | Notable strengths | Important limitations | Price or yield evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 | Refillable color inkjet; print, scan and copy; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and smartphone-app printing | Estimated color cost of about 0.9 cents per page, compared with a 1.9-cent category average reported by Tom’s Guide | No ADF, one paper tray and average print/copy speed | Tom’s Guide calls it a strong affordable, reliable choice; current deal price is not fixed |
| HP Smart Tank 7602 | Refillable color AIO with print, copy, scan and fax; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB-A | Fast photo printing and very low ink costs | Average text speed, one paper tray, small touchscreen and possible setup friction with HP Smart | Student-oriented option; verify current price and included bottles |
| Brother MFC-T580DW | Wireless color tank AIO with automatic duplex | Up to three years of ink in the box according to Brother | Higher upfront price than basic cartridge models | $299.99 listed by Brother; starter yields approximately 7,125 black pages and 4,400 pages for each color bottle |
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 | Cartridge color AIO with print, scan, copy and automatic duplex | Low deal price and 14 pages per minute (black) / 9 ppm (color) listed by TechRadar | Cartridge running costs can rise with regular use | $79 deal, formerly $140.99, in TechRadar’s snapshot |
| HP DeskJet 2955 | Cartridge AIO with print, scan, copy and dual-band Wi-Fi | Very low entry price | Listed speed is 7.5 ppm black / 5.5 ppm color | $49.99 deal, formerly $89.99, in TechRadar’s snapshot |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Cartridge AIO with print, copy, scan, fax, ADF and automatic duplex | Document-handling features uncommon at this price | Cartridge economics are less attractive for high volume | $87 deal, formerly $107.99, in TechRadar’s snapshot |
These are different kinds of bargains: a tank model can cost more on day one but less per page, while a cartridge model can be the right answer when your pages are infrequent.
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Tom’s Guide identifies the G3290 as a top recommendation for an affordable, reliable ink printer. Its combination of wireless printing and phone-app support makes it easy to place in a home, and the reported color cost is unusually low. Select it when you can scan one sheet at a time and do not need two paper types loaded simultaneously. Look elsewhere if an ADF or faster copying is essential.
HP Smart Tank 7602: a student-focused feature mix
The 7602 adds fax capability and broad connection choices to the tank format. Its reported photo speed is a useful advantage for color assignments and images. Students should weigh that benefit against average text speed, the small touchscreen and the possibility of extra troubleshooting during HP Smart setup.
Rank #4
Brother MFC-T580DW: home-office tank with duplex
The MFC-T580DW is aimed at a home office that wants automatic two-sided output and a large initial ink supply. Brother’s stated yields—approximately 7,125 black pages and 4,400 pages from each color bottle—are starter-yield figures, so actual results vary with coverage and print settings. The listed $299.99 price places it above entry-level cartridge deals, but the included supply can delay the next purchase.
What the low-price cartridge deals actually provide
TechRadar’s deal examples show how inexpensive an AIO can be at checkout, but each is a dated snapshot rather than a standing price.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA TS6520 | $79, reduced from $140.99 | Print, scan, copy; automatic duplex; 14 ppm black and 9 ppm color | Lowest-cost duplex option among these examples with faster listed output |
| HP DeskJet 2955 | $49.99, reduced from $89.99 | Print, scan, copy; dual-band Wi-Fi; 7.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm color | Minimum upfront spend for light use |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | $87, reduced from $107.99 | Print, copy, scan, fax; ADF; automatic duplex | Multi-page document features at a low purchase price |
Check that the exact suffix and regional model match the listing. A sale can end while a page remains indexed, and replacement cartridge prices may erase the initial saving if you print often.
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Match the printer to your workload
For students
A tank model is usually the better long-term fit when printing readings, worksheets and color projects throughout the term. Prioritize wireless printing, an inexpensive color system and automatic duplex if you submit many multi-page assignments. The HP Smart Tank 7602 is specifically positioned for students; its photo speed is attractive, but assess whether average text speed and the small display suit your workflow.
For a light-use home
Choose a cartridge AIO when you print only occasional forms, shipping labels or a few pages each month. The low purchase price matters more than a tank’s refill savings at that volume. An ADF is unnecessary if scans are normally single pages.
For a home office
Estimate monthly pages and identify whether documents are mostly black text or mixed color. A tank such as the Brother MFC-T580DW is a sensible direction when color is regular and duplex output matters. A monochrome laser is more appropriate when speed and sustained text volume dominate.
For a text-heavy small office
Start with a monochrome laser AIO and verify its paper capacity, duplex behavior and network support. Consumer Reports’ 2026 tested reference prices illustrate the range: Brother HL-L2480DW at $220 (overall score 72), Canon imageClass MF465dw at $300 (72), Brother DCP-L2640DW at $200 (71) and Canon imageClass MF273dw at $160 (65). These are test-table entries, not universal rankings or current street prices.
For color office documents
Color laser AIOs cost more at the outset. Consumer Reports’ 2026 table lists the Canon Color imageClass MF753Cdw at $430 with an overall score of 74 and the Brother MFC-L3765CDW at $399 with a score of 71. Compare those prices with a high-yield tank if your priority is lower color consumable cost rather than office-oriented throughput.
Quick Recap
A purchase checklist that prevents expensive surprises
- Record your volume. Count black, color and photo pages in a typical month, then multiply by the number of years you expect to keep the printer.
- Choose the consumable system. Select cartridges for occasional use, a tank for regular color printing or laser for high-volume text.
- Confirm document features. Add an ADF if you scan or copy multi-page documents; require automatic duplex if two-sided output is routine.
- Check paper handling. A single tray is adequate for one paper type but inconvenient when you alternate plain and photo stock.
- Verify connections. Match Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB and mobile-app support to the devices in your home or office.
- Price the supplies. Include replacement bottles, cartridges or toner—not only the sale price of the printer.
- Check the exact regional model. Prices, warranty terms, included ink and suffixes differ by country.
- Recheck the deal immediately before payment. Confirm stock, discount, shipping, warranty and what is in the box.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
| Potential problem | Why it matters | Preventive check |
|---|---|---|
| Buying on hardware price alone | Cartridge costs can outweigh the initial saving over years. | Estimate pages and consumables before choosing the cheapest machine. |
| Assuming every AIO has an ADF | Many budget tanks use only a flatbed glass. | Look for “ADF” in the specifications, not merely “scan and copy.” |
| Underestimating one-tray designs | Switching paper types requires unloading and reloading. | Choose a second tray or accept the manual routine. |
| Expecting tank models to be fast office printers | Some inexpensive tanks have only average text speed. | Prioritize a laser or a faster model when batch text output is time-critical. |
| Relying on an expired deal page | Discounts and stock change quickly. | Verify the live retailer or manufacturer listing and the exact model suffix. |
| Getting stuck during app setup | The HP Smart Tank 7602 has been reported to involve setup friction. | Allow time for wireless setup and keep a USB connection available if supported. |
Bottom-line buying decisions
- Best general budget tank direction: Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 when low color cost matters more than an ADF or a second tray.
- Best student-oriented tank direction: HP Smart Tank 7602 when photo speed and low ink cost outweigh average text speed and a small touchscreen.
- Best home-office tank direction: Brother MFC-T580DW when automatic duplex and a large included ink supply justify its higher purchase price.
- Best occasional-use bargain: A discounted cartridge AIO such as the Canon PIXMA TS6520, HP DeskJet 2955 or Canon PIXMA TR4720, chosen according to whether you need duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi or an ADF.
- Best for sustained black-text volume: A monochrome laser AIO; the Consumer Reports 2026 reference models show that credible options begin around the $160–$300 range before current discounts.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
