There is no single best printer for every household or office: the right choice depends on how often you print, whether you need colour or photos, and whether scanning or copying matters. For occasional basic documents, a simple inkjet can be enough; for frequent printing, an ink-tank model can reduce ink costs; and if you may leave a printer unused for weeks, a laser is worth considering because inkjets can suffer blocked nozzles.
The recommendations and test figures below are reported by Expert Reviews in a roundup updated 1 October 2026. Its listed “price when reviewed” figures are historical, not confirmation of current prices or availability. Read the Expert Reviews roundup and full reviews for model-level details.
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Inkjet or laser: which suits your printing habits?
Inkjet and laser printers suit different patterns of use. Expert Reviews says office-focused inkjets have increasingly matched lasers for speed and quality, and that inkjets can be cheaper to run. But inkjet nozzles may clog when the printer is left unused, and cleaning can waste ink. If you regularly go weeks without printing, a laser may be the more practical fit.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor frequent colour or photo output, an inkjet or ink-tank printer offers a broad choice. For primarily text-based documents and long gaps between jobs, compare laser models and their total consumable requirements: toner is not always the only ongoing cost, as some printers also use drums, waste-toner bottles or fuser units.
#1 Best Overall
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
Decide whether you need more than printing
A multifunction printer (MFP) combines printing with some or all of scanning, copying and faxing. It is useful when you want to handle paperwork without separate devices, but the features differ by model.
- Scanning and copying: Choose an MFP if you need either function; a basic printer may omit both.
- Multi-page originals: Look for an automatic document feeder (ADF). If you need to scan or copy double-sided originals, check specifically for a duplex ADF rather than assuming every feeder handles both sides.
- Photos: An office MFP scanner may be adequate for paperwork but may not be the best tool for preserving photographs.
- Connectivity and paper handling: Confirm whether the printer has the Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile-printing support, tray capacity and automatic duplex printing you actually need.
Compare total cost, speed and output quality
Purchase price alone does not show what a printer will cost to use. Compare the type and yield of its ink or toner, and account for any additional consumables. Ink tanks can lower the cost of frequent printing, though they may have a higher upfront cost or omit features found on other models. Cartridge printers can be convenient, but their running costs vary.
Rank #2
- PERFECT FOR BASIC PRINTING NEEDS – Print everyday color documents like to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes
- KEY FEATURES – Color print, copy, scan, and a 60-sheet input tray, plus mobile and wireless printing
- OPTIMIZE PRINT FORMATTING WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- ICON LCD – Print your basic documents with ease from the intuitive control panel
- PRINT SPEED – Up to 7.5 ppm black, 5.5 ppm color
Check both the printer’s maximum duty cycle and its recommended regular workload when you expect to print heavily. A maximum duty cycle is a stress limit, not a sensible monthly target. Also compare measured results rather than relying only on advertised specifications: Expert Reviews says it times print jobs and examines output because specifications alone do not always predict print quality.
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Its methodology describes timed tests using a standard letter, a business presentation and colour photographs, along with visual inspection, scan and copy checks, duplex testing where available, and running-cost calculations. The resulting figures are the publisher’s own tests and estimates, not independently replicated results.
Rank #3
- AFFORDABLE ALL-IN-ONE FOR HOME AND HOME OFFICE: Print, copy, and scan on one compact wireless printer designed for everyday home office printing, schoolwork, documents, and reports. Produce beautiful prints for results that stand out.
- EASY TO USE WITH CLOUD APP CONNECTIONS: Print from and scan to popular Cloud apps(2), including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and more from the simple-to-use 1.8” color display on your printer.
- FULL-SIZE FEATURES IN A COMPACT DESIGN: This printer includes automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, a 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)(3), and a 150-sheet paper tray(3). Engineered to print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 9 ppm in color(4).
- MULTIPLE CONNECTION OPTIONS: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB.
- MOBILE PRINTING MADE EASY: Go mobile with the Brother Mobile Connect app(5) that delivers easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device. Monitor your ink usage with Page Gauge to help ensure you don’t run out(6).
Expert Reviews’ printer picks by use case
The table summarizes models highlighted in Expert Reviews’ roundup updated 1 October 2026. Test speeds and cost estimates are as reported by that publication; per-page figures are not guarantees of what a buyer will pay today.
| Model | Best fit | Reported evidence and features | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon Pixma TS205 | Occasional basic home printing | Expert Reviews reports crisp black text, bold graphics and decent photos; tested at 7.5ppm black and 1.6ppm colour graphics. | No Wi-Fi, scanner, cloud or smartphone features; described as slow and noisy. |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8122e | Budget all-in-one with useful features | Prints, scans and copies; Wi-Fi and USB, ADF, 225-sheet tray, automatic duplex and colour touchscreen. | Expert Reviews identifies photo and scanning quality as weaker points and says ink costs exceed some rivals. |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2830 | Home printing with low ink costs | Expert Reviews’ 2026 estimates: 0.2p per monochrome A4 page and 0.4p per colour A4 page for ink. Supplied ink rated for up to 6,600 mono or 5,900 colour pages. Tested at 13.4ppm mono and 4.5ppm colour. | No automatic duplex printing; rear input tray protrudes and can collect dust. |
| Canon Pixma G650 | Lower-cost photo printing | Expert Reviews says test photos came close to the best cartridge models. Its 2026 estimated page costs are 0.4p mono and 1p colour. | Described as slow; the fit depends on prioritizing photos and running cost over speed. |
| Canon Pixma TR7650 | Small-office photo and document work | Prints, scans and faxes; automatic duplex and scanner feeder. Tested at 10.6ppm mono and 3.8ppm colour. | Expert Reviews estimates 4p mono and 9p colour per page, higher than tank printers. |
| Canon Maxify GX5050 | Office ink-tank printing | 250-sheet tray and automatic duplex; Expert Reviews estimates about 0.2p per page and up to 30,000 pages from included ink. | No scanner; the roundup says resolution and ink vibrancy are below consumer models. |
| Epson EcoTank ET-1810 | Budget tank printing without scanning | Expert Reviews estimates 0.2p mono and 0.4p colour per page; supplied ink rated for 3,600 mono and 6,500 colour pages. | No scanning or copying; stripped-back feature set. |
| Canon Pixma TS8350 | Photo-focused home printing | Expert Reviews reports high-quality photo and document output, wireless connectivity, and tests above 15ppm mono and above 5ppm colour. | High running costs; graphics may look dark or oversaturated. |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2850 | Low-running-cost home printing | Refill bottles; Expert Reviews estimates 0.2p mono and 0.4p colour per page. Included ink rated for 14,000 mono and 5,200 colour pages. | Some specialist extras are omitted compared with higher models. |
| Brother MFC-J4540DW | Feature-rich home or small-office MFP | Print, scan, copy and fax; Wi-Fi and Ethernet, 350 sheets across two trays, automatic duplex and ADF. Tested at 18.5ppm mono. | Cartridge-based, although Expert Reviews estimates lower running costs than many cartridge printers. |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9022e | Fast office all-in-one | Tested at 20.5ppm mono and 8.5ppm mixed colour/mono; Wi-Fi and Ethernet, with two 250-sheet trays. | Expert Reviews says it is not suited to photo printing. The roundup’s cited six-month Instant Ink inclusion may vary with offer or availability. |
| Brother MFC-J6955DW | Larger-office inkjet MFP | Included among the roundup’s recommendations. | The roundup material does not provide enough model detail for a useful specific comparison; consult its full review. |
| Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 | A3 photo printing | Described as compact and capable of high-quality output. | No scan or copy features; described as slow and expensive to run. |
| Epson EcoTank ET-8550 | Frequent large A3 photo printing | Six-ink multifunction printer with refillable reservoirs; described as cost-effective for frequent large photo prints. | Expensive upfront; the roundup says it makes sense if you will print many large photos. |
All recommendations, test speeds, page-cost estimates and included-ink ratings in this table are Expert Reviews’ reporting, not current retail quotes or independently verified results. Running costs and availability can change.
Rank #4
- The OfficeJet Pro 8125e is perfect for home offices printing professional-quality color documents like business documents, reports, presentations and flyers. Print speeds up to 10 ppm color, 20 ppm black
- PERFECTLY FORMATTED PRINTS WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 225-sheet input tra
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
- 3 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK WITH HP+ ACTIVATION – Subscribe to Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out. After 3 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled.
Choose by the job you need done
For occasional documents on a tight purchase budget
The Canon Pixma TS205 is the roundup’s basic home option. Its reported strengths are crisp text and bold graphics, but its lack of Wi-Fi and scanning means it is best only when you can connect by USB and need straightforward printing.
For frequent home printing with lower ink costs
The Epson EcoTank ET-2830 combines refillable tanks with the roundup’s reported 13.4ppm mono and 4.5ppm colour test results. Its listed ink cost is low, but it does not print automatically on both sides. If you need an even simpler tank printer and do not need scanning or copying, the ET-1810 is another option in the roundup.
Best Value
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Seamless Multi-Page Handling - Tackle multi-page documents with ease using the Auto Document Feeder (ADF) for quick scanning and copying
For home photos
Compare the Canon Pixma TS8350 and Canon Pixma G650 according to your priorities. Expert Reviews presents the TS8350 as a photo inkjet with strong document and photo output, but high running costs; it describes the G650 as a slower option whose test photos approached the best cartridge models, with lower estimated page costs. These are different trade-offs, not a universal ranking for every kind of photo work.
For paperwork and multi-page copying
Start with an MFP that has an ADF if you regularly handle stacks of pages. Check whether its feeder scans both sides automatically if that matters; ordinary ADF support does not establish duplex scanning. For a small office, also check tray capacity, duplex printing and wired networking against your workload.
For long gaps between print jobs
Expert Reviews flags nozzle blockage and cleaning-related ink waste as risks for infrequently used inkjets. A laser is worth comparing if you routinely go weeks without printing, particularly if your work is mostly documents rather than photos.
Quick Recap
Check these details before buying
- Estimate your typical monthly page volume and distinguish it from the model’s maximum duty cycle.
- Decide whether you need colour, photo output, scanning, copying, faxing or an ADF.
- Compare ink or toner cost per page alongside purchase price, and include other rated consumables where relevant.
- Check automatic duplex printing separately from duplex scanning; they are different features.
- Confirm paper capacity, printer dimensions, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and mobile-printing support against your space and workflow.
- Use current local listings to verify price, availability, regional model designation, and any time-limited service or ink offer.
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.
