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There are many high-performing printers out there, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. A popular printer type is called the inkjet printer.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
An inkjet printer is a device that uses ink cartridges to reproduce text and images on paper. These printers work by quite literally spraying the paper with ink. A standard inkjet printer can produce a copy with a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (DPI). On the other hand, stronger inkjet printers have higher DPI, as you’ll see in our Epson EcoTank review. Moreover, you can also cut costs by setting your inkjet printer to auto duplex printing, which is printing on both sides of the paper.
Insider Tip
Inkjet printers are the go-to choice for making color reproductions, due to the fact that these printers can easily mix different-colored ink cartridges to make just about any hue imaginable.
There are several benefits uniquely associated with inkjet printers. You can also use an all-in-one printer and enjoy all these benefits and more. These are some reasons this type of printer tends to be so popular in personal homes, home offices, and even professional settings. However, if you’d like a comparative look between a laser printer vs inkjet, we have a guide for that, too.
If you’re new to printers, you’ll want to learn more about the printhead on a printer and what does DPI mean on a printer with our helpful information articles.
Inkjet printers are the go-to choice for making color reproductions, due to the fact that these printers can easily mix different-colored ink cartridges to make just about any hue imaginable. This makes them uniquely suited to printing out color photographs. If you are purchasing an inkjet printer, make sure that it includes a trio of ink cartridges in the three primary colors to mix and produce a gorgeous final product. Color inkjet printers do tend to be slightly more expensive than black and white or monochrome inkjet printers.
One of the other key advantages of opting for an inkjet printer is that these devices require virtually no warm-up time before beginning to print.
One of the other key advantages of opting for an inkjet printer is that these devices require virtually no warm-up time before beginning to print. This is in contrast to laser printers, which need some time to heat up the toner cartridge before use. On the flip side, however, is the fact that inkjet printers are generally slower to complete print jobs than laser printers. But, if speed isn’t a dealbreaker for you, then have a look at our Canon PIXMA TR7520 review.
Inkjet printing technology has been around for decades, giving manufacturers plenty of time to source components and perfect designs. In other words, inkjet printers are among the cheapest types available for purchase. You can typically find them costing anywhere from $50 to $100, with some models costing much more. The only downside when it comes to cost is that the ink cartridges will need to be replaced consistently. If you plan on doing a lot of printing, we recommend you sign up for an ink cartridge subscription service. Major inkjet printer manufacturers, such as HP, typically offer these plans.
Read our resource article on how inkjet printers work if you want further details before buying one.
Warning
Color inkjet printers do tend to be slightly more expensive than black and white or monochrome inkjet printers.
What is the difference between an inkjet printer and a laser printer?
Simply put, inkjet printers use ink to create reproductions, whereas laser printers use toner. The actual printing process also differs, with inkjet printers splashing ink on the paper and laser printers focusing beams of light on toner.
What are the disadvantages of an inkjet printer?
As for disadvantages when it comes to inkjet printers, they are not quite as fast as laser printers, and ink cartridge replacements can be costly. Due to the nature of ink, the paper can be prone to smudging after being printed.
What uses are best for an inkjet printer?
Inkjet printers excel with color reproductions and with day-to-day printing, such as what can be found in a home office or professional setting.
STAT: Single-ink cartridges were found to have on average 20% of their ink remaining after being disposed of, though actual figures range from 9% to 64% of the cartridge’s total ink capacity, depending on the brand and model of printer. (source)
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