Difference between laser and inkjet printer : You are planning to buy a printer. However, you are confused as to which one would best suit your printing needs.
Would you go for a laser or an inkjet printer? After all, their test print results both look fine and high quality. So what is the difference between laser and inkjet printer?
What is Laser Printer
Meanwhile, a laser printer has two known types, namely: the Basic Document Printer and the All-in-One or AIO Printer (Copier/Scanner/Printer).
The Basic Document Printer prints typically basic documents. Low-cost laser Document Printers only enable you to print in black and white.
Colored Document Printers are also available but at a higher price than its black-and-white counterpart.
The AIO Printer can let you make copies, scan, and print photos and documents. Majority of laser AIO Printers also only print in black and white.
Colored AIO Printers are available as well but at a considerably higher price.
What is Inkjet Printer
An inkjet printer has three known types, namely: the Basic Document Printer, the Photo Printer, and the All-in-One or AIO Printer (Copier/Scanner/Printer).
The Basic Document Printer prints generally basic documents with or without color.
Among the three types this is the most affordable. The Photo Printer prints photos in high quality of up to 8 x 10 in size.
The AIO Printer has the ability to make photocopies, scan, and print documents or photos. Newer models of AIO Printers also have built-in document feeders, which will allow you to copy a multi-page document.
The really high-priced AIO Printer even has the Fax functionality.
Difference between laser and inkjet printer
When it comes to weighing their pros, there is a significant difference between laser and inkjet printers.
A basic laser printer makes use of a toner while an inkjet printer utilizes ink. A toner is more efficient to use compared with ink during page-by-page printing.
A laser printer does print jobs at a faster speed, especially with larger documents. On the contrary, an inkjet printer is relatively slower when printing multiple-paged or large documents.
Also, a laser printer is not messy to clean up compared to an inkjet printer, which is not that easy to clean.
You will have to be careful when cleaning an inkjet printer as the ink cartridges can leak and the ink can stain on almost anything.
When you opt for a colored laser printer, the toner cartridges often cost twice more than the cartridges for inkjet printers. The good thing is that toner cartridges last much longer than the ones for inkjet.
When it comes to replacing cartridges, however, the task is easier to do with an inkjet printer. With regards to appearance and size, a laser printer is typically a bit bulkier than an inkjet printer.
This is true for all their respective printer types. As to performance, a laser printer is generally noisy and can eventually get annoying at times. In contrast, an inkjet printer is known for its quiet and excellent printing, especially during photo printing.
As to price, a colored laser printer is costly compared with an inkjet printer, which is more affordable.
This is why consumers usually opt for inkjet printers regardless of good quality black-and-white or colored printing.
If you are planning to buy a printer, it is ideal to know the difference between laser and inkjet printers.
They are the most commonly purchased kinds of printers nowadays. Also, you will need to consider your printing needs and budget.
The laser printer is good for long-term ownership as they are excellent for document printing, copying, and scanning. However, they may not be a good choice for basic home use.
On the other hand, if your printing needs require you to print high-quality photos, then an inkjet printer is your best bet.
Also, it is perfect for basic home use as it is not bulky like the laser counterpart, plus it offers more flexibility at a significantly reasonable price. These are the difference between laser and inkjet printer