Buying a printer might seem like a one-time investment, but we all know that it is the ink that takes up all our cash in the long run. Ink refills are one of the most expensive expenditures there are, and also one of the bigger ways that these companies make a profit.
But you can go around this. If you look hard enough, the best printer for long-lasting ink cartridges is just around the corner.
These are printers that come with clever technologies that make the inks last longer or come in larger quantities, so lesser replacement is needed.
In either case, this article will give you a full breakdown of how you can choose one of these printers that will perform all the duties of a good printer while being economic with the ink. Do take a look at the guide to understand how these different ink systems work because that will allow you to lower the costs.
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6. Canon Office and Business MX922
IMAGE | PRODUCT | Type | Replenishment Service | Special Features | price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 | Cartridge | No | 8 Months of Ink | |
|
Epson EcoTank ET-2720 | Tank | No | Voice activated Printing | |
|
WorkForce WF-7710 | Cartridge | Yes | Copy, scan, fax | |
|
Brother MFC-J805DW | Tank | Yes | Auto duplex printing | |
|
Epson WorkForce ET-3750 | Tank | No | 2.4-inch color LCD | |
|
Canon Office and Business MX922 | Tank | No | 15ppm print speed | |
|
Brother HL-2270DW | Cartridge | No | 250-sheet capacity paper tray | |
|
HP OfficeJet Pro 9015 | Cartridge | No | Works with Alexa | |
|
Epson WorkForce WF-3620 | Cartridge | Yes | 2.7-inch touchscreen | |
|
Epson EcoTank ET-2750 | Tank | No | 1.44-inch LCD color display |
If you want an Inkjet printer, one that is economical and has overall good features for all sorts of usage, then this OfficeJet Pro 8035 by HP is a good option to check out. Besides printing, it comes with a copy, scan, and fax function as well.
This wireless printer comes with 8 whole months of ink for you to use if you print 100 pages per month on average. The size of the device is also considerably smaller, which makes it easy to place.
Printing is fast as well, where the printer has a speed of 20 pages per minute. You can use this at home or work, and the speed will be just as usable.
Using the HP Smart App, you can print remotely too. This application lets you put in commands straight into a phone, and the printer carries out the duties. But that is not all. The application also lets you check up on how the printer is doing. From checking the ink usage levels to scanning documents, it can do it all.
One point that really makes this printer stand out from most others out there is in its manufacturing. It boasts a sustainable design where it has been made from up to 15% recycled plastics. And this makes the device greener as well.
This Epson EcoTank ET-2720 happens to be one of the more cost-effective printers out there thanks to its tank system. Instead of cartridges, this uses tanks that can hold more ink, and hence lasts longer. Not to mention, these tanks are supersized too!
It is recommended, however, that you do not use inks from other brands which can hamper the way this device works.
This printer truly gives us value, because one of the replacement ink bottles contain enough ink to print up to 4500 pages in monochrome, and 7500 in color. Now that is a lot of pages! Something you cannot usually find with different ink systems.
The replacement costs also go down here. One of these bottles is equivalent to up to 80 cartridges, and that helps to bring down the costs.
You can use this printer wirelessly, and connect it to all devices for file transfer remotely. Amazon Alexa is also compatible with this printer, and this lets you use voice command for all the times you just do not feel like getting up anymore.
Auto duplex print is another feature the printer has, and this boosts the printer's performance. Plus, the 100 sheet rear feed tray makes work easier by letting you move away while the work is being done.
If you are looking for a printer solely for the home, then this Epson WorkForce WF-7710 is worth your time. One of the first things that make this a good buy for home usage is the multiple features it comes with. Besides printing, it can function as a scanner, copier, and a fax machine too. Having all in one at home is cost-effective, and lets you use these functions whenever required.
With its PrecisionCore technology, the printer can give you borderless photos up to 13 x 19 inches. Small features like these might seem redundant, but they speed up the process when you have a bit of a load.
Automatic duplex printing is yet another similar feature. You get double the work done and use half the number of pages.
With the 4.3-inch touchscreen, rest assured, everyone at home can easily use the device. Even if they have not used printers before! Since we are so used to touchscreens, this makes it simple for everyone to catch on.
The printer also makes sure to consume up to 80% less power than its counterparts. This lessens the electricity bills and lets you work in peace without having to think about the bills every time you print.
This printer from Brother is called the INKvestment Tank printer, and the name gives it all away as to why this is such a good choice for people who want lasting cartridges. This one comes with a tank system, which in general can provide more ink than a traditional cartridge, hence making it longer lasting.
It also gives you all the information you need, so there is no need for you to continuously guess how much ink you have used. You get clear information from the printer, so you know when you need a refill.
And if you do not want to do that either, simply activate the Amazon Dash replenishment service. This way the printer will do all the work for you. It will place an order for a refill when the ink is almost used up. You get a refill soon, and you never have to experience an empty ink tank either, even if you forget!
You also get up to 1-year worth of ink with the printer. If you print on average around 150 pages a month, you can go a whole year without buying refills.
Brother does recommend that you use this printer with Brother inks only for the optimum results and uninterrupted services.
For all users who want an ink efficient printer, take a look at this Epson WorkForce ET-3750.
It provides you with cartridge-free printing and comes with ink tanks instead which can store a lot more ink. Moreover, the printer comes with two years' worth of ink too, so the replacement cost does not come in until much later.
The ink provided here can print up to 14,000 pages in monochrome and up to 11,200 pages in color. If you were to use cartridges for this, you would need more than 30 whole sets. So this should tell us about how ink efficient the tank system is here.
Ink bottles are easy to handle as well, and you can fill them up when needed and proceed to print again.
Other printer features that make this a good buy in general include the auto document feeder that holds up to 30 sheets, the auto duplex printing which saves paper and time, and the 150-sheet paper capacity.
When you buy the printer, you need to see if it has a tank system or a cartridge system. While this decision depends on a lot on personal choices and preferences, they both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Having a tank system is one of the most efficient ways to save on ink costs in the future. Like the name suggests, a tank consists of a lot of ink, which takes a pretty good time to be used up. Although these are more expensive to buy initially, the costs over the years and usage are lowered.
On the other hand, cartridge systems are cheaper when buying initially, but over time their replacement costs are high. Not to mention, they need more frequent replacing too.
For efficiency, we recommend going for the ink tank system any day. It is more economical, has more ink, lasts longer, and reduces overall costs. But if you are on a super tight budget, you might have to settle for the cartridge system. In this case, look out for other features that can help the ink last longer.
If you are looking for the best printer for ink efficiency, you are going to have look really hard at the ink compatibility of printers.
You will often find that a lot of printers work with only their brand of inks, and others do not work as well or can cause damage to the device. While this does not necessarily mean it is a bad and overpriced product, it lessens the options.
So, if you want to be able to buy cheaper brands of inks or longer-lasting ones, then do check the printers to see if it supports other brands of ink or not. If not, you will probably have to pay a little more.
Thanks to evolving designs, a lot of new printers today have this amazing feature called the replenishment service. It replenishes the ink when you have almost run out.
This feature measures the level of ink in the printer, and once it has gone down up to a certain level, it will automatically order more before you completely run out.
While some might find this bothersome, others find it helpful. So it really depends a lot on usage frequency and personal choice.
If the printer is for a professional space, then you should get a printer with this feature. Because inks run out quicker here than usual, and you cannot afford to have zero ink level.
However, if you print occasionally and do not have the urgency, then you can do without the replenishment service too.
We all want to buy the best printer with long-lasting ink. Because let us face it, having to spend hundreds continuously is not the most feasible for mere prints. But choosing the right printer is crucial because you can avail a lot of saving on ink replacement costs with the right design.
These printers have designs that let you use bigger tanks or more lasting cartridges, so you do not need the replacements so soon anymore. Others have other features like dash replenishment which ensures that you do not hit zero ink level at any time.
About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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