I test many of the best printers here at Tom’s Guide, and I’ve never seen one like the Inkwon Tag. Touted as the ‘world’s first 4-in-1 portable color inkjet printer,’ the Tag is a pocketable printer that can create temporary tattoos, photo prints, heat transfers for creating custom t-shirts, and stickers. It’s a lovely little printer for crafting, small print makers, and anyone who wants to be the life of the party by distributing temporary tattoos.

Priced at $229, the Tag is a little expensive, but the good news is that running costs aren’t that high. It boasts good battery life of up to 90 minutes, and its user-friendly companion app makes creating and printing a walk in the park. All isn’t perfect though, as the printer can’t create borderless prints and paper needs to be inserted one at a time.

Should you still buy it? Read my full Inkwon Tag review to find out.

Inkwon Tag review: Specs

Inkwon Tag review: Price & availability

The Inkwon Tag is the brand’s fourth-ever printer, and it’s truly one of a kind. It’s a 4-in-1 pocket printer that can print temporary tattoos, stickers, photos, and heat transfers for creating custom t-shirts.

Funded through Kickstarter, the Tag has a retail price of $299 for the basic pack which includes 60 sheets and one ink cartridge. If you’re willing to spend $349, you can grab the Mega Pack bundle which includes two cartridges, 120 sheets, a photo frame, a tote bag, and a plain white t-shirt.

The Tag is a little pricier than most other pocket printers on the market today. For instance, the Canon Ivy 2 Mini costs $119 and the Canon SELPHY QX20 retails for $189. You’ve also got printers from Fujifilm, like the Instax mini Link 3 which costs $113. As you can see, the Tag is a fair bit more expensive than all of them — but none of them are advertised as sticker or heat transfer capable, so if you want a 4-in-1 pocket printer, the Tag is it (get it? ‘Tag, you’re it?’ No? Okay).

Inkwon Tag review: Design

The Inkwon Tag is a tiny and cute printer. It’s small enough to fit into already-full backpacks, and you can slip it into your pocket too. It measures just 4.13 x 3.82 x 1.77 inches, so it’s smaller than my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. It doesn’t weigh much either — just 8.29oz without any paper inserted. I’ve had no problem carrying it around in my pocket.

Located along one of the square printer’s edges is the paper feeding slot. All you need to do is insert the paper ever-so slightly and the printer will automatically pull it in. Frustratingly, paper needs to be inserted one at a time, as there’s no paper tray to store additional sheets. It’s not a huge problem, but it can get a little annoying when you want to create multiple prints back to back.

Inkwon Tag review: Setup & app

Setting up and using the Inkwon Tag couldn’t be easier. To get started, all you need to do is open the printer’s top cover and pop the cartridge in. It uses magnets so it instantly snaps into place — no fiddly mechanisms involved.

Once you’ve done that, you need to hit the triangular power button which automatically puts the Tag into Bluetooth pairing mode.

To get printing, you’ll need to download the AiYin app, which is available for free on Android and iOS. You’ll be using the app a lot for all your editing and printing needs, and thankfully, it doesn’t take up much space on your phone — just 110MB on my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. The app asks you to sign up but you don’t have to if you don’t want to; you can simply choose to use a guest account. This makes it easy for your friends and family to use the printer too, as they can simply download the app and start printing.

Et voilà! You’re ready to print. The app itself is very easy and intuitive to use. You can print either your own designs and saved images, or choose from hundreds of pre-made designs. Once you’ve selected what you’d like to print, you can make adjustments to the images, such as brightness, saturation, contrast, and more, and then hit the print icon. It couldn’t be easier, really.

Inkwon Tag review: Print speeds

As is the case with most printers, the Inkwon Tag’s print speeds depend on the complexity of the images, and the number of colors involved. Keep in mind that this is a very small printer, so you won’t get rapid print speeds akin to those of, say, the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S ($647).

To kick things off, I used the included sticker paper to print a few images. It took the Tag one minute and 56 seconds to create a color sticker, and one minute and 45 seconds to create a black and white print. The included sticker paper is slightly thicker than the other types that Inkwon sent me for testing, so it isn’t surprising that the sticker printing times were the longest.

The next thing I did was print on the included light fabric heat transfer paper, which is used for transferring images onto t-shirts. A color print took one minute and 28 seconds while a black and white heat transfer took a minute and 27. Not too bad. I had a lot of fun transferring the designs on to the included white t-shirt too, and I’ll discuss that in the next section.

Last but not least, I printed a few of the pre-made designs onto the tattoo transparent transfer paper — something I was very excited for, as someone who has nearly 20 tattoos (the permanent kind). In my testing, the Tag took one minute and 20 seconds to print a color design, and a minute and 15 seconds to print a monochrome design.

If you aren’t in a rush and are using the Tag for printing temporary tattoos at a party, or creating stickers for your scrapbook, the aforementioned speeds shouldn’t give you much to complain about. I also found that the app was quick to tell the printer to start printing, and I didn’t notice any lag.

Inkwon Tag review: Print quality

I’ll preface this section with this: the Inkwon Tag is a small printer and you shouldn’t expect it to be able to create award-winning prints. It’s aimed at casual users. As an inkjet printer, it utilizes a CMY three dye-based ink system, and it has a print resolution of 600 dpi — which is suited to small-sized prints.

Because the Tag uses a CMY three ink system, it doesn’t have a dedicated black ink, so it mixes black using the other three. This results in prints that are low on contrast — and I’ll discuss this in detail below.

That said, print quality is surprisingly good. The photos in the gallery above were printed on sticker paper, and they can be peeled and stuck on most surfaces. Even though there isn’t a lot of real estate on the 3.5 x 2.12-inch paper, I appreciate how much detail the Tag has been able to print. For instance, the tattoo on my partner’s shoulder looks detailed and you can make out the individual tree leaves in the design.

The other images look great too, but as you can see in the sixth slide, the image of the pigeon, captured on the 44MP Leica SL3-P, looks fuzzy and has lost a fair bit of detail. This is a complex image, though, with lots of different elements and details, so I’m not surprised the Tag has struggled to accurately reproduce it.

As I mentioned earlier, the Tag uses CMY ink, and so doesn’t have a dedicated black ink (the 'K' in CMYK). This means blacks don’t appear as sharp or deep as on a CMYK printer. That’s what’s happened with the black and white print of my partner above. Having taken the image myself on the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, I know that the blacks are inky and deep — they don’t appear so in the print. They appear more gray than black, which is a little disappointing. The small CMY ink cartridges are a sacrifice you make for the size and convenience of the printer.

I also have an issue with the sticker paper — you can’t create borderless prints, so you have empty space at the bottom of each sheet. As such, the prints end up looking like they were printed out on one of the best instant cameras, à la Fujifilm Instax. It’s not necessarily a bad thing as it gives you space to scribble with a pen, but it’s still frustrating that you can’t utilize the entire space if you want to.

Images and designs printed on the light fabric heat transfer paper turn out well, though, as you can see in the gallery above. You need to peel the backing paper, put the print on a t-shirt (or any other fabric), put the included transfer paper on top of it, and use a hot iron to transfer the design. It’s quick and easy and I’ve really enjoyed doing it.

I printed out some pre-made seashells as well as a design my partner (who’s an artist) made, and they look lovely on both the t-shirt and the tote bag. The prints look high quality and even after being applied on the fabric, they haven’t lost their resolution, and the colors haven’t bled during the process either.

I was impressed with the quality of the temporary tattoos too. I printed out a pre-made design featuring sharks, as you can see in the gallery above, and then applied it to my skin using water. Not only do the shades of blue look deep and rich, the tattoo has retained the same vibrancy even on my skin. Being able to print temporary tattoos is not just fun for kids and at parties, but it can help adults, such as myself, determine the placement of a permanent tattoo before getting in touch with a tattoo artist.

Overall, I’ve been pleased with the Tag’s print quality, and I intended to use the printer for scrapbooking.

Inkwon Tag review: Ink cost & yield

The Inkwon Tag starter pack comes with one CMY 3-color dye-based inkjet cartridge, and it yields 60 prints. Extra ink cartridges are available as packs of three for $59, which means you’re spending approximately 33 cents — which isn’t exuberant, in the grand scheme of things.

Paper refills are available in packs of three too, ranging from $19 to $25 depending on the type of paper you’re buying (temporary tattoos, heat transfers, etc.). In comparison, 60 sheets of the Canon XC-60L Ink/Paper Set that the SELPHY QX20 uses costs $46. Meanwhile, 20 sheets of the Instax mini Film used by the Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3 retails for $32, making the Tag’s running costs feel more reasonable (and affordable).

Inkwon Tag review: Battery life

If you’re looking for a pocket printer that lasts a respectable amount of time between charges, the Inkwon Tag is a great choice. The Tag is rated for 90 minutes, and in my testing, it took just under 85 minutes for it to run out of charge. I was able to create around 65 prints before I had to charge the Tag, which is good.

In comparison, the Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3 is rated for 100 prints per charge, and both the Canon Ivy Mini 2 and the Canon SELPHY QX20 are rated for a measly 20 prints per charge each. These figures alone make it feel like you’re getting bang for your buck with the Tag.

Inkwon Tag review: Verdict

If you want a portable printer that enables you to print temporary stickers, create personalized t-shirts, and stickers for scrapbooking, the Inkwon Tag is a fantastic choice. It’s extremely portable and easy to use, and the print quality is surprisingly good. Running costs aren’t that high either, even though the printer itself is.

I’ve had a lot of fun testing the Tag, but I can’t overlook its shortcomings. While the companion app is user-friendly, it doesn’t allow you to create borderless prints. Paper also needs to be inserted one at a time which can be time-consuming if you want to create back-to-back prints.

As long as you don’t mind those drawbacks, you’ll be pleased with the Tag and its performance. It’s fun, quirky, and it’s a sure-shot way to be the life of the party.

Portable photo printers have one obvious appeal: they make digital memories feel physical again. There's just something so fun about holding an image in your hand, especially in a world where thousands of photos disappear into a camera roll. The ability to peel off the back and stick it somewhere you’ll actually see it is fun for kids and adults alike.

That is the promise of the Liene Pearl N200 Pro Portable AI Photo Printer ($119), a compact photo printer designed to turn phone pictures into 2x3-inch sticker prints. On paper, it sounds like exactly the kind of gadget my family would love. It is small, easy to set up and built around the kind of instant creativity that works well for kids, scrapbooks, bullet journals, party favors and quick DIY projects.

After using it, I can say this much: the printer itself is genuinely fun. But, the AI got the images wrong every time and frankly, the printer is so good, the AI felt unnecessary.

Setup was surprisingly easy

The best thing about the Liene Pearl N200 Pro is how intuitive it is to set up. In seconds, I downloaded the app, inserted the ink cartridge and loaded the sticker paper. I did not need to wrestle with complicated menus or printer settings just to get started.

When it comes to printers, a product like this lives or dies on whether people can use it casually. If I have to read a manual for 20 minutes, my kids (and myself!) have already moved on. But with the Pearl N200 Pro, the process felt approachable: connect the printer, choose a photo, make a few edits and print.

It also helps that the printer comes with a generous starter supply of ink and sticker paper. That made the experience feel more complete right out of the box instead of making me immediately worry about buying refills.

For families, crafters and people who like turning photos into something more tangible, that ease of use is a major win.

The prints were flawless

The Liene Pearl N200 Pro is so much more than a basic photo printer. It's an “all-in-one” craft tool for projects, bullet journaling, scrapbooking, home decor, workshops and family projects. Everyone from my preschooler to my middle schooler and even my husband found uses for the stickers. Lunch boxes, computer decor, water bottle bling and even fun reminders.

This is where the Pearl N200 Pro feels most useful. It is not trying to replace a full-size printer or a professional photo lab. It is trying to make small, instant, creative prints feel easy. On that front, it mostly succeeds.

I could see this working well for kids’ projects, classroom crafts, birthday parties, family memory books and anyone who wants to bring digital photos into a physical space without dealing with a large printer.

The AI feature was mediocre

The Pearl N200 Pro includes features to transform your photos into different looks, but the results often come out looking incredibly generic. As someone accustomed to the high-quality outputs of dedicated tools like Nano Banana and ChatGPT Images 2, the printer's built-in image generation falls way short.

The app offers plenty of creative variety. You can use customizable templates to turn yourself into a cartoon, a sketch, or even face-swap yourself into an astronaut.

The issue is that AI portraits only work if they preserve the part of the photo people actually care about: the person. If I upload a picture of a family member, I don’t want a generic avatar with a similar hair color; I want it to actually look like them. The app struggles mightily with this identity preservation. At one point, I uploaded an image of my very blonde son, only for the AI to give him dark brown hair. A second attempt got much closer, but just know that it rarely hits the mark on the first try.

Ultimately, these AI features feel forced. For anyone considering this printer, you are much better off designing your custom graphics in Nano Banana or ChatGPT Images, saving them to your phone, and uploading them normally. Bypassing the app's native AI completely lets the hardware do what it actually does best: printing great little photos and stickers.

The sticker paper also has one major flaw

The other issue I ran into was the adhesive. The prints are designed to work as stickers, which is a huge part of the appeal. But in my experience, the stickers were not very sticky and did not attach well to most surfaces. That limits the usefulness of the product because the sticker function is not just a bonus feature. It is the point.

If I am printing little photos for a journal or scrapbook, weak adhesion may not be a dealbreaker because I can always add tape or glue. But if I want to stick them to a notebook, folder, gift bag or craft surface, I expect them to stay put. That was disappointing, especially because the prints themselves are fun to make.

That said, be sure you stick with Liene products only when using this printer. There are others available on Amazon, but when I asked Liene whether users should buy only the company’s own paper, the brand strongly recommends sticking with official Liene paper, suggesting that the printer is part of a calibrated craft ecosystem and that lower-quality alternatives could have uneven coatings or adhesive residue that may damage the thermal print head.

That is worth noting because refills are part of the long-term cost of owning any mini photo printer. If you buy this, you are not just buying the device. You are buying into the Liene paper and cartridge system, too. That is not unusual for photo printers, but it is something shoppers should understand before purchasing.

Final thoughts

Despite my issues with the AI and sticker adhesion, I do think the Liene Pearl N200 Pro is a worthwhile purchase. This is a good fit for people who want a simple, portable way to print tiny photos for crafts. It is especially appealing for families, scrapbookers, bullet journal fans, teachers, workshop leaders and creators who want to turn phone photos into quick physical prints. The prints themselves are flawless and laminated beautifully, so you don't even need to remove the sticky backing.

Overall, the Liene Pearl N200 Pro is a fun little printer. It is easy to set up, simple to use and genuinely enjoyable for creative projects. Just forget about the AI entirely.

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Printing your photos using one of the best printers can give you newfound appreciation for your own work — and that’s exactly what happened when I used (and tested) the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S. This is arguably one of the greatest printers for photographers as it can make large and tiny prints, ranging from A3+ to postcard-sized.

The Pro-200S is quick to print, and the resulting prints are high-quality and nothing short of stunning. Whether you’re printing to sell, exhibit, or for personal use, this printer gives you very little to complain about. While Wi-Fi connectivity could be easier to set up, and the yield isn’t the highest, these are minor drawbacks in the grand scheme of things. Neither should stop you from getting the Pro-200S.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Specs

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Price & availability

For photo printers and prosumers, the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S is an excellent choice — and it’s well-worth the investment if you want gallery-style prints to sell. The Pro-200S retails for $647 / £459 at Amazon. If that sounds like a lot, it’s worth keeping an eye out during sales events, like Black Friday, as we’ve seen the printer drop to $429 / £367 in the past.

The Pro-200S is cheaper than its direct competitor, the Epson SureColor P700 ($849) which is also a 13-inch A3+ printer. While there are even cheaper photo printers available, like the Epson Expression Photo XP-8800 ($329) and the Canon PIXMA G620 ($356), the Pro-200S is the better choice if you want best-in-class A3+ size prints and peerless quality.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Design

The Canon PIXMA Pro-200S is a hefty boy, and given that it’s an A3+ printer, it takes up quite a bit of space. The printer measures 25.2 x 15 x 7.9 inches and weighs 32lbs, so it’s best suited to staying put in one place. It sports an all-black design with subtle branding, so it fits right into most office and home spaces.

This is a print-only printer so unlike multifunction ones, like the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II ($702), it can’t scan or make copies. The Pro-200S features a rear automatic document feeder (ADF) which can, as the name suggests, automatically feed either 100 A4/A5/B5 sheets or 50 A3/B4 sheets.

You have the option to manually feed sheets as well, one at a time. The manual sheet feeder is ideal for thicker fine art media or creating banners up to 39 inches long and 13 inches wide.The Pro-200S packs a front-feeding tray too which can be used for printing directly onto white-faced CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays.

Build quality is sublime as the Pro-200S features a metal chassis build, and there are no hollow-sounding parts, so you’re getting great value for money here. Just as sublime are the Pro-200S’ controls and buttons. The physical navigation, home and back buttons are located around the 3-inch color LCD screen which can be used to check ink levels, among other things. You’ll find the print and power buttons next to the front tray. All of them give good tactile feedback when pressed, and I found them to be highly responsive in my testing.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Setup

It’s extremely straightforward to set up the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S. The first thing you need to do is remove the orange tape on the printer’s body and inside the paper trays. Once that’s done, you need to plug it into mains and turn it on by pressing the power button. It takes about a minute or two for the printer to come to life from a completely powered-down state — and a few seconds when it’s waking up from its sleep state.

After that, all you need to do is follow the on-screen instructions which are self-explanatory and easy to understand. You’ll then need to install the print head and the ink tanks. The ink tank placements are color-coded so simply pop them in until you hear clicks. If you’re struggling, refer to the included physical manual or Canon’s helpful online guide.

Loading the paper into the rear ADF is easy to do as well. The Pro-200S features automatic skew correction to ensure the fed paper is absolutely straight, which prevents misprinting (and wastage of paper). When you’ve loaded the paper and selected ‘OK’ on the screen, the printer will perform an alignment check which takes a couple of minutes, depending on the paper size.

Once you’re done setting up the printer, you can get printing, and there are two ways to do so: wired or wirelessly. You can plug in an Ethernet cable or a USB-B to USB-A cable into the back — the USB-A side would go into your laptop. You’ll then be able to print directly.

If you want to print wirelessly, you’ll need to download the Pro-200S dedicated driver onto your Windows or macOS machine. Follow the on-screen instructions to hook up the printer to your Wi-Fi. Once that’s done, the Pro-200S will synchronize with the Wi-Fi network, enabling you to print from any device that’s connected to the same network.

While it doesn’t take long to get the Wi-Fi hooked up, I do wish the process was easier. For instance, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II requires you to punch in the Wi-Fi password on its touchscreen — no software required.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Print speeds

Any printer’s print speeds will naturally depend on the complexity of the image, and the number of colors involved. Keeping that in mind, the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S takes neither too long nor too little to produce prints. As this is a photo printer, I put it through its paces by printing a number of photos on four different kinds of paper of varying sizes.

I kicked things off with printing on A3 Pro Luster paper, in standard quality, and it took the Pro-200S one minute and 14 seconds to produce a color print. This dropped to one minute and 10 seconds when producing a mono print. I was impressed with how quickly the Pro-200S printed a packed image of flowers that I’d taken on the Leica SL3-S. Printing at the highest quality took a little longer, with a color print taking three minutes and 40 seconds — still not bad, and the quality was exceptional, which I’ll discuss shortly.

The next thing I did was print on A3+ Premium Matte paper. The Pro-200S produced a color print in one minute and 58 seconds, and a monoprint in a minute and 57 seconds. Both these prints were borderless, and perhaps the printer would be even quicker to produce bordered prints. Printing on A4 MP-101 matte paper didn’t take very long either, with a colored print taking 58 seconds and mono print 38 seconds — almost four times faster than the category average of four minutes.

I love that the Pro-200S isn’t just for large format printing. The printer can accommodate smaller prints too, all the way down to 4 x 6-inch. Canon provided me with a pack of 4 x 6 PP-201 Glossy II paper for testing purposes, so I printed out a few photos I’d captured. It took the Pro-200S 40 seconds to produce a color print and 39 seconds to produce a mono print.

The Pro-200S produces small prints quicker than the Epson Expression Photo XP-8800 which, in our testing, took a minute and 27 seconds to do the same. The Pro-200S performs much better than the category average of one minute and 56 seconds.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Print quality

As an inkjet printer, the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S utilizes eight dye-based Chroma Life 100+ inks and runs on CLI-65 cartridges. Because the printer utilizes eight inks, it delivers a wide color gamut and extensive tonal range, so prints turn out beautiful and detailed. Additionally, according to Canon, Chroma Life 100+ inks create prints that are resistant to fading for over 100 years when stored in an album.

Print quality is sublime, especially on glossy or luster paper, in both standard and high quality modes. I especially like how vivid shades of greens turn out, as well as the bright blues that feel textured. My favorite print is the one of an Icelandic waterfall, where the water gushing down looks highly detailed. If I look closely, I can see the individual water droplets. The printer performed phenomenally here.

Color printing on matte paper is good but not as beautiful as on glossy paper. To me, the same photo of the waterfall lacks depth ever-so slightly, and appears flat. For glossy color prints, the Pro-200S is second to none, and it suffices for matte prints too.

Printing in black and white is another area where the Pro-200S dominates. The Pro-200S did well to produce rich, deep and inky blacks with plenty of detail, and the overall tonal range is simply excellent, as I noticed in the photo of the man standing outside a theatre. The shadows and highlights are balanced well, and the image looks just like it did when I edited and prepared it for printing.

Small prints look lovely too, and I appreciate the ability to make bordered or borderless prints as the former frames the images well. The Pro-200S’ ability to produce small prints is fantastic for those who want to make postcard-like prints for selling, or for personal use.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Ink cost & yield

The Canon PIXMA Pro-200S comes with a set of eight ink tanks, 12.6ml each, to get you started — but they won’t last you very long. Canon says that you’ll be able to create just 139 A3+ mono prints with these, or 860 4 x 6-inch mono photos. While that isn’t a lot, the Pro-200S’ running costs aren’t that high.

Each CLI-65 ink tank costs $15, and a set of eight tanks will set you back approximately $120, which isn’t too bad — and certainly not as expensive as the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II’s cartridges and toner. These are similar costs to the inks used by the Epson Expression Photo XP-8800.

As with other Canon printers, you can sign up for Auto-Ink Delivery when buying the Pro-200S directly from Canon, or even after you’ve bought it. When your printer is running low on ink, it automatically notifies the company who then ships out ink without you having to place an order manually.

Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review: Verdict

It really wasn’t difficult to rate the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S so highly. Once I saw the print quality, I was floored. Designed for photographers and creative professionals, the Pro-200S delivers exceptional print quality across a range of sizes — from postcard to gallery-worthy A3+ prints. Thanks to the printer’s eight-color dye-based ink system, colors appear vibrant, and blacks are deep and rich.

There are a couple of drawbacks preventing a perfect score, such as the complicated wireless setup, and low ink yields for heavy users. But these issues are relatively minor considering the overall experience.

At the end of the day, the Pro-200S stands out as one of the best photo printers in its class, offering professional-quality results that will have falling in love over and over again with your own work.

If you’re after the best laser printer for your small office or personal use, look no further than the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II. Its inconspicuous, all-white design makes it fit into most professional spaces, and it comes with four cartridges to get your started — and they’ll last you a while, too.

What makes the MF753Cdw II an outstanding choice in a crowded market are its rapid print, scan and copy speeds. The printer is outfitted with a larger paper output tray, and if you want to increase the input capacity, you can buy an additional accessory for around $250. Oh, and the printer’s got a customizable and responsive touchscreen too.

To find out if this is the best all-in-one printer for you, read my full Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review.

This printer goes by two different names: Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II in the U.S., and i-SENSYS MF754Cdw II everywhere else. For the purpose of this review and your convenience, I’ll refer to it as Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II, its American name.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Specs

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Price & availability

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is a solid mid-range printer, and it retails for $702 at Amazon U.S. We’ve seen it drop to $499 in the past though, so it’s good to keep an eye out during sales events. Outside of the U.S., the printer goes by i-SENSYS MF754Cdw II, and is available for £539 at Amazon U.K. Similar to the States, the printer can be bought for around £390 during sales events.

This printer is available in white only. As a 4-in-1 laser printer that can print, scan, copy and fax, the MF753Cdw II finds itself competing with the likes of the Brother MFC-L8930CDW ($899), the Brother MFC-L2750DW XL ($689), and the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw ($859). It’s ideal for small office owners and those who work from home.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Design

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II sports an all-white design with black accents, and it fits right into a professional office space. It doesn’t look too loud so it doesn’t draw eyeballs to your desk. It’s big but not too large, measuring 18.2 x 16.8 x 17 inches. It’s a little heavy, though, weighing 48.5lbs so it’s best for it to stay put in one spot.

As a multifunction printer, the MF753Cdw II can scan, fax, print and copy, and it’s well-equipped to do so. It features a 50-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) on top with a glass scanner located underneath it. There’s a main paper in-tray at the bottom which can hold up 250 sheets, and an out-tray which can accommodate 150 prints in the middle. If you want even more print storage — say, 550 sheets of letter or A4 paper — you can grab the Canon PF-K1 Optional Cassette for $284.

Located on the right-hand side is a 5-inch color LCD touchscreen that can be tilted vertically to optimize the viewing angle. It can be customized too, to display functions and settings you use the most. There’s a power button located under the screen to switch off the MF753Cdw II or wake it from sleep (takes about seven seconds).

Overall, the MF753Cdw II is designed well, and the settings on the touchscreen feel accessible and easy to understand. Additionally, the build quality feels solid too, and you can rest assured that you’re getting bang for your buck here.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Setup

Setting up the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II couldn’t be easier. It takes about 14 seconds for it to warm up from a powered-off state, or seven seconds when waking from sleep mode.

When using it for the first time, all you need to do is plug the printer into the mains and follow the on-screen instructions. It took me just a few minutes to get the printer up and running. Fitting or replacing the ink cartridges is fairly straightforward too, as all you need to do is open the tray, align the cartridge with the color-coded slot (Black, Cyan, Magenta, or Yellow), and press down firmly until it clicks into place.

There are two ways to use the MF753Cdw II: wired or wirelessly. You’ll find ports for Ethernet and fax modem cables at the rear, and a USB-A port on the front. You can use the front USB-A port to print directly from USB sticks too, which is quite handy and doesn’t require any settings to be changed.

To print wirelessly, you’ll need to use the touchscreen to enable Wi-Fi and input your network’s password. Once that’s done, you’ll see the printer pop up in your computer’s (or phone’s) settings. You may need to download the printer’s driver from the Canon website if your laptop doesn’t automatically detect it. I found this easy to do, and Canon happily provides a QR code on the printer’s touchscreen that you can scan with your phone to access the Quick Start guide, if you’re in a pickle.

If you’re in a literal jam when paper gets stuck in any of the trays, the touchscreen will show you step-by-step instructions to remove the blockage too. I encountered paper jam only once in my testing, and I found the on-screen instructions super easy to follow.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Print speeds

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II’s print speeds are extremely impressive. If it’s rapid printing you’re after, this is the printer for you. I put it through its paces by printing a variety of documents. It took the MF753Cdw II 11.31 seconds to print a five-page text document — or 26.5 pages per minute (ppm). That’s really quick, and the MF753Cdw II bests the likes of the Brother MFC-L2750DW XL and its 18.5 ppm.

I then printed a two-side text document, which took 9.55 seconds, and the MF753Cdw II managed to print a 10-page text document onto five double-sided sheets in 30.13 seconds. These are the fastest printing times of our most recently reviewed laser printers.

The MF753Cdw II is capable of printing mixed documents rapidly too. I put this to the test by printing a six-page mixed PDF consisting of text and color graphics, such as charts and graphs. It took the printer 18.74 seconds to do so, or 19.21 ppm. The Brother MFC-L2750DW XL, on the other hand, can do only 11 ppm, making the MF753Cdw II the better choice.

Laser printers are better suited to printing documents and inkjet printers are best for photo printing. Even so, the MF753Cdw II is capable of printing decent color prints. I printed an 8 x 10 hi-res image, taken on a Leica SL3-S, on Canon Photo Paper Glossy II. In 7.06 seconds, the print was ready. I’ll get into print quality shortly to discuss what the print looked like — but as speediness goes, the MF753Cdw II doesn’t give you much to complain about.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Copy & scan speeds

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II boasts best-in-class copy and scan speeds. In my testing, it took 6.86 seconds for a black-and-white copy and 8.6 seconds for a color copy. It’s faster than the Brother MFC-L2750DW XL which takes 8.4 seconds to make a copy.

Scanning is just as quick. I inserted a USB-A stick into the front port and chose that as the save destination. A color scan took 6.22 seconds while a black-and-white scan took exactly six seconds. Again, it’s faster than the Brother MFC-L2750DW XL which takes 8.4 seconds to scan a monochrome document, and a snail’s pace 38.4 seconds for color scanning in JPEG format.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Print & copy quality

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II makes attractive prints and copies, both color and black and white. The text-only documents I printed came out with sufficient contrast, and looked just as they did on my screen. I found the text easy to read, and none of it was misaligned on any of the prints.

Graphic prints were fairly attractive too, as the colors appeared natural and the different hues and tones appeared well-balanced. The colors didn’t appear oversaturated or heavily edited. I didn’t notice any bleeding either.

I was very surprised by the quality of the glossy photo print. As I mentioned earlier, inkjet printers are better suited to photo printing. Still, the MF753Cdw II’s photo quality is respectable. The print packed plenty of detail, such as the flowers’ stigma and the patterns in the petals. Greens appeared vivid while pinks appeared bright — albeit slightly more saturated than I’d have preferred. But again, this isn’t a photo-first printer. You may want to consider the Canon PIXMA TR8620 ($199) or the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S ($647) if you want a photo printer.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Ink cost & yield

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II’s box comes bundled with four starter toner cartridges, and Canon claims that these can last you 1,100 color pages or 2,100 monochrome prints. This should be enough to get you started.

It’s important to note that it isn’t cheap to run the MF753Cdw II. The printer’s 069 cartridges cost $142 each, which is quite a bit. For four cartridges, you’re looking at an expenditure of $568 — or 51 cents per color page and 27 cents per mono print. The Brother MFC-L2750DW XL offers lower printing costs, approximately 3.75 cents per page.

If you don’t want to buy the cartridges manually every time you’re about to run out, Canon offers an Auto Replenishment Service which you can sign up for at checkout. An order is automatically placed with Canon when your printer is running low on toner. You can do so after you’ve bought the printer, too.

Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review: Verdict

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is an exceptional all-in-one laser printer designed for small offices. You can print, copy, scan and fax — and speedily too. The MF753Cdw II delivers blazing-fast output speeds across the board, and the resulting text prints are sharp while color graphics are bright and detailed.

Beyond raw performance, the MF753Cdw II provides a seamless user experience. Setup is ridiculously easy, and the 5-inch customizable touchscreen makes navigation a breeze. The all-white design, though unremarkable, fits right into any workspace — but its 48.5lbs footprint means you’ll need to find a fixed spot for it.

While some people may find the high cost of replacement cartridges a tough pill to swallow, I don’t think that should put you off from getting the MF753Cdw II. If it’s a robust, reliable workhouse you’re after, few laser printers are better than the MF753Cdw II.

The eufyMake E1, the personal 3D-texture UV printer that became the #1 most-funded project on Kickstarter, has landed in the UK at early access pricing, and there are only days left before the discount disappears!

From 6 May through 31 May, you can pick up the Basic Bundle (E1 UV Printer + Ink and Cleaning Cartridge Kit) for £2,069, or the Deluxe Bundle (which adds a UV DTF Laminating Machine and a Rotary Printing Attachment) for £2,599.

Standard pricing kicks in on 1 June at £2,249 and £2,949 respectively, so you’re looking at savings of £180 on the Basic and £350 on the Deluxe, so it's well worth getting in early.

But wait, there’s more! Every E1 purchase during the early access window comes with £80 off eufyMake Care plus free shipping protection, and Deluxe Bundle buyers get a second Ink and Cleaning Cartridge Kit thrown in for free!

The E1 printer is a compact A3-size desktop UV printer that handles over 300 surface materials such as wood, leather, acrylic, metal, glass and ceramic. Meanwhile, the specialised rotary attachment can handle cylindrical objects like mugs, bottles, flasks and tumblers.

Special UV inks cure under integrated LEDs in seconds, and they can even make 3D textures up to 5mm high directly on the print, for amazing tactile raised-edge art that sets it apart from the competition.

And for the sticker lovers out there, the UV DTF laminator pairs with the E1 to produce custom stickers on demand.

With May 31st closing in, this is probably the cheapest the E1 UV printer will be for a while, so get yours quick!

The eufyMake E1 UV Printer is in stock and shipping within 72 hours, delivering desktop full-color and 3D-texture printing. Your investment is fully protected by a 12-month warranty covering all repairs, replacements, and shipping, backed by expert support within 24 to 48 hours. Get started today with flexible PayPal financing for as low as £749 a month for 3 months.

The Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW ($340) is an ink-jet all-in-one that offers a range of home and small office features, and solid performance. It offers copying and scanning, has buttons for standalone operation, and offers an automatic document feeder (ADF) for scanning and copying multipage documents. It does not have fax capability.

The MFC-780DW has four ink tanks for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. This all-in-one comes with two bottles of black ink, each rated to last 7,500 pages. The color inks are rated to last 5,000 pages — easily one of the best printers I've tested.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Design

The control panel hinges upward roughly 45 degrees and has dedicated buttons for color and black-and-white copying. The color LCD is small, at just 1.8 inches. It is not a touch screen. You use the 4-way buttons to navigate the LCD menus.

The MFC-780DW is designed for small office use. Paper handling is modest. The ADF accommodates up to 20 sheets, and the output tray up to 50 sheets. The input tray can hold up to 150 pages.

The ADF atop the all-in-one is lightweight. Its hinges do not offer resistance to hold up the lid, so you will need clearance to lift it 90 degrees in order to use both hands to place documents on the scanner glass.

Where original documents land after being scanned, there is a flip-up catch to prevent the pages from getting pushed over the edge. A specialty media tray sits at the back of the unit; you fold down a door to reveal the tray.

It can accommodate only one sheet at a time, up to 79-pound thickness, versus the 58-pound paper weight maximum for the main 150-sheet input tray that sits below the 50-sheet output tray.

The MFC-T780DW offers scan-to-email, as well as file-sharing options for scans sent to a PC: file, email, image, OCR, and all the major cloud services.

The T780DW is of modest size and weight, measuring 15.4 x 13.5 x 7.2 inches. It weighs 17.2 pounds.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Print Speed

The T780DW performed very well in our tests. On only one test was it slower than the average of our six most recently reviewed ink tank models (hereafter referred to as the category average). And, even on that test, it was barely slower than the average. On four of our tests, it was significantly faster than the category average.

This Brother printed text documents at a rapid 12.4 ppm, taking just 24.2 seconds to print a five-page document. This was the fastest time of our most recently reviewed ink tank models. The category average is 9.6 ppm. By comparison, the Canon G3290 printed text documents at 9.2 ppm, and the HP Smart Tank 706 did so at 8.6 ppm.

Taking 2 minutes and 17 seconds to print our document of mixed text and color graphics, the T780DW printed at a roughly average speed of 2.6 ppm. The HP Smart Tank 706 was moderately quicker, printing the same document at 3.1 ppm. The Canon G3290 printed more slowly, at 2.2 ppm.

Keeping true to its office worthiness, this Brother all-in-one printed two-sided text documents quickly. It printed a 10-page text document onto five double-sided sheets in 1 minute and 29 seconds, or 6.7 ppm. By comparison, the Canon G3290 bested the Brother, making duplex prints at 7.2 ppm. The HP Smart Tank 7602 made duplex text prints at a more modest 5 ppm

The T780DW made duplex prints of a color PDF at 2.4 ppm, taking 2 minutes and 31 seconds to complete the six-page print. By contrast, the HP Smart Tank 760 was quicker, at 2.8 ppm, and the Canon G3290 was slower, at 1.9 ppm.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Copy and Scan Speed

The MFC-T780DW copies quickly in color. It copied a color page in just 19.5 seconds, which was much faster than the average of 26.8 seconds for ink tank models. By comparison, the HP Smart Tank 760 copied a color page at the same speed as the Brother, while the Canon G3290 was slower, at 27.5 seconds.

The Brother MFC-T780DW also copied text pages at a respectable pace. It made a copy in 12.8 seconds, on average, which was slightly slower than the category average of 12.3 seconds. Both the HP 760 and Canon G3290 turned in similar times of 12.7 and 12.5 seconds, respectively.

Using its ADF, the MFC-T780DW made copies of multipage text documents at a good clip of 7.6 ppm. The HP SmartTank 760 was a little slower, at 7 ppm, while the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 lagged behind, at 4.5 ppm. (The Canon G3290 does not have a document feeder.)

Scanning speed was impressive, particularly in color. The MFC-T780DW made a 600 dpi color scan to JPEG format in just over 50 seconds—significantly faster than the category average of 1 minute and 20 seconds. By contrast, the Canon G3290 took 1 minute and 5 seconds to make the same scan. The HP 760 took 1 minute and 25 seconds.

The MFC-T780DW scanned black-and-white documents at 300 dpi at better than average speed. It scanned a page to PDF format in 12.5 seconds, which was one second faster than the category average. The HP 760 was slower, at 16.2 seconds, while the Canon G3290 was slower still, taking 21.8 seconds to capture the same scan.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Print Quality

The MFC-T780DW printed text that looked quite sharp, although it was a little on the light side and not as dark as laser-quality text. Graphics also looked attractive, with sharp details and smooth textures. Mid-tone transitions were gradual and not abrupt. Similarly, copy quality was high.

Glossy photo prints looked very attractive, which was a little of a surprise for an office-oriented all-in-one that doesn’t tout itself as being photo-centric.

Nonetheless, colors were well saturated, details looked sharp, and skin tones appeared natural. Dark shadows did, however, tend to flatten into a dark mass that lost the original photograph’s subtle details.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Ink/Toner Cost and Yield

It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever gripe about the cost of ink with the MFC-T780DW.

A bottle of black ink costs $20.99 and is rated to print 7,500 pages. This comes out to a cost of just 0.3 cent per text page. Plus, you get two bottles of black ink in the box with the printer.

A set of three color ink bottles (cyan, magenta and yellow) costs $32.99 (or, $12.29 individually). These are rated to last 5,000 pages. At this rated yield, printing a color page costs less than a penny—just 0.94 cent. (The MFC-T780DW is not eligible for the company’s Refresh EZ Print subscription plan.)

Brother does not offer any ink subscriptions on ink tank printers.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Setup and Startup Time

This is the only ink tank printer where I’ve gotten ink on my fingers. The bottle nozzles are not symmetrical so you need to make sure you line up the spout to the small opening atop the ink tank.

The printer comes with a basic printed setup guide. You can follow that, or use the QR code to set up the MFC-T870DW with your mobile device. Older iPhones will not work: The Brother Mobile Connect app requires iOS 17 or later, or Android 7.0 and up.

After removing a half dozen pieces of packaging tape and loading paper in the input drawer, I connected the power cord. Using the four-way control buttons, I entered the year, date and time using the four-way buttons; having to navigate to the LCD’s on-screen numbers was a little cumbersome.

Meanwhile, I downloaded the Brother Easy Setup app to my laptop. Setting up the printer on a home network requires that you enter your network administration name and password. This is followed by ink initialization and entering confirmation on the control panel that each ink tank is full. This was followed by a printhead alignment (printing and scanning an alignment sheet), nozzle check, and firmware update.

My first search for the printer from my laptop using WiFi Direct did not succeed. When I tried connecting a USB cable to complete setup, the LCD said “initial setup incomplete”. I could not understand why. This was followed by the LCD displaying a QR code; I was unable to navigate away from the QR code. (I did not use this setup because my iPhone is too old to run the Mobile Connect app).

I resorted to the WPS method, navigating to the wireless setup menu on the printer’s small LCD, using the four-way control buttons. Pressing the WPS on my wireless router put the T870DW on my network. However, after turning off my laptop’s wireless, the printer failed to reconnect over W-Fi when I turned it back on.

I had to go to the printer’s wireless setup menu to reestablish the connection. A few days later, I found that the printer had dropped off my network again and I had to repeat the wireless setup. My MacBook was displaying that the printer was idle and “out of ink”, which was clearly untrue. Hereafter, however, the T870DW remained reliably connected and on my network.

Although the Quick Setup Guide said nothing about the Brother iPrint & Scan software, I chose to download and install it. Doing so resumed the printer’s functioning on my network and my laptop could once again see the device.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Software

Brother’s iPrint & Scan software is basic, but it’s adequate for everyday print and scanning tasks from a Windows or Mac computer. For example, you can save workflows such as scanning at specified settings to a particular folder.

Scanning to the cloud is supported for OneNote, Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, Box, SharePoint Online, and corresponding business versions. You can print photos and PDF files from the application, while text files are expected to be printed from their native application.

One drawback, however, is that the software cannot scan automatically detect multiple photos on the scanner glass and save them as separate files. You will need to scan one at a time.

Placing multiple photos on the flatbed results in only one photo being offered by the software for saving. For Windows users, the workaround is to use the TWAIN driver and PaperPort software.

The mobile app for this model is Brother Mobile Connect. The previous mobile app, iPrint & Scan, is not compatible with the MFC-T780DW. Despite sharing the same name, this change in mobile app does not apply to the desktop software, which remains the current supported version.

The T780DW starts up quickly, offering its main menu in just 4 to 5 seconds. However, I couldn’t navigate the menus until about 18 seconds had passed. That’s still very quick. However, I ran into a frustrating anomaly: Even though I had reset the paper type to plain paper, upon restarting the printer, its paper type had reverted to “other glossy”, the setting I’d changed it from.

Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW: Bottom line

The MFC-T870DW has a lot to offer, with a couple compromises. It’s a solid performer that will accommodate most small office tasks. Outfitted with a capable ADF, duplexer, and dedicated buttons for copying, this Brother all-in-one will satisfy the needs of many offices.

The 20-sheet capacity of the ADF may be too small for some outfits, as may be the 150-sheet input tray and one-sheet-at-a-time specialty media slot.

The small color LCD isn’t flashy, like a big touchscreen would be. But this ink tank all-in-one isn’t about being glamorous. It’s a performer and a money saver, offering costs per page of just 0.3 cent and 0.94 cent per page, respectively.

The MFC-T780DW performed consistently well in every one of our speed tests, whether printing, copying or scanning. Two-sided printing was above average for text and roughly average for color pages. Image quality was high, even for glossy photo prints. If the specs and speeds meet your needs, this office-oriented all-in-one is unlikely to disappoint.

Los Angeles could soon become the first major U.S. city to ban certain single-use printer cartridges. It would join current bans on other single-use plastics like shopping bags and takeaway containers.

To be clear, this wouldn't be a ban on the entire category of printer cartridges. Specifically, the city is looking at ink cartridges that can't be recycled through reuse, remanufacturing, or in take-back programs. Effectively, they are designed to be thrown away once empty.

The printer industry is quite confusing, where even at a store you can find branded cartridges, third-party compatible clones and even counterfeits. In this instance, LA is trying to regulate the end result, not the brands themselves.

More than a year in the making

This week, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the creation of an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of single-use printer cartridges within city limits.

The ban was first proposed in 2024 alongside suggested plastic bans for items like single-use vapes and bag clips. At the time, councilmember John Lee said that single-use cartridges are a significant contributor to environmental waste.

"Banning aftermarket clone cartridges is a simple way to keep building on our environmental achievements and bring attention to an issue that has gone unaddressed for too long," Lee said in a press release.

According to city documents, cartridges are tough to recycle because of the plastic, metal and chemicals inside. Additionally, the pots are classified as "regulated waste" because they leach toxic substances into the environment.

This means the city's recycling program can't recycle the cartridges, and even if hazardous waste programs take the cartridges, more than 70% end up in landfills.

As a Los Angeles resident, the plastic bag ban is the easiest comparison. Recently, grocery stores like Safeway or Ralphs offered plastic bags as an option but those have completely disappeared since the ban went into effect. It also means that takeout no longer comes in plastic bags instead restaurants are sending takeaway in paper bags.

Food still comes in plastic containers but often those containers are recyclable or reusable with careful washing.

A ban hasn't gone into effect yet though. LA Sanitation is currently recommending that the ordinance prohibit the sale of single-use ink cartridges whether alone or bundled with a printer. If it goes into effect, it will won't start for at least a year.

Ink options

It will be interesting to see how consumers in LA respond to the ban once the city figures it out. Ink and toner are already some of the most expensive purchases you can make over time.

Our collleagues at TechRadar broke down how confusing ink prices can be in 2024 showing how divergent they can be.

But printer manufacturers are shifting as refillable tank printers are becoming more available. These printers remove the need for single-use cartridges and reduce plastic waste. Ink subscriptions can be tricky, but they do offer convenience and built-in recycling.

If you are looking for a new printer, check out our picks for the best all-in-one printers, portable printers or laser printers.

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Uncomplicated, straightforward and easy. That's what the best all-in-one printers should be, and exactly why this guide will point you towards the go-to machine for all your printing, copying and scanning needs (along with faxing, if needed).

Whether you need to scan important documents, print letters to loved ones or shipping labels for packages to send off, or quickly make copies of files, the all-in-one printers we've tested and reviewed over the years strive to make your life easier. There are many, though, but I'm here to tell you that, really, there are only a few you need to look at.

If there's one no-fuss printer to put on your radar straight away, it's the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II. It does it all: blazing-fast print speeds, easy copy and scanning, and yes, even faxing. Need more options? We've got them, and if you're after more details, our expert testing comes with all the info you need to make the right choice. So, let's find the best all-in-one printer for you.

If you just need a simple way to print documents, photos and everything in between without any scanning, copying or faxing, our guide on the best printers will give you all the options you need.

The best all-in-one printers you can buy today

The best all-in-one printer overall

When it comes down to it, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is quite simply the only printer you'll ever need. Yes, it can print, scan, copy and fax, but it does it all with a hassle-free setup experience and rapid speeds across the board. When a printer actually gives easy step-by-step instructions on how to fix a paper jam, you know it's a good one.

In our tests, it delivered a five-page text print job in just 11.31 seconds (26.5 pages per minute) and scanned in color in 6.22 seconds, and that's faster than its inkjet competitors. And this 250-capacity printer (plus an extra 150 prints in the middle section) with quick start-up, too, as our reviewer, Nikita, found it effortless to get up and running, with warm-up times as quick as 14 seconds from off. It isn't just speed, as print quality is consistently sharp and detailed, both in color and black and white, and everyday jobs came out looking just as sharp as they did on our screens.

Where the MF753Cdw II pulls ahead of inkjet competitors like the more budget-friendly Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 is in raw speed and features. You get much faster printing and a true all-in-one experience (there's no faxing on it), but running costs are higher if you print in volume. Against the business-class Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850, the MF753Cdw II still keeps up on print speed and quality but can’t match those rock-bottom ink costs.

That’s the main compromise here: the per-page price is higher than what you’ll find with most ink tank printers (around 51 cents per color page and 27 cents per mono print). But not by that much, and that shouldn't put you off grabbing this workhorse. If you want a dependable, fuss-free machine for everyday tasks — letters, homework, invoices, you name it — the MF753Cdw II is the best fit for most households.

• Read our full Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review

The best value all-in-one printer

Unless you need faxing in your life, this is the all-in-one printer to grab if you're after a reliable machine for excellent prints. The Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW stands out largely thanks to its exceptionally low ink costs: just 0.3 cent per black page and 0.94 cent per color page based on our lab testing. That's value you can't ignore.

In daily use, the T780DW keeps pace with demanding routines. It prints standard text documents at 12.4 pages per minute (ppm) and handles double-sided text at 6.7 ppm. These speeds put it among the fastest inkjets we've tested for both single and duplex jobs, making it reliable for everything from schoolwork to business invoices.

Print and scan quality are equally reassuring. In our hands-on tests, text and graphics came out crisp and accurate, while color scans preserved detail and clarity.

The main compromise is its 20-sheet automatic document feeder. While fine for light multi-page copying and scanning, if you've got a large batch of documents, it will take some time to do. That, and there's no USB thumb drive port, and don't expect to make double-sided copies or scans via the automatic document feeder (ADF).

In any case, for those who want low running costs and easy printing, the Brother MFC-T780DW will fit in nicely with your home or office.

• Read our full Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW review

The best all-in-one printer for photos

Whether you're a photographer or just need highly detailed, colorful prints, the Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 is the all-in-one printer for you. Sure, it may come with fewer additional features, but it excels where it matters: print quality and affordability.

It's a modest printer; it has just one paper tray and no document feeder, and it's not the speediest option. But for home use, it's an excellent choice. Expect this to deliver reliable, high-quality prints with the versatility to do documents, photos and double-sided print jobs. Speaking of, those graphics prints and glossy photos will come out with plenty of details and natural, accurate colors.

While the Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 prints at pretty average speeds, it actually excels at double-sided documents. In our testing, it printed single-sided pages at an average of 9.2 pages per minute, but double-sided text documents that cranked up to 7.2 pages per minute, the fastest duplex print speed we've recorded of any recent ink tank printers.

And thanks to its easy setup process, robust wireless support (this thing can print via Wi-Fi or a smartphone app) and low ink costs (we estimate color prints cost roughly 0.9 cents per page, significantly lower than the 1.9 cent per page category average), I recommend the Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 for anyone seeking an affordable, reliable ink all-in-one printer, especially for photo printing.

• Read our full Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review

The best all-in-one printer for business

I recommend the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 as the best all-in-one for business because it combines impressively low ink costs with a device capable of handling more than 3,000 pages per month.

And the EcoTank design uses refillable ink tanks and comes with enough spare ink bottles to print thousands of pages. The printer can scan, copy and fax, uses dual 250-page paper cassettes and has a 50-sheet automatic document feeder.

In our timed printer tests, the Epson ET-5850 delivered some of the fastest printing we've seen, and produced crisp, clear text that nearly rivals laser printer quality. That same quick, high-quality performance was also seen in copying and scanning, making it the printer of choice for offices that need a full-featured multifunction printer.

But I think the real draw is the ink savings, extremely low per-page costs of 0.4 cents for text pages, and 1.6 cents per color page. The upfront price may be high, but the combination of quality, features and super-low operating expenses makes this one of the best investments you can make for your office.

• Read our full Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 review

Also tested

How to choose the best all-in-one printer for you

Not sure which all-in-one printer to buy? No worries, I'm here to help.

Obviously, you want a printer that performs well, so all of our reviews and rankings discuss a printer's output quality and speed, but there's more to an all-in-one printer than just how quickly it can crank out documents.

Price: All-in-one printers sell for as little as $60 (£45/AU$90) for inkjet models, and $150 (£170/AU$200) for laser printers, with high-end models costing hundreds of dollars, but offering better print quality, durability, and features. And don’t forget ink and toner, which can range from 1-5 cents per page for basic documents (photos will cost more).

Inkjet or Laser: Next, it helps to determine whether you need an inkjet or a laser printer. Inkjet printers are generally better suited to producing the full range of colors, making them better suited to printing graphics and photos. Laser printers can quickly produce professional-looking text documents, often at a lower cost per page.

Home or Office: Home and office printers differ greatly in their handling of large print volumes. Some printers are built to offer great quality and value for the home user who prints a few pages a week, while others are built for busy offices where multiple users print dozens or hundreds of pages every day. Find the one that’s right for you to avoid paying for features you don’t need.

Use case: Additional use cases, like photo printing, are addressed in our selections above, while specific features are discussed in every printer review we do. Portable printing is another niche area where the right printer can make a world of difference.

Operating expenses: Finally, consider the cost per page. Whether it’s using ink cartridges or toner, printers cost money over time. Check our reviews for a breakdown of the costs to print individual pages as a good measure of how expensive operating costs will be over the life of the printer.

Some companies even offer subscription services that save you money while sending you ink just in time to replace that empty cartridge. Learn more in our article HP Instant Ink vs. Canon vs. Epson: Are ink subscriptions worth it?

How we test the best all-in-one printers

To help you find best all-in-one printer, we put each model through an extensive range of printer tests, including timed prints of text, mixed text and graphics and color photos. The resulting prints are carefully examined for errors and issues, and compared with samples from other printers to determine the print quality.

We time every test print to see how quickly the machine handles document printing, and closely examine the finished product to determine how well different printing tasks are handled.

We also test the scanning and copying functions of the printer, timing how quickly it captures a page and comparing the results to the original images to determine how well it captures color and detail.

To measure the cost of owning and operating a printer, we look at the current street price of ink refills and the estimated number of pages that each cartridge can produce, and calculate the cost for printing a single page.

The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 ($249) is an entry-level ink tank printer that offers basic features and very low ink costs. It is outfitted with four ink tanks, comes with four bottles of ink and has a flat-bed scanner for copying and scanning.

The duplexer enables two-sided printing, but otherwise this Canon foregoes additional features such as a second paper tray, a USB thumb drive port or an automatic document feeder.

Yet this printer remains versatile and easy to print from despite its frugal design. You can connect to this MegaTank via the USB port, wireless, and Wi-Fi Direct. Mobile devices can use the Canon Print app to perform print, scanning and copy functions.

In our tests, the MegaTank G3290 turned in consistent speeds and image quality. It's no speed demon, but neither does it have an Achilles' heel. The Pixma G3290 can copy documents up to 8.5 x 11.7 inches, make borderless prints up to letter size, and has a duty cycle of up to 3,000 pages per month.

For delivering that level of reliable workhorse performance with such low ink costs, this Canon is one of the best printers you can buy if you're on a budget. In this Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review I'll show you why.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Design

The G3290 has a 2.7-inch LCD touchscreen on its control panel, which can be angled upward roughly 45 degrees. There are physical buttons for home, back, monochrome copy/scan and color copy/scan, as well as a stop button. The LCD offers four scene selections: standard, work, study and lifestyle (pattern papers, e.g.).

The LCD responded well to input in our testing, but menu navigation wasn't always ideal. For example, using the LCD to change paper size required scrolling past many sizes I will never use, and some I don't even know. Locating my preferred print sizes was made less intuitive because they were identified by multiple names, such as KG/4"x6" (10x15). However, after using 4 x 6-inch paper, this paper size setting showed up at the top of the menu list.

The paper tray can hold up to 100 sheets of paper or 20 sheets of photo paper. The paper tray is at the back of the unit; you raise a support and load paper vertically. This adds a few inches in height and depth to the printer. The G3290 measures 16.4 x 14.3 x 7 inches closed up for shipping, and measures 16.4 x 21.9 x 10.6 inches with the output tray and input support extended. This MegaTank model weighs 14.2 pounds.

The black ink tank is to the left of the control panel. The three color ink tanks are to the right. Windows into the ink tanks allow you to see the ink levels.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Print speed

The MegaTank Pixma G3290 was consistent in our speed tests. Neither blisteringly fast nor agonizingly slow, the G3290 tended to perform at roughly average speeds. It printed our five-page text document in 32.8 seconds, or 9.2 pages per minute (ppm). This was faster than the similarly outfitted Epson EcoTank ET-2850, at 8.7 ppm, though slightly slower than the category average of 9.8 ppm for the ink tank models we've tested.

The G3290 printed two-sided text documents quickly at 7.2 ppm, which was the fastest duplexer speed amongst recently tested ink tank models. This was a little faster than the Epson ET-2850, at 6.5 ppm, and significantly faster than the category average duplex speed of 5.5 ppm.

The Canon G3290 printed our six-page PDF of mixed text and color graphics in 2 minutes and 42 seconds, or 2.2 ppm. The Epson ET-2850 was faster, at 2.7 ppm, and ink tank models in general have averaged 3 ppm.

Using its duplexer, the G3290 printed the same color PDF at 1.9 ppm, which is the slowest time for recently tested ink tank printers—but not by much. The Epson ET-2850 made the same two-sided print at 2.4 ppm; the category average is 2.5 ppm.

The G3290 took 4 minutes and 12 seconds to make a high-resolution 8 x 10-inch glossy photo print. This was only 10 seconds slower than the category average. The Epson ET-2850 was significantly slower, taking just over 6 minutes to make the same print.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Copy and scan speed

The MegaTank G3290 made copies at roughly average speeds. It took 27.5 seconds to make a color copy, compared to the category average of 25.3 seconds. Similarly, black-and-white copies took 12.5 seconds on average to produce, compared to the average of 11.4 seconds for ink tank models.

The G3290 was relatively quick to scan in color, but slower than average at scanning and saving in grayscale or black-and-white (see the Software section for more details). Making a 600 dpi scan to JPEG format was quick, taking 1 minute and 5 seconds. The category average, by contrast, was slower, at 1 minute and 23 seconds.

Scanning in black-and-white at 300 dpi to PDF format took 21.8 seconds. The average for ink tank models is a much quicker 14.4 seconds.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Print quality

The MegaTank G3290 makes attractive text document prints. Letterforms look fairly sharp and sleek. The text looked sufficiently dark, though not quite the darkest we've seen. Some duplex prints had a top line of slightly misaligned text.

Graphics prints were similarly attractive. Colors looked natural and adequately saturated. Details in graphics were reproduced well. The quality on duplex prints was comparable. However, there was some very slight banding in some flat areas, and some black boxes with white text printed with a slightly different background shade than the surrounding area, which had matched in single-sided prints.

Glossy photos printed with well saturated colors and plenty of details. Dark shadow areas retained fine details rather than get blocked up, skin tones looked natural, and images had a warm appearance overall.

Copy quality was good overall. Copies of magazine pages were reproduced with sharp-looking text. Copies of a laser print of a text document, however, had letterforms that looked a little thick, having lost their sleekness. Reproductions of graphics were very attractive and retained the colors and details in the original.

In particular, copies of photographic prints were impressive. Most copies of professional photo prints looked nearly as sharp as the original, and were faithful to the color tint and saturation. Only one photo print copy looked subpar, losing some mid tones, which gave the photo a slightly unnatural and flattened appearance.

Scans of photographs and documents were faithful to the originals. Photo scans looked attractive, with well saturated colors that looked natural and warm overall. Scans also retained fine details in dark shadow areas.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Ink cost and yield

The MegaTank G3290 delivers bargain ink costs of just 0.4 cents per text page, which is the category average. On color pages, however, this printer offers drastic savings of 0.9 cents per color page—significantly lower than the category average of 1.9 cents.

A bottle of the pigment-based black ink costs $21.99. The three dye-based color inks cost $13.99 each. The bottles of ink last an estimated 6,000 text pages or 7,700 color pages.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Setup and software

Packing material was minimal, and I quickly had this MegaTank out of the box and ready to set up. The printed setup guide instructs you to plug in the printer and to follow the instructions on the LCD.

After installing the two printheads (black and color), the LCD's on-screen animation depicted how to unlatch the cover of the carriage in order to install the printheads. But, I did not find the animation totally clear; it took some tinkering to figure it out. Then, I poured the inks into their respective well, which was easy. The LCD said it would take about seven minutes for the printer to complete the setup process. Thereafter, screen displayed a URL for setting up the printer with a computer or smart phone. From the web page, I downloaded the software to my Windows 10 PC. It's called Canon Print, but it also offers scanning functionality.

Putting the G3290 on my network was simple. I used the WPS method, which took a few menu steps on the control panel LCD and a press of the WPS button on my router.

Basic copy and scan functions can be performed from the control panel of the G3290, using the dedicated buttons and LCD menu. When my original photo matched the loaded paper, all went well. But, when I tried copying a 5 x 7-inch photo print to 4 x 6-inch photo paper, I did not get a print with the entire image shrunken to fit. The LCD had not offered a choice to fit the entire image or crop; the G3290 simply cropped the image. It did offer an on-screen preview, however. In addition, you can scan multiple photos at one time. The LCD had a tendency to say that the G3290 had failed to correct a slanted photo or document, however, even when I had placed it snuggly in the upper corner, as instructed.

The scanning software in Windows 10 is basic. I did not find a way to customize settings on my PC and set up shortcuts for various document types. As a result, I had to make these selections with each scan. The LCD, however, does offer a little customization; there are four "scenes" to choose from: standard, work, study, and lifestyle. Standard has on-screen buttons for print, copy and scan. Work has buttons for standard copy, two-sided copy, and save to computer. Lifestyle offers three print functions: wallpaper-like patterns, templates, and print from cloud.

Canon Print software asks you to set the type of the original before scanning, either document or photo. But you can't select color or black-and-white scanning—you make this choice when saving the scan, in color, grayscale, or true black-and-white. When scanning from the G3290's control panel, pressing the "black" copy/scan button produced a grayscale JPG or PDF file.

The latest version of the Canon Print iOS app requires iOS 16. However, you can still use a previous version of the app with an older device, such as my iPhone 7, which runs iOS 15. Using the Canon Print app you can print, scan, store to the cloud, and make a smartphone copy (as opposed to scanning on the flatbed). This last feature I am typically skeptical of, but the app did a good job in my testing. Using the flatbed scanner, the G3290 made a copy of a magazine page that was attractive, but had areas where text was distorted because the slightly wrinkled page did not press firmly down on the glass (the scanner lid is lightweight). However, using the Canon Print app, the resulting copy had text in these same areas that was less blurred than in the flatbed copy. In both cases, graphics looked attractive and colorful, and text was moderately, but not razor-, sharp.

The MegaTank G3290 starts up in 12 seconds, which is a few seconds faster than the category average.

Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review: Verdict

The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 offers a fair number of features for a bargain price, making it a good choice for those who need an all-in-one printer without a lot of frills.

This ink tank model performs consistently well, delivers very low ink costs, and includes a duplexer. The G3290 creates high-quality prints, copies and scans. Although the included software is basic, solid performance and high image quality make this MegaTank model worth a serious look, especially for students and folks on a budget.

In a seemingly all-digital world, we often overlook the one tool that brings our ideas from a device’s screen to our hands. Today’s printers are better designed to improve our workflows rather than complicate them. The 2025 lineup of printers from Canon, for example, is specifically tailored to meet the needs of the user. Whether you’re a big business architect printing large blueprints or a small artist looking for high-quality prints of your work, there’s a Canon printer designed for you.

Print museum-grade images from your own studio

For artists, photographers, and designers, producing high-quality, highly pigmented prints on a variety of paper types is imperative to having your work seen. Canon has long been a favorite brand of printers for meeting those needs, and its latest in photo printing continues to build on that hard-earned trust by providing professional, large-format printing with accurate color matching.

The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-200S, PRO-310, and PRO-1100 photo printers are must-haves for the print needs of creatives, as these printers provide museum-grade prints with intense color precision and outstanding detail. The imagePROGRAF line of printers is compatible with a wide array of paper finishes, including glossy, matte, and textured, and even supports large-format, borderless printing.

Sharing your photos or illustrations through art galleries and public showings, along with selling high-quality prints, is an exceptional way to grow and expand your creative business. Canon’s imagePROGRAF printer series can allow you to provide those prints from your very own studio, without having to rely on a third-party printing service that may not be as color accurate.

The imagePROGRAF series isn’t limited to artists and creatives, either. The Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M All-in-One large format printer is an excellent choice for construction professionals, architects, and engineers who may need to produce high-quality blueprints and ultra-accurate CAD prints, or scan larger documents. Despite its large-format printing functionality, this printer is surprisingly compact and features just a 24-inch footprint, making it ideal for smaller offices with big printing needs.

Print to your heart’s content with a low cost-per-page

Printing fees can be costly, not just for artists but also for remote workers and educators. If you’re looking to cut the cost of high-volume printing, Canon’s got just the tool for that, as well. The Canon MegaTank GX7120 and GX6120 Inkjet All-in-One printer line features refillable MegaTank ink tanks that produce high-volumes of pages at a low cost-per-page output, saving you money and still getting the job done.

The MegaTank lineup also offers unique functions like wireless and mobile printing support. No more needing to run down to the office to print that new worksheet for your students if you are a teacher. Instead, send the file to print to a Canon MegaTank from your phone or laptop right there in the room. It doesn’t get more convenient.

The Canon MegaTank also offers advanced security features, so it can be used safely in a business or educational setting. Even if you’re working from home, your scanning and printing are safe and secure. Not all printing takes place at home, though, so what happens if you need something equally secure but a little more portable than a standard printer?

Canon has that covered, too, with the Canon PIXMA TR160 Portable Wireless Printer, a lightweight, ultraportable printer with wireless options that is specifically engineered to print on the go. Perfect for sales reps, consultants, and real estate agents who may need to produce documents quickly without heading back to a home office, the PIXMA TR160 can reliably print borderless photos and crisp documents alike. For those digital nomads who may not always have a reliable power source on hand when the need to print arises, an optional battery is also available.

Printers engineered for precisely for your workflow

Canon’s teams have been hard at work designing precision-engineered printing devices that can enhance and improve the workflows of various professions. Regardless of whether you’re working solo at home, gearing up for your first art gallery exhibit, or printing massive blueprints for a major construction project, there is a Canon printer capable of producing the high-quality, crisp, clean prints that you need.

How often have you been deep into a gaming session to discover that your pizza has gone cold? Rarely?

If you find yourself in that situation, Pizza Hut Canada has what you need with the new PIZZAWRMR (via Creative Bloq). It's a 3D-printed model that uses the heat exhaust from your PlayStation 5 to keep your pizza hot.

The model is free to download, but you must fire up one of the best 3D printers to get it. We should note that your printer needs to have a build volume of 15 x 15 inches, at a minimum, to accommodate the warmer. It does rule out many of our recommended 3D printers based on size unless you're okay with cutting the model up. We recommend trying the Prusa XL, a larger version of the beginner-friendly Prusa Mini+.

Usually, when companies post silly products on their social media accounts, there is no way that they become a reality — looking at that KFC gaming console.

The PIZZAWRMR will work best with the standard PS5. However, the PDF with the STL files says it should work on a PS5 Slim. There is no word on whether or not it can handle the PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X|S.

The model is printed in separate parts with STL files for the body, lid, manifold and left and right stands. It's not clear from anything released by Pizza Hut how long the print is expected to take, but based on the size and number of parts, we imagine this is a multi-day print. Also, Pizza Hut Canada recommends using food-safe materials in your print. They specifically mention PLA plastic. To prohibit grease and foil from getting everywhere, Pizza Hut recommends placing a foil tray that measures 34 x 23 x 2.5 cm in the warmer.

As for the pizza holder itself, it doesn't look like it will hold an entire pizza together, but instead, it seems like it can hold a small pizza split up.

Based on the design, we have to say this looks like it could work. However, as a general rule, you don't want foodstuffs near your gaming console or controllers. Who wants a greasy DualSense or Nacon Revolution 5 Pro? Also, we don't want to block heat exhaust from our electronics, even those with reliable heat sinks installed.

Still, I want to try it...

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There's a new ink subscription plan in town, and it's definitely worth a look. 

The All-In Plan ($6.99/month to start) from Hewlett-Packard works much like its predecessor, Instant Ink. You choose a plan based on how many pages you print, and ink cartridges are automatically shipped to you when your printer is running low. The big new feature here is that the printer is included in the plan.

Yes, you read that right. It's a novel offering, especially for an industry criticized for using the "razor model" (giving away printers for cheap in order to trap customers into buying expensive ink known as "liquid gold" in the long term). But a lot of changed since then, and now all the big players offer ink subscriptions that promise to save you money.

With the up-front investment of buying a printer erased, HP has erased the first step of the buying decision. Now, you just pick your plan and start printing, no need to spend hours researching the best printer to buy first.

However, right now you don't get many printers to choose from with the All-In Plan. Your choice of printers is limited to three models: the Envy 6020e, Envy Inspire 7258e, and OfficeJet Pro 9010e.

The monthly price to use it depends on which of the three printer models you choose, and the price increases the more pages you print. As with Instant Ink and other ink subscriptions plans, there is no distinction between black-and-white and color pages; a page is a page is a page. If you go over your plan's allotment, your monthly invoice will include a one-dollar charge per set of 10-15 pages, depending on the plan. If you are under, your unused pages are rolled over to the next month. You can roll over up to three times your plan's allotment. A 300-page monthly plan, for example, allows you to roll over up to 900 pages.

So far, so good, right? Ink subscriptions that automatically order ink for you ensure that you don't find yourself in a bind, having to drive to a store for cartridges. Now, All-In Plan gives you a printer without having to fork out that initial investment, and gives you 24/7 tech support.

The All-In Plan offers round-the-clock live printer support. If an issue can't be resolved, HP will send a replacement, possibly the next business day. There is no charge for the shipping nor the return shipping of a malfunctioning printer.

The plan has a 30-day trial period. After two years, you have the option of upgrading to a new printer.

Breaking down the cost

Ultimately, the value of the All-In Plan depends on how much you print and the value you place on not having to buy a printer. You can not make a direct comparison to a printer's costs per page because these are calculated for two different standardized pages—one to approximate text pages, another for color graphics. But, it's still worth the consideration.

When I reviewed the HP Envy 7955e, its estimated costs per page were 7 cents for text pages and 18.1 cents for color pages, when using its high-yield ink cartridges (which lowered costs per page slightly). Currently, the average costs per page for similar printers is 6.2 cents (text) and 15.9 cents (color). By contrast, ink tank printers and Brother models that use very high-yield cartridges, average

Of course, that price distinction of color ink versus black ink goes away with a subscription. If you like to print with a lot of color, this may have obvious appeal. This may be especially true if you print a lot.

For example, for roughly the same cost of printing text pages with the Envy 7955e, you could print 300 color pages per month from an Envy (5.3 cents per page) or Envy Aspire (6.3 cents per page) printer—without having to buy the printer.

But that's not to say that every tier of the All-In Plan looks that appealing. The Light tier with an Envy printer, for example, runs 35 cents per page. But if you are expecting print duties to pick up dramatically in the near future, you'd drop that cost to 11 cents per page if you upgrade to the plan with 100 pages per month.

All-In or Instant Ink?

Compared directly to Instant Ink, the All-In Plan reads like a bargain, in many cases. The moderate plan with 100 monthly pages, for example, includes the printer for just $4 extra per month. At that rate, you wouldn't recoup your cost on a $129 printer for two years and eight months.

However, allotting 300 pages monthly costs $22.99 with the All-In Plan and an OfficeJet Pro printer and just $13.99 with Instant Ink. Assuming you bought an OfficeJet Pro printer that cost $289, you would recoup that investment in two years and eight months, thereafter saving $9 per month on your printing costs (assuming the printer continues to work flawlessly).

The ink tank alternative

The lowest costs per page among inkjet printers are offered by those with ink tanks or that use very high-yield cartridges. These models print thousands of pages before running out of ink. However, they also tend to be a little pricey. The price of models we've reviewed in this category has averaged roughly $400 over the past four years. Two recent examples: the $350 HP Smart Tank 7602 and the $230 Epson EcoTank ET-2850.

Ink costs for these printers have averaged just 0.4 cent for text pages and 1.5 cents for color pages. That's a dramatic difference compared to standard inkjet printers as well as the costs of the HP All-In Plan.

Nonetheless, this doesn't mean the All-In Plan isn't worth serious consideration. But you should do the math (based on your expected print output) to make sure your expectations are met.

For example, if you sign up for the moderate plan of 100 pages monthly with an HP Envy Inspire printer, you pay $12.99 per month, or $155.88 for the year.

By comparison, you have to pay $350 up front for the Smart Tank 7602. If you print roughly half text pages and half color pages, your ink costs for printing the same number of pages for the year (1,200) will be roughly $72, at 0.6 cent a pop. And, you'll still have plenty of ink left in the tanks.

In sum, the cost of the moderate All-In Plan with an Envy Inspire will break even in roughly two years and three months, compared to buying the Smart Tank printer outright. Thereafter, you'll either be paying $12.99 per month for the plan, or 6 cents monthly to print. This latter option, of course, does not include the plan's perks, including no-cost printer replacement, 24/7 support, and automatic ink cartridge shipments.

This cost difference narrows more quickly at higher print volumes. The 500-page plan with an Envy Aspire, for example, costs $25.99 per month, or $311.88 annually. The break-even time is at roughly 14 months. Thereafter, you'll still pay $25.99 per month for the plan, while printing 500 pages with the Smart Tank would use up an estimated $3 in ink per month.

Outlook

It goes without saying that one size does not fit all in the inkjet printer world. I hope my back-of-the-napkin calculations have provided some helpful information for comparison. Costs per page are just one consideration, however. You can't discount the convenience of a plan like HP's All-In. If you have been a fan of ink subscriptions, then a small monthly markup to include a printer is likely very enticing.

Another way to look at it is that the frequent plan with Instant Ink (300 pages per month) costs 4.7 cents per page. The All-In Plan includes an Envy printer at that level for 5.7 cents per page, or an Envy Inspire 6.3 cents per page.

Many factors impact this decision, including how your home office or business works. If you often replace your printer, you might welcome getting rid of that repeated one-time expense. The All-In Plan offers some enticing costs per page while removing some of the guesswork and hassle of choosing a printer, troubleshooting a printer, and keeping supplies on hand. If all of that adds up to a no-brainer for you, I guess you could say you are "all in".

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The HP Smart Tank 7602 ($349) is a moderately priced multifunction printer that offers very low ink costs, fast print and copy speeds, and a few office-friendly features. However, after using and testing one myself I'm disappointed by the frustrating software, small touchscreen and photo print quality.

The HP Smart Tank 7602 isn't quite good enough to hang with the best printers on the market, but it's a speedy multifunction that could be handy in a home office. The 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) eases multipage copying, scanning and faxing. Up to 100 sheets can be stored in the fax memory.

The duplexer enables two-sided printing. There is one 250-sheet paper tray, with no second tray for keeping photo paper loaded, for example. The output tray holds up to 100 sheets. A USB port on the front panel allows printing from a thumb drive, but in this HP Smart Tank 7602 review I'll explain why the process of printing from this multifunction can be a hassle.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Price & availability

The HP Smart Tank 7602 is available for purchase from HP's website, Amazon and select third-party retailers for a starting price of $449. 

However, at time of publication the printer is discounted $100 down to $349, and you may be able to find it on deeper discount during big sales events.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Design

The Smart Tank 7602 measures roughly 16.8 x 14.3 x 9.5 inches. You'll need clearance above the unit: The scanner lid's hinges do not offer resistance to hold it up at less than 90 degrees, so you'll need to open it fully if you want to use both hands. The paper tray is on the front of the printer, with the output tray just above it. The unit weighs 17 pounds.

A 3-inch touchscreen sits on the top, in front of the scanner lid. The screen displays white text on a black background and is capable of displaying three lines of text. However, when pulling up a new menu page, it tends to display only two lines of text, leaving the top of the screen blank. Even when the partially obscured second item was the setting I wanted, I found the touch screen unwilling to let me select it—I routinely had to drag the text upward in order to make my selection.

When pulling out the paper tray, the screen will prompt you to choose a new paper size setting. However, when I failed to do this right away, I could not find any paper setting in the general settings menu, and could find no explanation in the user manual. At that point, I had to use the HP Smart software to set the paper type. The online specifications say that there is a paper sensor, but the 7602 did not automatically change paper sizes for any of the HP papers I used, including multiple photo paper sizes.

The ink tanks are visible from the front panel. The black ink tank sits to the left while the color tanks are grouped on the right side. Refilling them from the included ink bottles was simple: I lifted the ADF lid and filled each of the four tanks without spilling a drop of ink.

A status light above the output tray changes colors as indicators, and you'll need to consult the manual to learn what each color indicates, as well as solid versus pulsing, as this is key to understanding the status of the printer.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Print quality

This Smart Tank produced consistently high image quality in our tests. Text printed with sharp edges and graphics looked detailed, with smooth transitions. Colors looked accurate. This was true of copies as well.

Photographs printed on glossy paper were also of a high quality. Details looked sharp. Colors were well saturated, but overall the color cast looked a little unnaturally warm, with hyped reds and yellows. In addition, some dark shadow areas came out with an unnatural blueish cast.

Similarly, scans reproduced details well overall as well as accurate colors. The scans reproduced subtle shadow details without getting blocked up. However, close examination of fine details, on faces in particular, revealed digital artifacts and distortions. At actual size, scans often reveal pixelation and some smoothing perhaps due in part to dust reduction (as appears the case with scans of the same image by the Canon G6020 and Brother MFC-J4535DW). But these two models still reproduced these details while the Smart Tank distorted and obscured some of them, while making some edges look unnaturally harsh.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Print speed

The HP Smart Tank 7602 printed a five-page text document in 35 seconds, or 8.6 ppm. This was slightly slower than the category average of 30.3 seconds (or 9.9 ppm) for ink tank printers (such as the $270 Canon Pixma G6020) and high-yield ink cartridge models (such as the $250 Brother MFC-J4535DW).

The Smart Tank printed our six-page color PDF of mixed text and graphics in 1 minute and 33 seconds, or 3.9 ppm. This was faster than the category average of 3.1 ppm. By comparison, the Canon G6020 was slower, at 2.2 ppm, and the Brother MFC-J4535DW was significantly faster, at 7 ppm.

Using its duplexer to make two-sided prints, the HP Smart Tank was consistent, proving faster than the Canon G6020 but slower than the Brother MFC-J4535DW. The Smart Tank printed two-sided text documents at 5 ppm and two-sided color pages at 2.8 ppm. The Canon G6020 made the same prints at 2.3 ppm and 1.8 ppm, respectively, while the Brother bested both models at 10.7 ppm (text) and 5.8 ppm (color).

The Smart Tank 7602 was very fast at photo printing. It printed an 8 x 10-inch glossy photo at high resolution in just under 2 minutes. This was impressive, considering that the category average is twice as long: 4 minutes and 1 second.

The difference was not as pronounced as smaller sizes, however. Printing a 4 x 6-inch snapshot at high resolution the Smart Tank took just 1 minute and 2 seconds—the fastest time we've clocked for a desktop inkjet. Close behind was the Brother MFC-J4535DW at 1 minute and 8 seconds. The category average for printing a snapshot is 1 minute and 54 seconds.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Copy and scan speed

The Smart Tank 7602 was faster than average at making a color copy, doing so in 19.5 seconds. The average is 22.2 seconds. By contrast, the Brother MFC-J4535DW was faster, making a color copy in 13.2 seconds, while the Canon G6020 was somewhat pokey, at 31.2 seconds.

The Smart Tank was slightly slower than average at making copies of a text page, doing so in 12.7 seconds. The Brother MFC-J4535DW made a black-and-white copy in a more brisk 11 seconds, as did the Canon G6020, in 11.3 seconds. The category average is 10 seconds.

Using its ADF, the Smart Tank's made copies of multipage text documents quickly, doing so at 7 ppm. The Brother MFC-J4535DW was slightly faster, at 7.9 ppm. The Canon G6020 does not have an ADF.

The Smart Tank was slower than average at scanning in black-and-white. Doing so to PDF at 300 dpi, the Smart Tank captured the page in 16.2 seconds (showing an on-screen preview in HP Smart software at 13 seconds). The MFC-J4535DW made the same scan in 11.5 seconds. The Canon G6020 was even faster, at 8.4 seconds. The category average is 13.6 seconds.

Using its ADF, the Smart Tank scanned the page in 31.6 seconds (displaying a preview at 27.8 seconds).

The Smart Tank scanned in color at exactly the category average time, capturing a color 8 x 10 to JPEG at 600 dpi in 1 minute and 25 seconds. The Canon G6020 was slightly faster, at 1 minute and 5 seconds, while the Brother MFC-J4535DW handily bested them both by scanning a color page in just 41.9 seconds.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Ink costs and yield

A bottle of the Smart Tank's black ink is rated to last 8,000 pages. The color inks (cyan, magenta and yellow) are each rated to last 6,000 pages. Buying a four-pack will save you $1.97 off the individual price total of $68.96 for all four inks.

This adds up to just 0.3 cents per text page and 0.9 cents per color page. The advantage of standard inkjet printers is obvious. Traditional inkjet printers we've tested average 5.7 cents per text page—when using a high-yield cartridge (7.9 cents with a standard cartridge). Color pages run 15.9 cents with high-yield cartridges and 21 cents with standard cartridges.

By comparison, the category averages for ink tank printers and high-yield models are 0.4 cents (text) and 1.5 cents (color). The Canon G6020's costs per page are even lower, at 0.2 cents and 0.8 cents, respectively. The Brother MFC-J4535DW's ink costs are significantly higher, at 1.1 cents and 6 cents, respectively—but still a fraction of what standard inkjet printers offer.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Setup & software

Removing a few pieces of tape and a couple cardboard inserts are all that you need to remove to get the HP Smart Tank 7602 ready for setup. On my Windows 10 laptop  I downloaded the print driver and HP Smart software easily enough, as no DVD-ROM comes with the printer. I printed an alignment page and scanned it, per instructions.

HP Smart installation offered a new printer setup after the download. So far, all was smooth. But my first attempt at establishing a connection failed. The USB connection was not recognized. Later, allowing time to pass in the Windows printer settings triggered the download of the print driver.

Connecting to my wireless network was not immediately apparent. So, I pressed the WiFi button on the back of the printer. The light above the output tray was supposed to pulse purple, but did not do so. This first attempt timed out and I had to restart the printer.

For my next attempt, I went into the network settings on the touch screen and chose the WPS method. To finish, I was prompted to open the printer and type in a PIN code on a sticker. But this eventually sent me back to Windows settings, and then a link for a scan app sent me to Get Windows Scan.

After this got sorted out, the HP Smart software showed both the wirelessly connected network printer and the USB version—they showed up as two different printers without an easy way to tell which is which. In HP Smart, the connection type did not display. When WiFi was offline, I had to toggle to the next printer to use it via the USB connection.

On a Mac running OSX, the Smart Tank showed up in my printers list and I connected without issue.

You will want to set up an online HP Smart account, otherwise some advanced scan and print features will not work. Unfortunately, HP Smart lacks some basic and convenient features that plenty of other software packages offer. For example, HP Smart does not allow you to set up a scanning shortcut at specified resolution and file type for saving to a PC. You can, however, set up shortcuts for emailing or saving to online destinations: Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, Evernote, OneDrive, and Quickbooks. Also, you can make scan-to-email shortcuts for particular email addresses.

This same limitation is true of printing settings as well. If you have particular settings such as resolution that are not the default, you'll have to select those settings every time. And, after making a scan, the software does not return you to the page to make another scan; you must close the pop-up "your file has been saved" window and backspace to return to the scan settings.

Scanning of multiple documents on the scanner glass is not supported. When I tried to scan two photo snapshots at the same time, HP Smart only offered me the ability to save one of them. (Alternatively, I could have enlarged the crop box to include both photos, but them would have had to crop and save separately in another image processing application.

When using the ADF, scan resolution is limited to 300 dpi. If you want a high-resolution scan at 600 dpi or 1200 dpi, you will need to change the source setting to "scanner glass". 

HP Smart software had a difficult time cropping a cartoon magazine cover illustration to PDF format; its detect edges feature cropped out much of the cover while scanning in color. (Scanning to JPEG did not When scanning in black-and-white, it correctly recognized the entire image.

There is no preset for scanning 8 x 10-inch photos (only 4 x 6 and 5 x 7); you will need to use edge detection to crop the scan. Word files and PDF files will need to be printed from their native applications; HP Smart does not open these file types. From Windows Explorer, you can not right-click and open a photo with the software. You need to open HP Smart first for photo printing.

Getting my iPhone 7 to connect to the Smart Tank 7602 took a little work. At first, the HP Smart iOS app was unable to find the printer, even after turning on Bluetooth to aid in the process (both the printer and my iPhone were already on my wireless network).

The trick ultimately was to not use the first choice in the iOS app, which is "set up a new printer". Since the printer was already on my wireless network, I needed to select "finish setup or add a printer that's already set up". The fine print makes this clear. Choosing the wrong option prompted me for a password I could not locate. 

The iOS app offers printing, copying and scanning via a phone camera photo,  and mobile fax. Startup is a little slow, taking 46 seconds to offer a menu on the touchscreen.

HP Smart Tank 7602 review: Verdict

The HP Smart Tank 7602 offers good performance, high image quality, and very low ink costs. Outfitted with a document feeder, duplexer, fax capability, and scanning to email and online destinations, it's well suited to small work groups that need these features and can live without a second paper tray.

The small touch screen is not ideal for regular standalone operation. And, the basic software offers limited features. The requirement to be signed into an online account to perform everyday functions is not appealing—especially if you're simply scanning a file to be saved on your PC. But if online collaboration is what you need, you will find the scan-to-email and scanning to online folder destinations to be up your alley.

Top-quality print and copy quality on plain paper are achieved at respectable speeds. The document feeder and duplexer performed also performed well in our testing, making this ink tank multifunction a good fit for office work.

The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 ($230) is a bargain-priced ink tank printer offering a modest set of features and very low ink costs. It has a flatbed for scanning and making copies, and a duplexer for making two-sided prints. The ET-2850 performed well in our tests. It's not a speed demon, but it's consistent. And, image quality is high across the board.

This EcoTank comes with four bottles of ink (black, cyan, yellow and magenta), which you use to fill the corresponding ink tanks. The black ink is rated to last 7,500 pages, while the color inks should last 6,000 pages. The ET-2850's features and performance make it best suited for home use rather than a busy office. Included in the box are four bottles of ink (black, cyan, yellow and magenta), which you use to fill the corresponding ink tanks.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Design

The ET-2850 has a compact body. When set up to print, with its paper support and output tray extended, the unit measures 14.8 x 22.3 x 10.2 inches. It weighs just under 12 pounds. The scanner lid is lightweight because it does not include an automatic document feeder (ADF) for copying and scanning multi-page documents. The lid's hinges do not extend upward to accommodate thicker materials, such as books.

The ET-2850 has one 100-sheet paper tray, which sits at the back of the unit. It can hold up to 20 sheets of photo paper. You load paper vertically against a narrow support, which triggers the LCD to display the paper type menu. The LCD is small, at 1.44 inches, and sits in the middle of a control panel with dedicated buttons for menu navigation, including four-way navigation buttons. There is one copy button, so you need to select black-and-white or color in the on-screen menu. The control panel hinges upward roughly 90 degrees.

Lacking office-oriented features such as a second paper tray, an ADF, and fax capability, the ET-2850 is best suited for home use. If those are features you need, you might consider the recently reviewed $250 Brother MFC-J4535DW, which offers an ADF and faxing for $20 more than the ET-2850.

You can connect the ET-2850 via wireless or USB cable. From a PC you set up the printer using the included software. From a smart phone, you can set up the printer using the Epson Smart Panel app. In addition, the ET-2850 also offers voice-activated printing via Alexa or Siri.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Print Speed 

The ET-2850 performed at roughly average speed on most of our tests. It printed a five-page text document in 34.4 seconds, or 8.7 ppm. Compared to other ink tank and high-yield printers Tom's has reviewed, this was a little slower than the category average of 30 seconds, or 10.1 ppm.

Similarly, this Epson printed a six-page PDF of mixed text and color graphics in 2 minutes and 15 seconds, or 2.7 ppm, which was slightly slower than the 2.8 ppm average. By comparison, the Brother MFC-J4535DW printed the same color document at a very brisk 7 ppm, while the Canon G6020 did so much more slowly, at 2.2 ppm.

The ET-2850 lost very little speed when using its duplexer to make two-sided prints. It printed a 10-page text document on five sheets in 1 minute and 32 seconds, or 6.5 ppm. By contrast the Canon Pixma G6020 (which printed one-sided text documents at 9 ppm), slowed down considerably, making duplex text prints at 2.3 ppm (pausing 14 seconds in between sides). The Brother MFC-J4535DW, on the other hand, made two-sided text prints faster than the Canon G6020 did single-sided ones, churning out duplex text pages at 10.7 ppm.

The story was similar for pages of mixed text and color graphics. The ET-2850 printed this six-page document onto three sheets in 2 minutes and 29 seconds, or 2.4 ppm. The Canon G6020 was slightly faster, at 3.2 ppm, while the Brother MFC-J4535DW was significantly quicker, at 5.8 ppm.

The Epson ET-2850 was quite slow to make 8 x 10-inch glossy prints at high-resolution, taking 6 minutes and 7 seconds, on average, to print our landscape photograph. By contrast the Canon G6020 made the same print in just under 4 minutes, while the Brother MFC-J4535DW did so in an impressively fast 1 minute and 36 seconds. However, the ET-2850 was much quicker when printing the same photo at normal resolution, producing the 8 x 10-inch glossy photo in 3 minutes and 32 seconds.

Printing at high resolution, the ET-2850 printed a 4 x 6-inch glossy photo in 3 minutes and 1 second. This was slower than the category average of 2 minutes and 29 seconds, and much slower than the Brother MFC-J4525DW, in particular, which printed a high-resolution 4 x 6-inch photo in 1 minute and 8 seconds.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Copy and Scan Speed

The Epson ET-2850 made a color copy in 33.2 seconds, which is faster than the average of 25.8 seconds for ink tank and high-yield models. The Canon G6020 performed similarly, taking 31.2 seconds to make a color copy, while the Brother MFC-J4535DW was more than twice as fast, making a color copy in just 13.2 seconds.

Copying in black-and-white, the ET-2850 produced a facsimile in 11.9 seconds, on average. Both the Canon G6020 and Brother MFC-J4535DW performed similarly, making a black-and-white copy in 11.3 seconds and 11 seconds, respectively. The category average on this test is 11 seconds

The Epson scanned an 8 x 10-inch color photo at 600 dpi to JPEG format in 1 minute and 46 seconds. The Canon G6020 scanned at a similar speed, producing the high-resolution JPEG in 3 additional seconds. This was a little slower than the category average of 1 minute and 25 seconds. The Brother MFC-J4535DW was quicker, performing the scan in 41.9 seconds.

Scanning a black-and-white document, the ET-2850 quickly made a 300 dpi scan to PDF format, doing so in 9.4 seconds, using the grayscale scan mode in the Epson Scan 2 software (there is also a black-and-white mode). This was significantly faster than the category average of 13.3 seconds. The Canon G6020 was even faster, at 8.4 seconds, while the Brother MFC-J4535DW completed the scan in 11.5 seconds.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Print Quality

The ET-2850 delivered high-quality images in all of our tests. Text documents printed with dark and very sharp letterforms. On duplex prints, the text looked very slightly lighter and faintly less sharp around the edges — but only upon up-close examination. You'd likely never notice a difference.

Color graphics printed with natural-looking, well-saturated colors. Fine details were reproduced well. Two-sided prints looked a little lighter overall, particularly in dark shades. This resulted in less depth in mid tones, particularly on faces, which had a subtle flattening effect. More pixels were visible and fine details were a little less sharp. These differences were subtle overall, however, and the print quality remained high.

The ET-2850 made attractive copies, accurately reproducing details and shading in color and grayscale. To explain: The menu offers both a black-and-white mode and a grayscale scan mode. Many all-in-ones don't offer this extra mode, and their black-and-white mode technically produces grayscale images. Having a literal black-and-white scan mode can come in handy, for example, when scanning yellowed text pages, where you want the background to turn white while the faded text gets captured as black. 

Photographs printed on glossy paper were richly saturated and the colors looked natural. In our landscape photo, some very dark shadow areas did look a little blocked-up, lacking some subtle details.

Scans were of a similar high quality, capturing fine details and accurately reproducing colors. In our scan of a photograph with a dark background, the ET-2850 captured the subtle details in the shadows, which some models have been unable to reproduce.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Ink Cost and Yield

The ET-2850's four ink tanks are located on the right side of the body. To add ink, you must lift the scanner lid. Then, you can raise the small lid over the ink tank compartment. Each of the four ink tanks has a hinged blue cap, which you raise to expose the valve for each tank. The bottles fit neatly. I did not spill any ink while filling the tanks.

The black ink costs $20 and is rated to print 7,500 pages. That calculates to an extremely low printing cost of 0.3 cents per page. Similarly, color printing costs are extremely low, adding up to 0.9 cents per page. The individual color ink bottles (cyan, magenta and yellow) cost $12.99 each, or $38.97 in total. Buying a three-pack will save you 2 cents, costing $38.95.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Setup and Software

After removing 11 pieces of packing tape, and filling the ink tanks, the printer prompts you on its 1.44-inch color LCD to perform an initialization, which takes about 10 minutes. While that was happening, I installed the included Epson software from the DVD-ROM disc onto my Windows 10 PC. (Alternatively, you can perform the setup with the mobile app, Epson Smart Panel, which I'll cover next). Then I connected the printer to the PC via USB cable. Following the printer's instructions on its LCD, I printed a test page and three pages to assess the print head alignment. But I ran into some errors, which was a little confusing. For example, I received an error saying that the scan could not be acquired. Also, the LCD was not showing the ink levels. However, getting past these hiccups didn't take much effort and soon I was printing, copying and scanning while connected via USB. Once set up, the ET-2850 starts up quickly from a complete shutdown, in about 8 seconds.

Putting the ET-2850 on my wireless network, however, was not quite as straightforward. The printed user guide did not step me through the whole process. Using the QR code in the guide for downloading the iOS Epson Smart Panel app, I elected to perform this setup using my iPhone. The app did not instruct me to enter the printer's LCD menu and turn on wireless (nor did the printed guide, which it arguably should have). The first menu choice in the LCD menu was for entering the network password on the control panel, which would have been cumbersome. Going to the next menu item, I found the WPS setup method, which is much easier if you have a router with a WPS button—you simply press it to establish a wireless connection.

Software for Windows PCs included on the DVD-ROM includes a photo printing application, two scanning programs, and necessary drivers. Epson Photo Plus offers a variety of photo printing features, including layouts, CD/DVD disc label printing, jewel case design and various layouts and design papers. Epson Scan 2 is a general purpose scanning application, while Epson ScanSmart is dedicated to document scanning and sharing.

The Epson Smart Panel app is available in iOS and Android. You can use it to set up the printer, and to carry out a variety of functions, such as photo and document printing, copying and scanning, and clean the print head. The app also offers a document capture feature, whereby you take a picture of a document. I appreciated the enhancement touchup, which removed the blue cast from my poorly lit document. A second level of enhancement might help in some instances, but in mine, it revealed more of the printed matter on the back side of the paper.

The app also links to Google Classroom, has an ID card scanning feature, and various print designs through a separate download called Epson Creative Print.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 review: Bottom line

The Epson ET-2850 offers a basic set of features best suited for the home. Offering a duplexer and consistent performance, it's a good fit for most home use, as long as you don't need a speedy workhorse. With just one 100-sheet paper tray, it's not designed for high-volume office work. But if you're looking for very low ink costs, and don't need an ADF for lots of copying, or the versatility of a second paper tray, you'll likely be pleased with the ET-2850.

Brother's MFC-J4535DW ($250) is a multifunction printer that's speedy and cost-effective. Using high-capacity cartridges to keep ink costs low, the MFC-J4535DW offers costs per page that rival models with refillable ink tanks. Outfitted with both an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a duplexer for two-sided printing, this multi-function unit is well suited to most small office tasks. In addition to printing, copying and scanning, the MFC-J4535DW offers fax capability.

According to Brother, this multifunction printer comes with up to one year's worth of ink. Your mileage may vary, of course, but considering that the black ink cartridge is rated to print 3,000 pages, and the color ink cartridges are rated to last 1,500 pages, this may not be far off the mark. In addition to the four ink cartridges, a telephone cable, quick start guide and reference sheet are included in the box.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Design

Measuring 17.1 x 14.6 x 9.8 inches, the MFC-J4535DW is fairly compact, given that it has both a duplexer and an ADF. The unit weighs 21.1 pounds. By comparison, the Canon Pixma G6020 ($270 at time of review), which has a duplexer but lacks an ADF, is roughly 1 inch slimmer and 2 inches shorter.

The MFC-4535DW's document feeder can handle 20 sheets of paper. There is a catch atop the unit you must lift in order to prevent your originals from being spat out onto your desk or floor after being copied or scanned. 

There are two paper trays. Tray 1 holds up to 150 sheets. Tray 2 can hold 250 sheets and is for plain paper only. Coated papers and glossy paper must be loaded into Tray 1. Alternatively, you can load specialty media into the manual feed slot at the back of the unit, but can only do so one sheet at a time. The 100-sheet output tray pulls out from the cover of the top paper tray.

Connections options are plenty. There is a USB port, an Ethernet port, Wi-Fi capability, as well as NFC (near-field communication) on the control panel. The control panel has a 2.7-inch color touchscreen and can be angled upward roughly 45 degrees. The control panel has three physical buttons in addition to the power button: home, previous, and cancel.

The USB cable routes through the chassis, beneath scanner glass lid, which you must raise to route the cable, which uses up roughly 14 inches of cable in the curved path. You will have to wait for the resistance of the hinge to close lid, which happens slowly. This is convenient because it supports the weight of the ADF when you raise the scanner glass along with the lid. The power cable is permanently attached at the back of the chassis.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Print Speed 

The MFC-J4535DW turned in impressively fast performance across the board in our tests, handily besting the average on most tasks. It printed our five-page text document in 20.1 seconds, or 14.9 ppm. This was much faster than the average of 32.5 seconds, or 9.2 ppm. By comparison, the similarly priced Canon Pixma G6020 (which has refillable ink tanks), printed text at roughly average speed. 

Similarly, the Brother printed our six-page PDF of mixed text and color graphics in 51.3 seconds, or 7 ppm—twice as fast as the average of 2 minutes and 12 seconds (or, 2.7 ppm). By comparison, the Canon G6020 was slower than average, taking 2 minutes and 46 seconds to print the same document. 

The MFC-J4535DW was no less impressive at printing glossy photos, making an 8 x 10-inch print of our landscape photo in just 1 minute and 36 seconds—the fastest time of any recently tested inkjet printer, and a fraction of the average of 4 minutes and 22 seconds. By comparison, the Canon G6020 was a little faster than average, taking almost 4 minutes to make the same print.

Printing 4 x 6-inch glossy photos was similarly fast. The MFC-J4535DW produced a snapshot at high-quality settings in 1 minutes and 8 seconds, on average—much faster than the category average of nearly 2 minutes. The Canon G6020 was three seconds faster.

Two-sided printing onto plain paper also was quick. The Brother printed 10 pages of text to five sheets of paper in just under a minute, or 10.7 ppm. By comparison, the Canon Pixma G6020 did so at just 2.3 ppm.

The MFC-J4535DW was very fast at duplex printing in color, as well. The Brother printed six pages onto three sheets in just over a minute, or 5.8 ppm. The Canon Pixma G6020 did so at a rather sluggish 1.8 ppm.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Copy and Scan Speed

The Brother made color copies at more than twice the average speed. Making a color copy in 13.2 seconds, the Brother handily bested the category average of 33.2 seconds. 

Copying in black-and-white also was brisk. Making a copy of a text page in 11 seconds, the MFC-J4535DW easily beat the average of 18.7 seconds. The Canon G6020 was similarly quick on this test, making a copy in 11.3 seconds.

Making copies from the ADF was quick. The Brother made a single-sided copy of a 5-page text document in 38.1 seconds, or 7.9 ppm. Nearly as fast was the HP Envy Inspire 2955e ($270 at review), which made the copy in 41.9 seconds, or 7.2 ppm. (The Canon G6020 does not have an ADF.)

Color scanning was significantly faster than the average of 1 minute and 9 seconds. The Brother made the same color scan to a 600 dpi JPEG in 41.9 seconds. The Canon G6020 did so in 1 minute and 5 seconds. Scanning in black-and-white to PDF format at 300 dpi, the Brother captured a page in 11.5 seconds, versus the category average of 12.1 seconds. The Canon G6020 was significantly quicker, scanning the page in 8.4 seconds.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Print Quality

The Brother MFC-J4535DW delivered high image quality in our tests. Text prints looked attractive, with adequately dark letterforms. The edges of letterforms, however, were on the softer side and were not the sharpest we've seen from an inkjet printer. The text quality was good, but not excellent. Text looked just as sharp in duplex prints as on single-sided and prints.

Color graphics also looked attractive. Our first duplex prints of our test PDF, however, exhibited noticeable banding in the graphics. This went away in later testing and after a few rounds, the graphics in the duplex prints were equally attractive as in the single-sided prints. Color graphics were fairly detailed, with attractive textures. 

Glossy photos printed with natural-looking colors, attractive saturation, and a good amount of fine detail. Prints of landscapes, people and still life subjects all looked natural and sharp.

Copy quality onto plain paper was not quite as impressive, however. Compared to the laser-print originals, copies of text documents were middle-of-the-road. Text came out lighter and not as sleek as in the original, with edges that were noticeably fuzzier and lumpier. In copies made via the ADF, text edges looked fuzzier than in single copies made on the scanner glass. 

Copies of color documents looked attractive, but were not the most impressive reproductions. Colors did not look as richly saturated and black areas were not as dark as in the original. Details did not look as sharp as in the original, and some pixelation was visible in flat textures.

Scan quality was high overall. In scans of photographs, the Brother captured pleasing exposures on faces with light complexions, although some high mid-tone contour got lost. Shadows were attractively captured, without looking harsh in portraits. Some detail in dark shadow did get lost, however, not as much as some models whose scans were marred by shadows that looked more blocked-up.

The automatic cropping feature worked well on magazine pages and photographs. However, on a graphics-rich cover of a puzzle book, the scanner routinely cropped out most of the page, creating a very small subset of the total image.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Ink Cost and Yield

One of the biggest selling points of the Brother MFC-J4535DW is its low ink costs. Because of the high yield of its ink cartridges (dubbed INKvestment Tank Technology), this Brother delivers ink costs far below the average for inkjet printers that use typical ink cartridges (versus refillable ink tank models, which tend to deliver even lower costs per page). 

The Brother's black ink cartridge is rated to print 3,000 pages, while the three ink cartridges (cyan, magenta and yellow) are each expected to print 1,500 pages. Based on these ratings, text pages use up 1.1 cents worth of ink per page, while color pages cost 6 cents each, if you purchase the color ink cartridges individually. Buying a CMY three-pack of color cartridges for $65.99 will lower color poage costs to 5.5 cents per page. 

By contrast, models offering high-yield cartridges (which are still of a significantly lower yield that what Brother offers here) average much higher costs per page of 6.2 cents (text) and 15.9 cents (color)—and even higher costs when using their standard cartridges.

The only class of inkjet printer that consistently bests the Brother's high-yield cartridge costs is those with refillable ink tanks. Ink tank models we've reviewed average costs per page of just 0.3 cents (text) and 1 cent (color). The Canon G6020, for example, offers costs per page of just 0.2 and 0.8 cents, respectively.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Setup and Software

Brother offers iPrint&Scan software for Windows PCs and the MobileConnect app for mobile devices. Setting up this multi-function device includes printing a print quality check sheet, which you visually inspect for gaps and streaks. You also print an adjustment sheet, which you place on the glass to be scanned.

Installing the software on a PC was straightforward. The software guides you through choosing a connection and software selections. iPrint&Scan allows you to save scanning presets as "workflows", which appear on the software's main page as single-click buttons. The software does not offer workflows for print jobs, unfortunately. Pulling out a paper tray results in a prompt on the printer's touch screen to select the paper type and size. These settings are not, however, relayed to the Windows print driver on a PC, so you will have to enter them again. Having printing presets in iPrint&Scan would save you the need to perform these duplicate selections. 

In addition to iPrint&Scan, the PCFax Driver is installed for sending faxes. Also, you can choose to install PaperPort for managing documents and images on your PC. 

To put the MFC-J4535DW on my wireless network, I used the 2.7-inch color touchscreen on the printer's control panel, chose the wireless icon, and launched the WPS mode. Pressing the WPS button on my router put the printer on my network and I was done. Adding the Brother to the list of printers on a Mac computer was simple. The all-in-one also supports Wi-Fi Direct.

Installing the Brother Connect iOS app on an iPhone was straightforward. The app asked for permission to send personalized push notifications, and offered up to 6 months of free ink if I subscribed to the Refresh EZ Print subscription program. To see if an ink subscription is right for you, see "HP Instant Ink vs. Canon vs. Epson: Are ink subscriptions worth it?"

Although the headline does not mention Brother by name, Brother's Refresh ink subscription is discussed in the article.

The app, which offers printing, scanning and copying capabilities, also offers buttons for performing maintenance and buying. In addition, there is a button for managing a Refresh ink subscription. The all-in-one also works with Alexa.

The MFC-J4535DW is quick to start up, doing so in 7.2 seconds from a complete shutdown. From power-saving mode, the LCD touchscreen illuminates in less than 1 second after pressing the home button.

Brother MFC-J4535DW review: Bottom Line

Outfitted with a document feeder, two paper trays, and a duplexer, the Brother MFC-J4535DW offers a lot of bang for the buck. It's speedy across the board and delivers high image quality. The high-yield ink cartridges deliver very low costs per page compared to most inkjet multifunction printers. As a class, only printers with refillable ink tanks offer lower ink costs. 

In addition to its office worthiness (including fax capability), this Brother also produces very attractive photo prints, and does so quickly. Copy quality could use a little improvement, but this is a minor quibble considering this all-in-one's consistently fast printing, copying, and scanning.

It's difficult choosing a printer. 

I would know, I've been reviewing printers professionally for two decades. But if you follow these steps when evaluating potential models, you can find a good bargain that's just the right mix of features and performance.

Many printers today are multifunction devices (also known as all-in-ones) that incorporate a flatbed scanner. This enables them to scan and make copies. Additional features include a duplexer for making two-sided prints and copies, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) for making copies and scans of multipage documents. 

These advanced features tend to add to a model's initial price, however, so it's important to only pay for models that do what you want well. After identifying which features are must-haves for you, have a look at our test results—just because a feature sounds great doesn't its performs well. Slow performance or subpar image quality is a big disappointment.

Performance testing conducted by Tom's Guide helps us figure out which are the best printers on the market, and it's a great resource to weed out bad apples and put you on a path to the perfect printer for your needs. Put simply, we put them through their paces so you don't have to — find more details in the Image Quality and Performance sections below.

Ink costs

After identifying your most important features, compare ink costs.

Inkjet printers are notorious for their expensive ink—but refillable ink tanks and very high yield ink cartridges are changing that equation, delivering much lower ink costs than traditional ink cartridges. Ink tank models tend to cost more up front. But they also tend to come with plenty of ink in the box compared to lower cost models that include only starter cartridges with low page yields. For example, the Epson EcoTank ET-5850 comes with nearly $200 worth of of ink—enough to print 15,000 pages of text or 12,000 color pages. So, let's do some quick math.

Whether a pricier ink tank model is worth it for you, depends on how much you print. Comparing recently tested high-yield models versus lower priced printers, recouping the higher purchase price will likely take at least a thousand pages. How many pages do you print in a month?

Here's one example: The Epson EcoTank ET-4760 ($449 when reviewed) versus the Brother INKvestment MFC-J4535DW ($250). The Epson (which uses refillable ink tanks) offers low costs per page of just 0.3 cents (text) and 0.9 cents (color). The Brother (which uses very high-yield ink cartridges) also has low costs per page of 1.1 cents (text) and 6 cents (color). 

To make up the $199 price premium of the Epson ET-4760, you'd need to print almost 25,000 text pages or nearly 4,000 color pages.

By comparison, most inkjet printers have much higher costs per page. Models we've tested—even when using their high-yield ink cartridges—average 6.2 cents (text) and 15.9 cents (color) per page. Even at that cost per color page, you'd print 2,000 pages on the Epson ET-4760 before recouping a $300 premium over a $150 model that uses standard ink cartridges.

Image quality

Differences in print quality are much less dramatic today then they were in years past. These days, most inkjet printers are able to print both attractive documents with fairly sharp text and appealing graphics on plain paper, as well as attractive photos on glossy paper. The days of testing printers that takes eons to produce a laughably bad photo print are long forgotten. 

Still, these subtle differences in color accuracy, saturation and fine details are enough to sway a purchasing decision. That's why at Tom's Guide we put printers through a full battery of tests—to take the guesswork out of choosing the right printer for you.

For example, a pitfall for some models is duplex printing. Some models make two-sided prints that are less attractive than their single-sided prints, with fuzzier text and less-detailed graphics. Sometimes, this lower quality printing only occurred on the backside of our test prints and copies. Similarly, the biggest overall differences in image quality tend to be found in copies, not prints. So, if it's office equipment you're looking for, be sure to check our ratings on copy quality.

Performance

Most printers are not speedy at every task. Many of them perform well on some jobs, but very few are fast across the board. You should focus on what type of printing you'll do most, and prioritize that performance. Speed ratings from manufacturers aren't realistic, however, which is why Tom's Guide tests every printer with the same set of documents and photos—so they're directly comparable, and provide real-world results.

We wouldn't test them if we didn't have to. But models from the same manufacturer often turn in dramatically different results in our tests. For example, the $250 Brother MFC-J4535DW printed a 4x6-inch photo at high resolution in just 1 minute and 8 seconds. Meanwhile, the $130 Brother MFC-J1205w took more than three times as long, taking nearly 4 minutes to print the same snapshot.

Similarly, two-sided printing varies greatly. While the Canon Pixma TS702a ($130) printed two-sided text documents at a modest 3.1 pages per minute (ppm), the Brother MFC-J4535DW ($250) spat them out more than three times faster, at 10.7 ppm.

Features

Today's all-in-one's are highly sophisticated machines that offer variety of capabilities. There are so many models out there—but don't get overwhelmed. Zero in on one or two features that are most important to you and make sure they'll perform as promised.

If you will operate your printer from a PC, there's no need to pay for a touchscreen or for an excess of dedicated buttons on the control panel. But if standalone operation is your preference, be sure it won't be frustrating. I've reviewed models with kludgy touchscreens and menus that aren't intuitive. Other models have physical buttons for copying that are more convenient than having to navigate a menu.

And, don't forget about setup and software. The HP Envy Inspire 7955e ($270), for example, proved difficult to set up wirelessly, and its accompanying HP Smart software posed some frustrating limitations.

Not all software packages and mobile phone apps are equal. One feature I found lacking in quality is a copy feature I first tested in the iOS HP Smart app—but it's really just taking a photo and then printing the result. The Canon iOS Print app offers this same feature, with only passable results. But if you buy a single function printer with no scanner bed, it's better than nothing.

One last potential pitfall is scanning software. I've uncovered bad results in the scanning software included with some Brother and Epson models. The issue was with the auto cropping feature—some documents fooled the software into cropping the scan to a small portion of the image. This requires you to manually select a document size. If your document is of an unconventional size, you'll need to select a size larger than your document, and then manually crop the scan yourself.

The bottom line

Finding a printer that's both a bargain and a solid performer is easier than you might think. At Tom's Guide, we break down the pros and the cons, uncover the weaknesses, and highlight the strengths. I spend hours running printers through all the tasks that make offices run and printing photos fun.

We also spell out the ink costs so you don't learn an expensive lesson the hard way. But be sure to gauge your print volume. If you only print a modest amount, spending a lot of money for really low costs per page may not pay off for a really long time.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to find the best cheap printer money can buy
• My favorite new to Netflix movies that you should watch
• These are the best Canon printers around right now

Have you ever wanted to be your own action figure? I had the chance to do so at CES, where Hasbro was demoing its Selfie Series, which lets you put your 3D-printed head atop a Ghostbuster, Star Wars, Power Ranger, GI Joe, or Marvel action figure for $60. 

Hasbro partnered with the 3D printing company Formlabs (which makes some of the models on our best 3D printers list) to make customized action figures with some of the most valuable IP out there. 

So, is it worth spending $60 to get a personalized action figure for you or someone else? I went through the whole process, so you can see the results for yourself.

It starts with an app...

Here's how it works: Within the Hasbro Pulse app (Android, iOS), you scan your face by turning your head to the right and left; it's a bit like setting up Face ID with an iPhone. 

Then, the app generates a digital image of your head. From there, a series of screens lets you adjust your skin tone, and then select the action figure you'd like to be. 

At the moment, you can choose from the following, which is somewhat limited, but not too shabby considering the service started this past fall.

Star Wars — Mandalorian, Storm Trooper, X-Wing pilot, or Princess Leia

Marvel Legends — Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther, or Black Widow

Power Rangers — Red or the Pink ranger

GI Joe — Snake Eyes or Scarlett

Ghostbusters — Male or a female Ghostbuster

Despite my lifelong affinity for Star Wars, I opted to go with the Ghostbuster body, as I had received the Ecto-1 Lego kit as a Christmas present, and thought that it would complement it nicely. (As an aside: The Ecto-1 Lego kit is a pretty fantastic build, with some really clever moving parts. Thanks to my wife and sister for getting it for me!) The Ghostbuster figure also comes with some nice accessories, including a proton pack and a P.K.E meter. 

A note to would-be Stormtroopers, Mandalorians, Iron Men, Spiders-Man and Black Panthers: Those figures don't come with helmets, so you don't necessarily get the full effect of the whole outfit. As you're going through the process, you can see what accessories each figure comes with. 

Next, you choose your hairstyle, of which there are 48 to choose from, as well as five different hair colors. After, you can give yourself facial hair, and choose its style and color.

And then you wait...

Then, go ahead and order it. At CES, I was told the typical turnaround is about 45 days; it took a slightly shorter amount of time to get to me (mine arrived in late January), but when I went through the process of making a new action figure on Feb. 9, it said that the estimated delivery would be March 26. 

So, if you're planning to give this as a gift to someone (you can send it as a gift code via the Hasbro Pulse app), just let them know that it'll be a while before they receive the finished product.

The results

And when it arrived? It had a passing resemblance to me, in that it had hair and a beard. The color of both was a bit lighter than my actual hair color, but ultimately, I think it looked more like Jake Gyllenhaal than myself. Which may not be a bad thing. 

Still, there's lots of great detail in the costume itself, and the figurine is very adjustable. All of the joints are articulated, so you can pose it in just about any way you choose. The only quibble (aside from the likeness) is that the hands had trouble keeping the proton gun in place. 

If you're worried about Hasbro saving your face data, a company rep told The Verge that it would be deleted 60 days after the ship date of your action figure. 

Would I get this as a gift for someone? Definitely. I have one cousin who has a basement full of action figures, bobbleheads, and other assorted toys for whom this would be a perfect present. I wish it would look a bit more like me, but the novelty of it outweighs the lack of verisimilitude. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make like Dark Helmet and play with my dolls again.

The small, lightweight HP DeskJet 2755e ($85) offers an attractive set of basic features for an attractive price. It's a multifunction printer that also copies and scans, and you can use a mobile device for faxing if you have an HP Plus account. Built for modest print duty, its input tray holds 60 sheets and the output tray can hold 25 sheets.

This DeskJet offers Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity. It also has a USB port, but it's very much oriented to online use and cloud storage; it requires an Internet connection for some features. As such, the 2755e may not be the best fit for someone who's periodically offline. More on that later.

The DeskJet 2755e uses two ink cartridges: pigment black and dye-based tri-color. If by chance you only plan to print text documents, the printer supports single-cartridge mode, whereby after setup with the starter cartridges, you can remove the color cartridge.

If you sign up for the HP Plus program, free of charge, you get six months of free ink. This program locks you into using HP's ink cartridges, which are outfitted with a chip to ensure compliance. It also offers updated photo scanning,  fax capability from a mobile device, and G Suite connectivity, according to the company. We did not, however, test this program.

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Design

The DeskJet 2755e measures roughly 16.7 x 12 x 6 inches. You'll need extra vertical clearance to raise the scanner lid and raise the input paper tray support, as well as to swing outward the output tray's support. It's compact enough to easily transport—especially considering it weighs just 7.5 pounds.

The single paper input tray is at the back. It's vertically aligned, and you lift up a support to hold the paper in place. The output tray slides out from the bottom of the unit at the front. To better support finished prints, you swing outward a catch from inside the output tray. 

To the left of the scanner glass on the top panel are a few function buttons and a tiny LCD screen that measures 0.5 x 1.25 inches. Standalone operation is limited to making copies, for which there are dedicated buttons for color and grayscale copying. The screen displays only the number of prints or copies, Wi-Fi status, ink levels, and a few other icons. You don't use the screen to navigate settings menus.

For settings and other functions, you will want to use your PC or mobile device. For example, enlarging or reducing copy size must be done with the HP Smart app.

This basic printer doesn't have a duplexer for making two-sided prints, an automatic document feeder for copying multi-page documents, nor an automatic paper sensor, which some higher-end models offer.

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Print Speed 

The DeskJet 2755e printed slower than the category average in our tests. It printed a five-page text document in 39.3 seconds, or 7.6 pages per minute (ppm). By comparison, the average is 8.8 ppm. Similarly, the DeskJet trailed the field average at printing our six-page PDF of mixed text and color graphics. The HP reproduced the document in 3 minutes and 2 seconds, or 2 ppm. The category average is 2.7 ppm.

The 2755e was comparatively slower at making 8-by-10-inch photo prints, taking 7 minutes and 8 seconds to do so, at highest resolution. The category average was a much quicker 4 minutes and 5 seconds.

The DeskJet performed better at making 4-by-6-inch photo prints at default settings. The 2755e made the print in 1 minute and 44 seconds, slightly faster than the average of 1 minute and 48 seconds.

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Copy and scan speed

The DeskJet 2755e copied color documents at slightly slower than average speed, and was less impressive at making black-and-white copies. It produced color copies in 32.4 seconds, on average, compared to the average of 28.1 seconds for competing models. Making black-and-white copies in 25.1 seconds, the DeskJet trailed significantly the category average of 16.1 seconds.

Photo scanning was a little pokey. Capturing an 8-by-10-inch photo in 1 minute and 36 seconds, it lagged behind the category average of 1 minute and 8 seconds. By comparison, the Canon MG3620 ($60) made the same photo scan in just 39.4 seconds. 

Scanning documents at 300 dpi in black-and-white to PDF format, the HP DeskJet completed a letter-size scan in 19.4 seconds, on average. This was significantly slower than the average of 11.8 seconds, and less than half the speed of the Canon MG3620, which made a black-and-white scan in just 8.9 seconds, on average.

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Print quality

Documents printed with attractive text that looked adequately dark. Letterforms were a little heavy, with some minor errant ink splatter around the edges. By comparison, the HP's text was darker and slightly sharper around the edges than that printed by the Canon MG3620.

The DeskJet also printed attractive graphics. Colors looked natural, transitions were smooth, and no banding was visible. Text in our PDF text document, however, looked a little too heavy and blurry around the edges. For long-term reading, the sharper-looking text documents would be preferable. To ensure software was not the culprit, we printed the PDF both from its native Adobe Acrobat software, as well as from HP Smart, and got the same result. 

On a couple occasions while making copies, the 2755e pulled 10 or 12 pieces of paper through the unit all at once. While this happened only twice, it does suggest that paper feed problems could occur in the future.

The DeskJet 2755e makes attractive photo prints. The inkjet produced natural-looking colors, smooth transitions, and reproduced fine details well. Across a range of subjects, the DeskJet produced high-quality prints. To note, the DeskJet tends to hype red and yellow hues, creating a warmer look than may be in the original image.

One important caveat about photo prints: Borderless photo printing is not supported. Whether printing from HP Smart on Windows 10, Windows Photos, or from an iPhone 7 using the HP Smart app, there is no option for making borderless photo prints. All photos printed with a border around them.

Similar to its photo prints, documents were reproduced faithfully. Copies of magazine pages were true to the original, reproducing text that looked quite sharp and color graphics that retained the fine details of the original. Colors looked accurate, and when converted to grayscale, the graphics retained the smooth transitions of the original image.

The HP DeskJet made attractive scans, accurately reproducing colors and capturing fine detail in most areas. Shadow areas, however, came out a little darker than in the original and lost some detail.

Scanning photos was not flawless, however, due to the unreliable auto crop feature, which I'll cover in the software section below.

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Ink cost and yield

This DeskJet uses two ink cartridges, a pigment-based black ink cartridge and a dye-based tri-color cartridge. Standard and XL cartridges are available. The starter cartridges will not last long, so be prepared to order more ink very quickly if you don't plan to sign up for an ink subscription plan. 

Using standard cartridges, costs per page are an estimated 8 cents (text) and 25 cents (color). Average costs per page for competing models are slightly lower, at 7.8 cents and 21.2 cents, respectively. 

Using the XL cartridges will save you money — but the savings is not dramatic. At 10 cents (text) and 22.5 cents (color) per page using XL cartridges, the 2755e lags behind the averages of 6.2 cents (text) and 15.7 cents (color) per page for models that offer high-capacity ink cartridges. However, some of these models offer cartridges of a much higher capacity than this HP's cartridges.

By comparison, using its XXL cartridges with page yields of 600 pages each, the Canon MG3620 delivers costs per page of 6.7 cents for text and 13.3 cents for color.

If it sounds like these ink costs will become burdensome, you might consider an ink subscription plan. Our article, What Is HP Instant Ink?, should give you a good primer for how this works. But, if you'd rather have an algorithm do the thinking for you, you're in good luck. The HP Smart software quickly suggested an HP Instant Ink plan for me after just a few days of printing. 

For further comparison of plans by competitors, see our story, HP Instant Ink vs. Canon vs. Epson: Are ink subscriptions worth it? 

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Setup and software

Just as the DeskJet 21755e is online-centric, so is the setup. Printed materials are minimal, and there is no CD-ROM for installing software. You are directed to go online to 123.hp.com to download the HP Smart software. Overall, setup was easy, but I did have a couple hiccups. At first, my Windows 10 PC could not find the printer over USB, and I was directed to turn on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to complete that task. 

Installing the two ink cartridges is simple. You fold down the flap on the front panel to reveal the ink cartridge bay. The cartridges snap into their slot without too much force.

When plugging in the USB cable, my Windows 10 PC found the printer. However, when opening the HP Smart software, it could not find the printer and directed me to turn on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to complete setup. When this was unsuccessful, I used my iPhone with Bluetooth to get the printer on my network.

The HP Plus program, which is included in the printer purchase, offers six months of free ink. This program locks you into using HP's ink cartridges, which are outfitted with a chip to ensure compliance. It also offers updated photo scanning, mobile fax capability from a mobile device, and G Suite connectivity.

Oddly, although both the printer's LCD and the HP Smart software show estimated levels of each ink, neither reliably displayed a warning that ink is about to run out during my testing. So in my experience, you kind of have to guess, though an HP representative claims this may have been a malfunction as the printer is designed to send low ink warnings via both the display and phone app. However, even though the level indicators showed some ink remaining for my test print job, I ended up with an unattractive photo printed with only yellow ink.

As mentioned earlier, using HP Smart's scanning software on a PC was frustrating due to the unreliable auto crop feature. On multiple occasions, auto crop cut off some — or most — of the image. Scanning a colorful magazine cover, HP Smart mistakenly cropped out a significant amount of the image. Even when selecting 5-by-7-inch as the original size of my photograph, HP Smart still performed an auto crop that included only a small fraction of white space in the bottom corner. In a collage containing two photos, HP Smart selected only one of them, cutting out more than half the total image. In addition, the software doesn't have a built-in crop for 8-by-10-inch photos. But as I found out with 5-by-7-inch prints, it didn't matter. The workaround here is to select "all" and not crop — but this means you will have to crop out the extra white space yourself. If you do much scanning, that is going to get tedious.

If you simply scan using default settings, HP Smart will likely work well for you. However, if you like to use shortcuts for different file types or resolutions, you'll likely find HP Smart too simple. You can't save shortcuts with various resolution or file type settings in HP Smart, nor can you set up shortcuts for saving scanned documents to a folder on your PC — only for saving scanned files to online destinations, such as Google Drive. That means you must set the resolution and file type (PDF, JPG, etc.) every time you scan and save to your PC, which can get tedious.

After performing a scan, HP Smart does not reset for a new scan, which also grew tedious. I had to repeatedly close the "saved file" popup window, and then backspace from the scan preview in order to perform a new scan.

HP Smart's on-screen explanations touted advanced features, such as multiple-item scanning. Unfortunately, this explanation didn't point me to where I would enable this feature. And so, when trying to scan multiple photos, HP Smart only cropped one photo — and did so poorly, leaving out much of the sky of my grayscale landscape shot.

Here's another oddity: If you want to print with HP Smart, you need to open the application and then open a document or photo from there. In other words, from Windows Explorer, right-clicking on a file to see the "open with" list of applications will not show HP Smart in the list. That function is not supported.

HP Smart is also an iOS app, which I tried on an iPhone 7. Using the camera scan function, I took a photo of a photographic print. I had loaded 4-by-6-inch photo paper in the printer. But the iOS app said it was "retrieving paper size info". Swiping upward to check the settings, the app showed it was set to letter-size, but it offered no other paper sizes. One guess is that because the 2755e does not have a paper sensor, this information was not communicated (and I needed to change the setting, perhaps using my PC)--because I did not see a way to add 4-by-6-inch photo paper on the iPhone to my list of choices. Per an HP representative, the iOS app, consistent with AirPrint, only allows the user to select from the paper size loaded in the printer (which had been loaded). Clearly, this didn't work as promised.

So, I tried the scan function in the iOS app. (For both the copy and the scan functions, you are taking a picture of your document). I loaded 4-by-6 paper in the printer — but then I got a print of only part of the image, as if the 2755e was still printing onto letter-size paper. The app offered no setting whereby I could reduce the size of the image on the paper — it defaulted to full page.

Using the camera scan iOS function on a text doc produced passable results. What was laser-sharp text in the original came out demonstrably lighter and fuzzier around the edges, with plenty of noticeable ink splatter. I wouldn't use this feature if the printer is within reach for traditional scanning and copying.

Using the app's copy function, you use an object size icon at the lower right of the screen. You must select this before taking your picture. I found out the hard way, making a letter-size print of a 4-by-6-inch photo, because the copy function default is to copy a letter-size original. For text documents, the copy quality was worse than with the scan function. Text was blurry and the background printed gray, even though I'd taken the picture by a window in bright sunlight, with no reflections from direct light hitting the page.

On the plus side, the HP Smart app offers a helpful zoom magnifier to help you adjust the crop box, which is a nice touch.

Compared to the PC software's bad auto cropping, the iOS app did a better job of cropping dark photos on a white background and text documents on a dark desk. One photo "scan" of a magazine page was poorly cropped, however.

Both the PC software and the iOS app generate repeated sales pitches for the Instant Ink program. This subscription program will likely save you money, so is definitely worth the consideration. In the meantime, however, the solicitations get old. In one case, an Instant Ink sales pitch froze the iOS app and I had to close it.

Neither the HP Smart PC software nor the iOS app offered a low-ink warning. Both apps offer a graphical display showing estimated ink levels, but did not indicate with an exclamation point in a yellow triangle, for example, that a critical level had been reached. As a result, I printed pages that only had yellow ink on a graphic, and absolutely no text on the rest of the page.

HP DeskJet 2755e review: Bottom line

This HP DeskJet offers high image quality and respectable performance for a low price. It's a good budget choice — as long as you sign up for an ink subscription plan. 

The lack of borderless photo printing is disappointing, as is the inaccuracy of the auto crop feature when scanning with HP Smart. The software is too limited for sophisticated users, but users with more basic needs will definitely enjoy the high image quality of this bargain DeskJet. 

The Brother MFC-J1205w ($130) is a basic multifunction printer that performs very well at most tasks. As is common in this price range, this printer lacks a duplexer for making two-sided prints and copies, and does not offer an automatic document feeder for copying and scanning multipage documents.

The MFC-J1205w performed well in many of our tests, and the tradeoff for this bargain unit is that photo printing speeds are likely to disappoint, even though image quality is high.

This multifunction has a USB port and offers Wi-Fi connectivity. It uses four ink cartridges: The standard black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. The ink cartridges offer a generous yield of 750 pages each. The four ink cartridges are easy to install in the cartridge bay, which is to the right of the paper tray, on the front panel. To get automatic ordering of ink cartridges when the printer is running low, the company offers the Brother Refresh program.

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Design

To connect via USB, you route the cable inside the chassis to a port located under the scanner lid. This route takes roughly four-and-a-half inches off your cable's reach to your computer.

The body measures 17.1 (w) x 14.1 (d) x 6.3 inches (h), a size that is somewhat average. Extending the 50-sheet output tray and catch increases the depth to 18.1 inches. The output tray sits on top of the 150-sheet input paper drawer. To print onto 4-by-6-inch photo paper, you will need to flip up a tongue on the bottom of the drawer, in addition to sliding in the guides at the side of the drawer.

Weighing 14.3 pounds, the MFC-J1205w is nearly double the weight of the 7.5-pound HP DeskJet 2755e. Nonetheless, it's still light enough for one person to easily transport if you need to.

On the top of the unit, the control panel sits to the left of the scanner lid. There are five dedicated buttons: paper size, wireless on/off, power/stop, monochrome copy/scan, and color copy/scan. There is no LCD. In addition to lights beside three of the buttons, there is an error indicator light and a low-ink light. You will have to interpret the status indicated by some combinations of these lights. In one case, the power button light and an error light flashed in unison. Going to the printed setup guide, I found it difficult to locate these explanations. Unfortunately, the online FAQ & troubleshooting page didn't make it easy to search by light combination—instead it offered a list of 12 categories of errors for me to search through.

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Print speed

The MFC-J1205w printed a five-page text document in 24.5 seconds (or, 12.2 ppm), which was significantly faster than the average of 33.8 seconds (or, 8.9 ppm). Printing of mixed text and color graphics was also quicker than average. Our six-page PDF printed in 1 minute and 53 seconds (or, 3.2 ppm). This was faster than the average of two minutes and 12 seconds (or, 2.7 ppm). By comparison, the $85 HP DeskJet 2755e took just over 3 minutes (or, 2 ppm) to print the same document.

Photo printing was very slow. To make an 8-by-10-inch glossy print, the MFC-J1205w took 8 minutes and 16 seconds. This was almost twice as long as the average time of 4 minutes and 19 seconds. However, the HP DeskJet 2755e was similarly slow, taking 7 minutes and 8 seconds to make an 8-by-10-inch photo print. 

Snapshot printing was no more impressive. The Brother took 3 minutes and 43 seconds to make a 4-by-6-inch photo print with a border, at highest-quality settings. To make a borderless print in Windows 10, you have to use the Brother iPrint&Scan software. Printing a borderless 4-by-6-inch glossy took nearly 4 minutes—nearly twice as long as the average of 2 minutes and 9 seconds. By comparison, the HP DeskJet 2755e was faster than the average, taking 1 minute and 44 seconds to print a 4-by-6-inch glossy.

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Copy and scan speed

The MFC-J1205w made a color copy in 28.1 seconds, which is exactly the average for comparable models. By comparison, the HP 2755e was slightly slower, making a color copy in 32.4 seconds.

This Brother is among the fastest models at making black-and-white copies. On average, the MFC-J1205w produced a monochrome copy in just 10.8 seconds, significantly faster than the average of 15.9 seconds. The HP DeskJet 2755e made black-and-white copies at half the speed of the Brother, taking 25.1 seconds.

The Brother was similarly impressive at scanning. It quickly captured a high-resolution 600 dpi color JPEG scan of an 8-by-10 photo, doing so in just 37.5 seconds—almost half the average time of 1 minute and 6 seconds. The HP 2755e, by contrast, was significantly slower, taking 1 minute and 36 seconds to perform the same scan.

Making a 300 dpi monochrome scan to PDF format took the MFC-J1205w just 9.1 seconds, beating the average of 11.7 seconds, and far outpacing the HP DeskJet 2755e, which took 19.4 seconds.

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Print quality

Text prints looked attractive. Letterforms were sufficiently dark and looked sharp. Edges looked slightly crisper than those printed by the HP DeskJet 2755e. 

Graphics printed with a good amount of detail and accurate colors. Compared to graphics printed by the HP 2755e, the Brother's graphics had slightly smoother textures and better fine detail. However, in the Brother's prints, some faces looked too bright and thus lost contour. But text in our test PDF printed sharply (something the HP DeskJet reproduced less sharply). Similarly, text in graphics areas of the PDF looked sharper in the Brother's prints.

Glossy photos looked attractive, with accurate colors and fine details. Unlike some other models, the Brother does not hype yellow and red shades, which gives a warmer look to photo prints. 

The Brother also makes good-quality copies, accurately reproducing text and graphics. Scan quality was also high. As in its graphics prints, this Brother showed a tendency in scans of faces to bump up the exposure. Whereas this led to a loss of some mid-tone transitions in prints on plain paper, in photo scans it prevented harsh shadows on faces in the mid-day sun from looking unattractively dark. By contrast, the HP DeskJet 2755e scanned the same mid-day photo with darker shadows on faces.

Dark background shadows in another one of our test photo scans, however, came out too dark, losing some fine details.

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Ink cost and yield

Brother's standard-yield ink cartridges deliver low costs per page for the MFC-J1205w. Text pages cost 3.5 cents per page, and color pages cost 9.1 cents each. 

These ongoing costs are significantly lower than the averages of 10 cents (text) and 21.2 cents (color), when using standard-yield cartridges. But this Brother even beats the lower costs per page for models using high-yield cartridges: 6.2 cents (text) and 15.7 cents (color).

By comparison, the HP 2755e has costs per page of 8 cents (text) and 25 cents (color) when using standard cartridges. But with high-yield cartridges, ink costs are still significantly higher than the Brother, at 10 cents (text) and 22.5 cents (color).

All four of the Brother's ink cartridges have an estimated yield of 750 pages. The black ink cartridge costs $25.99, while the color cartridges cost $15.49 each. No high-yield cartridges are offered.

The Brother Refresh program offers the convenience of automatic ordering of cartridges when ink is running low. This is not a subscription plan with a monthly fee.

For a detailed explanation of ink subscription plans, including the Brother Refresh program, see "HP Instant Ink vs. Canon vs. Epson: Are ink subscriptions worth it?"

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Setup and software

The included software is basic, but gets the job done. One drawback is that you will need to use the Brother iPrint&Scan software to make a borderless photo print. (In my testing, borderless printing was not available in the Windows 10 print driver).

As for scanning, photo enthusiasts may wish for an 8-by-10-inch scan area preset. Because there is none, you will need to rely on the auto crop feature. Thankfully, in most cases auto crop worked well. The main exception was a colorful magazine cover illustration, which causes auto crop to only capture a small portion of the image. Similarly, a scan of a magazine page cropped out more than half of the original page. However, many other magazine pages were accurately cropped automatically. 

Also included is the Brother Creative Center software, which offers templates and printable items such as cards, invitations, calendars, party decorations, coloring graphics, and the like.

Setting up the MFC-J1205w is straightforward, and the starter ink cartridges slid easily into place. After loading paper, the printer automatically produces a print quality test sheet. This first print pulled three sheets of paper through the paper path. One of my later copies pulled two sheets through the unit, which may indicate paper feed issues.

Setting up from a PC, the on-screen prompts are easy to follow and the quick setup guide is handy, with large illustrations. This reference and the troubleshooting guide show LED indicator lights and button presses for checking print quality (mono or color).

To initiate a wireless connection, I used the QR code in the setup guide to download the Brother iOS app to my iPhone. The app, however, did not automatically identify the printer model. I had to select it from a list, confirm that a pair of lights on the control panel were blinking, and then app established a WiFi Direct connection.

The rest of the wireless setup was problematic, however. In the end, the printer was usable on my network from both my iPhone and my Windows 10 PC, but my first attempts were frustrating. For example, when I first attempted to add the printer to my wireless network by entering the network password in the Brother iOS app, it failed to finish the process.

Attempting the wireless network setup from my Windows 10 PC, I was unable to find a wireless connection setup in either the Brother iPrint & Scan software or in Brother Utilities (perhaps because I had previously set up a USB connection). So, attempting to add the printer in Windows Settings, I was prompted to enter the printer's WPS PIN—but I could not find this information in the setup guide. The Brother support website described a method of pressing the printer's Wi-Fi button three times as well as my router's WPS button—but this also failed to place the MFC-J1205w on my network.

After a short reprieve, both the iOS wireless and Windows 10 PC Wi-Fi connections resolved themselves and I didn't have to call the support center. How I would repeat this setup scenario is a mystery to me.

Brother MFC-J1205w review: Bottom line

This bargain Brother printer offers high image quality and a lot of speed. It's quick to print text, print graphics, and to make copies and scans. The bonus of low ink costs make the MFC-J1205w a solid candidate for everyday office tasks. 

Photo enthusiasts, however, will be sorely disappointed by the sluggish photo printing, and the limited offer of borderless photo printing only in the included software. Because this basic model lacks a display screen on its control panel, it's best suited for users who plan to operate it from a PC or smartphone. 

The Kodak STEP Slim ($100, marked down to $80 at press time) is a little printer with a single mission: To make 2 x 3-inch photo prints on the go. 

Rather than transfer ink or toner to the paper, the STEP Slim uses Zink (as in, zero ink) technology. The thermal paper contains multiple layers containing dye crystals that respond to heat. There is a layer for each of the three colors (yellow, magenta and cyan), with each layer responding to different temperatures and heat pulses.

The battery is rated to last 25 prints or one-and-a-half hours. Charge time is also one-and-a-half hours. A micro USB cable is included for charging. Sending photos to the printer is done wirelessly via Bluetooth.

This STEP Slim makes one size of prints: 2 x 3 inches. The most common aspect ratio in cell phones, however, is 4:3, which means you will either leave white space on the paper in order to print the entire image, or you will have to crop the image to fill the paper.

The STEP Slim comes with an app that can easily access your social media accounts. Tapping on "My Gallery" in the Kodak STEP app opens options to print from Facebook, Instagram, and Google Photos, as well as several (some, automatically) generated lists: recents, Kodak Steptouch Edit, Favorites, Recently Added, selfies, screenshots, portrait, animated, unable to upload, and RAW.

In addition to printing images from your social media accounts, the app also lets you share to social media as well as to your texting app. Operating the STEP Slim is exclusive to mobile phones. You can not operate this printer from a Windows or Mac computer.

Kodak STEP Slim mobile photo printer review: Design

Small enough to fit in a pocket, this little printer measures approximately 4.6 x 3.2 x 0.75 inches. For comparison, it's roughly an inch shorter and twice as thick as an iPhone 7 in a durable case. The STEP Slim is lightweight, weighing less than 6 ounces without paper loaded. By comparison, the iPhone 7 weighs 4.9 ounces. 

The body is attractively simple, with a flat lid, rounded corners, and a glossy white finish. At one end is the slot where finished prints emerge.

At the other end is the power button, the micro USB port, and a charging light. Adding the paper is simple: You slide off the lid and place the paper in the interior paper bay.

Kodak STEP Slim mobile photo printer review: Print Speed and Quality

In our tests, the STEP Slim made a print in 47.4 seconds, on average, and its speed was very consistent.

Print quality is good, but not great. Upon close inspection, fine bands are sometimes visible on the prints. In our test prints, however, these were not so pronounced as to be distracting. In other cases, up-close examination revealed pixelation that made some textures a little unattractive.

Overall, prints were attractive. Colors looked natural and well saturated. Skin tones in portraits didn't look as warm as on-screen, however. In both flash photos and photos taken in natural light, faces tended to look a little overexposed, flattening the texture of the faces.

Up-close shots of a few people looked quite good. My prints of a small group shot waist-up, filling the frame, printed with an attractive amount of detail. In other prints, however, some fine details got lost. In particular, in shots containing more than a few people, where the faces were printed smaller, fine details of facial features were noticeably missing when viewed up close.

Kodak STEP Slim mobile photo printer review: Paper Cost

Unlike inkjet printers, Zink printers only require that you buy paper (no cartridges needed). 

A 100-sheet pack of paper typically costs $59.99, or 60 cents per print. Marked down to $49.99, when reviewed, reduces the cost of prints to 50 cents each. You also can get sticker paper (two pre-cut stickers per sheet), which comes in a pack of 30 sheets for $19.99, which was marked down to $16.99 when reviewed.

Kodak offers a basic subscription plan: You choose to receive a paper pack every month or every other month, in one of three sizes: 20, 50 or 100 sheets. Signing up for a subscription (which you can reportedly cancel at any time, without penalty), can save 10 percent. But that 10 percent savings is based on the full price of the paper (note the marked-down prices above).

For example, with a subscription, both a 20-pack of paper ($8.99) and a 50-pack ($22.49) come out to 45 cents per print. (The 100-pack with a subscription was not available at press time.)

How do these costs compare to other small printers that make miniature prints? One similar model that uses Zink technology is the HP Sprocket, whose 2.3 x 3.4-inch paper runs 60 cents per print, if you buy a 100-sheet pack of its sticky back photo paper.

Another competing model is the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2, which makes 2.44 x 1.81-inch prints using Instax film instead of Zink paper. At full price, a pack of 50 sheets runs $59.95, or $1.20 per print. At press time, the discounted price of $41 still meant you'd pay 82 cents per print—almost double the STEP Slim's best rate.

Compared to a standard desktop inkjet printer, however, the Kodak's miniature prints can be a little pricey. For comparison, I chose the recently reviewed Canon Pixma TS702a ($130), a single-function inkjet printer. Using a 100-sheet pack of Canon's 4 x 6-inch Photo Paper Plus II at full price ($22), and ink cartridges bought in value packs, snapshots cost a total of 64.9 cents each. Using higher-capacity XL ink cartridges brings this cost down by 8 cents. At press time, however, Canon's discounted paper pack ($13.19) reduced costs significantly. Of course, these costs are for 4 x 6-inch prints. Cutting this cost in half to the 2 x 3-inch equivalent of the STEP Slim's prints, the Canon's prints cost 32.5 to 24 cents each per 2-by-3-inch print area—or, 28 percent to 47 percent lower than the Kodak's.

Kodak STEP Slim mobile photo printer review: Setup and Software

Setting up the Kodak STEP Slim is very simple. I used the QR code printed in the small start guide to download the iOS app. A series of initial screens led me through the main features of the Kodak STEP app and locations of on-screen buttons.

From the app's gallery page, swiping left clears the screen for taking pictures within the app. You simply swipe rightward to return to the gallery page.

The app offers an attractive set of filters, with a variety of artsy and classic treatments. There are 25 in all, from monochrome to retro and color casts. There are understated filters with low color saturation, all the way up to oversaturated vibrance, and a noisy black-and-white punk rock look. 

There is a blur feature, which works very simply—just place the on-screen circle (adjustable size) on your subject, and the remainder of the image will be slightly blurred. This is particularly handy for basic phone cameras that can't create this shallow depth of field with their lens. However, I found this feature to be a little glitchy: adjusting the size of the focus circle was sticky.

Other features were welcome although a little basic. The brightness adjustment, I found, had a tendency to wash out the photo. I would prefer to have separate adjustments for highlights and shadows. Personally, I tend to like a shadow adjustment to recover lost details in harsh shadows, such as on people's faces in bright sunlight. Fun photo add-ons include borders, graphics, and text. You can also make stickers by printing to pre-cut sticker paper.

Previously, I mentioned that photos taken at 4:3 aspect ratio will have to be cropped to fill the 3:2 print size of the Kodak paper. When moving the image and magnifying it in the app, you do have control over the placement of the image. You aren't locked into placing the image at the center of the paper.

The app offers other handy features beyond its editing capabilities. There are quick tips and support links, share settings, and paper refill ordering.

However, if you have a favorite photo editing app you would like to print from, you may be disappointed to find that you will have to save your image and then print from the Kodak app.

Kodak STEP Slim mobile photo printer review: Bottom line

The Kodak STEP Slim is fun, easy to use, and offers good print quality. It's a one-trick pony, but it offers a full set of features via its well-designed app. The pocketable size makes it convenient. And although print quality is not excellent, it is certainly impressive enough for a pocketable printer that can generate a 2 x 3-inch photo print in less than a minute. Although cost per print is quite high, this is a handy device for quickly printing out photos on the go.

The Prusa Mini+ is a well-built, solid small 3D printer that’s ideal for those who want to experiment with 3D printing. We’ve seen cheaper printers aimed at beginners, from the Monoprice Delta Mini V2 to the XYZ da Vinci Nano. But you won’t mind paying up for the toughness and reliability of the Prusa Mini+, which is among the best 3D printers precisely because it’s so easy to use.

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Price and availability

The Prusa Mini+ comes in two versions: a semi-assembled kit for $459 and a complete, start-from-scratch kit for $429. Both are available now from Prusa.

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Design

Most of the Mini+ is 3D printed itself, with the addition of pieces of extruded aluminum and metal rods to form the frame. The printer is not enclosed, so you’ll want to find a spot for it that avoids drafts or sudden temperature changes. The front of the printer includes a 2.8-inch LCD screen, with a combined control dial and button, plus a reset button. 

The main feature of the Prusa Mini+ is the print bed, which uses a removable metal plate. When a print is finished, you can lift the print bed off and bend the plate to help remove it. This also means you can quickly start another print by swapping out build plates — a big plus if you want to use the printer a lot. 

This print bed offers a 7x7x7-inch print area for a total of 343 cubic inches. That’s a decent size, especially for a smaller 3D printer. While that’s slightly smaller than printers such as the Adventurer 4, the Prusa Mini+ is big enough to handle most things you are likely to want to print. 

The Mini+ print head hovers above the print bed, moved by two motors that lift it and move it left and right. An additional motor moves the print bed back and forward. All three motors are quiet, so there are none of the usual crunching and grinding noises you’d expect to hear as a print is produced. 

The Mini+ also has a neat holder for the filament spool, which uses four bearings to let the spool rotate freely. Another unusual feature is a filament sensor that detects when the filament runs out and halts the print in progress, giving you the chance to load another spool and save the print. 

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Setup

For this Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review, I tested the partly constructed kit, which is probably the better option for most people. The kit comes tested and calibrated, saving great hassle and heartache. 

The build process is simple and well-described in the included manual. Some nice touches make it easier. Take the Cheatsheet, a printed guide showing all the screws and bolts at life-size. This avoids many of the common hassles of assembling a kit, like not realizing the difference between an M3X20 and an M3X25 bolt until you’ve already inserted it and can’t figure out why it doesn’t work. 

The kit also comes with a small pack of Haribo bears, and the manual instructs you to eat these at various times during the process. I am not a big fan, so I substituted yogurt-coated raisins, which did not affect the build process and tasted better. 

Once the Prusa Mini+ is built, you run through the calibration wizard, which tests the printer and helps you set it up. Again, this is well described in the manual and is mostly automatic. This walks you through loading the filament and setting the Z offset, the gap between the print bed and the tip of the filament extruder. 

The Mini+ includes a sensor that detects the print bed, so you don’t have to level the print bed, but you need to set the Z offset, which involves running a test that squeezes a layer of filament onto the print bed, then looking to see how well this sticks and adjusting the setting to get the right height. It isn’t difficult and is fairly obvious once you get it right. 

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Printing process

To print a 3D model on the Prusa Mini+, you must prepare it and create a print file. The Mini+ uses a program called PrusaSlicer, available for Windows, Mac and Linux. This program is very nice, with a simple, clean design that steps you through loading the model, positioning it for the print, and then creating the print file that you send to the printer. 

For materials, profiles for generic PLA, ABS, and PETG  and several Prusa filaments are installed by default. A huge number of user-created profiles for filament from other manufacturers can also be installed if required. 

PrusaSlicer includes many powerful features — models can be duplicated, spun around, automatically arranged, and tweaked in many ways. You also enjoy a lot of control over the printing process, with features like adding fuzzy skin to a part of a print to create a fiber-like texture that provides more grip. 

Once the print is set up, you save the print file to a USB drive and transfer it over to the Prusa Mini+. At the moment, the Mini+ does not support wireless printing. A basic monitoring app is built into that 3D printer that uses its ethernet connection, but there is no way to start or stop a print remotely. Prusa is working on this with its Prusa Connect service, which only works with the more expensive Prusa 3 printer at the moment; support for the Mini+ is promised in the future. 

When you insert a USB drive containing a print file into the Mini+’s USB port, the printer’s LCD screen shows a preview of the print and the basic info, automatically selecting the most recent one. You can start the print with a single click of the controller. That lovely, simple touch makes things quicker and simpler: no more hunting through a long list of files to find the one you want. 

The Prusa Mini+ is pretty quiet, producing only a slight humming noise as the motors turn, with the odd clonk or whirr as the printer head moves around. I wouldn’t want to try and sleep in the same room as it when printing, but it is certainly one of the quietest and least annoying printers I have tested.

When the print is complete, you remove the print bed and bend it to pop the print off.  I had no problems with failed prints on this printer — all of my test prints printed correctly, popping off the print bed with ease.

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Print speed

We found that the Mini+ was a fairly fast printer. When working in the 0.2mm quality print mode, our 4-inch high test model of the Thinker took 7 hours and 52 minutes. It could go faster, though, as switching to the 0.3mm Speed mode sped this up to just 4 hours and 22 minutes, although the print quality suffered somewhat.That’s still a bit slower than the Monoprice Delta Mini, which took 3.5 hours to do a similar print. 

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Print Quality

If you don’t mind the longer wait, the Mini+ can produce excellent quality prints. Printing in the Quality mode, I found that the Mini+ created excellent prints of all of our models, with smooth curves on the Thinker and sharp edges and tips on our geometric sculpture. 

We did notice quite a lot of stringing on the geometric sculpture, though, where thin filament strings are left behind as the print head moves from one part of the print to another. We were able to deal with some of this with tweaks to settings in PrusaSlicer — specifically the retraction setting, which determines how the printer pulls the filament back into the print head when moving it from one part of the print to another. However, strings remained on some prints. 

I also found excellent quality in our test where we produce a set of interlocking gears. These intricate parts fit together with very few issues, and the final mechanism turned smoothly and cleanly. The gears did need a bit of cleaning, though, as some small whiskers of filament stuck to parts of the print and had to be trimmed off with a sharp knife. 

These whiskers can also be caused by the filament absorbing moisture, which underlies one of the issues with open-plan printers like the Mini+: you are at the mercy of your environment. Printers like the Adventure 4 that have sealed enclosures can filter the air and dry the filament, but the Mini+ can’t. Prusa offers an enclosure, which adds another $349 to the cost of the Mini+. 

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Materials

There are no restrictions on the printing material that the Mini+ can use. Any 1.75mm filament can be fed into the printer. The heated print bed (which can reach up to 100C/212F) and the hot extruder (which can get up to 280C/536F) can handle most materials, including the more exotic ones like Nylon and Polypropylene. 

Prusa sells its own line of filaments, including several filaments made with wood and metal additions to provide a more natural texture. The metal ones require a hardened nozzle, though, as the metal particles in the filament wear away the Mini+’s standard brass nozzle. Prusa does not make these, but it does offer a great guide on where to get a hardened nozzle and how to adapt the printing process to them. 

Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review: Verdict

There are plenty of cheaper 3D printers out there than the Prusa Mini+. These are often a false economy, though: cheaper printers require lots of calibration, testing, and tweaking to get good-quality prints. The Mini+ doesn’t make you jump through those hoops — all the prints I tried worked the first time and looked good, apart from some easily-trimmed whiskers. That’s worth a lot more than a lower initial price tag. 

The overall Prusa Mini+ package is excellent, with easy assembly, friendly software and a straightforward printing process. If you want someone to be inspired by 3D printing rather than frustrated, the Mini+ is a great pick. Get this 3D printer for the beginner who wants to get into 3D printing and doesn’t mind spending a bit more on a printer that can grow with them. 

The best photo printers make it easy to create prints of your favorite photos, no matter if they're simple snapshots or professional-grade photos. 

I know the printer experts on our team go hands-on to use and test every printer we review, which means printing out hundreds of test sheets. And based on all that testing, I generally recommend the Canon Pixma TR8620 as the best photo printer for most folks because it prints photos quickly at high quality, without costing a boatload either up front or down the line in ink costs.

But if you need something a little more portable for your next trip, consider the Canon Pixma TR150. It's not as versatile or as capable as the TR8620 but its an awful lot easier to fit in your backpack, and it prints out high-quality photos with ease.

Read on for more details about why these are the best photo printers we recommend right now, including links to our reviews and testing so you can pick the printer that's perfect for you.

The quick list

In a hurry? Here's a quick list of the best photo printers we recommend right now.

The best photo printers you can buy today

Best overall

The Canon Pixma TR8620 is great for printing photos because it delivers high print quality at high speed, according to our testing. 

Plus it offers a bounty of useful features that are nice to have in a home printer, from scanning and faxing functionality to a 20-page automatic document feeder (ADF), a duplexer for two-sided printing, and two paper trays for keeping two types of paper at the ready. A big 4.3-inch color touchscreen makes it easy to control, and the printer supports smart home integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Really, our only big complaint with this Canon printer is how much the ink costs, but that's admittedly due partially to the expense of using two different black inks in its 5-ink cartridge system.

Read our full Canon Pixma TR8620 review and check our Canon promo codes before you buy!

Best portable photo printer

If you want to print photos on the go, I think the Canon Pixma TR150 is the best we've reviewed because its small enough to toss in a backpack, yet big enough to print everything from 4x6 photos to 8.5 x 11 documents. With a two-cartridge system, its ink is affordable and lends itself well to a variety of printing uses. But where the Canon really stands out is photo printing. 

Admittedly it lacks some key printer features like copying and scanning, but what you sacrifice in versatility you get back in portability. This is a capable, sturdy portable printer with optional battery and even support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls, but we love it for the great photos and low ink costs it offers.

Read our full Canon Pixma TR150 review. 

How to find the best photo printer for you

Choosing the right photo printer is largely a question of desired picture size and whether or not you want portability. Photo printing covers several subcategories of printer, ranging from portable photo printers for smartphones to multifunction all-in-one printers. Those offer photo printing alongside document printing, scanning and copying.

Snapshots or larger? Inkjet printers that offer photo printing will usually do so at sizes up to a full-page, while dedicated photo printers may be limited to 4 x 6 prints or smaller. If larger prints are what you want, then no portable printer will do – you need a desktop inkjet printer like the Canon Pixma TR8620.

Portability is the other big concern. Many people find that the best time to print off those vacation photos is during the vacation, getting hard copies of that day at the beach or that memorable museum tour printed right in your hotel room, and for those people the best photo printer is probably the Pixma TR150 on account of how easy it is to carry with you;

Price: Set a budget for what you can afford to spend, then calibrate your photo printer expectations accordingly. Photo-capable all-in-one printers can be had for as little as $60 for inkjet models, but more-professional printing options can scale up to hundreds of dollars. Smaller portable photo printers feature battery power and smartphone connectivity and generally sell for around $100 or more.

How we test photo printers

From large inkjets to pocket-sized mobile printers, every photo printer we review goes through rigorous testing and evaluation as part of our review process. For photo printing, that involves printing a handful of photos, timing how long each print takes, and then examining the quality of each picture.

Print speed measures the time it takes to print, from the moment we hit "print" until the final photo is ejected from the printer. We do this for single photos and batches of several prints to get a good feel for how long printing takes in a variety of circumstances.

Photo quality is determined by examining the printed images, noting how well the printer has handled transitions between shades, the sharpness of fine details and how well flesh-tones are reproduced.

Cost of printing is notoriously difficult to estimate for photos, which will use widely varying amounts of ink and color depending upon the image being printed, but we do our best to provide realistic estimates. By dividing the manufacturer's estimated yield of each cartridge or refill, we can determine the average cost for each individual page or photo print. Where high-capacity ink cartridges and value-priced packages are available, we make sure to include those in our calculations. 

Check out all of our printer coverage:

Best printers | Best all-in-one printers | Best portable printers | Best laser printers 

Look, this wouldn't be much of a guide to buying the best printers if I just told you to get the Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW. I mean, if you just need to print, copy and scan documents with great print quality and low ink costs, then that's the very printer you'll be looking for (and you can see why in our in-depth review).

But here at Tom's Guide, we put the dozens of printers we review each year through a series of tests to see how fast, capable and, most importantly, affordable they are. You see, there are printers that are better for day-to-day work, but others offer up incredible detail for photo printing or the space for scanning those lengthy documents.

That's why I'm here to point you towards a variety of options to sort your printing needs. So, no more messy prints, runaway ink costs and terrible interfaces. Just mean, clean printing machines (that scan and copy, too). Let's take the pain out of printing with our top recommendations on the best printers around.

• View our Canon promo codes for a 10% discount

The best printers you can buy now

The best printer overall

The Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW is our top all-around printer pick for most homes and small offices, thanks to its exceptionally low running costs, just 0.3 cent per text page and under a penny per color page, and its snappy print speeds. When a printer produces a five-page text document in just 24.2 seconds, you know it's just the machine to get the job done.

When it comes to print quality, the MFC-T780DW delivers sharp text and attractive graphics, though text tends to be slightly lighter than what you’d see from a laser printer. The output on glossy photo paper looks vibrant and detailed, a strong showing for a printer that isn’t marketed as photo-centric.

Beyond printing, the MFC-T780DW proves itself as a true multifunction machine. Its four-tank ink system keeps you prepared for any print job, and scanning is notably fast: a 600 dpi color scan to JPEG took just over 50 seconds in our testing, well ahead of the category average. These features make it a reliable option for scanning, copying, and general document handling.

Compared to other models in this price range, the MFC-T780DW holds its own, as its per-page ink costs even rival those of the Brother HL-L2390DW. While the HP Smart Tank 760 can print photos faster, the MFC-T780DW’s balance of low ink costs and consistent print quality makes it the better all-purpose choice. The Canon Pixma TR8620 leads in photo output with its 5-ink system, but the MFC-T780DW keeps ongoing expenses lower and is better suited for regular office work.

There are some trade-offs. The automatic document feeder holds only 20 sheets, which might be limiting for higher-volume users. The small, simple LCD lacks the convenience of a touchscreen, and setup can be finicky. Wireless connections sometimes require a manual reset, and filling the ink tanks may get messy. That being said, the Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW still stands out for anyone after dependable, cost-effective printing and scanning.

• Read our full Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW review

The best budget printer

The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 is an ink tank all-in-one that delivers great prints with low ink costs and an affordable up-front price, making it my top recommendation for folks seeking a great budget printer.

Of course, you shouldn't expect a lot of bells and whistles on this entry-level all-in-one. It has no document feeder and only one paper tray, plus the speed of copies and prints is pretty average, so you won't be flying through big print jobs.

But if you don't need to be printing all the time, this is a great choice because it delivers what most of us are looking for in a great all-in-one: reliable, high-quality prints with the versatility to do documents, photos and double-sided print jobs.

In our testing, this machine managed to print an average of 9.2 pages per minute, which is pretty on par with the competition. But when printing double-sided text documents that cranked up to 7.2 pages per minute, the fastest duplex print speed we've recorded of any recent ink tank printers.

And thanks to its easy setup process, robust wireless support (this thing can print via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a smartphone app) and low ink costs (we estimate color prints cost roughly 0.9 cents per page, significantly lower than the 1.9 cent per page category average), this is a great printer for anyone seeking a cheap, reliable ink printer for photos and documents.

• Read our full Canon MegaTank Pixma G3290 review

The best printer for students

The HP Smart Tank 7602 is a wireless multifunction printer that we regularly recommend as the best printer for students (most of the time) because it's easy to set up and prints good-quality prints quickly, with very low ink costs.

I know because our printer expert exhaustively tested it himself in his own home, and the HP Smart Tank 7602 surprised him by printing an 8x-10-inch glossy photo at high resolution in under 2 minutes, which is more than twice as fast as the category average (4 minutes 1 second).

It also scans and prints quite quickly, and is speedy at kicking out color and black-and-white documents. However, printed scans often showed small discolorations and pixelations, so this isn't a great printer for photojournalism students or others who prize perfection in prints.

However, our reviewer definitely had some hassles when trying to set up the printer via its included HP Smart software. You can connect the printer to a PC via either USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and unfortunately, you'll need a (free) HP Smart account to take full advantage of all the printer's features.

Still, despite these setup headaches, this printer is our top recommendation for students because of its ease of use, good print quality and low ink costs.

• Read our full HP Smart Tank 7602 review

The best photo printer

Photographers can see their work in fine detail on screens, but it's all for naught if the quality and colors don't match once it's printed out. That's where the Canon PIXMA Pro-200S comes in. It's our top recommendation for photo enthusiasts who want to print gallery-worthy images at home.

With its wide-format support up to A3+ and an 8-ink dye system (double the ink tanks of any we've tested), it delivers vibrant color accuracy and flexibility for everything from panoramic landscapes to finely detailed portraits.

In our hands-on tests, the Pro-200S delivered images with remarkably true-to-life greens and bright blues that feel almost textured, details that often get lost on lesser printers. Fine textures in skin and foliage held up beautifully, and color transitions were smooth, making this an excellent choice for anyone obsessed with faithful photographic reproduction.

And it won't be slow printing off your masterpieces, either. On A3 Pro luster paper, the Pro-200S turned out borderless prints in just over a minute. Even when pushed to the highest quality mode, times stayed under four minutes, making it a fine choice for batch printing.

The Pro-200S isn’t perfect for everyone. Wi-Fi setup can be a little fiddly, and ink costs are higher than document-centric printers, especially if you print lots of large photos. Mono page yield isn't the best, so it’s not a great fit for heavy office use. But for photographers who care most about image quality and print flexibility, these trade-offs are worth it.

• Read our full Canon PIXMA Pro-200S review

The best all-in-one printer

If you just want a printer that does it all, and will last you for any printing jobs for years to come, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is the printer for you, offering up true all-in-one functionality with print, copy, scan and fax in a single device and a generous 250-sheet main paper tray.

Everyday tasks feel streamlined on this machine. The 5-inch touchscreen is responsive and intuitive, simplifying everything from walk-up copying to complex scan jobs. More impressively, print quality impressed us across the board: text was sharp in black and white, and color documents showed plenty of detail and vibrancy.

It's easy to set up, too, which means none of those typical printer pain points. As in, the touchscreen actually makes resolving paper jams much less of a hassle, guiding you step by step. Now that's a welcome feature. But you're also getting rapid print speeds here. In our lab tests, it printed a five-page text document in 11.31 seconds, equivalent to 26.5 pages per minute, meaning you'll be printing out documents on the fly.

If you’re weighing cost efficiency, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is on the more expensive end with its pricier running costs. It's also heavy, so it's the type of printer that you'll want to stay in one spot in your home or office. In the grand scheme of how well this printer performs, though, those are only small nuisances.

From the blazing-fast print speeds to the sharp print quality it offers, the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is one reliable laser printer that's hard to pass up, especially for homes or offices that need a workhorse for all printing needs.

• Read our full Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II review

Also tested

There are lots of other great printers out there that don't quite have what it takes to knock any of our best printers off their perch. But it's awfully close, and when we test and review a printer that's nearly good enough to earn a spot on this list, you should know about it.

If you're after more printers to suit your needs, check out the other models we've tested.

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How to choose the best printer for you

Finding the right printer starts with defining what you need that printer to do. There's a drastic difference between a large multifunction printer that will copy, scan and fax, and a pocket-sized photo printer that's perfect for printing snapshots on the go. The best place to start is to narrow down what functions you want and what aspects of printing are most important to you.

Inkjet or Laser: Inkjet printers are generally better at producing the full range of colors, making them more suited for printing graphics and photos. Laser printers, on the other hand, can quickly produce professional-looking text documents, often at a lower cost per page. Three ways to cut printing costs to a minimum include: Switching to a laser printer, opting for a tank-based inkjet printer or signing up for a subscription ink service. (See our article Inkjet vs. Laser: Which printer is right for you? to learn more.)

All-in-One printers offer more than just printing, with built-in scanners that can scan and copy everything from forms to photos. Some (but not all) will also have fax capability.

Photo printing is a separate concern, requiring support for printing on glossy paper, handling different photo paper sizes and sometimes requiring additional (and potentially expensive) inks to deliver better print quality.

Portable printing is all about mobility. Compact designs are paired with batteries and sometimes exotic print technologies to let you print from a hotel room, in your car, or even out at the beach.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How we test the best printers

Every printer we review is extensively tested to give us a clear idea of how well it performs, in terms of print capability, general ease of use and expense over time. Our testing procedures include timed print tests to determine print speeds, with a set of standardized documents that have a mix of text and graphics and color photos.

Every print is examined and compared, with errors and print problems noted in the review and overall quality measured against the other printers on the market.

We also test the scanning and copying functions (when they are offered), timing how quickly it captures a page and comparing the results to the original images to determine how well it captures color and detail.

To measure the cost of owning and operating a printer, we look at the current street price of ink refills and the estimated number of pages that each cartridge can produce, and calculate the cost for printing a single page.

These specific tests are adapted as needed to handle all sorts of printers, from monochrome laser printers and portable snapshot printers to full-featured all-in-one inkjets. Wherever possible, we make sure that the tests are done in such a way that they can not only be compared within a specific category, but also across all printer types generally.

For more information on our testing process, check out our guide to how we test.

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Laser printers are great for when you need to print a lot, and the best laser printers reliably deliver high-quality print jobs quickly at low cost.

I know exactly how much because here at Tom's Guide my team and I review printers from all the major manufacturers, and we put each one through hundreds of test prints to see how well they actually perform in real-world conditions.

Brother's laser printers often perform very well in our tests, so if you just want a great all-in-one right now I highly recommend the Brother MFC-L2750DW because it'sa reliable, affordable all-in-one laser printer that delivers great prints.

But it's not the cheapest laser printer on the market, so if you're on a budget I recommend the Brother HL-L2390DW instead. This no-frills budget laser printer offers quick performance and quality prints at a good price per page.

Of course, if you need a laser printer for an office or busy home office you'll want something bigger. For those cases I suggest you buy the Canon ImageClass MF743Cdw because it prints large jobs faster than other small business printers we tested, plus it has more features and still delivers great prints at a good price per page.

If those don't fit your needs I have more recommendations down below, so scroll down and check them out! If you don't have your heart set on a laser printer, you can also check out our guide to the best printers around for more printer buying advice.

The quick list

Best laser printers right now

Best laser printer overall

The Brother MFC-L2750DW is a monochrome laser printer that delivers pretty much everything you want in an all-in-one printer at a good price.

Made for small office use, this unit has a monthly duty cycle of 15,000 pages that handles pages quickly and affordably, with some of the best print speeds we've seen at printing costs as low as 2.7 cents per page.

The printer is also loaded with handy features like scanning and copying, fax capability, and a second paper tray. Two-sided copies are extra quick, thanks to two-sided scanning that captures the front and back of a page simultaneously and an automatic duplexer for two-sided printing.

In our testing this printer even produced two-sided documents faster than some competitors printed one-sided pages. The MFC-L2750DW is especially convenient for an office printer, with easy connectivity that includes mobile printing.

This printer may cost a bit more up front, but the Brother MFC-L2750DW is the best combination of print quality, speed and value we've seen in a laser printer, which is why it's my #1 recommendation for the best laser printer you can buy right now.

Read our full Brother MFC-L2750DW review.

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Best value

The Brother HL-L2390DW is a monochrome laser all-in-one printer that's more affordable than it has any right to be given how useful and reliable it is in our testing. While it's still more expensive than the ultra-cheap subsidized inkjet printers you can find at discount stores, it's also not going to quit on you after 3 months or cost you an arm and a leg when it's time to refill the ink.

I know because we printed hundreds of pages to test how well this value-minded machine works, and the speed and quality of the prints is far higher than you'd expect given this printer's affordable price tag. But it's not just affordable at purchase; operating costs are low, too, with a cost per page of 3.7 cents using standard-capacity toner cartridges and just 2.7 cents with high-capacity toner.

As you'll see in our test results, printing performance is sharp and faster than average. Plus, this printer handles scans and copies quickly to boot. If you want the benefits of a laser printer without the usual expense, the Brother HL-L2390DW is my best budget pick for you.

Read our full Brother HL-L2390DW review.

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Best for business

The Canon ImageClass MF743Cdw is a big, hefty laser printer built for business use, so don't buy this if you just need something for family or home use.

But if you are shopping for a small office or business, this is the printer I recommend most often because it reliably prints, scans and copies high volumes of work at high speed, without costing too much.

Plus, with a low cost per page thanks to high-capacity toner cartridges this beefy Canon won't weigh down your budget. And thanks to its ability to quickly print color and monochrome pages, as well as its multi-page copying capabilities, this laser printer won't let you down when business heats up.

The one exception is duplex printing, where we saw less-than-speedy performance compared to other printers we've tested. However, the quality of duplex prints is quite good, and while you will have to have a friend help you move this 60+ pound printer into place, once it's in your office you shouldn't have to replace it anytime soon.

Read our full Canon ImageClass MF743Cdw review.

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How to choose the right laser printer for you

When it comes to picking any type of printer the basics are the same. You are probably already aware that laser printing produces professional looking text documents at a lower cost per page than similar inkjet models. But there are other features to consider.

All in one functions like scanning and copying are included in all of the models on the above list, but one less common function is fax capability. If you work with medical or legal documents, faxing is indispensable, and you'll need a printer that includes it.

Print speed refers to how quickly a printer will complete a page in a document. In our reviews we test this capability, measured in pages per minute. If you need to print frequently, or in high volumes, faster print speeds are worth paying for.

Print quality is another concern, though the majority of laser printers offer some of the best print quality you can get, with sharp and detailed letter forms that leave documents looking professional.

What you won't get on most laser printers is color and photo printing capability. While there are color laser printers on the market, they do cost more. And among those, not every color printer is well-suited to printing photos, and those that do require special photo paper specifically for laser printers.

Printing costs are an ongoing concern for any printer, since even affordable toner refills have some associated expenses over time. Look for a lower cost per page in our product descriptions and reviews, and check out the individual reviews for a detailed discussion of how print costs might make one printer better than another.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How we test laser printers

Every laser printer we review is tested along several measures of performance, including print speed, quality and the cost of printing. We time and measure every test print in our benchmarking process, and compare every print to samples from other models. Along with evaluations of ease-of-use and individual features, we strive to accurately represent how well the printer will meet your day-to-day printing needs.

In addition to basic printing of black-and-white text and mixed media documents, we also test the scanning and copying capabilities. We compare the scan with the original image to see how accurately the scan captures details and color, but we also measure the scanning speed and copying output.

To measure the cost of owning and operating a laser printer, we look at the current street price of toner and the estimated number of pages that a given toner cartridge will produce, and calculate the cost of printing a single page. The higher the cost, the more expensive a given printer will be over time.

While these tests are relatively standard across all of the printers we review, we will adapt them as needed to handle different types of printer and unique capabilities of a given device. Wherever possible, we make sure that the tests are done in a way that is comparable from one unit to the next, and repeatable, so that we can confirm our conclusions.

For more information on our testing process, check out our guide to how we test printers for every review.

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When you imagine a printer you probably think of a big boxy machine on a desk, but nowadays many are built to be used on the go—and the best portable printers don't feel like a downgrade or a compromise.

I know because my team and I review the best printers from the top manufacturers (Brother, Canon, Epson, HP and more) every year and I keep an eye peeled for the best portable printers so I can compile them here in one easy-to-read buying guide.

In a hurry and don't want to read the whole thing? Just know I typically recommend the HP OfficeJet 250 as the best portable printer for most people because it offers the functionality of a full printer (including copying and scanning) in a package that fits in a backpack.

But it is a bit heavier and expensive than many portable printers, and if you just want a cheaper option for printing documents and photos I recommend the Canon Pixma TR150 because it does both fairly well at a great price, making it one of the best values in portable printers around. If you can't find the TR150 model on sale, snag the newer TR160 version—it's just as good.

If you need something for business use I suggest you check out the Epson WorkForce EC-C110. It's a little slower than other portable printers, but it offers business-friendly features and a low cost per page, so what it lacks in efficiency it makes up in economy.

Scroll on for more tips and buying advice, including links to our full reviews of the best portable printers we've tested with detailed breakdowns of print quality, price per page and more!

The quick list

In a hurry? Here's a quick list of the best portable printers we recommend.

The best portable printers you can buy now

The best overall

This HP OfficeJet 250 maximizes what you can do on the go, offering fast copying and scanning, in addition to fast print speeds—with high image quality across the board. This portable printer is on the pricey side, but it offers a lot of features and performance in a compact package. The most immediate payoff is a large, 2.6-inch color touch screen, which makes for easy operation.

Better yet is a small, 10-page automatic document feeder for copying and scanning. This is the only portable printer we've tested that offers copy and scan functions, but with no flatbed scanner, the printer draws paper through the body of the OfficeJet for scanning and copying. Scans weren't always straight, and the paper path's 60-degree bend left me nervous about it possibly damaging photos. But having scanning and copying capability on the go is well-worth these compromises.

The OfficeJet 250 printed text very quickly from a PC, at 9 ppm. On battery power, text printed at 7 ppm. The OfficeJet 250 also printed quickly our six-page PDF of text and color graphics, taking 1:57, compared with the average of 2:27. Photo printing was extremely fast, as well. A 4 x 6-inch glossy photo printed in just 37.6 seconds, at default settings, and in just under 50 seconds at the high-quality setting. The closest competitor, the HP Tango X, took 1:15. The OfficeJet also was the fastest when printing from an iPhone, making a photo print in 42.9 seconds.

Copy and scan speeds were fast, making a color copy in 19.5 seconds, compared with the average of 28.7 seconds for desktop inkjets. The OfficeJet made a black-and-white copy in 13.1 seconds, versus the 16-second desktop average. It made a 600 dpi color scan to JPEG in 1 minute and 21 seconds, and a 300 dpi black-and-white scan to PDF in 20.1 seconds (desktop models average 11 seconds).

Best of all, the speed didn't come with any trade-off in image quality. The very high-quality photo prints had rich, well-saturated colors, pleasing midtone transitions, and lots of fine details. Text documents printed with dark letterforms and edges looked quite sharp. Graphics on plain paper were equally attractive. Document scans looked accurate, with only some sharpness lost on text edges. Photo scans were attractive, with accurate colors and plenty of detail.

The HP OfficeJet offers mobile and cloud printing, but there are some quirks. Using the HP Smart iPhone app was problematic—the app turned a five-page .doc file into a four-page document, while the .docx version was reformatted onto six pages. Photos printed from the Box cloud storage service did not print in full. Roughly two-thirds of the photo would print—but the rest of the paper was left blank.

Ink costs for printing text documents are about average for portable printers, at 9 cents each. With standard cartridges, cost per color page is high, at 23 cents per page. Using high-yield cartridges, you can lower this to 17.3 cents, though this is still higher than the 15.5 cents per color page you get with the Canon iP110 when using standard cartridges. You can save even more money by using HP Instant Ink, HP's subscription service for ink refills by mail.

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The best value

One of our favorite portable printers is the Canon Pixma TR150, a compact inkjet that's small enough to carry in a backpack, but still offers excellent document and photo printing. With a two-cartridge ink system and printing for text documents, graphics and even glossy photos, the Pixma TR150 is a solid choice for portable printing. It doesn't offer copy or scan functionality, but at $199, it's also a great option for your pocketbook.

An optional battery lets you use it when you're away from a wall outlet, but even without it, the Canon Pixma TR150 is one of the most portable and travel-friendly printers out there, weighing less than the HP OfficeJet 250 and offering a more affordable print-only option.

The Pixma TR150 measures a compact 12.7 x 7.3 x 2.6 inches when closed, and weighs just 4.5 pounds – and weighs only 5.1 pounds with an optional battery attached. It opens up to a larger size, accommodating a 50-page paper tray, a basic control panel and plenty of connectivity, so long as you don't need a card slot.

It also offers excellent print speeds, a five-page document in 38.7 seconds, or 7.8 ppm.

In addition to its great mobility, the portable Pixma TR150 made high-quality photos faster than other competing portable printers, and delivered excellent color and detail. It can also handle larger photo prints, but unlike some of our photo printing favorites, there is no copy or scan capability. You do get a solidly-built portable printer with optional battery and even support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls, but we love it for the great photos and low ink costs it offers.

Read our full Canon Pixma TR150 review.

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The best for business

Of the four models outfitted with a battery, the Epson WorkForce EC-C110 is the least expensive. With the WorkForce moniker, this mobile printer is sold by business equipment resellers, and might be the best portable printer for business users. Of the inkjet models here, it is the lightest, weighing just 3.5 pounds.

You lift the lid and lean it back to serve as the 20-sheet input tray. Doing so reveals a small, 1.4-inch color LCD and four-way control buttons. Prints come out a slot on the front panel. You can use the LCD and buttons to change settings, configure Wi-Fi, and so on. You also need it to confirm the paper size, which I was prompted to do every time I loaded paper.

The EC-C110's print speeds were slower than the average. Text printed at 5.8 ppm, versus the average of 6.9 ppm. Running on battery power slowed the EC-C110 substantially: Text printing slowed to 3.4 ppm. Our six-page PDF of mixed text and color graphics more slowly than any other inkjet in this roundup, taking 3:16, or 1.8 ppm. The average was 2.4 ppm.

The EC-C110 printed a photo at default settings from a PC via USB in 1:11. Printing at high resolution slowed the EC-C110 to 3:59. Over Wi-Fi Direct at high-quality settings from an iPhone was agonizingly slow, taking 5:28 to print one photo; printing a second snapshot took almost 7 minutes.

Print quality was high across the board. Text looked dark and sharp, though the letter edges looked a little rough up close. Color graphics printed with natural-looking colors and sharp details. Glossy photos looked very attractive.

Costs per page are better than the portable printers average. Estimated costs per page are 8.8 cents for text and 17.8 cents for color.

I ran into a glitch when trying to print 4 x 6-inch photos from a Windows 10 PC. In the print driver, an error said, "photo doesn't fit on selected paper." The online FAQ did not help, but changing the default paper size to 4-x-6 in the Windows 10 printing preferences solved the issue.

When printing with an iPhone, the EC-C110 had a tendency to drop the Wi-Fi Direct connection before I could finish printing. Resetting the connection and re-entering the password seemed to solve this issue.

Cloud printing may not always be seamless. The Epson iOS app reflowed text in .doc files opened from Box, the online storage service, turning a five-page document into a seven-page reflow that would not be worthy of a business meeting.

This Epson WorkForce model delivers below-average costs per page, Wi-Fi Direct connectivity, an LCD and control panel buttons, but low battery life and slower-than-average print speeds limit its appeal.

View our Epson coupon codes to help you save on the Epson WorkForce EC-C110

Frequently Asked Questions

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How to choose the best portable printer for you

When selecting a portable printer, you'll want to consider a few key factors, such as how you intend to use the printer, what your document printing needs are and what level of portability will be best suited to your circumstances.

Printing needs: Do you need color printing or even photo printing capability? All of the printers listed above are inkjet models so they all can handle it, but the Canon Pixma is better for photos while the Epson Workforce EC-C110 is better for documents. The HP OfficeJet 250 is the only model with an automatic document feeder for copying and scanning.

Portability: Portability is largely a question of size and weight. The HP OfficeJet 250 is the biggest and heaviest option on this list at 15 x 7.8 x 3.6 inches and 6.7 pounds, while the Epson Workforce EC-C1100 is the smallest and lightest at 12.2 x 6.3 x 2.4 inches and just 3.5 pounds. It's not a huge difference, but if you plan to carry this printer around for long portions of the day that extra 3 pounds is going to make a difference.

Battery: Most portable printers also have optional batteries, letting you print even when there's no outlet to use for power. These are accessories that sometimes need to be bought in addition to the printer itself, so plan your purchase accordingly. Many of these printers also offer car-charging options, which are ideal for use in a vehicle while out making sales calls or printing during a road trip.

Functions: Most of these portable models are single-function printers. They are too small to have a flatbed scanner for copying and scanning. One model does scan and copy, however: The HP OfficeJet 250. It has a partial lid that you fold forward to reveal a slender automatic document feeder, so if you need that functionality I recommend you choose HP.

Price range: To help you find the right mobile printer, we considered a range of models and chose five products that we felt best represented the variety available. The printers we reviewed are priced from $200 to almost $500 (including accessories, such as a battery). For more buying advice, check out our guide on how to find the best cheap printer money can buy.

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How we tested these portable printers

To test portable printers, we performed a variety of everyday tasks. To make the results comparable to desktop inkjet printers, we performed a few of the same printing speed tests, from a Windows 10 laptop: A five-page text document, and a six-page PDF with text and graphics.

While desktop models printed text pages at 8.8 ppm, on average, the portables were not far behind, at 6.9 ppm. The portable printers almost matched the desktop printers' 2.7 ppm average on color graphics, clocking in at 2.4 ppm. This average excludes the Brother PocketJet 773 because it prints only in black-and-white (and even so printed only at 1.6 ppm on this test).

For photo speed, we printed a 4 x 6-inch glossy snapshot. The Brother PocketJet 773, however, does not print on photo papers and was excluded from this test.

To test portability, we focus on the wireless and battery-powered functions of the printer. We perform a wireless network setup, evaluating the ease of use for connecting on the go. We also print from a laptop and smartphone using Wi-Fi Direct, and gauge the differences in performance compared to wired and outlet-powered printing.

For more information on our testing process, check out our guide to how we test and our more specific rundown of how we test printers.

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Whether you're a beginner or your a habitual tinkerer, a good 3D printer is essential. From printing small parts to fix items around the home or creating entire products right in the comfort of your home, they can come in clutch so often.

But finding the best 3D printer for your needs and skill level can be tricky, especially given how many different models and designs are out there.

Lucky for you, we know a thing or two, as we've tested 3D printers for years, going all the way back to the first Makerbot.

So if you've got an ambitious creative vision that requires something more advanced, or you want to get creative and print a toy boat for your kid (he loved it, by the way), here are the best we've tested to date, replete with testing data!

The quick list

The best 3D printers you can buy today

The best 3D printer overall

Resin-based printers have seen a lot of competition from lower-priced devices in recent years, but the Form 3+ from Formlabs remains the device of choice if 3D printing is a regular part of your workflow.

The Form 3+ replaced the Form 3, formerly our top pick for resin printers. This new version churns out prints faster than before, and it's much easier to use than before. Loading up resin is simple, and a floating level sensor keeps close tabs on how much resin is in the print tray, controlling the flow so that just the right amount is used on each job. A more flexible build platform simplifies the task of removing prints.

The Form 3+ produces speedy prints, but more importantly, the quality of our test prints turned out to be superlative. A price hike puts the starting price of the Form 3+ at $3,750, so clearly, this particular model isn't for everybody. But the Form 3+ easily meets the demands of designers who need a steady flow of good-looking prints and have the means to pay for this top-tier option.

Read our full Formlabs Form 3+ review.

The best 3D printer for value

If you have a messy workshop with a lot of dust, the FlashForge Adventurer 4 might just be the 3D printer for you as it case is designed to keep dust out while a built-in fan and HEPA filter keeps the print bed clean. This is also a great 3D printer for those that want to have it run in the background while out and about since it has a live camera feed to show you how your print's are progressing.

While the FlashForge Adventurer 4 costs more than some other 3D printers like the Monoprice Voxel we've reviewed, you're getting a more advanced device that's also more affordable than pro-level 3D printers. It's also a bit larger at 21.7 x 19.7 x 18.5 inches but this is because the entire printing mechanism is enclosed.

The FlashForge Adventurer 4 is controlled through a simple touch-screen on the left side at the front of its case. This is easy enough to use when setting up prints but we found entering our Wi-Fi password to be a bit difficult. After a few failed attempts, we used a wired Ethernet connection to pair it with our computer and this worked flawlessly.

Read our full FlashForge Adventurer 4 review.

The best 3D printer for beginners

The Prusa Mini+ 3D printer is a terrific option if you're just getting started in 3D printing, though it seems to be in short supply these days. That's a shame because it offers novices reliable performance and quality prints right out of the box, even if it is more expensive than competing 3D printers for beginners.

In our testing, we found the Prusa Mini+ easy to set up, though the lack of an enclosed printing area may make this the wrong choice if you've got younger folks hanging around your workspace. Well-designed software walks you through the process of preparing your model for printing. And when it is time to print, the Prusa Mini+ performs relatively quickly at the 0.2mm quality print mode. We were pleased with the quality of all our test prints, including those that featured parts that had to fit precisely together.

Though pricier than most beginning printers, the Prusa Mini+ doesn't make you jump through a lot of hoops to get your printer calibrated and set up. We think it's a great alternative to the Monoprice Voxel.

Read our full Prusa Mini+ 3D printer review.

How to choose the best 3D printer for you

Not sure which 3D printer to pick? Here's a quick guide to help you decide.

Printer Type

There are two main kinds of 3D printers:

• FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) printers melt plastic filament to build models layer by layer. They’re affordable, beginner-friendly, and widely used.
• SLA (Stereolithography) printers use UV light to cure liquid resin into solid shapes. They're known for high detail but usually cost more—though newer models are bringing prices down.

There are also 3D pens, a fun, low-cost option (under $100) that lets you draw in 3D using melted plastic.

Printing Materials

Materials matter to what you want to build!

• FFF printers use filaments like PLA (biodegradable), ABS (Lego plastic), nylon, TPE (flexible), and more. Filaments come in lots of colors and two sizes: 1.75mm and 3mm (not interchangeable).
• SLA printers have fewer options but can print in resins that range from rigid to soft and rubbery.

Some printers lock you into using brand-specific materials, just like your traditional inkjet printers. And others let you use whatever filament or resin you like. It pays to be careful about this!

Print Volume

The print volume depends on the print bed size and how far the head can move. Check both overall volume (we detail this in cubic inches) and individual dimensions (height, width, depth) to make sure it can handle the kinds of models you want to create.

Print Speed vs. Quality

3D printing takes time. There's no way around that.

A small model (about 3–4 inches) can take 6 to 12 hours to finish, depending on your print quality settings.

Here’s the trade-off:

• Thicker layers = faster prints, but more visible lines and less detail.
• Thinner layers = smoother prints, but it takes longer.

The best printers let you choose your balance — quick and rough or slow and polished — by offering a range of quality settings.

Price

As we've proved up above, great 3D printers don't have to break the bank.

• High-end models can cost several thousand dollars and are built for pros and heavy use.
• Mid-range options hover around $1,000, offering solid performance for serious hobbyists. But if you're happy to go back a generation, you can find printers at this level for cheaper too (like the Form 3+).
• Beginner and home printers can be found for under $300, with some solid picks even under $200 (looking at you, FlashForge Adventurer 4).

Tip: Don’t just stick to Amazon. Some brands—like Prusa or Bambu Lab—sell directly through their websites, often with better deals or bundles.

How we test 3D printers

When we review a 3D printer, we set up each model, noting how long it takes from the time to remove the printer from its packaging to calibrating the printer so that it's ready to use. We also take note of any special set-up instructions.

We look at what kind of materials a 3D printer supports and whether the manufacturer requires you to only use materials they sell.

When its time to test the printer, we have three different test models — a miniature statue of Rodin's Thinker, a complex set of planetary gears that incorporate interlocking parts, and a geometric sculpture to see well the printer can reproduce sharp edges and points. In addition to evaluating the quality and detail of each print, we also time how fast the printer works at various speeds, from draft mode to the highest-quality setting.

We also consider the software that a printer uses and the different ways you can control prints, whether it's from a computer or via a control panel on the 3D printer itself.

For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.

The best cheap printer for your needs is one that does everything you need it to and nothing you don't. You don't need to pay a fortune for high image quality and good performance. If you know what to look for—and what to avoid—a bargain printer can deliver what you need, without disappointment.

Low-cost models tend to forego the flashy and focus on the functional. For example, a bargain-priced printer is unlikely to have a color touch-screen LCD, a tilting control panel, or an automatic document feeder. But some bargain models offer a duplexer for making two-sided prints and copies.

If you don't need copy or scan functions and are looking for a single-function printer, you can likely get another attractive amenity, such as a second paper tray for specialty media. The best news is, you don't have to sacrifice image quality. Attractive prints, copies and scans can be had from models costing as little as $60.

At Tom's Guide, we put these bargain inkjet printers through the same test regimen as pricier models to find the best printers on the market. On some tasks, performance can vary widely, so it's important to compare test results to ensure that your primary task isn't the model's Achilles' heel. But that doesn't mean you can't find a budget printer that outperforms a more expensive model at a particular task—you absolutely can. It just takes a little digging.

Get the features you need most

Bargain printers are best suited for use with a PC or smart phone. That's because the control panel tends to be simple, with only a few dedicated function buttons, if any. If there is a screen, it's likely a small LED without backlighting. The control panel is unlikely to tilt, so where you place your printer is important for easy standalone operation. For example, a small LED on the front face of a printer will be difficult to read if it's on a low table in a dimly lit room. Some models offer a control panel on the top of the printer. Which configuration is best for you depends on where you place the printer.

If you need a printer mostly for office tasks, the Brother MFC-1205w ($130) is worth a serious look, for both its speedy performance and low ink costs. But if photography-related fun is more up your alley, you're more likely to gravitate toward the Canon Pixma TS702a ($130), which can print onto various specialty media, such as glossy magnetic photo paper, double-sided matte paper, fabric iron-on transfers and nail stickers.

Most bargain printers offer one paper tray. The Canon Pixma TS702a is one exception, offering both a paper cassette and a vertical rear paper tray. This allows you to keep two types of media loaded. The rear tray offers a straighter paper path, which can accommodate thicker media such as card stock.

Most bargain printers don't offer a duplexer—but both the Canon TS702a and the previously reviewed Canon MG3620 (priced at $60 when reviewed) do.

If you think you'll periodically move your printer—but don't want to specifically buy a portable printer—check out the weight. For example, the HP DeskJet 2755e weighs just 7.5 pounds. By comparison, the Brother MFC-J120 weighs just over 14 pounds, which is much more typical.

Photography features

The convenience of printing photos at home can't be beat. But not all budget printers put the same emphasis on photo printing and related features.

For example, the HP DeskJet 2755e does not support borderless photo printing at all. The Brother MFC-J1205w, on the other hand, won't make borderless photo prints via its Windows 10 driver—you have to use the company's iPrint&Scan software.

Also, the Canon TS702a offers PictBridge support for printing directly from a compatible digital camera. These days, with most photos taken with a smartphone, this is not as cool as it used to be. Neither the Brother MFC-J1205w nor the HP DeskJet 2755e ($85) offer PictBridge support—but like the Canon they offer an iOS and Android app for printing photos from a smartphone. 

 Connectivity and smart assistants 

Bargain printers all offer Wi-Fi these days. Some forego a USB port, so make sure you take your networking plans into account. As is typical, the HP 2755e and Brother J1205w offer a USB port and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Canon TS702a offers these as well, plus an Ethernet port.

In addition, if you're in the market for a printer with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant compatibility, your only choice among these bargain models is the Canon TS702a.

Performance: Print, copy and scan speeds

Performance can vary widely among printers. Waiting around for a print job to finish can be frustrating. While very few printers excel across the board, this tends to be more true among bargain-priced models. 

To minimize your impatience and disappointment, pay particular attention to your most frequent tasks. Some models excel at printing and copying documents, but lag behind the pack at photo printing. And, even photo printing performance can be mixed. For example, the HP DeskJet 2755e was faster than the average at printing a 4 x 6 inch glossy, but was comparatively slow to make an 8 x 10 photo print. 

The Brother MFC-J1205w, on the other hand, was very slow to print photos at both sizes. For comparison, the Brother took almost 4 minutes to print a 4 x 6-inch photo print, while the Canon TS702a did so in 1 minutes and 3 seconds. 

The Brother, however, was much faster than average at printing documents on plain paper. It printed text documents at 12.2 ppm, and color pages at 3.2 ppm. The Canon printed text at 9.5 ppm and color pages at 3.5 ppm. The HP was the slowest model on these tests, printing text at 7.6 ppm and color pages at 2 ppm. The category averages are 8.8 ppm (text) and 2.7 ppm (color).

Similarly, the Brother was very fast at copying in black-and-white, reproducing a text page in just 10.8 seconds. The HP DeskJet took 25.1 seconds to make the same copy. Making color copies was average or slower-than-average: The Brother made a color copy in 28.1 seconds, which is exactly the average, while the HP was a little slower, at 32.4 seconds. 

Scanning, on the other hand, was brisk with the Brother. It made a 600 dpi color scan in just 37.5 seconds, while the HP took 1 minute and 36 seconds. (The average is 1 minute and 6 seconds). Scanning in black-and-white was also fast with the Brother, which captured a 300 dpi scan to PDF format in just 9.1 seconds, while the HP took 19.4 seconds to finish the same task. (The average is 11.7 seconds). 

Ink costs

If there's an elephant in the room when it comes to bargain printers, it's ink costs. Nothing will trigger buyer's remorse faster than seeing your initial savings get eaten up by pricy ink cartridges. 

Both the HP DeskJet 2755e and Canon TS702a have somewhat high ink costs. The HP's ink costs are 10 cents (text) and 22.5 cents (color) per page, when using high-yield XL cartridges. The Canon offers lower ink costs: When using its XXL high-yield cartridges, costs per page are 6.3 cents (text) and 17.9 cents (color).

Alternatively, the Brother MFC-J1205w offers only high-yield cartridges that have an estimated page output of 750 pages. (The HP's XL cartridges top out at 240 pages, while the Canon's max for color cartridges is 824 pages.

To rein in ink costs, a subscription plan is worth considering. If you buy an HP printer, you will be regularly solicited to sign up for Instant Ink. To figure out if it's right for you, see our article explaining what Is HP Instant ink, which reveals how this plan could deliver significant savings.

In contrast, the Brother Refresh program performs automatic ordering of ink cartridges, but unlike HP's program, you do not have to sign up for a specific number of pages per month. 

The Canon TS702a, oddly, did not come with printed information on the company's ink subscription program. But during setup with an iPhone, the Canon Print app prompted me to sign up for the Pixma Print Plan, which claims to save you 20 percent to 70 percent. These plans start at $3.99 per month. 

For a thorough breakdown of ink subscription plans from all the major vendors, see our story comparing HP Instant Ink vs. Canon vs. Epson to determine which subscription plan is worth the cost.

Print quality

All three of the budget printers mentioned in this article delivered high image quality. There were some subtle differences, however. The Brother and Canon models printed comparably dark and sharp text, while the HP's text was slightly softer around the edges.

All three models printed attractive color graphics. However, the HP had a little difficulty with our test PDF, and its reproductions of both text and fine details in graphics lacked the sharpness of the Brother and Canon prints.

Photo quality was very high for all three models. The differences were subtle, but in general the Brother made lower-contrast prints than the Canon did. The added contrast in the Canon prints added extra "pop". The HP tended to hype yellows and warm shades, and to make a lighter print than the Canon, which produced darker, richer reds in its glossies. 

Both the HP and the Brother made high-quality scans. 

Copy and scan quality

Both the Brother MFC-J1205w and HP DeskJet 2755e made attractive copies in our tests. Both models faithfully reproduced documents and graphics, with plenty of detail and natural-looking colors. (The Canon TS702a is single-function and does not copy or scan).

Both the Brother and the HP also captured high-quality scans in our testing. Both models had a tendency to lose some fine details is dark, shadow areas. The Brother tended to increase the exposure, preventing harsh shadows on faces, compared to the HP. The disappointment with the HP was the HP Smart scanning software's auto crop feature, which was unreliable and had a tendency to cut out a significant portion of the original image.

Excellent scan quality doesn't have to cost a lot. The $60 Canon MG3620 delivered excellent photo scans in our tests, and it actually beat the category average (see charts embedded above) in terms of copy speeds.

Software

Printers include software and a smart phone app. Our individual reviews offer details on these apps. In general, software packages with budget models are pretty basic, as are the smart phone apps. 

One oddity is the "camera scan" function, which is, for all practical purposes, just taking a picture. The HP Smart app also has a copy function. In both cases, these features capture passable facsimiles, but mostly the subpar quality is a waste of time. If the flatbed scanner is within reach, just use it. You'll get far superior results.

The final decision

To make sure you get the best bargain printer for your money, prioritize your wish list. Are you primarily outfitting the home office or buying a photo printer, or looking for a little of both? No single printer is the best fit for everybody, no matter how inexpensive it is.

Tom's Guide's tests reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each model, so you don't have to find out the hard way. Low cost doesn't mean low quality or poor performance—but you'll likely have to make a tradeoff somewhere. With the variety of bargain printers on the market, a little bit of research can ensure it's only a small tradeoff.

Knowing how to connect a printer to a laptop or desktop computer is important for those who regularly need to print documents, photos, manuscripts and more. Whether you have a Windows or Apple computer, connecting a printer is fairly similar for both. We’ll show you how.

There are two primary ways to connect a printer to your computer. The simplest method is to connect via USB cable. Connecting wirelessly involves a few more steps, but isn’t overly difficult even for casual users. Whichever method you choose, we’ll detail all the steps necessary to get you printing in no time.

Note that we're detailing the simplest methods to connect a printer to a single computer. The methods outlined below work with most modern printers.

How to connect a printer to a laptop or desktop computer: Windows via USB cable 

1. Connect your printer to your laptop or desktop with a USB cable. After that, turn on your printer.

2. Click on the Start button and type "Settings".

3. Click on Bluetooth & Devices.

4. Select printers and scanners.

5. Click on your printer name and follow the setup instructions.

That's it! We told you this was the easiest method.

If, for some reason, your printer doesn’t appear, click on "The printer that I want isn’t listed" link. This will take you through some troubleshooting steps whereby hopefully you can resolve your issue. If not, you may have to get in touch with the manufacturer of your printer for support. Check the manufacturer's website or your printer's instruction manual for more details.

How to connect a printer to a laptop or desktop computer: Windows via wireless

1. Connecting to a wireless printer is a bit more involved than doing so via USB.

As detailed in the previous step, ensure your printer is turned on. After that, you'll have to turn on your printer's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This varies by manufacturer so refer to your printer's instruction manual.

Also ensure your printer is on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. Again, this step varies by manufacturer.

2. Follow steps 2 - 4 of the previous section. After that, click on Add device.

3. Select your printer from the list. This will establish a connection.

How to connect a printer to a laptop or desktop computer: Mac via USB cable 

1. Click the Apple icon on the upper left corner and then Select System Preferences.

2. Click on Printers and Scanners.

3. Select your printer from the list on the left.

4. You can also add a printer by clicking on the plus sign underneath the printer list. You should see your printer listed on the following window. Click the add button on the bottom right to add your printer.

And that’s it! Once again, using a cable is pretty easy. However, on Mac, there's an even easier way... 

How to connect a printer to a laptop or desktop computer: Mac via AirPrint 

Many modern printers use a technology called AirPrint, which is meant to facilitate connecting wireless printers to a Mac computer. So long as your printer's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is enabled and both the printer and Mac are connected to the same network, they should connect seamlessly. If you have an older printer, you can follow most of the steps outlined above to connect wirelessly.

1. Be sure your printer is turned on before starting. Afterward, enable your printer's Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Again, this varies by manufacturer so refer to your printer's instruction manual.

2. Follow steps 1-4 from the previous step. This is all the same, except that you're connected wirelessly instead of wired. So long as your printer is on the same network as your Mac, it will be listed under printers and scanners.

3. That's it! You're now free to print everything you need.

For more computing guides, be sure to check out our other how-tos, including how to use hot corners on Mac, how to split your screen on Mac, how to change the Windows 11 Start menu back to Windows 10, how to clone a hard drive and how to fix an external hard dive that's not showing up. 

As 3D printing becomes more familiar, prices are falling, even on technologies that used to crowd out beginners. Take resin printing, where the Anycubic Photon M3 has set a new low for the cost of getting into this once pricey type of 3D printing.

For $300 or so, you can get a solid, no-frills printer from Anycubic that produces excellent results. The printer has some limitations, though, with a relatively small print area and no network connections. As we’ll also see in this Anycubic Photon M3, the printing process is also a bit hit-and-miss, sometimes requiring several tries and some tweaking.

Once you get over these initial issues it’s a great pick for the aspiring 3D printer who wants to try resin printing without spending a fortune, even if it won’t replace the resin-based devices at the top of our best 3D printers rankings.

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Price and availability

The Anycubic Photon M3 is available now and is priced at $299. We tested it with the AirPure filter which costs $25 for two.  

To put the Photon M3’s price in perspective, the FormLabs 3+ is the best resin-based 3D printer we’ve tested — it’s $3,750, a mere 12.5 times the price of the Photon M3. Even the Photon Mono X, another low-cost resin printer from Anycubic, costs between $450 and $550 these days.

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Design

As a  resin printer, the Photon M3 prints using a UV-sensitive resin. When UV light hits this resin, it solidifies. So, the printer lowers its flat print bed into a tray filled with resin, then UV light shines through a 4K LCD screen, like a small TV. Where the screen is opaque, the light is blocked and the resin remains liquid. Where the screen is transparent, the resin solidifies, forming a layer of the print. 

The printer then raises the print bed, letting the liquid resin flood in, and the process repeats, creating the print layer by layer. These layers can be as thin as 0.0003 inches (0.01mm), although the software that creates the print defaults to a thickness of 0.001 inches (0.05mm). 

The Photon M3’s 7.6-inch LCD screen has a 4K resolution of 4096 x 2560 pixels, meaning that the smallest area that can be printed (or not printed) is around 0.002 inches (0.004 mm). The bottom line of these numbers? The Photon M3 is capable of creating very detailed prints. 

The Photon M3 has a simple, usable design that is focused on the business of printing. A large orange cover fits over the top of the printer, which shields the UV-sensitive resin in the print ray from outside light. The print bed fits onto an arm that is lifted up by a screw drive, so it lowers into the removable resin vat. This tray has a clear plastic base, so the UV light shines through it. 

Missing here is any form of network connection. The Photon M3 can only receive files to print from a USB thumb drive, meaning you can’t control the printer from the web or monitor a print from afar. 

There is also no way for the printer to check if there is enough resin in the print tray; you have to check the level manually, and the only indication is a max fill line. Neither of these is a huge problem for home users, though such features are more important in places where multiple prints are required quickly, like an office or school. 

For our Photon M3 review, Anycubic also sent us a couple of their $23 AirPure filters — small air filters with active carbon that you put inside the printer itself. This is a great idea: resin printing can be a bit stinky because of the distinct odor of the resin. 

The AirPure filters definitely helped to contain this smell during printing, but it would be better if they were powered and controlled by the printer itself: as it is, you have to charge them separately via an included USB charging cable, then remember to turn them on when the printer is running and hope the battery doesn’t run out before the end of the print. The small batteries on the filters do last for several hours, but it would seem to be a feature that would be better built in than added later. 

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Setup

This is a simple printer to set up: you just unpack the Anycubic Photon M3, install the print bed, and level it by loosening four screws. From there, you lower the print bed, then tighten the screws again. That ensures that the print bed fits snugly against the base of the resin vat to create nice thin layers. 

You complete the printer setup by installing the resin vat and filling it. A test print is saved onto the included USB drive, so you just plug that in and select print to test it out. If it works, you wind up with a nice cubic model. 

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Printing process

The print files are created in the Photon Workshop app, which is available free for Windows and MacOS. It’s a pretty easy-to-use program that imports 3D models in a number of common formats (.stl, .obj, etc.) and positions them on the print bed. 

The software can also automatically add supports that hold the print in place during printing, but I found this process to be a bit unreliable. With our Thinker model, for instance, the software created supports for some parts of the model but left others completely unsupported. That meant the print failed and left pieces of resin floating around the resin vat that I had to remove. 

I also found some issues with the printing process, due to a leak in the resin vat. This vat has a flexible plastic film made of a flexible material called FEP in the bottom that, as the print base lifts up and pulls the just-printed layer with it, stretches a bit to release the layer. Unfortunately, this also makes it rather fragile. When one of my prints failed, a piece of the print didn’t stick to the print bed and made a small hole in the plastic film, letting a small amount of resin leak out onto the LCD screen below. You can see this resin on the LCD screen in the photo below, illuminated by the UV light. 

That’s bad news because the LCD screen is very fragile, and the only way to remove the leaked resin is to carefully scrape it off. Fortunately, Anycubic seems to be aware of this as a potential problem, as they include a screen protector, rather like the ones you put on your cell phone. Because I had installed this, I could simply remove and replace the protector and the plastic film of the resin vat. 

Unfortunately, only one screen protector and the film of the resin vat are included, but additional parts aren’t expensive: you can get five of the screen protectors for $10, and two of the vat films for $20. 

I also found that the default settings of the software required some tweaking. When you prepare a model for 3D printing in resin, you need to add supports that hold the print in place. (These are the long, thin bits you see in the photos with this review.) The Photon Workshop software has an option to create these automatically, but it doesn’t work that well. To create these, the actual print needs to be lifted up, so the supports can be created underneath it. The app doesn’t do this: instead, the automatic supports it creates won’t print because they are missing parts of the print. 

The fix is pretty simple: just manually move the print up by about 5mm, and the supports are created correctly. 

The other issue is that the default exposure time for the resin in the software is incorrect. This determines how long the UV light is turned on for each layer, and each resin type needs a different amount of time. The Photon Workshop software only comes with a handful of presets that don’t correspond with AnyCubic’s own resins. This seems an odd omission: why didn’t Anycubic create presets for their own resins that they recommend with this printer? 

While most of these problems are annoying, they’re easy enough to fix. However, you probably won’t realize they are wrong until you have had a few failed prints and know what to look for. 

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Printing performance

Once I found the right print settings on the Anycubic Photon M3, I found that it produced good quality prints, with excellent detail and only barely visible layers. This quality was especially noticeable on our print of Rodin’s Thinker statue, a tough model to print as it has many fine details and smooth curves. The Photo M3 accurately reproduced the shoulders and muscles of Rodin’s realistic sculpture.

Similarly, the geometric sculpture we use for testing was well reproduced, with very sharp edges and points. This is a good test of how well a printer can capture edges at all angles, and we found no problems with this print. 

We also use a set of gears as a test model, and the Photon M3 produced clean, sharp-edged prints of these that fit well together. 

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Printing speed

The Photon M3 is a middling printer in terms of speed. A 4-inch high print of our thinker model took 7 hours and 3 minutes. That’s somewhat slower than more expensive printers like the Form 3+ (which took 2.5 hours), but it is about the same speed as its more expensive sibling, the Photon Mono X. 

The difference between the two Photon models is the size of the prints they can handle. The Mono X has a much larger print area — 9.8 x 7.6 x 4.7 inches to the Photon M3’s 7.1 x 6.4 x 4 inches.

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Materials

The Photon M3 can print with any brand of photosensitive resin that works with the 405nm UV wavelength light used by the printer. Because you fill the resin vat manually, you can put any type of resin you like in there. 

This does also mean that you need to be careful and make sure that the Photon Workshop app is set up correctly for that resin, though, as different types of resin will require different exposure times to the UV light. 

We tested two resins that Anycubic supplied with the printer: their light grey resin and the water washable white resin. Once we found the right settings in the Photon Workshop software, both resings performed well, producing clean, smooth prints. 

The water-wash resin is very interesting, as it is much easier to clean than the standard resin. The usual process after printing with normal resin is to wash the print in Isopropryl Alcohol (IPA) to remove the residue of liquid resin on the surface. As you might expect, that’s a rather stinky process. The water-wash resin, as the name suggests, can be rinsed off in clean water, which is much more pleasant for the person doing the washing. 

Anycubic Photon M3 review: Verdict

The Anycubic Photon M3 pushes resin 3D printing to a new low price — for around $300, you get a printer that can produce excellent quality prints, although they will be smaller than what a device like the Photon Mono X can produce. 

The Photon M3 also requires some patience and tweaking to get the most out of it, which isn’t helped by some problems with the Photon Workshop app that prepares the prints. That might prove to be a problem for first-time 3D printers, who might have a couple of failed prints and give up. That would be a mistake, though, as the Photon M3 has great performance for the price once you work through the quirks. 

For that reason, the Photon M3 probably should not be the first 3D printer that you buy. (Go for a simple filament printer like the Toybox instead). But if you’ve cut your teeth on another printer and want to explore deeper, then the Photon M3 is a great pick. 

Inkjet vs laser printers: Which one is right for you? 

This is the most basic and most essential question in printer shopping. You've no doubt wondered what differentiates the two technologies and the top models in either category. We're here to clear up the confusion.

Although both print technologies have their place in homes and offices, there's a good chance that one will be better at meeting your needs than the other. In the question of inkjet vs. laser printers, it's all about what you want to do, and which technology is better suited to those needs.

Inkjet vs Laser printers: The key things to know

The basic distinctions in the inkjet vs. laser printers question boil down to how each technology actually prints. This, in turn, has an impact on what a printer will do well, how expensive it is to print documents and photos, and how much you'll pay upfront.

Inkjet printers are cheaper to buy. If you don't print much, an inexpensive inkjet can be had for $100 or less. But be aware that ink costs can make those more affordable inkjet printers more expensive to operate.

Laser printers are better for text and documents. If you are printing a lot of basic documents, a laser printer – even a monochrome laser printer – can churn out page after page with better quality than an inkjet. But inkjets are better at printing photos.

Laser printers usually have the lowest cost per page. Toner is incredibly cheap on a per-page basis, and won't dry out like old ink cartridges might. However, there are more and more inkjet printers being sold with refillable tanks that can offer similarly affordable printing, provided you're willing to pay more upfront.

Inkjet printers are more compact. Without the need for various internal drums and rollers, inkjet printers can offer full-page printing with a much smaller footprint than most laser printers, even while offering copy and scanning capabilities. 

Printing technology basics: Inkjet vs laser

While the most basic definition of printing is the same across both inkjet and laser printers – putting letters and images onto paper – the two methods achieve this result in very different ways.

Inkjets rely on liquid ink, deposited onto the page through a print head that uses dozens of micro-nozzles. It prints by putting microscopic drops of ink onto the paper. Depending upon whether that ink is dye or pigment-based, the ink may change the color of the paper, or simply dry as a deposit on the surface of the paper.

Laser printers, on the other hand, rely on toner, which is a powder. The "laser" in laser printing is used to generate an electrostatic charge, which is used to transfer the toner to the paper, which is then bonded to the surface of the page using heat.

These two approaches will affect everything from how big a printer is to how expensive a single printed page is. Both technologies can be found in single-function, or all-in-one, printers, alongside scanning, copying and fax capability. Either one can be a good fit, so long as you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Inkjet vs Laser printers: Upfront costs

When it comes to buying a printer, the cost of the printer is a big factor in the decision. Sure, you want certain features, but your budget will often make the decision for you.

Inkjet printers tend to be much less expensive than laser printers. The technology is slightly less complex, and therefore less costly to manufacture. Besides this, most manufacturers sell inkjet printers at a loss, knowing that they can make up the difference in ink sales down the road. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy a new printer than to buy a full set of new ink cartridges!

Laser printers, on the other hand, will rarely be sold for less than $200, and even the most budget-friendly models sell for $150 or more.

Now, the cost of printing should definitely factor into your thinking, but if you barely print, or if you're more likely to make use of the printer's scan and fax functions than the actual printing, you can find some very affordable options for as little as $50.

Takeaway: Inkjets cost less to buy, but you may pay more in the long run.

 Inkjet vs Laser printers: Print quality

The specific qualities of liquid ink and toner powder also affect how well-suited they are for certain types of printing.

Inkjets, with their dye- and pigment-based inks, do especially well at handling color, particularly for images and photos, which are more likely to involve subtle shades of color. The nature of liquid ink means that those mixtures are easier to reproduce on an inkjet rather than on a laser printer.

Laser printers are not always built to handle photo printing, relying instead on halftone dots to create certain colors on documents. Even those laser printers that can handle the higher-quality color for photo printing require specialized laser-printer-ready photo paper to do it, making it much less convenient than using standard photo paper on an inkjet.

However, laser printers tend to be better suited to printing text, offering crisp, clear letterforms that can't be matched by most inkjets. Inkjet printing will often bleed slightly, and while print is legible, the individual letters won't be as sharp in their detail when examined closely.

Ink also has a tendency to smear, and since inkjet prints continue drying after printing, the possibility of smudged documents is a problem that inkjet users need to anticipate. Since laser printers use a heat-transfer method, the print is set and smudge-proof the moment it comes out of the printer.

Takeaway: Laser printers are better for text documents, especially at high volumes, but inkjets have an edge when it comes to printing photos.

Inkjet vs Laser printers: Cost of printing

Another major difference is the cost of ink and toner. Liquid printer ink has been identified as one of the most expensive liquids on the planet, and is a highly engineered product. Designed to provide precise flow rates, to mix and bleed with predictable consistency and to dry within moments, all while providing colors that look just right – there's a lot involved in printer ink. Because it provides a high-margin product that printer owners will have to buy again and again only encourages printer companies to keep you coming back for more.

Inkjet printers vary in the cost-per-page, but tend to fall within the same general range. Black-and-white text will usually run at 5-10 cents per page, and color printing will run between 15 and 25 cents per page. The Editor's Choice Canon Pixma TS9120, for example, costs 7.8 cents per text page (printing in black and white), while color prints are 19.8 cents per page.

A new trend in inkjet printing takes aim at ink costs by replacing expensive plastic cartridges with refillable tanks and inexpensive bottles of ink. The result is dropping printing costs down to less than a cent per page, as seen with the Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank (winner of our 2020 Tom's Guide Award for working from home). It  may cost a little more to buy than most inexpensive inkjets, but at just 0.2 cents per page, the savings will add up.

Toner, on the other hand, tends to be less expensive on a per-page basis for laser printers. Though no less carefully made, the fact that toner comes in powder form makes it a much simpler substance to ship, store and use.

While individual toner cartridges are more expensive than ink cartridges, they print hundreds of pages, far exceeding the print yields offered on inkjet printers. As a result, plain-text printing costs dip below the 5-cent per-page mark, and color printing sits right around 15 cents.

For example, the Brother MFC-L2750DW monochrome laser printer prints for 3.75 cents per page with the standard toner cartridge rated to last 1,200 pages. Jump to a high-capacity cartridge, and that cost drops to 2.7 cents per page.

Toner also stores better over the long term. Ink cartridges can be stored for months if kept properly, but if you're an infrequent printer,  the liquids that fill your ink cartridge can dry out, leaving you with a useless cartridge that has printed only a fraction of the pages it was meant to. Since toner starts off as a powder, there's no need to worry about itlosing its liquidity.

Takeaway: Laser printers offer cheaper prints per page, but toner is more expensive upfront. Toner is also the better choice for long-term use, since it stores better than liquid-filled ink cartridges.

Inkjet vs Laser printers: Printer size

One more differentiating factor that printer shoppers may not consider when comparing printer types is size. Obviously, printers vary in size and design, but on the whole, laser multifunction printers tend to be larger and heavier than their inkjet counterparts. If you've got limited space on a desk or shelf, it will be easier to find an inkjet to fit in that smaller space.

Inkjet printers have benefited from some significant advances in miniaturization, with features like print heads built into the ink cartridge. Some, like the HP Tango X are so small as to be portable, measuring just 9.7 x 15 x 3.5 inches and weighing a mere 7.5 pounds.

Laser printers, on the other hand, have to accommodate a larger print drum, laser module and thermal element, which all adds to the bulk. Add multifunction features like scanning and copying to the list, and laser all-in-one printers tend to be pretty bulky.

Takeaway: If space is tight, you might be better off with an inkjet printer.

Bottom line

Deciding between an inkjet printer or a laser printer really boils down to what you want to use your printer for. Some people print a handful of pages a year or print photos more often than text documents. Others may print reams of text but rarely need a photo. Or they value long-term operating costs just as much as the upfront purchase price.

Inkjet printing is generally a better fit for the occasional printer. Ink will cost more on a per-page basis, but refills are cheaper than toner. Inkjets are also better suited for small spaces, since laser printers tend to be larger. It's also the better option for printing images and photos, since ink offers richer color and fewer printing limitations.

Laser printing, on the other hand, offers the most affordable way to print a lot of text-heavy pages. It's faster, too, offering finished, smudge-free pages in seconds. And if crisp, easy-to-read text is your priority, then go with a laser printer, which offers better text printing every time.

Check out all of our printer coverage:

Best printers | Best all-in-one printers | Best photo printers | Best portable printers | Best laser printers 

Choosing a printer can be tough, which is why our Epson vs Canon vs HP printer showdown is here to help. All-in-one printers promise the convenience of printing, scanning and copying all in one device, but finding a multifunction printer that handles all those tasks well is a challenge. 

As you shop for a printer, you've probably noticed that some brands stand out in our reviews and in customer ratings for their quality and excellent feature sets. Whether you want an inkjet all-in-one printer or a laser printer that handles scanning and copying, the strengths and weaknesses of each brand can inform your decision making. 

Here we'll compare the performance and features of top brands to help you come to an informed decision. After reviewing dozens of models from Epson, Canon and HP, spending hours testing and examining page after page of print samples, we can draw some pretty clear conclusions about the performance and quality of each brand.

With the understanding that each printer has its own unique pros and cons, here's a look at some of our most recent reviews and broad view of how popular printer makers Canon, Epson and HP have fared when we've tested the various tasks that all-in-one devices perform.

From text quality to print features and even the cost of ink, we can easily say that some brands handle aspects of printing better than others, and we've combined our observations to determine which brands have a lead on the competition. For more specific advice and individual product reviews, see our rundown of the best all-in-one printer and best laser printers you can buy at the moment.

 Epson vs Canon vs HP: Reviews

The Epson EcoTank ET-7460 is a great choice for busy offices, thanks to its combination of solid performance, generous feature-set and impressively low ink costs. Built for heavy duty, the EcoTank earns its name by not only printing thousands of pages a month, but also keeping ink costs low with refillable high-capacity ink tanks. 

The printer comes with the first set of ink bottles, and enough ink for an estimated 7,500 pages (black) and 6,000 pages (color) before ever worrying about refills. Even when you buy new ink, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck, with costs of less than a cent per page.

Speedy printing and copying make it a smart pick for any busy home office or small team, though you might miss having a second paper tray. Regardless, the printer's relatively compact footprint and convenient two-sided printing make it a winner for day-to-day productivity.

Read our full Epson EcoTank ET-4760 review or browse our Epson coupon codes

The Canon Pixma TR8620 is an office-oriented all-in-one inkjet printer with a healthy mix of great features, good performance and excellent image quality. With both an automatic document feeder and a built-in duplexer, you'll enjoy quick and convenient copying and printing, and even fax capability. Our only real complaint is that ink costs are a little high.

But where the Canon really shines is image quality. While the print quality on basic documents and copies look good, the versatile Pixma TR8620 offers excellent glossy photo prints – thanks to a 5-ink cartridge system – making it a smart choice if you include printing snapshots for a scrap book among your printer uses.

Though we loved the fast performance and great document print quality, the Canon may not be the best choice for high-volume printing. Ink costs are above average and the addition of a fifth ink cartridge didn't help it on the operating costs. Even using high-capacity ink cartridges, the cost of printing was nearly 20 cents per page.

Read our full Canon Pixma TR8620 review or browse our Canon promo codes

The HP Smart Tank Plus 651 is HP's answer to the Epson EcoTank and other printers that reduce ink costs by using refillable ink tanks instead of expensive cartridges. With thousands of pages worth of ink included with the printer, the Smart Tank Pro 651 delivers high-quality prints for only a fraction of a cent per page. Aside from the inexpensive ink, The HP also delivers high quality across the board, with sharp looking prints that have sharp letterforms and well-saturated colors, and natural-looking color when printing glossy photos.

Unfortunately, that level of quality wasn't matched with great speeds, and the HP's printing, scanning and copying capabilities were all hobbled by significantly slower-than-average output. Additionally, the Smart Tank Pro 651 has a tiny 2.2-inch touch screen for controlling printer functions, and the monochrome readout did not impress.

Read our full HP Smart Tank Plus 651 review or browse our HP coupon codes

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Text print quality

Consider whether plain-paper documents or photo prints are most important to you. While inkjet printers are not known for printing razor-sharp text on a par with a laser printer, many inkjets these days do a very admirable job that gets close to what a laser printer can produce. For some models, this is particularly true if you are willing to spend the extra money to use high-quality paper. In both our Canon Pixma TS6020 review and Canon Pixma MG3620 review, for example, the inkjet printers produced bookworthy text on high-quality paper.

HP models also delivered consistently high-quality text prints. Less impressive were a couple of Epson models, with one impressive exception: our Epson WF-2760 review noted sharply printed text while also clocking in the fastest text-document print time among inkjets, earning it Editor's Choice honors.

If you're considering a model with a duplexer for making two-sided prints, make sure that you'll get the same quality as you would with one-sided prints. Canon's TS6020, for example, printed text lighter when using its duplexer. In the Epson WorkForce WF-6590 review the printer made two-sided prints of text documents that were equally sharp as one-sided prints.

If you plan to print PDF documents, know that text as well as graphics quality varies. Although the HP models were consistently good, the Canon TS6020 printed the sleekest, sharpest letter forms. The Epson WF-2760 also printed very attractive text in our PDF, though our Epson Expression XP-640 review noted that text printed with much fuzzier edges, even on presentation matte paper.

Graphics in PDFs printed on plain paper are the  specialty of the HP models. Both the HP Envy 5540 review and HP OfficeJet 4650 review saw very detailed and well-saturated graphics printing, with smooth transitions in photographs. Runners-up include the Epson XP-420 model, which did a better job of retaining midtone transitions than the Canon MG3620, which tended to produce overly dark shadows.

Text Print Quality Winner: Canon
Best All-In-One for Text Print Quality: The Canon TS6020 delivers high-quality text prints at a rapid 9.8 ppm; by contrast, the HP Envy 5540 (which earns an honorable mention for its high-quality text printing) did so at 8.1 ppm.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Glossy photo prints

Overall, all of the inkjet all-in-ones we've tested recently make attractive glossy photo prints. But there are subtle differences worth noting. Epson and HP models skewed toward a warmer print, which you may or may not like. Canon models tended toward a more natural look, though both the TS6020 and MG3620 produced more saturation in deep red shades than other models.

The Epson XP-640 made prints with plenty of fine detail and a lot of well-saturated color, but one of our test prints looked a little unnatural, with too much yellow.

A few models failed to produce all the fine details in very dark shadow areas of our landscape photo (admittedly a little something of a torture test since it's a sunset scene with very dark shadows). The Epson XP-640 made prints with shadow areas that looked flat, lacking subtle details, while the Canon TS6020 and HP 5540 offered some details in the shadowy areas.

Also, some models' glossy prints had a slight cloudiness to them: Prints from the Epson XP-420 and WF-2760 looked a little light overall, lacking the "pop" of prints made by the HP Envy 5540 and Canon models. However, in our Epson XP-420 review we saw good shadow detail, while the Canon TS6020 produced some blocked-up shadow areas.

Glossy Photo Print Winner: Canon
Best All-In-One for Glossy Photo Prints: The Canon TS6020 produces glossy photos with a lot of pop, with well-saturated colors that tend to look very natural.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Copy and scan quality

HP models performed the best at reproducing color on plain paper, with smooth transitions and lots of fine detail. The HP Envy 5540 made some of the best-looking copies. Surprisingly, though, the HP OfficeJet 4650 made copies that didn't quite match the fine details and stronger dark shades of the Envy 5540's copies. (You'd think something with "Office" in its name might handle this common workplace task with more aplomb.) Also, the OfficeJet's grayscale copies had speckled textures and rough midtone transitions. More disappointing, the quality of black-and-white copies degraded further when using the OfficeJet 4650's automatic document feeder (ADF).

Copies from Canon models had slightly rougher-looking textures than the HP Envy 5540. Still, the Canon TS6020 reproduced colors well, though dark areas lost some details. The MG3620's copies produced banding, and the lack of transitions had a flattening effect. Also, text looked rougher than in the original.

Of the Epson models, the XP-640 was the best copy machine: Although its copies were lighter than some others, Epson's all-in-one reproduced smooth transitions in its copies of color graphics. The other two Epson models, however, reproduced the same graphics too darkly.

Scan quality was impressive from the Canon and HP models, and the Epson XP-420. But testing uncovered a couple quirks in the other two Epson models. The XP-640 sometimes made scans of text to PDF that looked rough around the edges, particularly when the original was slightly askew on the scanner glass. Also, Epson's WF-2760 had a hard time creating an attractive scan without first performing a preview scan.

Color Copies on Plain Paper Winner: HP
Best All-in-One for Copies of Color Graphics: Both the HP Envy 5540 and HP OfficeJet 4650 make highly detailed and richly saturated photographic prints on plain paper.

Scanning Winner: Canon
Best All-In-One for Scanning: Most inkjet all-in-ones make high-quality scans, but Canon models like the Canon Pixma TS6020 tend to do it in a fraction of the time of Epson and HP models.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Print speed

On text documents, Canon, Epson and HP models did not differ greatly. On average, each clocked in at 7.7 ppm, 7.9 ppm and 8.6 ppm, respectively.

The fastest model from each, were the Canon TS6020 (9.8 ppm), the Epson WF-2760 (9.9 ppm) and the HP OffIceJet 4650 (9.1 ppm).  

Graphics print speeds varied a little more. Epson's 3.1 ppm bested the Canon (2.8 ppm) and HP models' (2.1 ppm) averages. Taking only the fastest model from each company, Epson's XP-640 almost doubled the speed of HP's fastest unit: The Epson XP-640 printed graphics at 5.1 ppm, while the HP Envy 5540 lagged behind at 2.6 ppm. The Canon Pixma TS6020 printed graphics at 3.1 ppm.

These same three models were tops in the glossy-photo printing department. The Canon TS6020 was fastest, printing a letter-size photo in 1 minute, 54 seconds. The HP Envy 5540 took 2 minutes and 12 seconds, and the Epson XP-640 finished in 2 minutes and 33 seconds.

Print Speed Winner: Canon
Fastest Photo Printer: The Canon TS6020 turns out top-quality glossy photos and graphics on plain paper in record time.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Copy and scan speed

When it came to making copies, Canon and Epson set the pace, while HP lagged behind. Epson models made a black-and-white copy in 11.4 seconds, on average, while Canon all-in-ones produced a copy in 13.4 seconds. HP units were significantly slower, averaging 24.2 seconds.

Canon models were fastest at making a color copy, on average, taking 23.3 seconds. Epson units did so in 27.9 seconds, while HP models took 35.2 seconds.

Results were similar when making high-resolution color scans. At 600 dpi, Canon models finished a JPEG scan in 49.2 seconds, on average, while Epson (at 1 minute and 10 seconds) and HP (1 minute and 31 seconds) lagged behind. However, Epson's fastest model on this test keeps pace with Canon's quickest: The Epson XP-640 made a scan in 41.6 seconds, just behind the Canon MG3620 (39.4 seconds).

Scanning speeds for black-and-white PDFs did not vary much. The Canon MG3620 was quickest, at 8.9 seconds, followed by the HP Envy 5540 (9.7 seconds) and Epson XP-420 (10.9 seconds). The slowest model, the Epson XP-640, made a scan in 16.1 seconds.

Copy and Scan Speed Winner: Canon
Fastest Copier/Scanner: Canon MG3620, which excels at both color and black-and-white scans.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Ink price

Don't be swayed by the low purchase price of an all-in-one — at least not the budget models. Whatever slight difference there may be, it is likely to soon be gobbled up by excessive ink costs if you buy a thirsty model. And a lot of that cost depends on how much you print.

We're talking pennies here, but pennies add up. Epson delivers the lowest cost per text page, averaging 6.9 cents per page its standard cartridges. Canon follows at 8.3 cents per page, and HP at 9.2 cents per page. With high-yield cartridges, Epson lowers its text page costs to 5 cents, followed by Canon (6 cents) and HP (7.2 cents).

Ink costs per color page are not very different using standard cartridges, on average: Canon (21.1 cents) versus Epson (22.1 cents) and HP (23.3 cents). Using high-yield cartridges is where you'll see a more dramatic difference in operating costs: Canon models deliver an average of 10.9 cents per page, followed by Epson (14.8 cents) and HP (18.5 cents). The two models with the lowest color ink costs are the Canon TS6020 (8.5 cents) and the Epson XP-640, at 10 cents.

To help offset these costs, some companies offer ink subscription plans that may save you money.

Ink Cost Winner: Canon
Best for Ink Costs: The Canon TS6020 keeps ink costs low, and the Epson XP-640 impresses, too.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Laser all-in-ones

If you're focused on business tasks, and don't need to print glossy color photos, a monochrome laser all-in-one could be a good fit. First, laser printers tend to be faster. In our tests, they printed text at 13.7 ppm, on average, versus 8 ppm for inkjet all-in-ones. Epson's not a part of these comparisons, by the way — that company focuses on inkjets.

Canon models had the fastest printing speeds for laser MFPs on average. Just to take one example, our Canon ImageClass MF217W review saw text printed at 15.9 ppm and black-and-white graphics at 12.2 ppm. The HP LaserJet Pro M127fw review noted slightly slower at text printing (13.5 ppm) but half the speed of the Canon at printing graphics, at just 6.1 ppm.

In addition to faster speeds, laser printers tend to deliver lower costs per page. Even when using high-yield cartridges, inkjet all-in-ones average 5.9 cents per text page. But laser models such as the Canon ImageClass MF229dw ($300) and MF217w ($209) print text for just 3.5 cents per page, using an $84 toner cartridge rated to last 2,400 pages. Using a 1,200-page cartridge, the Brother HL-L2380DW ($200) prints text for 3.7 cents per page. HP models were the most expensive: At 4.3 cents per page, the HP LaserJet Pro M127fw ($200) uses a $64 toner cartridge rated for 1,500 pages.

If you need to print in color, you can, of course, get a color laser model like the HP LaserJet Pro M277dw ($329), which uses the same black toner cartridge as the M127fw.

Of course, prices on toner, like ink, vary. Hunting for the best deal, I found that online prices varied as much as $9 for one of HP's black toner cartridges. Buying them in a two-pack will also help your bottom line — just like buying ink cartridge multipacks, which is what we use (if available) in calculating our costs per page.

Laser All-In-One Winner: Canon
Best Laser All-In-One: The Canon ImageClass MF217W, which is our favorite laser MFP, impressed us with its fast print times, high-quality outpu and low cost per page.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Paper handling

If you expect to switch regularly from printing documents to printing on glossy photo paper or other specialty media, consider a model with two input trays. Otherwise, you'll have to swap out media regularly. Getting a duplexer to make two-sided prints will save on paper, but make sure you don't get short-changed on two-sided print quality (as we noted above). Similarly, having an auto document feeder (ADF) is convenient for multipage copying. But not all models produce high-quality two-sided prints and copies, and some ADFs are slow, as is the case with the Epson WF-2760.

If you plan to print and scan from a PC or smart device most of the time, you may not need a sophisticated control panel. But having ample buttons eases operation when you use an all-in-one in stand-alone mode.

Some models come with a touch screen, which can be convenient. For example, the Epson XP-640's touch screen was reliable. On the other hand, the Canon TS6020's touch screen was on occasion unresponsive, and I wished there were a four-way button on the control panel. On the plus side, this Canon touch screen allowed me to swipe my way through menu selections. In general, I have had better luck with physical buttons or a touch panel.

Paper Handling Winner: Epson
Best Duplexer: The Epson XP-640 prints two-sided documents faster than any other model outfitted with a duplexer, spitting out text at 5.5 ppm, versus 3.6 ppm from the next-fastest competitor, the HP Envy 5540.

Epson vs Canon vs HP: Bottom line

So who wins in our Epson vs Canon vs HP printers showdown? Canon clearly has a leg up on the competition, taking seven categories. The Canon TS6020 fared particularly well as our top choice in multiple categories.

Still, Canon's wins were by thin margins in many categories. HP took top honors for color copies, and Epson fares well in many categories, too. (We particularly like how the XP-640 handles photo prints.)

If you're considering brands when buying a printer, our testing indicates that Canon's multifunction devices are hard to beat. For the latest discounts from Canon, check out our Canon promo codes.

Check out all of our printer coverage:

Best printers | Best all-in-one printers | Best photo printers | Best portable printers | Best laser printers 

At Tom's Guide we test a variety of printers that are well-suited to the home and the office, as well as on the go. Most models we test use either inkjet or laser technology, and are designed to sit on a desk or table. Some models, however, are small and lightweight, and therefore portable.

We put each printer we review through the same series of tests to evaluate key performance indicators, including image quality and print speed, in order to help determine which are the best printers on the market.

This is just one facet of our editorial strategy, and you can read more about all the different gear we test and how in our guide to how we test products on Tom's Guide. Without further ado, here's how we test printers, and why it's important for you to know. 

Print Speed Testing

Regardless of the type, all our printers go through a series of tests so you can compare them to similar models. We test print speeds, of course, and for capable models we test copying and scanning speed. In all cases, we use a variety of documents in an effort to duplicate real-life use, and to identify strengths and weaknesses of each model.

Print speed tests are conducted with a text document, with a PDF of colored graphics and text, and with a series of 8-by-10-inch color photographs. 

For monochrome laser printers, we print the photographs in black and white on plain paper. For color laser printers that accommodate glossy paper, we test this feature in addition to plain paper prints to help determine which are the best laser printers. If a model offers a duplexer for two-sided printing, we test its two-side print speed with our text and PDF documents.

For portable printers that do not print on larger formats, we test photo print speeds on 4-by-6-inch glossy paper and compare the results to figure out which are the best portable printers.

Copy and Scan Speed Testing

If a printer offers copying capability, as most do these days, we run speed tests copying black-and-white and color documents that contain a variety of text and graphics. Speed tests for scanning also include text documents and documents with color graphics. We scan to both PDF and JPEG formats.

If the model has an automatic document feeder (ADF) for copying multipage documents, we test this feature for both copying and scanning, and make note of speeds and image quality. If the model has a duplexer, two-sided copying and scanning is evaluated for speed and image quality.

Image Quality Tests

All documents printed, copied or scanned in our timed tests are evaluated for quality and compared to the output of competing models. Text is examined for sharpness and graphics are evaluated for fineness of detail and color accuracy.

In addition to the standard documents used for timed tests, a wider variety of documents are used to evaluate image quality. In print tests, this includes additional photographs of varying subject types. In evaluating copy quality, we duplicate a variety of magazine pages that include different text fonts and dense graphics that are sometimes difficult to replicate in the subtle details. 

For photo-centric models, we make copies of glossy photographs and evaluate the duplicate in order to help determine which are the best photo printers.

Evaluating the Features

Test results and image quality are two solid measurements of a printer's worth. But whether a well-performing model is worth an Editor's Choice distinction, sometimes comes down to how user-friendly it is. That's why we run every printer through all its paces, simulating a busy day-to-day workflow to make sure we understand what works great, and what's just so-so.

For starters, we evaluate how east the setup is. Whether it's easy or a mind-boggling, we let you know. We use the software and repeat tests using the mobile phone app, to ensure it's as good as operating from a computer. If there's an LCD, we spend significant time operating the on-screen menus to evaluate them. If it's a touch screen, we do a lot of tapping and/or swiping to see if it's a breeze or something closer to a headache. We set up both wired and wireless connections (if offered) to ensure that neither configuration is troublesome. We also calculate startup time.

Estimating Ink/Toner Costs

For all printers, we discuss the estimated ink or toner costs. These costs are derived from data provided by the printer manufacturers, which are based on standardized testing and industry-accepted test images. If high-capacity cartridges are available, we discuss the difference in costs per page versus standard cartridges.

For printers that offer an ink or toner subscription program, this estimated cost is discussed for comparison purposes.

In the end, all of our testing is in pursuit of a single goal: to give you the most useful data possible, so that you can make a well-informed buying decision and find the printer that's just right for your needs.

For more information on our testing methodologies, read the rest of our guides to how we test products on Tom's Guide.

The Form 3+ from Formlabs replaces the Form 3, one of the best resin-based 3D printers we’ve tested. This is an area in 3D printing that’s seen a lot of competition in recent years, as a number of lower-cost models have sprung up, looking to challenge Formlabs’ pricier printers.

While devices like the Photon Mono X offer a lower-cost entry into SLA printing, the Form 3+ remains the 3D printer of choice for professionals who need dependable and high-quality 3D printing. Formlabs’ latest printer takes all the great features of the Form 3 and improves ease of use and print speeds to remain the ultimate 3D resin printer.

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Price and availability

The Form 3+ originally cost $3,499, but Formlabs subsequently announced that the printer's price was rising to $3,750, citing supply chain issues. The printer remains available directly from Formlabs. Even before the bump in cost, $3,500-plus is a lot to pay for a printer, especially compared to the Photon Mono X, which now costs around $500.

There are optional add-ons for the Form 3+. The Build Platform 2, which is designed to help you remove parts from the build platform, costs $229, while post-processing devices like the Form Wash and Form Cure cost $599 and $750, respectively. (That $750 reflects a $50 price hike on the Form Cure.)

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Design

Formlabs describes the Form 3+ as a LFS (Low Force Stereolithography) printer that uses a 250 mA UV laser to zap resin into a solid. The Form 3+ retains the same heavy, industrial-style design of previous Formlabs models, with an orange see-through plastic cover that folds up from the front to provide access to the build area. 

The Form 3+ has a total build area of 5.7 x 5.7 x 7.3 inches, a total of 237 cubic inches, with a layer size of between 25 and 300 microns (0.001 to 0.012 inches) That’s much smaller than most FDM printers, and many SLA printers. If you need something bigger, Formlabs also offers the Form 3L, a step-up model that can print up to 13.2 by 7.9 by 11.8 inches: a total of 1,230 cubic inches. 

Below the lift-up cover of the Form 3+, you’ll find a large, clear touch screen that shows the status of the print and allows you to control prints in progress. Prints can be sent to the Form 3+ over Wi-Fi, ethernet, or USB connection to a computer running the PreForm software. There is also a USB port on the printer’s back for a USB drive.  

The back of the Form 3+ is also where you’ll slide in the resin cartridge. This holds a liter of resin, and each cartridge is coded to tell the printer what type of resin is in it. The design means that you don’t have to touch the resin yourself — a small printer-controlled valve at the bottom releases the resin from the tank into the print tray. That’s a lot easier than filling the tray by hand, and means that the Form 3+ only dispenses as much resin as is needed for the print. That’s important, as resin left in the print tray can go bad over time. 

The design of the print tray is also new for the Form 3+, with an improved mixer that moves the resin around before printing and a floating level sensor that measures how much resin is in the print tray. Much like the float in your toilet, this latter feature controls the flow of the resin so that there is enough to do the job, but no more.

The other new feature that we tested on the Form 3+ is the Build Platform 2, a revamped design for the platform that the print is built on. This is the part that is lowered into the reason that the print forms on, layer by layer. 

Usually, this is a solid flat slab of metal, so when the print is finished, you then have to pry the print off with a scraper. The new Build Platform 2 design uses a flexible metal panel held in place by magnets. After printing, you use the handles on either side to release the panel from the magnets and bend it, which makes removing the print much easier: it usually just pops off without needing any prying or other persuasion. It’s an optional extra, but it is well worth the $229 if you are printing a lot. 

Most of the other Form 3+ improvements are mostly to the user — these include an improved laser for faster printing and the addition of a heater. 

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Accessories

In addition to testing the Form 3+, we also looked at the Form Wash and Form Cure. These two devices wash prints in alcohol to remove unfixed resin and cure the print with UV lights to finish it off. 

Like the Build Platform 2, they’re optional additions to your Form 3+ setup: you can both wash and cure prints without them using a plastic container and a UV light. But adding them makes things easier and more effective: the Form Wash mixes the isopropyl alcohol to make sure that any nooks and crannies in the print are cleaned, and the Form Cure heats the print while it cures to make sure the resin is completely set. Together, they create an entire production line from loading the 3D model to the fixed print ready for use.

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Software and controls

You control the Form 3+ using one of three ways — from the touchscreen on the device itself, from the PreForm software, and through the Dashboard web interface. The Form 3+’s touchscreen is big, bright, and easy to see. From here you can start and stop prints, plus configure the printer and put it to sleep if you aren’t using it for a bit. 

The PreForm software (available free for Windows and Mac) offers the main way of setting up prints and controlling the printer. This loads the 3D models, orients them for printing, and creates the print file to send to the Form 3+. 

It’s an easy process, especially if you use the one-touch feature that handles most of the work for you. Because the Form 3+ communicates with the PreForm app, you don’t have to set up anything: it knows what type of resin is installed and how to configure the print for that. You do have to press a couple more buttons to send the file (and then go to the printer and start the print), so it isn’t quite one touch, but it is pretty close. 

If you prefer to configure things yourself. PreForm allows you to load multiple models, shrink or enlarge them and move them about the build plate. Alternatively, you can load one model and clone it to print multiples in one print, a process called plating. You can also add print supports, or let the program add them automatically. Once your model is ready, you can send it directly to the Form 3+, save it or put it on a USB drive. 

As for the dashboard, it’s a web-based service that allows you to monitor and control multiple printers, stop or start prints, monitor materials and check the print statistics. The Dashboard can have multiple users, so more than one person can use a single printer, or queue prints up on multiple devices.

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Print process

Once the print file has been sent to the Form 3+, it is time to get printing. Again, this process is pretty hassle-free: you select print and run through a couple of preparation steps (such as opening a valve on the resin tank and confirming that the print plate is in place); then, the printer gets on with it. The preparation process can also be done in advance: if you know you are going to be starting a print in a few minutes, you can prime the printer in advance, then start the print from the PreForm software. 

The printing process itself is automated: you don’t have to watch it. The Form 3+ also includes a heater that warms the inside of the printer, a definite plus for the chilly basement I use for testing printers, as the resin doesn’t flow as well when it is cold. 

This heater doesn’t extend to the resin tank, though, so filling the print tray from the tank sometimes took a long time, especially when switching materials. Formlabs told me that they recommend users put the Form 3+ into an air-conditioned or otherwise heated room, and that users should occasionally take the resin tank out, check the valve that the resin is dispensed from and shake the tank to make sure that the valve is not blocked.  

After several prints timed out while waiting for the cold resin to drip out of the resin tank, I took to manually filling the tray before the first print, another process that Formlabs recommended. That’s more of an annoyance than a widespread problem with the Form 3+, though, especially for those who live in more civilized climates than New England in late winter. 

Once the print is done, you can remove the print bed and finish the print. With the Form Wash and Form Cure devices, this involved putting the entire print bed into the Wash and setting it to run, which immerses and rinses the print in IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) to remove any liquid resin clinging to the service. That process that takes about 20 minutes. 

The Form Was automatically circulates the IPA to get into the print, then lifts the print out of the liquid to let it dry. Next, you remove your print from the print bed, then trim off the supports (a number of clippers and other tools are included with the Form Wash for this purpose).  Finally, you put it in the Form Cure, which heats the print and bathes it in UV light to harden the resin. After that, the print is complete. 

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Print speed

The Form 3+ is a pretty speedy printer when it wants to be. Using the Draft resin, a print of our 4-inch high Thinker test model took a little more than 2.5 hours. That’s fast because the Draft resin is designed for quick printing on prototypes. The Flexible resin took somewhat longer — 8 hours and 52 minutes for that same model because the Elastic resin uses thinner layers that take a little longer to fix.

That time is a bit quicker than the Form 3, which took between 10 and 17 hours to print. We can’t make a direct comparison, however, as the different printers use different resins. Still, it’s safe to say that the Form 3+ is a little faster than the Form 3. 

Print speeds for the Form 3+ also compare well with other resin printers. The Photon Mono X, for instance, took more than 7 hours to produce the same size of print. Much of the speed of the Form 3+ is down to the draft resin we tested it with, but it is obviously a speedy printer that can crank out prints when needed. 

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Print quality

I was impressed with the print quality from the Form 3+, which consistently produced clean smooth prints with excellent detail and finish. The print quality depends a lot on the resin that you use, and we tried two in our testing — the Draft resin and the Elastic 50A. 

Formlabs’ Draft resin produced very clean, smooth prints, but each layer of the print is 0.3mm thick, which in 3D printing terms, is a lot. 

This does mean that the layers on prints are sometimes rather visible on flat edges and surfaces that are parallel to the print bed. In other areas, our test prints were very smooth, with well-reproduced details and smooth, organic curves. 

The print quality of the Elastic 50A resin was also excellent, with fine detail on our test prints. The prints in this material lived up to the elastic name: the clear resin is pliable and stretchable when cured, but is not rubbery: it holds its shape in fine details. 

The elastic nature of this resin does mean that it is a bit of a pain to work with, and we did find that the supports for the prints left traces on the final print that were difficult to remove: little pock marks in the otherwise smooth surface of the print. These aren’t a big problem on the draft resin, as the brittle nature of the cured resin means that the supports come off cleanly. 

But the elastic resin doesn’t snap off cleanly, and I had to trim off the surface marks with a sharp knife.This could probably be minimized by using  less support material to minimize the parts that need to be removed, though.

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Materials

The Form 3+ is designed to use resins from Formlabs, which offer a very wide selection of resins for special purposes, including high-strength engineering, dental, jewelry, and medical use. The cost of these varies from $149 for the draft resin to $299 for the extra rigid engineering resin or the castable Jewelers resin. Medical-grade resins can cost up to $349. That’s expensive, but given that the more specialist resins have been through things like FDA testing so they can be implanted into your body, that’s not unreasonable. 

Formlabs doesn’t offer different color resins: instead, they offer a color kit that includes clear resin and five dyes (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, and White), allowing you to make your own colors. They include 16 recipes as a starting point, but you will need to mix a full liter of resin to get the result: you can’t mix smaller amounts. 

Older Form printers used to offer a feature called Open Mode that allowed you to use other resins, but this is not available on the Form 3+. 

Formlabs Form 3+ review: Verdict

If 3D printing is a part of your daily work,  the Form 3+ remains the printer to beat. It works quickly, is easy to set up and use, and prints with great quality. It’s not cheap, though: the package that we tested costs just under $5k. That could buy you two or three other cheaper printers, like the Photon Mono X, and a print finishing system. 

But a printer like the Photon Mono X lacks the finish of the Form 3+, and prints from the former machine will require more handling and tweaking to get the best quality. You also don’t get the ability for multiple users to queue and manage prints. 

Whether to pay up for the Form 3+ comes down to time and resources. If you don’t mind taking the time to tweak the printer, finish the prints then reprint them to get the results you want, a cheaper SLA printer will do just fine. But if you want to print and move on to the next task, the Form 3+ is the 3D printer to get.

The HP Envy Inspire 7955e ($270) is a versatile inkjet printer that offers plenty of features for a fair price. Outfitted with an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a duplexer for making two-sided prints, this full-featured all-in-one is well equipped for most office tasks, and offers a second input tray for photo paper. This model does not, however, offer fax capability.

The Envy Inspire is optimized for use on a network, and is best suited for an online setup. For example, to use the HP Smart software to make my first scan, I needed to set up an account with HP. This quickly prompted a query asking whether I was liking the HP Smart app, as well as a solicitation to sign up for an Instant Ink subscription. To control ink costs, you will most likely want to sign up for a subscription (more on that later).

The Envy Inspire uses two ink cartridges: a pigment-based black and a dye-based tri-color cartridge. The 7955e comes with six months of free ink refills via the HP Instant Ink subscription plan. You'll want to sign up fast: The starter color ink cartridge ran out very quickly in my testing. The recommended monthly page volume is 300 to 400 pages.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Design

There are two input trays: a 125-sheet cassette and a 15-sheet photo paper tray, which handles 5 x 5, 4 x 6 and 5 x 7-inch sizes. Custom sizes can't be accommodated in the photo paper tray, though panoramic paper can be fed through the main input tray. The output tray can hold up to 60 sheets. The ADF holds up to 35 sheets.

The 2.7-inch color touch screen is handy for stand-alone operation. I found it responsive to my entries and swiping through menus. It's a little on the small side, however. The comparably priced Canon Pixma TS8320 sports a 4.3-inch color touch screen. For operating the printer from a PC or mobile device, HP offers the previously mentioned HP Smart app. There are not any media card slots or USB direct port for connecting a thumb drive.

You'll need some space to accommodate this network-centric printer's footprint. Measuring 18.1 x 20.5 x 19.2 inches, the Envy Inspire 7955e is larger than many inkjets, including some models outfitted with ink tanks (which tend to be bigger than those that use ink cartridges). Having a duplexer for making two-sided prints also tends to add volume to the chassis. But by comparison, the Canon G6020 (which uses ink tanks and has a duplexer) is still significantly smaller than the Inspire 7955e, measuring only 15.9 x 14.6 x 7.7 inches.

You will want to give this HP some vertical clearance, as well. The scanner lid's hinges don't offer resistance for holding up the lid and ADF, so you'll need to prop it up at 90 degrees if you want to use both hands while placing a document on the scanner glass. Despite its size, this HP Envy weighs a modest 17.9 pounds.

Paper sensors free you from telling the printer what kind of photo paper you have loaded in the second paper tray. At first, this can be confusing. The LCD menu shows both the main tray paper setting as well as the photo paper tray setting, although the photo paper setting is grayed out. This lets you know that you do not need to select the paper type; it has been recognized. You will still need to confirm plain paper sizes in the main tray when you refill it.

The printer offers a quiet mode, which is 40 percent quieter than regular operation, according to the company.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Print Speed 

The HP Envy printed our five-page text document in 32.2 seconds, or 9.3 ppm. This was faster than the average of 9.1 ppm. Graphics printing also was faster than the average. The HP Envy printed our six-page PDF of color graphics and text in 1 minute and 41 seconds, or 3.6 ppm. This was significantly faster than the average of 2.7 ppm.

Using its duplexer, the HP Envy made two-sided prints quickly as well. It printed a 10-page text document on five sheets in 2 minutes and 49 seconds, or 3.6 ppm. After printing the first side of a two-sided sheet, the LCD displays a message that the page is drying, which lasted for roughly six seconds. By comparison, the Canon TR8620 ($180) made the same print  more slowly, at 3.1 ppm. 

Making two-sided prints of our color PDF was also quick. The HP Envy printed the six pages on three sheets in 2 minutes and 52 seconds, or 2.1 ppm. On this document the wait time in between the two sides was roughly 11 seconds. By comparison, the comparably priced Canon Pixma G6020 (which uses ink tanks) made the same print more slowly, at 1.8 ppm.

Similarly, The Envy Inspire 7955e printed photos quickly. It printed our landscape photo on letter-size paper in 2 minutes and 49 seconds. This was much faster than the average of 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Copy and Scan Speed

Copy speeds were as impressive as print speeds. Copying a color page took just 21 seconds, among the fastest times we've recorded, and significantly faster than the average of 34.2 seconds.

The Inspire 7955e made a black-and-white copy in 15.4 seconds, beating the average of 19 seconds. 

Using its ADF, copies were made quickly. A single-sided copy of a five-page text document finished in 41.9 seconds, or 7.2 ppm. By comparison, the Brother MFC-J805DW made the same copy at 6.8 ppm, while the Canon TR8620 did so at 6.7 ppm.

Scanning speeds were slower than the average. The Envy Inspire 7955e scanned an 8x10 color photograph to JPEG format at 600 dpi in 1 minute and 24 seconds. By comparison, the Canon TR8620 made the same scan in 59 seconds. The average is 1 minute and 10 seconds.

Scanning in black-and-white to PDF format also was slower than the average. Scanning at 300 dpi, the Inspire 7955e produced a PDF in 19.8 seconds, compared to the average of 11.9 seconds. The Canon TR8620, by contrast, captured the scan in just 8.8 seconds.

Using the ADF to scan multipage documents, the Inspire 7955e captured a page of text to PDF format in 28.1 seconds, including a few seconds to confirm the file save. Turning off the edge detect feature shaved a few seconds off the scanning process, but this will require manual cropping for non-standard sizes.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Print Quality

The Envy Inspire 7955e made high-quality prints across the board. Text prints looked attractive; letterforms were dark and the edges looked fairly sharp up close. Lumpiness at the edges was only noticeable at close range.

Graphics printed with attractive, natural-looking colors that were faithfully reproduced in most cases. Fine details looked sharp, though pixels were noticeable in some textures that could have looked a little smoother, when viewed up close.

When using the duplexer, two-sided prints of our color PDF looked slightly less sharp than when printed single-sided. The graphics were not quite as sharp in the fine details, and text edges were softer than on one-sided prints.

Glossy photo prints looked attractive overall, with high-quality reproduction of details, textures and colors. The prints had a tendency to exaggerate reds and yellows slightly, producing a warm or slightly oversaturated look—but not always. One photo I printed multiple times on 4x6 matte paper looked less saturated the first time, but the second print was noticeably more red and closer to the on-screen original.

Photos with dark shadows tended to lose some fine details in the shadow areas of the print, flattening the overall look. On matte paper in particular, this had a tendency to flatten the image slightly.

Scan quality was high. Text and graphics were reproduced faithfully on a par with all-in-ones in its class. In a scan of a photograph, subtle details in dark shadows were reproduced, rather than becoming a blocked-up patch of black. Fine details in scans of photographs were reproduced well, and prints made at full size looked good overall. When viewed at roughly the original 8x10-inch size, the HP Inspire created details that looked sharper on a PC screen compared to the same photo scan from the Canon TS8320. Enlarging the images to actual scan file size, however, revealed artifacts in the HP's scans that produced an unnatural look and distorted edges, presumably from sharpening. As with our glossy prints, the scans leaned warm, emphasizing reds and yellows. This looked pleasing on lighter skin tones, though on other subjects the effect was arguably a little unnatural-looking.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Ink Cost and Yield

The Inspire 7955e comes with six months of ink. If you continue with the ink subscription, you will need to decide on a plan, depending on how much you expect to print. If you choose to go the old-fashioned route and buy ink cartridges without a subscription, you will pay higher than average prices.

Using standard cartridges, ink costs are high. Costs per page are 9.5 cents (text) and 24.6 cents (color), which are far above the averages of 5.5 cents and 15.7 cents, respectively. Using high-yield cartridges results in lower ink costs, but they are still above what many other models offer: 7 cents (text) and 18.1 cents (color), versus the averages of 4.3 cents and 11.2 cents.

For a full run-down of HP's Instant Ink subscription service, see "What is HP Instant Ink?" <https://www.tomsguide.com/news/hp-instant-ink>. In short, the company offers five plans to choose from, based on how many pages you print. It seems most likely you will save money with the ink subscription plan – compared to the high costs per page without one.

The basic plan allows for 10 pages per month, costs 99 cents, and thus costs 10 cents per page. The $3.99 occasional plan lowers cost per page to 8 cents, allowing 50 pages per month. The 100-page moderate plan costs $5.99, or 6 cents per page.

All these cost per page calculations assume you use up all your plan's pages. You are allowed to rollover pages, however, though there are some limitations. Important to note is that all pages cost the same in these calculations. The more you print in color, the more money, in theory, you could be saving.

However, given the Envy Inspire's large size, it's worth considering whether an ink tank model might make more sense. For example, the comparably priced Canon G6020 offers extremely low ink costs of just 0.2 cents (text) and 0.8 cents (color), without an ink subscription. (HP also makes ink tank printers, though we have not tested one under $300).

If you don't plan to sign up for an ink subscription, be forewarned that the starter ink cartridges (which hold less ink than standard cartridges) ran out very quickly in our testing. After just 22 text pages, 26 color pages, and four 8 x 10 glossy photo prints, the color cartridge needed to be replaced.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Setup and Software

Getting the HP Envy Inspire set up was not as smooth as I'd hoped. For all the promised convenience of a wireless network and internet connectivity, I found myself wishing for the convenience of a plug-and-play USB cable setup. The printer does have a USB port and I did set it up as such for some testing, but you can't use all of HP Smart's features without an online account, which I found frustrating. For example, you can't set up shortcuts for scanning at specific settings or to email, etc. 

Using the QR code on the quick setup guide, I downloaded the HP Smart app to my iPhone. But after briefly connecting with it, the connection dropped and the next three attempts failed. The Envy Inspire's blue light was blinking, indicating that wireless was enabled, but my iPhone could not see it.

Trying another route, I consulted the printer's touchscreen. The menus allowed for entering the printer's IP address. But neither the on-screen menu or the printed quick start guide offered help where this would be found. The touchscreen would not leave the product tour slide presentation, so I was stuck. When I did locate the IP address and tried entering it in the iOS HP Smart app, it would not accept the hyphens. So, I was still unable to connect.

When this got ironed out, I used the iOS HP Smart app to set up a WiFi connection, and pressed the WPS button on my wireless router, when prompted. After connecting, the app instructed me to turn on location and Bluetooth on my phone, though both of them were already on. When selecting the printer in my iPhone's Wi-Fi settings, I was prompted for a password, but I was not sure if it was asking for my iPhone password or my HP Smart password. So, I ended up having HP send me codes that expired in just a few minutes, and I had to repeat the step.

On my Windows 10 PC, I was prompted in the HP Scan software to set up an online account. Right after the first scan, I was asked whether I was enjoying the HP Smart. Given what followed, this question was premature.

You can print text documents, emails and photos from their native applications. But PDF files will not print from Acrobat Reader. To print PDF files on the Envy Inspire 7955e, you must use the HP Smart software.

As for scanning, HP Scan works fine for basic tasks, but it can be finicky and more trouble than it's worth. Although it has presets for scanning and automatically cropping 4x6 and 5x7 photos, it does not have an 8x10 setting and so you will have to crop these scans yourself. There is an auto crop feature, but it's not reliable. When scanning an 8x10 photo collage, the auto crop feature homed in on the frame around the team photo, completely ignoring the remaining 40 percent of the image, including a background and an individual portrait.

After scanning, the software's on-screen "OK" button could not be engaged by pressing enter on my PC's keyboard. To save the scan, I had to mouse over to the on-screen button and click it with my mouse each time.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e review: Bottom Line

The HP Envy Inspire 7955e offers a lot of features and praise-worthy performance for a fair price. The photo paper tray, ADF and duplexer make this all-in-one a versatile tool for home and office tasks. With fast printing and quick copying, plus high image quality across the board, you don't sacrifice quality for speed. The outsized chassis, however, may not fit in cramped quarters. 

Keeping ink costs reasonable requires an ink subscription plan. Some features only work within the HP ecosystem (such as printing PDFs) or require an online account. If this online-dependend and network-centric approach sounds more like a convenience than a limitation, the Inspire 7955e will likely meet your expectations.

Businesses and creators looking to invest in a new 3D printer to create models, prototypes, molds, and end-use parts will run into the question of which technology to use: fused deposition modeling (FDM) or stereolithography (SLA).

SLA was the first 3D printing technology created, and it has long been the preferred printing technology for professional designers and engineers. The SLA printing process uses an incredibly precise laser to cure liquid resin into the solid final part. Thanks to this precision, SLA prints can have incredibly fine detail, smooth finishes, and accurate sizing for machine parts and prototypes. 

SLA printed parts come out dense, watertight, and isotropic, giving them structural integrity in a wider variety of applications. Those qualities combined with the precision of SLA-printed parts even allows them to be used in industrial applications.

There’s also a greater degree of flexibility available with SLA printing. Creators can use different SLA resins to produce hard or soft objects, use resins filled with additives like glass or wax, create either opaque or clear prints, and choose materials for their unique mechanical properties. There are also biocompatible materials available for SLA printing, allowing for customized healthcare products, like dental aligners or surgical planning tools. 

There are some key ways that SLA printing differs from FDM, the other largely popular 3D printing technology. FDM printers deposit material in a melted form to build each layer of the print. Each line the printer deposits can be slightly rounded and may not always adhere perfectly to the layer beneath, creating an anisotropic structure. The resulting prints will show gradation between layers that can impact the aesthetics and functionality of the design. 

The precision of FDM prints is also limited by the size of the extrusion nozzles and inaccuracies caused by the thermal expansion and contraction of the filament, so FDM printers are not as well suited for creating fine details on smaller designs. While FDM prints come out of the printer without requiring cleaning or post-curing, they may require support removal and sanding to remove any unwanted layer lines. This makes them better suited for quick mock-ups or for use in workflows that won’t involve considerable post-production work, which adds time and labor expenses that may negate the relative affordability of the printers and low cost of filament material.

So if SLA printers have so many clear advantages over FDM printers, why would anyone opt for an FDM printer? The answer is thatSLA printing technology hasn’t been as accessible for many companies. The large, industrial machines previously used for SLA printing were expensive, especially compared to many of the affordable FDM printers available on the market today. 

A big factor in the price of SLA printers has been the expensive laser responsible for curing the resin. The resins can also be expensive, and the complicated process of shifting between print layers puts a strain on parts and could cause costly print failures. 

But the relative inaccessibility of SLA printing has gradually been addressed by the introduction of desktop SLA printers from Formlabs. Formlabs has spent the last decade eliminating the prohibitive costs of SLA printing while simultaneously making the technology more versatile, reliable, and intuitive. These investments have culminated in the recently launched Form 3+ SLA printer. 

The Form 3+ is a capable, fast, and reliable 3D printer for business applications. Its versatility allows users to employ it for rapid prototyping, end-use parts, model making, and more. The Form 3+ starts at $3,499 for the basic package.

The precision of the laser in the Form 3+ produces prints that require minimal post-processing. Beyond the smooth finishes of its prints, Formlabs’ software can automatically create support structures for each design and the laser can cure them in such a way that they break off easily and cleanly, further eliminating post-production work. The printer is backed by an ecosystem to improve and simplify the production pipeline, including automated washing and curing machines as well as a quick-release build platform.

The reliability of the printer and the quality of the prints can allow a business to save time and money on prototyping or designing custom parts. While the upfront cost may be higher than an entry-level FDM printer, the flexibility allows this printer to do more, and the reduction in post-production labor, print time, and print failures can outweigh the higher upfront costs. Ultimately, it’s an investment that makes sense for businesses looking to go from concept to final form quickly, precisely, and reliably. 

If you think Formlabs’ Form 3+ may be right for your business or application, you can find out more about the printer here. 

For the month of February, Formlabs will also be running a giveaway on a Form 3+ Basic Package that includes the Form 3+ 3D printer, Build Platform, Resin Tank, Finish Kit, and one liter of Draft Resin, valued at $3,500. You can enter for a chance to win here. 

The ongoing chip shortage is having an impact on Canon, which has had so much trouble sourcing components for its printer cartridges that it's now selling some of them without the chips Canon printers use to authenticate inks.

That's significant because Canon has made a lot of money selling cheap printers which will only print using ink and toner cartridges with Canon chips in them. Canon's not alone in this practice, of course; Brother, HP, and other printer makers all rely on similar schemes, which is why many of the best printers you can buy won't print using third-party cartridges.

However, the ongoing supply chain issues and chip shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have apparently made it so hard for Canon to get components for its toner cartridges that some are now being sold without the chip which authenticates them to Canon printers. 

This has put Canon in the remarkable position of having to publish a public warning and guide that instructs Canon printer owners in Europe on how to bypass error messages and continue printing on Canon ImageRunner printers using cartridges which don't have the requisite components.

"To ensure you enjoy a continuous and reliable supply of consumables, we have chosen to supply consumable products without the semiconductor component until normal supply resumes," reads a printer support guide published to Canon Europe's website. "While there is no negative impact on print quality when using consumables without electronic components, certain ancillary functions, such as the ability to detect toner levels, may be affected."

Essentially, Canon is publicly admitting that there really is no reason why its printers can't print using non-Canon cartridges. Like many printer companies, Canon says embedding chips in ink cartridges is helpful because they let the printer know how much ink is left in the cartridge. And while that does seem helpful, it's hardly valuable enough to justify locking Canon customers out of buying and using third-party print cartridges, which might be cheaper and better than what comes from Canon.

It's nice to think that this temporary snarl caused by the chip shortage might lead to a broader shift in business strategy on the part of Canon and other printer makers, but don't get your hopes up: Canon's guide to bypassing its own printer DRM is aimed at folks using the big, multifunction printers that you typically see in offices and businesses, rather than the slim little all-in-one printer you might have at home.

If you’ve ever wondered how to print from an Android phone or tablet, don’t worry, it’s easier than you might think.

Many people store and edit important documents on the go using their phone nowadays. So if you’re one of those people, it’s really useful to know how to print them out straight from your phone, rather than having to take up time transferring them to your computer. Plus, it’s always nice to be able to print your photos so you can physical copies of them to put on display.

• Best Android phones 
• How to check Android battery health 

Most apps, such as Google Docs and Photos, offer the ability to print straight from the app. If your printer is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect it to your phone wirelessly and print right away. The same goes for if your printer connects to Wi-Fi. 

How to print from an Android phone or tablet 

1. Open the document you’d like to print. 

2. Open the menu, and select “Print."

This process will be different depending on the device, app, or filetype you’re using. In general, try checking the top corners of the screen for the three lines or three dots to open the menu. 

In Google Docs and Drive, you can print documents by finding the file on the main menu and pressing the three dots next to the file name. 

In Apple's Photos a[[, swipe up on the photo you’d like to print, and scroll right though the menu until you see the “Print” icon.

3. The print menu will open. You’ll be able to choose the number of copies, select the paper size, and change the orientation of the paper as well as change a few other settings.

4. Select a printer from the drop-down menu. If your printer doesn’t appear in the list, try checking your phone’s Bluetooth settings to make sure you’re connected.

5. Select “print.” Your document will be sent to your printer.

If you need more help with your Android device, we have more tutorials available that will help you. Check out how to open Zip files on Android, how to receive Facetime calls on Android, how to sign documents on Android and how to change the keyboard language on Android. 

At first glance, the FlashForge Adventurer 4 might strike 3D printing enthusiasts as a fairly boring device. it prints mostly without fuss, with few problems and quirks. My second print with the Adventurer 4 — a large bird feeder that took nearly 29 hours to print — would have scared the crap out of me a few years ago, when long, large prints were complex and likely to fail.  But the Adventurer 4 handled that print without issue, producing a smooth, clean print with no hassles almost straight out of the box. 

That kind of straight-ahead performance shows just how far 3D printing has come, and as I found in my FlashForge Adventurer 4 review, it makes this device an appealing option for enthusiasts looking for one of the best 3D printers that’s a few steps ahead of printers aimed at beginners. That said, printing with the FlashForge Adventurer 4 isn’t completely hassle-free, as the software that prepares your print and operates the printer itself has more than a few rough edges.

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Price and availability

The FlashForge Adventure 4 is available now for $799.99. That price includes four print heads and a 1kg reel of filament. You can also opt for a package with a 2kg reel ($829) or 4kg reel ($859).

The Adventure 4 costs more than some of the entry-level printers we’ve tested like the $399 Monoprice Voxel. But it’s also a more advanced device that’s a bit more affordable that some of the pro-level 3D printers that command four-figure price tags.

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Design

The Adventurer 4 is a large 3D printer, measuring 21.7 x 19.7 x 18.5 inches. The entire printing mechanism is enclosed, with a small fan at the back that sucks the air out through a HEPA filter. That means that printing is a lot less smelly than it can be with most 3D printers. The filter captures any small particles that are given off: a cause of concern for open 3D printers. 

There are clear panels on the top and sides, and the front is mostly covered by a clear plastic door that opens to provide access to the print bed. On the right side is a smaller door that covers the filament reel. This means that the filament reel is also, to some degree, protected from the outside air, which can be important for materials like PLA that tend to absorb moisture. 

The Adventurer 4’s print bed is flexible and removable, so you can lift off  the entire bed and bend it to remove a print. That’s much easier than having to pry away at a fixed print bed. FlashForge includes a second print bed, so you can start a second print going as soon as the first print is removed. That’s a big plus for a busy 3D printer that needs to keep the output coming. In addition, the first thing that shows on the printer control screen when a print is done is a dialog box asking if you want to print the same object again. 

You control the Adventurer 4 through a simple touch-screen on the left side of the front. This was easy to use, except when entering a password into the Wi-Fi setup. The tiny on-screen keyboard repeatedly detected two presses for one or mistook the letter that was typed.  Otherwise, that panel’s fine for starting and monitoring a print, though. 

I also had issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. On the FlashForge Adventurer 4. For unknown reasons, this printer refused to connect to my Wi-Fi network. After numerous attempts and ensuring that the passphrase was correctly entered, I gave up and used the wired ethernet connection instead, which worked without issues. 

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Swappable print nozzles

One of the FlashForge Adventurer 4’s unique features is that you can swap out the device’s print nozzle — the business end of the printer that melts the filament. The printer comes with four nozzles with different diameters for the hole that the filament comes out of. In addition to the  0.3 and 0.6mm options, you get two 0.4mm nozzles, one of which works at 240 ℃, and one that works at 265℃ for materials that need higher temperatures. 

The idea is that the bigger the diameter of the hole on the nozzle, the more filament can come out at a time. That allows for thicker layers of material, speeding up print times The different temperatures allow for different materials. Some filaments need higher temperatures to melt, so the higher temperature nozzle lets you use materials like Nylon. 

Swappable nozzles definitely makes the Adventurer 4 more flexible than most 3D printers, but the process of changing nozzles is rather finicky and very manual. You turn the printer off, release the clips that hold the nozzle in place, pull the nozzle assembly out, then cut the filament to release the nozzle assembly. You then push the filament into the new nozzle before pushing everything back into place until the clips re-engage and lock it in place. You then turn the printer back on and use the manual controls to forward the filament until it comes out of the nozzle. Finally, you have to use the controls to enter a temperature offset, a value that FlashForge writes on the packaging of the nozzle that is the difference between the temperature measured by the sensor on the nozzle and the real temperature it reaches. 

That’s a significant hassle, and it is possible to use the wrong nozzle without realizing it: the printer does not detect the type of nozzle installed and will try and print with a different one to the specified one installed.

Compare that to the automated nozzle change process of the Ultimaker S5, which detects the installed print nozzle and automates the process of removing and replacing the filament. Ultimaker’s approach involves a lot less hassle if you are frequently using the different print nozzles for different prints. 

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Setup

The Adventurer 4 is a very simple printer to set up — you just take the 3D printer out of the box, remove the orange tape that holds the doors closed, and remove a few pieces of foam that hold the print head in place during shipping. Once that’s done, you can load the included 1KG of filament into the printer (our test unit came with red filament) and run the calibration setup.

This is where the setup process gets a bit less hassle-free. Many 3D printers have a self-leveling feature, where the printer automatically detects the print bed using a sensor on the print head; on the Adventurer 4, though, you end up doing a lot of the work yourself. If you select the automatic bed leveling, the printer moves the print head to nine different spots on the print bed. At each, you use the touch-screen control to move the print head up and down by fractions of a millimeter until you can just slide an included piece of mylar between the print head and the bed, indicating that there is the required tiny gap between the two. 

Once you’ve done this for nine points on the print bed, the printer calculates any bumps or bend to the print bed and adjusts for them while printing. It’s an odd combination of manual and automatic that feels out of place in a sophisticated, automated printer like this. 

Loading the filament is a fairly simple process. You mount the filament spool on the hook in the space on the right of the printer and push the end of the filament into the feeder. With the click of a button, the feeder grabs the filament and pushes it up through the tube into the print head. Once you see the melted filament coming out of the Adventurer 4’s print head, you hit the stop button and you are ready to print.

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Controls

You operate the Adventurer 4 through the on-device controls or through a network-connected app. To use features like the 3D printer’s built-in camera, you have to use the FlashPrint software, available for Mac and Windows. Alternatively, you can create prints using software like Cura and saved to USB drives for printing. 

FlashPrint is a decent package for loading and preparing 3D prints. It supports a wide range of formats and offers a good selection of features. Once loaded, models can be scaled, stretched, duplicated, and otherwise jiggered around for printing. They can also be sliced — useful if you want to print a large model in parts. The program can also automatically arrange a group of models for best printing and provides extensive control over the creation of supports that hold the model in place. 

Once you have the model prepared, you click on the slice button, which chops the model into layers that the FlashForge Adventurer 4 will build one by one and creates the file that tells the printer where to move and when to squirt out the filament. When this process is done, you can preview the print layer by layer, which is useful for spotting any potential problems with your print. 

Finally, you can send the file to the printer and start the print, either by saving it to a USB drive or sending it over the local network. For the latter, you can observe the print in progress through the camera built into the Adventurer 4, albeit only at a rather low 640 x 480 pixel resolution. This camera can also capture time-lapses that are saved on the printer, but again the low resolution makes for grainy videos that don’t really let you see how the print is progressing.

The only lighting inside the Adventurer 4 is a single LED on the print head, so you don’t see that much via the camera unless there are other lights on. I ended up putting a small LED aquarium light on the top of the printer to provide more illumination.

The FlashPrint software also allows you to connect to multiple 3D printers and send a print file to all of them at once. That’s a useful feature if you are serious about printing and want to produce multiple prints at once, but it doesn’t allow for multiple users or clients, so it will be of limited use in a school or other multi-user environment. If you need more control over the printer or want to provide access to multiple users, the Adventurer 4 can work with two cloud printing services — Polar 3D and FlashCloud, Flashforge’s own cloud printing service. These are better options than FlashPrint for classroom or office use, but we didn’t test them extensively.

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Print materials

The combination of swappable print nozzles and a heated print bed means that the Adventurer 4 can handle a huge range of materials, from the standard PLA and ABS to more exotic materials like medical-grade Nylon, PETG or transparent materials such as T-Glase. The printer’s nozzles work up to 265℃, while the heated print bed can go up to 110℃, which also increases the number of printer materials the Adventurer 4 can support. 

The Adventurer 4 does not require filament from any particular manufacturer: there is no sensor to detect a material tag such as is often seen on printers from manufacturers like XYZPrinting. So, you can use any filament that is 1.75mm in diameter. 

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Print speed

The Adventurer 4 offers an average print speed compared to other 3D printers we’ve tested. Our Thinker test model took between 3 hours and just more than 10 to print, depending on the size of the print nozzle you use.

Choosing a print nozzle for the FlashForge Adventurer 4 comes down to a compromise between quality and speed: the larger the output of the print nozzle, the quicker the print because it can squeeze out more filament at a time. 

We test the speed of a printer by timing how long it takes to produce a 4-inch high print of our Thinker model, and with the Adventurer 4’s largest 0.6mm nozzle in place, this took 3 hours and 25 minutes. The same print with the 0.3mm nozzle took 10 hours and 37 minutes, nearly three times as long. The difference is because of the number of layers that had to be printed: the 0.6mm version had 444 layers, while the 0.3mm version had 850 layers. 

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Print quality

The FlashForge Adventure 4 produced excellent quality prints across the board, managing to print all of the complex models that we use for testing without any major issues. 

The only flaw we found was a tendency to produce stringy filaments of material when printing with PLA, which made some of the prints look like they had been playing host to a clan of spiders.

This is caused by insufficient retraction, where the printer should pull the filament back into the print nozzle when it is moving it from one part of the print to another. If it doesn’t retract enough, some filament stays at the end of the nozzle, stretching out into a thin string of filament that sticks to the print. 

These strands of filament are more of an annoyance than a problem, though; you can easily remove them with a sharp knife. 

FlashForge Adventurer 4 review: Verdict

The FlashForge Adventurer 4 gets close to being the ideal 3D printer: feed it a 3D model, leave it to work and it will produce a decent 3D print. Unfortunately, the Adventurer 4 isn’t quite perfect. I found issues with the software, such as the inability to connect to my Wi-Fi network and the hardware, such as the manual way you have to calibrate and swap print nozzles. 

These issues aside, the FlashForge Adventurer 4 is a great pick for the serious 3D printer user who wants to print and print and print without hassle. And the sub-$1,000 price is tough to beat as well.

We’ve seen the 3D printer market change over the past few years, with prices falling and the quality of the prints improving. The AnyCubic Photon Mono X continues this excellent trend by offering SLA printing for $599. That’s not the cheapest price we’ve seen for an SLA printer, but it’s definitely an attractive one for a devicer that produces high-quality prints and has earned a place among the best 3D printers we’ve tested.

As part of our AnyCubic Photon Mono X review, we also tested the Anycubic Wash and Cure Plus machine, a separate device that can wash the prints the Photon Mono X produces and cure them to harden the resin with a series of UV lights. 

Photon Mono X 3D printer review: Price and availability

The Photon Mono X is available now for $559 from Amazon. The Wash and Cure Plus costs $249.99 from Amazon.  

Photon Mono X 3D printer review: Design

The Photon Mini X is a Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer, which means it uses a light source to turn a liquid resin solid. This solid material then sticks to the metal print bed, which is raised, lowered, and the process repeats, creating the print layer by layer. 

It’s a bit more complex than the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) type of 3D printer, which uses melted plastic to build the layers, so SLA printers have generally been the more expensive option. (Our favorite SLA printer, the Form 3 from Form Labs, costs $3,499.) However, SLA printers produce more complex prints with finer detail because they produce finer layers. The default layer height for the Photon Mono X is 0.01mm, ten times smaller than a typical FDM printer. 

At 18 inches tall and 11.4 inches wide, the Photon Mini X is a small printer for the size of prints it produces: It’s capable of producing 9.6 x 7.5 x 4.6-inch prints — a total of 331 cubic inches. Most of the volume of the printer is the hood that fits over the printing area, made of see-through plastic that shows you the printing process, but blocks UV light from getting in or out. 

Many SLA 3D printers use a laser to zap the resin, but the Photon Mono X goes another route, using a panel of ultraviolet (UV) LEDs with an LCD screen above, right below the tank that holds the resin. This works like the backlight on your HDTV: the light shines through the LCD screen where each pixel is turned and blocked where each is turned off. The screen has a 4K resolution (3840 by 2400 pixels), which means that each pixel translates into a space of less than 0.01mm on the final print. The bottom of the resin tank is a sheet of clear film made of a material called Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) that lets through the UV light to solidify the resin. 

Both the screen and the FEP film require replacement after heavy use, as the UV light damages them over time. AnyCubic claims that the monochrome screen used in this model will last for thousands of hours of printing, while the FEP sheet needs to be replaced every 20 to 30 prints. 

The other advantage of a monochrome screen is speed: while the color LCD screens that are used in most SLA printers have three filters to let through red, green, and blue light, monochrome screens don’t have any filters. That means more light gets through, so the printing is quicker. AnyCubic claims a printing speed of 6 vertical centimeters (about 2.3 inches) per hour, and we wouldn’t disagree: this is a fast printer. 

The Wash And Cure Plus is the same size and shape as the printer, with a similar design. Instead of the print head, there is an arm covered in UV LEDs which bends at the end to cover the entire print. A removable vat for washing is also included; it includes a built-in agitator to stir the liquid. 

Photon Mono X 3D printer review: Print process

The prints that the Mono X produces are set up in the Photon Workshop software, available as a free download for Windows and OSX.  It’s a decent if slightly quirky 3D slicer that allows you to load one or more 3D models and set them up for printing. The models can be moved, multiplied, and scaled up and down, the saved for printing. You can’t create new models in Photon Workshop, though. 

The Photon Workshop can automatically add the supports, the tree-like structures that hold the print in place while it is being produced, and which are removed later. This didn’t prove to be too successful, though: several of our print failures were caused by incorrectly placed supports, and I found that I would usually do the automatic supports, then go through and manually add more to the places on the print that might have issues. 

One interesting feature here is the ability to divide models. If a model is too big to print at once, Photon Workshop can divide it into pieces. Each piece is then printed in turn and stuck together. That’s a nice trick that would be good to see on other slicer apps. 

There is also an Anycubic app available for Android and iOS that you can use to start a print or monitor print progress from your phone. You can’t upload a print file from this app, but it is nice to have a way to see how far a print has to go before it’s done. Even nicer would be a camera to show you if the print is working properly, but that isn’t present on the Photon Mono Xr.

Once the print is complete, you use the Wash and Cure Plus to — as the name suggests — wash the print to remove any liquid resin and cure it to solidify the resin with UV light. Firstly, you wash the print in isopropyl alcohol, which can be done either after you remove the print from the print bed or mount the entire print bed onto one of two slots in an included basket. This large container holds a lot of liquid — up to 8.5 liters (2.25 gallons). You won’t always need that much, but you will need enough to cover the print completely. At the moment isopropyl alcohol is not cheap, as it is one of the main ingredients of hand sanitizer.  

When the print is in place, you select how long you want it to be washed for, then press the control dial in to start. The agitator stirs the liquid, changing direction every 2 minutes to make sure that all of the cracks and crevices of the print are washed. 

Once your print is washed, you remove the print and let it dry. After that, it is time to cure the print, which you do by replacing the alcohol container on the Wash and Cure Plus with a rotating platform. Again, you use the control dial to select how long to cure for: typically, this would be 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the print.

Once you start the process, the platform rotates exposing the print to the UV light from the LEDs on the arm that towers over the print. The process won’t start until you replace the plastic cover, which blocks the UV light from coming out. That’s a good precaution, as this intensity of UV light can damage your eyes. 

Photon Mono X 3D printer review: Print speed

The Photon Mono X is a speedy printer: our 4-inch high Thinker test model took 7 hours and 35 minutes to print, which is significantly faster than most printers in this class. The Peopeoly Phenom, for instance, took just over 13 hours to print the same model at the same size. 

We usually print the Thinker model vertically to make it fair for printers that don’t have enough space on the build plate to print the Thinker lying down horizontally. The Photon Mono X has plenty of print space large enough to handle this, so we also tested this and found out that it was much, much quicker, taking just 3 hours and 56 minutes to print in this direction.

Photon Mono X 3D printer review: Print quality

I was impressed with the quality of the prints that the Photon Mono X produced. My prints had clean, sharp edges and smooth, organic curves and surfaces. We test using three models that test the ability of the printer to reproduce details: a scan of Rodin’s Thinker, a set of planetary gears, and a geometric sculpture. 

The Thinker statue was generally well reproduced, with fine details and smooth, organic curves that looked like the real thing on the head and shoulders. The Geometric sculpture had sharp, clean edges with nice points and accurate interlocking surfaces. The Gears were easily assembled and ran smoothly, although the grey resin we tested with this printer produced a lot of dust and residue (the white material) when we screwed the various parts of the gears together. 

We did notice some problems on prints, though: sometimes, some of the layers seemed to come loose, leading to loose flaps of resin. Look, for instance, at the keg in the horizontal print of the Thinker: the inner calf of his right leg has a few layers that didn’t stick to the ones above. Likewise, one of the points of the geometric sculpture seems to be flattened because the layers were pushed down by the liquid resin as the print was produced.

Most of these issues can be corrected by tweaking the print, though: the loose layers and the squashed point indicate that the print required a few more supports to hold it in place while printing, or that the object might be better printed at a different angle. 

All of this indicates something that is true of most 3D printers: they still require a lot of tweaking to get the best quality prints out of them, and much of this tweaking relies on working out why a print failed and trying again. 

Photon Mono X 3D printer review: Verdict 

The AnyCubic Photon Mono X breaks new ground, pushing down the cost of SLA printing to a new low. It does so without making too many compromises: printing remains a slightly messy business that occasionally fails, but once you get used to the Photon Mono X (and buy a mask and a big box of disposable gloves), it is generally hassle-free and fast. 

SLA printing is definitely still a process that requires patience, though, as some prints from the Photon Mon X failed and require alteration and re-printing. I would also recommend that you buy the Wash and Cure Plus, as it makes the rather icky business of cleaning and curing SLA prints much easier. 

Combined, the two cost less than $800 and can produce large, high-quality prints at a faster speed than most of the competition. The Form 3 remains the SLA printer to get for professionals who need to do a lot of heavy-duty printing, but the Photon Mono X is an excellent option for at-home work by hobbyists or those curious about 3D printing. 

From office chairs to laptops, Office Depot deals can save you hundreds when it comes to furnishing your home office space. Office Depot deals are also a great way to save on non-tech items like face masks, Clorox spray, and digital thermometers. 

For instance, right now Office Depot is taking up to $120 off select office chairs. The sale includes executive chairs, leather chairs, ergonomic chairs, and more. So if you're looking for ways to save some extra cash, we're rounding up today's best Office Depot deals on everything from monitors to cleaning supplies. 

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Back to school season is here and Office Depot is offering back to school sales on everything from printers to laptops. Currently, the retailer is taking up to 55% off back to school essentials like Crayola Markers, notebooks/binders, laptops, and backpacks. 

Best Office Depot deals right now

The HP LaserJet M234dwe ($199) is a monochrome laser printer designed for small offices and home offices. 

Fast text printing and faster-than-average copying make the LaserJet M234dwe a good candidate for office duties. However, whether this multifunction device is right for your office will likely depend on whether you're in the market for a toner subscription, and want a device that depends on an internet connection for full functionality. For example, although the included HP Smart software does allow you to scan a document and save it to a PC, any scanning shortcut you set up in the software must save the document to an online location (such as Google Drive or Dropbox). If your office manages its documents on PC hard drives or network-connected storage, this may throw a monkey wrench in your workflow.

You will have to set up an online HP account in order to set up this printer, which requires an Internet connection. This is required by the HP Plus program, which is a cloud-based printing solution. As such, when setting up scanning shortcuts in the included HP Smart software, you can only set the scan to be saved to an online location (such as Google Drive), not to a PC, even if connected via USB cable. (You can, however, scan and manually save each individual file to a PC, just not via a shortcut).

Optionally, you can sign up for a six-month trial of HP Instant Ink, an ink and toner subscription service (more on that below). The starter toner cartridge that comes in the box is rated to print approximately 700 pages (versus the standard cartridge's 1,100 pages). If you run out of toner within six months, you will receive a replacement cartridge free of charge. (For monthly subscription tiers and pricing, see the Software and Setup section below). This laser printer only works with HP-brand cartridges. A recycling label is included in the box for Instant Ink subscribers, for recycling through the HP Planet Partners program. 

The result is a monochrome all-in-one laser printer that's great for the office or home, but expects you to fully buy into HP's growing ecosystem of services and subscription toner refills. As our HP LaserJet M234dwe review shows, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but compared to many of the best laser printers or best all-in-one printers we've reviewed, it's more of a long-term commitment than you might expect when buying a laser printer.

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Design

The LaserJet M234dwe has a recommended page volume of 200 to 2,000 pages, and is outfitted with a duplexer for making two-sided prints. The paper cassette holds up to 150 sheets, and the output tray above it holds up to 100 sheets of paper.

It has a simple scanner lid up top, and is not outfitted with an automatic document feeder (ADF) for copying or scanning multipage documents. The M234dwe prints and copies in black-and-white, and can scan in color. The top panel offers a half dozen physical buttons and a two-way control for making selections from the small, 1.27-inch monochrome LCD. 

Weighing a modest 16.8 pounds, this LaserJet is an easy one-person unboxing job. The unit is quite compact, measuring roughly 14.5 x 11.75 x 9.5 inches. Extending the output tray increases the depth to 16.5 inches, while lifting the scanner lid fully requires a vertical clearance of 17.2 inches.

There are Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and Ethernet ports on the back, though no cables are included. Dual-band 2.4/5GHz wireless 802.11 b/g/n is supported, as well as low-energy Bluetooth. There are not any memory card slots.

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Print speed

Text printing was faster than the average for laser printers we've tested in its class. The LaserJet M234dwe printed our five-page text document in 18.7 seconds, or 19.3 pages per minute. The average is a little slower, at 21.2 seconds, or 14.2 ppm. Print speeds for our mixed text-and-graphics PDF, however, were a little pokey. Printing the six-page document in 49.5 seconds, this LaserJet's 7.3 ppm speed was slower than the 8.9 ppm average. By comparison, the Xerox B215 printed the same document at more than twice the speed, at 16.5 ppm. Printing a full-page grayscale graphic on letter-size paper, the M234dwe was slightly slower than the average of 17.2 seconds, making the print in 19.1 seconds. 

Using its duplexer to make two-sided prints, the LaserJet was quick, producing a 10-page text document in 48.8 seconds, or 12.3 ppm. This bested the Xerox B215 (at 10.9 ppm), and was on par with our more expensive Editor's Choice Brother L2750DW (at 13.2 ppm). The M234dwe was roughly half as fast at making two-sided prints of our mixed text-and-graphics PDF document than at text documents, doing so at 6.4 ppm. By comparison, the Brother HL-L2390 ($150) made the same print at 7.8 ppm. 

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Copy and scan speed

Taking 9.7 seconds to make a black-and-white copy, the LaserJet M234dwe beat the category average of 10 seconds. The Brother L2750DW was faster, at 8.4 seconds. However, the more comparably priced Brother HL-L2390DW, made black-and-white copies in 9.1 seconds, on average.

The HP LaserJet made a color scan in 1 minute, 5.7 seconds. This was roughly half as fast as the category average – our field of laser printers averaged 37.6 seconds to make a color scan. The Brother HL-L2390DW captured a color scan in 34.5 seconds, and the HP LaserJet Pro M148fdw did so in 41.1 seconds.

The M234dwe was particularly slow at scanning in black-and-white to PDF format. This HP LaserJet made a black-and-white scan in 17.3 seconds – all but one other model we tested was faster. By comparison, laser models averaged 11.1 seconds on this test, with many models capturing the scan in 6 to 8 seconds. One such model, the Brother HL-L2390DW, captured the scan to PDF in just 6.5 seconds.

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Print quality

The LaserJet M234dwe does not disappoint on print quality. Text documents printed with letterforms that looked very sharp and were sufficiently dark. Graphics print quality also was high. Images printed with sharp details and smooth gradations, overall. Some mild pixelation was sometimes noticeable, as well as distorted edges and mild banding, but nothing so pronounced that it was distracting.

This pixelation and mild banding was slightly more pronounced in copies than in prints, however. Although copies tended to show a subtle loss of fine details around the edges in graphics, in particular, text looked sufficiently sharp. 

The LaserJet made high-quality scans, with sharp details and accurate colors. Shadow areas tended to come out too dark, losing subtle details, however. In addition to flatbed scanning, the HP Smart iOS has a "camera scan" feature, whereby you take a picture. On my iPhone, using this feature was inferior to flatbed scanning, because my magazine page bulged upward, introducing distortions. However, the sharpness of the text and graphics were comparably sharp to flatbed scans.

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Toner cost and yield

This LaserJet's costs per page are above average, based on estimated toner cartridge yields. Using the standard-yield cartridge, which prints an estimated 1,100 pages, cost per page is 4.5 cents. The category average is 4.1 cents. The Brother HL-L2390DW's cost per page with standard cartridge is 3.7 cents.

Using the high-yield toner cartridge (rated at 2,400 pages), the LaserJet's cost per page goes down to 3.3 cents, versus the average of 2.7 cents (the same as the Brother HL-L2390DW). By comparison, the Xerox B215's high-yield cost per page is 2.4 cents.

Also, you can opt for an HP Instant Ink (for toner), one of the better ink and toner subscription services, which may lower your cost per page (see table). If you consistently make a high volume of prints, a subscription may be a good fit. (For more information on how Instant Ink works, see our article, "What is HP Instant Ink?" Although this article addresses ink subscriptions, the toner subscriptions are similar.)

HP Instant Ink (for toner) plan tiers:

$1.99, 50 pages/month = 4 cents cost per page
$3.99, 100 pages/month = 4 cents per page
$13.99, 400 pages/month = 3.5 cents per page
$19.99, 800 pages/mo. = 2.5 cents per page
$25.99, 1500 pages/mo. = 1.7 cents per page

Note: An additional 10 to 50 pages cost $1. If you don't use all the pages in your monthly plan, you are allowed to roll over up to twice the number of page in your plan.

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Setup and software

No CD-ROM is included for setting up this LaserJet, which will require an internet connection. Also, in order to install the HP Smart software from 123.hp.com, I had to create a Microsoft account (which I did not yet have). During setup, you can accept the free six-month Instant Ink toner subscription trial. 

To set up HP Smart, you must create an HP account, if you don't have one already. You will need to be signed into this account in order to use any shortcuts you set up in the HP Smart software.

Unfortunately, the HP Smart software was a little disappointing. I found the edge detection feature while scanning to be almost worthless. It tended to crop scans of a magazine to a fraction of the page. The page had a lot of white space, so this might have been forgivable. But a scan of a color photograph came out similarly cropped to a narrow portion of the image, and was stretched out like a funhouse mirror reflection. This leaves the user in the unenviable position of having to manually crop each scan. 

Also potentially confusing is that although the M234dwe is a monochrome printer, the print menu in HP Smart offered a color option. 

True to its cloud-focused philosophy with HP Plus, you can not set up a shortcut in HP Smart software to save a scan to a connected PC—only online locations. You can, however, save files to a PC after scanning with HP Smart. In addition, if you are particular about your scan resolution, you won't get help here: Scanning shortcuts in HP Smart do not offer settings selections for dpi resolution. The shortcuts don't show on the main HP Smart page. You have to click on the "Shortcuts" button to go to your shortcuts.

What is on the main page of HP Smart, however, will be "personalized content" based on your preferences "throughout your HP Smart experience", which are automatic opt-ins if you don't uncheck them in the privacy preferences. What showed up in HP Smart during my testing was an ad for toner subscription plans, an advanced features pitch, and a shortcuts tutorial. I would have preferred to have my shortcuts front and center, rather than another click away. 

Using my iPhone with the M234dwe also required the setting up of an HP account. The app has two scan types: camera scan (taking a picture) and printer scan (from the flatbed). Using the camera scan feature, like with the PC software, my first photo of a document was cropped to roughly a quarter of the page. I tried adding pages to the scan, but it crashed the app. Using the "printer scan" feature with the iOS app, edges of a magazine page were accurately detected. 

The HP LaserJet M234dwe supports Apple AirPrint, Wi-Fi Direct, and is Mopria-certified.

This LaserJet starts up in roughly 21 seconds, which is roughly the average.

HP LaserJet M234dwe review: Verdict

As a monochrome laser printer, the LaserJet M234dwe delivers the goods. It makes single-sided and duplex prints of text documents quickly and makes text copies at faster-than-average speed.  Image quality is high and the price is a bargain, especially considering that you get six months' worth of toner. 

Other performance was mixed, however. Printing our mixed text and graphics PDF was somewhat slow, as were scanning speeds. Most irksome in this department, however, was the HP Smart scanning software's inability to automatically detect edges and reliably crop scanned documents accurately.

Toner costs are a little above average, but it's possible that a subscription plan can save you money—dependent on a high enough print volume and your ability to manage the account (so you don't surrender unused rollover pages).

The online dependency of HP Plus will not be everyone's cup of tea. If you already manage all your documents online in the cloud and need easy integration with a printer/scanner, this LaserJet is likely a good candidate. If not, you may find HP Plus unnecessary and irksome, and be in the market for the better performance and lower costs per page of the similarly priced Xerox B215 or Brother HL-2390DW. If you are willing to spend more money up-front, you certainly can’t go wrong with our most recent Editor’s Choice, the Brother L2750DW, which offers faster speeds in printing, scanning and copying, and delivers a lower cost per page without any subscriptions needed.

With many people still working from home, printer deals have never been so popular. As a result, retailers have been offering a multitude of excellent printer deals. We've even seen discounts on some of the best printers of 2020. 

So whether you're looking for a price break on a mobile printer or deals on today's best laser printers, we've got your back. These are the best printer deals you can get right now. Not sure what type of printer to get? Check out our inkjet vs laser jet comparison to choose the one that's right for you.

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Photo Printer Deals

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Even though it sports an unusual look for a 3D printer, there’s something familiar about the Monoprice Delta Mini V2. That’s because this is actually the second version of this device — we reviewed the original Monoprice Mini Delta a while back when it was a low-cost if flawed way to get started in 3D printing.

Does the new version address those flaws, which included unreliable USB connections and printing modes along with other bugs? Our Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review finds a much improved device, though software remains a weak spot.

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Price

You can get the Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer for $179, a very attractive price for entry-level printers. Consider that our top rated choice for best 3d printer — the Monoprice Voxel — costs $449, that’s quite a bargain.

The Monoprice Delta Mini V2 is available directly from Monoprice.

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Design

The Monoprice Delta Mini V2 is a cute little printer, measuring just 14.5 inches high.  While most 3D printers use left-right and forward-back rails that the print head slides along, the Delta 2 uses three spider-like arms, with the print head attached in the middle. Move one of these legs up, and the print head moves in that direction. By coordinating all three legs, the Monoprice Delta Mini V2 can move the print head anywhere in the print area. 

It’s a rather compelling motion to watch, but it does have one limitation: the print area is circular and is smaller than a more standard printer of the same size. For the Mini Delta 2, the print area has a diameter of just over 4.3 inches and a height of just over 4.7 inches. That’s a total of about 81 cubic inches, which is somewhat smaller than the 107 cubic inches provided by the Polaroid Playsmart.

The Delta Mini V2 features several ways to connect to the outside world, including a micro SD card slot, a Micro USB port and a Wi-Fi interface. The latter option is of limited use, though — you can’t control the printer over a web interface or connect to it directly with a slicing app to send files. Instead, Wi-fi only works through a rather poor mobile app.

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Controls

You’ve got several options for controlling the Delta Mini V2 — an on-device display, the PoloPrint Pro app, or through a slicer app such as Cura.

The small touch screen on the printer itself can be used with a fingertip or with an included plastic stylus. The latter is preferable, especially for precise jobs like entering a Wi-Fi password via the on-screen keyboard. Fingertips are fine for simpler jobs like pressing the start button, though. 

The pre-release version of the PoloPrint Pro app that I tried is available for both iOS and Android. It’s a bit rough around the edges: I found that it often crashed or failed to connect to the printer. When it did work, I was able to start a print from the micro SD card or from the online library and monitor the print progress, although there is no camera in this low-cost printer that lets you see the print in progress. Another omission here is the ability to load your own models and print them from the app; Monoprice told us that this might be added at a later date.

The best way to set up a print is with a slicing app such as Cura. A customized version of this open-source program for Windows and Mac is included on the micro SD card that comes with the Monoprice Delta Mini V2, and that is what we used to print in our tests. This doesn’t support connecting to the printer over WiFi, but it does support USB or saving a print file to the micro SD card. So, if you are using Cura to prepare prints, you have to use USB or micro SD to print.

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Print process

The Delta Mini V2 is a pretty simple printer to use. Once you’ve created your print file in Cura or another program and copied it onto the micro SD card, you hit the print button in the on-screen menu and select the file to start printing.

The first thing the Delta Mini does is automatically level the print bed, touching the print head to the bed in three places to press a switch underneath it. That lets the printer know exactly where the print bed is— an important step for laying down an even first layer. Once ready, the Delta Mini lays down the first print layer on the heated print bed, then moves up to do subsequent layers.

I found that prints worked well, with few errors and no major failures. If anything, prints stuck to the print bed a little *too* well, as I usually had to pry the final print off the bed with a paint scraper. 

The Delta Mini V2 can handle multiple filament types including PLA, ABS, and PETG. You’re not restricted to filament from any one source, as the Monprice 3D printer can use 1.75mm filament from any manufacturer. We tested the Delta Mini with both PLA and ABS material and found it produced excellent results with both. 

Your biggest limitation will be the maximum temperature of the print head and the print bed (250℃ and 100℃ respectively). The Delta Mini V2 also can’t handle flexible materials, as these require a different style of print head. 

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Print speed

The Delta Mini V2 is a pretty fast printer in draft mode: it cranked out a 3.5-inch high Thinker figure in a little more than 3.5 hours in this mode, which uses a 0.2 mm layer height. The 3D printer is a blit slower if you run it in normal quality, as my print took 7 hours and 10 minutes. This mode halves the height of each individual layer to 0.1mm.

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Print quality

We use several test models to test 3D printers, including a scan of Rodin’s Thinker statue, a set of gears and a geometric sculpture. I was impressed with the quality of the prints that the Delta Mini 2 produced, thanks to the excellent detail. 

Our Thinker test print came out looking very nice, with smooth, natural curves on his shoulders and good detail on the face. There was some noticeable layering, though in both the draft and normal modes.

Our gears test model also came out well: All we had to do to fit the gears together was to remove them from the raft that they were printed on. We didn’t need to do any other trimming, cutting, or tweaking to produce a set of gears that turned smoothly and evenly.

The geometric sculpture is a difficult print, which is why we use it in our 3D printer testing. It involves printing a lot of sharp edges at angles, which taxes the ability of the printer to precisely control the flow of the molten filament. The Delta Mini V2 handled it without issues, producing a print that had sharp, well-defined edges and points. Once we had trimmed off the support material that held the print in place during the printing process, we were left with a very well printed, spiky sculpture.

Monoprice Delta Mini V2 3D printer review: Verdict

The Monoprice Delta Mini V2 is a simple printer that does an excellent job. It prints quickly in high quality and can handle a wide range of different materials. The only limitation is the size of the print bed: with a diameter of 4.3 inches, it can’t print anything wider than that or more than 4.7 inches high. That is plenty big for most users, though, and at the price, you can’t beat the value the Delta Mini V2 offers. 

The mobile software issues still prove to be frustrating, but it’s hard to find a better printer at this low of a price. The da Vinci Nano from XYZprinting hovers around $200, but it can be hard to find these days. For that reason, beginners would be wise to give 3D printing a try on a low-cost option like the Monoprice Delta Mini V2.

The desire to save money on printing is nothing new. Replacing a printer's ink cartridges gets expensive in the long run. To ease the pain, some printer models offer high-yield cartridges, which offer some savings. A new strategy to reduce ongoing ink costs is with an ink cartridge subscription plan. All the major printer manufacturers now offer some variation of this.

When the ink in your printer is running low, these services automatically order and ship ink cartridges to you. This is undoubtedly convenient, saving you a trip to the office supply store.

Convenience aside, the big question is, will an ink subscription really save you money? That's what we set out to determine for this story.

We compared plans from the four biggest inkjet printer brands: Brother, Canon, Epson and HP. The plans vary and offer different terms, so you'll want to match your printing needs to the right plan in order to maximize your savings.

What are ink subscription plans?

These days, every printer manufacturer offers some sort of ink subscription plan. For a small recurring fee, you get to skip the inconvenience of running out of ink in the middle of a printing project, and save yourself a trip to the store, all while giving printer companies a new way to encourage brand loyalty and keep more dollars from going to third-party budget ink sellers.

Some plans have a monthly fee that includes a set number of printed pages, and the option to buy extra pages. Other plans simply offer a discount on the automatically triggered ink purchases, or just free shipping.

When the ink in your printer is running low, these services automatically order and ship ink cartridges to you. This is undoubtedly convenient, saving you a trip to the office supply store. In most cases, the shipping will be free, and you will receive an email notification that the order has been placed. Generally, you will have 24 hours to cancel the order, just in case you don't really need it. The printer needs to be connected to the internet for these subscription services to work.

All of these plans automatically ship ink cartridges to you when your printer is running low. The printer must be connected to the internet to initiate the order. And, of course, the printer must be eligible for the subscription plan. In our research, we found that most inkjet printers and all-in-ones we have tested are eligible for the manufacturer's ink subscription plan—but not all of them.

What types of subscription plans are available?

There are two types of ink subscriptions. Those with a monthly fee allow you a set number of printed pages. You pay only the monthly fee, not for the ink cartridges themselves when they are shipped to you.

An ink subscription with a monthly page count may be best suited to users with a consistent print volume. If your print needs vary widely, you may have to monitor your ink subscription plan in order to avoid excessive purchases of extra pages, or to avoid losing excessive pages that have been rolled over from previous months when you printed less than your plan allows.

The second plan type has no monthly fee—you just pay for the ink cartridges, sometimes at a discount price. There is no set number of monthly pages, or a monthly subscription fee, just free shipping and in some cases a discount on your order.

Regardless of the type of plan, the ink shipment is triggered automatically, and you are sent a notice, which gives you the option to cancel.

In some cases, third-party ink ordering programs are done in partnership with the printer makers. For example, Amazon Smart Ordering is offered by Brother.

If you already own a printer by HP, Brother or Epson, you have only one type of plan to choose from. Interestingly, Canon offers both types of ink subscription plans—but at press time only a couple models were eligible for its Pixma Print plan, which comes with a monthly fee and a set number of pages.

What makes a good ink subscription plan?

For this story, we evaluated ink subscription services for personal/small office inkjet printers. The majority of inkjet printers tested by Tom's Guide have a standard black ink cartridge that will print an estimated 1,000 pages or less. For these models, the average costs per page are 7.7 cents (text) and 20.7 cents (color). When using high-yield cartridges, these averages go down to 5.9 cents and 14.9 cents per page, respectively.

Both Canon and HP offer this type of plan, with page-count tiers. Both plans offer extra pages for 10 cents each, and a limited number of rollover pages. We have calculated the cost per page for the plans, assuming you printed exactly the monthly limit.

For these models, the average costs per page are 7.7 cents (text) and 20.7 cents (color). When using high-yield cartridges, these averages go down to 5.9 cents and 14.9 cents per page, respectively.

Basic cartridge replacement plans generally offer a set discount over retail pricing, but the amount varies by manufacturer. Even on those plans without special savings, you'll get free shipping and the added convenience of one less trip to the store when you run out of ink.

HP Instant Ink

Arguably the most popular and widely known ink subscription plan is HP Instant Ink, which offers a monthly fee-type plan that lets users pick the plan that matches their regular printing needs, and sends cartridges in the mail just when you need a refill.

HP Instant Ink offers five subscription tiers, ranging from 15 to 300 pages per month for the majority of home and business users. HP offers Instant Ink subscriptions on many models. You can find a complete list of eligible printers on the HP Instant Ink webpage. And unlike most ink subscription plans, HP offers toner for laser printers, as well.

Check our HP coupon codes page for discounts and offers. 

If you use all of your pages, your cost per page will be anywhere from 4 cents to 7 cents. Extra pages cost $1 for 10, or 10 cents each. You are allowed to roll over up to three times the number of pages in your monthly plan.

By comparison, the Envy 7855 has costs per page of 7.1 cents (text) and 18 cents (color) when using high-yield cartridges. The printer uses two cartridges: black and tri-color.

If you used all your pages in the Occasional plan that comes with 50 pages per month, your cost per page would be 6 cents, regardless of how much color you printed. At that rate, Instant Ink looks like a pretty good bargain. Upping your plan to 100 pages per month would drop your cost per page to 5 cents.

Verdict: If you don't let rollover pages expire, it's a pretty good bet you'd save money with HP Instant Ink.

Canon Pixma Print

Canon Pixma Print is one of two ink subscription plans offered for Canon printers, and uses the monthly page count approach, charging a monthly fee for an allotted number of pages, and then shipping fresh ink whenever the printer is running low.

Canon offers four tiers for its Pixma Print ink subscription plan, beginning at $3.99 per month. The plans' page limits range from 30 pages to 200 pages monthly.

One plan, Pay As You Print, limits you to 30 pages and does not offer extra page purchases or allow you to rollover unused pages. The other Canon plan tiers offer extra pages for 10 cents each, as well as rollover pages. Shipping is free.

Costs per page range from 5 cents to 17 cents, if you were to use all your pages. However, at press time, only two models were eligible for this plan: the Pixma TS6420 ($100) and Pixma TR7020 ($130). (To check the list of eligible models, see Canon's website.) Both models use two ink cartridges: one black, and one tri-color.

One important detail is rollover pages. Comparing each company's 100-page plan, HP allows customers to roll over up to 300 pages, while Canon limits you to 100 rollover pages. However, Canon does include 100 free pages in its plan, which are good for six months.

Without this plan, printing 4-by-6-inch color photos with the two eligible models costs 37.1 cents using standard cartridges, and 28.9 cents with high-yield cartridges. If you print photos almost exclusively, even the entry-level plan would save you a chunk of change, at 17 cents per print. At the highest volume, the 200-pages-per-month Frequent plan drops cost per print to just 5 cents. This assumes, of course, that you are able to use all your pages, and never lose any pages you roll over. It also assumes you never go over and have to pay 10 cents per extra print.

Verdict: The Canon Pixma Print plan can certainly save you money if you keep up with the plan's page count. However, only two models are currently eligible.

Brother Refresh

Brother Refresh offers a 5 percent discount on ink cartridges. There is no monthly fee, and you can cancel at any time without penalty. To enroll, you select either Brother or Amazon Smart Order as the fulfillment provider. You can use the Brother PrinterProPlus app to enroll in Refresh, check ink levels, and manage your account.

When you enroll, you select whether you want standard, high-yield, or super high-yield cartridges to be ordered. Standard shipping is free to the continental U.S., for orders over $20. Shipping on smaller orders costs $5.75. After an order is placed automatically, the customer receives an email notification. You have 24 hours to cancel the order.

Unlike previously mentioned printers, the Brother MFC-J995DW that we tested already offers very low costs per page. Using high-yield cartridges, the MFC-J995DW offers low costs per page of 1 cent (text) and 5 cents (color). These cartridges print an estimated 6,000 and 5,000 pages each, respectively. Signing up for this automatic ordering will save you five percent, and the shipping will always be free because even one standard yield ink cartridge for this model costs more than the minimum for free shipping.

You can find a list of eligible printers on the Brother Refresh website, and it includes both inkjet and laser printers.

Verdict: Brother's high-yield printers are known for low costs per page already. Saving another 5 percent is a no-brainer.

Canon Auto Replenishment

Canon's Auto Replenishment service offers free enrollment and free standard shipping on ink purchases. When your printer displays a low ink message, replacement cartridges will be ordered and an order confirmation email will be sent. Free standard shipping takes three to seven days, according to Canon.

Canon does not offer a set discount with its plan, which is disappointing. However, you will receive a discount if a promotional discount is being offered when your order is placed.

Of the Canon printers we've tested in this category, they averaged costs per page of 8.9 cents (text) and 22.1 cents (color) with standard cartridges, and 7 cents (text) and 16 cents (color) when using high-yield cartridges.

You can find a list of eligible printers on the Canon website.

Verdict: Canon's Auto Replenishment subscription does not offer a set discount, so the benefit is more for convenience than cost savings.

Epson ReadyInk

Epson does not offer an ink cartridge subscription directly. Rather, its ReadyInk program directs customers to enroll via a third-party ink subscription plan from Amazon or Staples. Both companies offer automatic ordering of ink cartridges, triggered by an eligible printer. (See the list of eligible printers on the Epson ReadyInk website.)

Both Amazon Dash and Staples Smart Ordering offer a 10 percent discount on ink purchases. Amazon Dash does not require an Amazon Prime membership. For Prime members, using Amazon Smart Ordering adds Alexa functionality with the printer. As with previously discussed plans, ink cartridge orders are triggered when the printer detects it is low on ink.

Amazon Dash offers free shipping if the product is eligible for free shipping. Staples Smart Ordering offers free shipping on every order.

If you don't yet need more ink, with Staples Smart Ordering you can not cancel the order, but must pause your subscription. You also are allowed to cancel your subscription without penalty.

For comparison, the Epson WorkForce WF-2760, which we reviewed, offers costs per page of 6 cents (text) and 17.3 cents (color), when using its high-yield ink cartridges. Getting a 10 percent discount and free shipping knocks that down to 5.4 cents and 15.6 cents, respectively. Those savings add up, and if you saved on your printer with an Epson coupon code, mean you're consistently paying less than the asking price for your printing setup.

Verdict: Epson's ReadyInk subscription will save you 10 percent on ink purchases, and Amazon Prime members can take advantage of Alexa integration on compatible printers.

Which ink subscription plan is right for you?

Which type of ink subscription is right for you depends on how consistent your print volume is. Whether you have the stomach for managing an ink subscription with a monthly page count, to make sure you don't leave money on the table, is a largely personal decision. If managed well, a page count plan can certainly save you money.

On the other hand, a subscription plan that offers a set discount on ink sounds like a no-brainer. With a set discount on ink purchases, which arrive automatically as with the page count plans, you know you're saving money without having to take any action whatsoever.

Whichever type of plan you choose, it appears the printer makers are offering a fair amount of flexibility. In one form or another, these plans allow you to change your page count, buy extra pages, carry over unused pages, pause the subscription, cancel an unneeded order, or cancel the service without penalty. No matter which variety you decide on, it's pretty certain you'll be able to lower your printing costs.

Canon's Pixma G6020 MegaTank ($270) is a great value and a solid performer. With a recommended monthly duty cycle of up to 3,300 pages, the G6020 built for a heavy workload. It prints, scans and copies, but does not offer fax capability.

Outfitted with four refillable ink tanks, the Pixma G6020 uses a pigment black and three dye-based colors: cyan, magenta and yellow. The refillable ink tanks keep printing costs extremely low. In the box, you get two extra bottles of black ink. These are valued at $18 each and will print an estimated 12,000 pages in total. Given the already low purchase price, this really adds to this all-in-one's value. We liked it so much, we named it one of the best printers in our 2021 Tom's Guide Awards, as well as one of the best all-in-one printers.

Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank review: Design

The G6020 has a compact body and is well suited for a home office. It offers a duplexer for making two-sided prints, although it lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF) for multi-page copying and scanning.

For standalone operation, the control panel has a handful of physical buttons for selecting operations and navigating settings menus. There are dedicated buttons for copying/scanning in black-and-white and in color, for example. At the center of the panel is a small monochrome LCD. The two-line display lacks backlighting, which can make it difficult to read in poorly lit areas or due to reflections off the glass. The control panel angles upward 90 degrees.

The G6020 measures 15.9 x 14.6 x 7.7 inches, which is compact for a model with ink tanks. Because there's no ADF atop the scanner lid, it's a couple inches shorter than the similarly sized Epson ET-4760 with its ADF folded out for operation. The G6020 weighs 17.8 pounds.

There are two paper trays, with a total capacity of 350 sheets. The main paper cassette holds 250 sheets, while the rear paper tray can hold 100 sheets.

Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank review: Print speed

The G6020 printed a five-page text document at roughly average speed, doing so in 33.5 seconds, or at 9 ppm. The category average is 9.1 ppm. The G6020 printed a six-page PDF of mixed text and color graphics in 2 minutes, 46 seconds, or 2.2 ppm, which was a little slower than the average of 2.6 ppm. By comparison, the more expensive Epson EcoTank ET-4760 was faster in both tests, printing text documents at 11.1 ppm and color documents at 3.9 ppm. The HP SmartTank Plus 651 was slightly slower, at 8.5 ppm and 1.7 ppm, respectively.

The G6020's two-sided print speed for text documents was roughly the same as its print speed for one-sided color documents. It printed two-sided text documents at 2.3 ppm, pausing roughly 14 seconds before printing the second side of each sheet. It printed two-sided color documents at 1.8 ppm, pausing about 18 seconds between sides. Again, the Epson ET-4760 was markedly faster, printing two-sided text documents at a brisk 6.5 ppm, and two-sided color documents at 3.2 ppm.

In black-and-white, the G6020 made a copy in 11.3 seconds, and a color copy in 31.2 seconds. The Epson ET-4760 was a little slower to copy a page of text, doing so in 12.8 seconds, but slightly faster at copying a color page, making the facsimile in 30.1 seconds. By contrast, the HP SmartTank 651 was agonizingly slow at copying, taking 2 minutes and 12 seconds to copy a page of text, and almost three-and-a-half minutes to copy a color page.

The G6020 scans quickly. It made a 300 dpi PDF in black-and-white in 8.4 seconds, which was much faster than the average of 11.6 seconds. By contrast, the Epson ET-4760 took 12.4 seconds to make the same scan. The HP Smart Tank was quick on this test, making the same black-and-white scan in 8.3 seconds.

The G6020 made a 600 dpi color scan to JPEG format in 1 minute, 5 seconds. This was 4 seconds faster than the average. By comparison, the Epson ET-4760 took 1 minute, 49 seconds to make the same scan. The HP Smart Tank was even slower, at 2 minutes and 16 seconds.

Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank review: Print quality

The G6020 prints attractive text documents. In our tests, letterforms were dark, with sharp edges. There was only a little bit of errant spray and some slightly lumpy edges. In duplex prints, text looked just as dark and sharp as in one-sided prints. By comparison the letterforms printed by the HP Smart Tank 651 were a little sleeker, with slightly sharper edges.

The G6020 printed color graphics with lots of fine details, attractive textures overall and natural-looking, well-saturated colors. Some mild banding was visible, however, and upon close examination there was slight pixelation in otherwise smooth-looking textures. Two-sided prints of color graphics were equally impressive – something that the Epson ET-4760 did not do, producing two-sided prints that looked lighter and less sharp than single-sided prints. The HP Smart Tank (which only makes single-sided prints) printed color graphics of comparable quality to the G6020, but without the banding that was distracting in the Canon’s prints.

Glossy photo prints were very attractive, with plenty of fine detail and well-saturated colors. The Epson ET-4760’s glossy photo prints set themselves apart with warm reds and yellows that looked a little darker and richer than in the Canon’s prints. However, the Epson’s shadows were also darker, which caused some fine details to get lost amidst the increased contrast. The HP SmartTank’s glossy prints were also very attractive and detailed, with slightly less brightness in the reds and yellows, which arguably is more natural-looking but offers less “pop” than the Canon and Epson prints.

The Canon G6020 reproduced text accurately in its copies, and graphics retained their details and color accuracy. There was, however, some very mild banding in copies of both color and grayscale graphics, though this was not pronounced. By comparison, the HP SmartTank’s color copies looked a little muddy, lacking the brightness and mid-tone details of the G6020’s brighter color copies.

Scans also proved to be faithful reproductions. Sharp details and accurate textures were in both grayscale and color scans. Colors looked accurate in photo scans, and details were retained in shadow areas (something the Epson ET-4760 had difficulty with, producing blocked-up shadows lacking details).

Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank review: Ink cost and yield

The Pixma G6020 keeps printing costs extremely low by using refillable ink tanks. At just 0.2 cent for text and 0.8 cent for color pages, this Canon keeps ink costs very budget-friendly. A bottle of pigment black ink sells for $17.99 and lasts an estimated 6,000 pages. The three color inks cost  $11.99 per bottle, and print an estimated 7,700 pages. There is a CMY three-pack, but it will only save you two cents, priced at $35.95. The $450 HP SmartTank Plus 651 offers the same low costs per page; the Epson ET-4760 differs only slightly on color pages, at 0.9 cent.

Take a look at our Canon promo codes for ways to save on your order. 

By comparison, the $129 Brother INKvestment MFC-J805DW (which does not have ink tanks, but uses larger-than-average cartridges) delivers costs per page of 1 cent (text) and 6.2 cents (color) when using its highest yield cartridges.

Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank review: Setup and software

The startup guide directs you to go online, where pictures and videos step you through the setup. After removing a few pieces of packaging tape, you install the two printheads and fill the ink tanks. This is an easy process, with almost no risk of spilling ink and making a mess. With the G6020, as with all other refillable ink tank models we’ve reviewed, I’ve never spilled a single drop of ink during this process. The ink bottle nozzles fit securely into the ink tank valve, and you let gravity do its work.

Then you perform the printhead alignment. After printing a page of patterns, the G6020 draws each page back into the unit. You do not need to select which block of finely spaced lines is most properly aligned, as is necessary with the Epson ET-4760.

Setting up wireless was easy. The G6020 offers WPS method, which you select in the on-screen menu. After doing so, pressing the WPS button on my wireless router established the connection.

Printing and scanning from a Windows PC is smooth sailing. And, with the dedicated black-and-white and color buttons on the control panel, standalone copying is simple as well. But customizing settings  in standalone mode is not the G6020's strong suit. Navigating menus with the two-line monochrome LCD is not nearly as elegant as a large, responsive touchscreen. That said, it's also not nearly as frustrating as an unresponsive, kludgy touchscreen, or one that's too small to navigate efficiently.

Setting up my phone with the G6020 was no hassle. After downloading the Canon Print app to my iPhone, the app found the G6020, and the wireless connection was made.

The G6020 offers digital assistant compatibility, supporting integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT (If This Then That).

Startup time is very fast. The G6020 offered its menu screen in just 3 seconds. When choosing immediately to make a black-and-white copy, the G6020 produced the copy in a total of 30 seconds from when the power button was pressed.

Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank review: Verdict

The Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank offers a lot for the money—extremely low ink costs, attractive two-sided prints, and a high duty cycle for cranking out a high volume of prints. With an attractively low initial cost of $269—plus lots of extra black ink in the box—this office-worthy unit has a lot to offer, including high image quality across the board, and two paper trays.

The G6020 doesn't, however, offer every office feature. For example, if copying multipage documents is a critical feature for you, you might wish the G6020 had an ADF for feeding those documents (like the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 does). Also, two-sided printing is on the slow side and may not be up to par for a busy workgroup wanting to regularly make duplex prints. The Epson ET-4760, by comparison, is demonstrably faster at duplex printing, while the HP SmartTank 651 offers only single-sided printing. Also, the G6020 doesn't send faxes, like the ET-4760.

Nonetheless, if you don't need an ADF and two-sided printing doesn't need to be lightning-fast, this low of a price for an all-in-one with refillable ink tanks is impossible to ignore. With two extra bottles of black ink in the box, the Canon Pixma G6020 MegaTank's really low ink costs and top-of-the-line print, copy and scan quality deliver a whole lot of value for the money.

If you own an inkjet printer or are considering the purchase of one, you would be wise to consider an ink subscription. Just like high-yield ink cartridges reduce ongoing ink costs compared to lower-yield cartridges, an ink subscription offers another way to save on ink. The most popular of these services is HP Instant Ink, an ink-by-mail subscription service that is offered alongside most of the HP printers sold today.

For this article, we're looking at HP's Instant Ink program, which the company claims can save you up to 50% on ink costs. We've crunched the numbers and compared the subscription plan costs to the price of standard cartridges to see if this is true. We've also looked at how HP Instant Ink rollover pages can save you money and headache, and how the ease of changing your plan makes HP Instant Ink billing pretty simple, even when your printing needs change in a given month.

What is HP Instant Ink?

HP's Instant Ink program is a subscription service that HP offers its customers, which uses your printer's usage data and your monthly printing habits to send regular ink refills right when you need them.

The best part? It's all at a low monthly cost that is generally less expensive and more convenient than buying new cartridges in stores every time you run out.

How does HP Instant Ink work?

One convenience of an Instant Ink subscription is that ink cartridges are ordered automatically. Although it can take up to 10 days for the cartridges to arrive by mail, ink gets ordered well before you should ever run out. For this to happen, you need to have the printer connected to the internet. To set up the subscription account, you need a valid email address and to put a valid credit or debit card on file.

Unless you suddenly decide to take on an enormous printing project, you should not run out of ink before replacement cartridges arrive. That's because an ink cartridge order is placed well before you're expected to run out—and this is based on the number of pages included in your monthly plan.

HP Instant Ink prices and monthly plans

Every person, household and office has different printing needs, which is why HP offers four primary monthly plans, ranging from 15 to 300 pages per month for the majority of home and business users.

If you need something better suited to the demands of an office, HP also has a Business plan that jumps up to 700 pages per month.

HP offers flexibility in changing plans, allowing you to upgrade and downgrade, depending on your printing volume. If you downgrade to a lesser plan, the change takes place at the next billing cycle. You can, however, upgrade your plan in the middle of a billing cycle.

If you need more pages in any given month, you can purchase 10 extra pages for $1 (10 cents per page), or 15 pages for $1 (6.7 cents per page) with the Business plan. If you don't use all of your pages, they will roll over—up to double the monthly page amount allowed in your subscription plan. If the printer is connected to the internet, you should receive an email notifying you when you are near using up all the pages in your plan. You also can check your print volume via HPSmart.com.

Perhaps the most interesting detail in this subscription program is that all pages cost the same. No matter if you print an 8 x 10-inch color photo on glossy paper or a text document on plain paper, every page simply counts as a page under the plan.

HP calls its Instant Ink cartridges “extra high capacity”. They have more ink than XL cartridges, and thus you replace them less often. You return the cartridges for recycling in postage-paid packaging sent to you by HP. No more need to drive them to a local retailer like Office Depot that recycles ink cartridges.

There are no additional fees for a subscription, beyond the monthly fee and the additional pages surcharge. There is no hidden annual fee. You can cancel at any time.

If you already own an Instant Ink-eligible printer, you can sign up for a subscription now, but you won't be billed until you begin using it. So, even if you still have plenty of ink in your HP printer, you can sign up now for Instant Ink now, but won't be billed until 30 days after you have installed the first Instant Ink cartridge in your printer.

HP Instant Ink vs regular ink purchases

Will a subscription plan in all cases be less expensive than buying ink cartridges on your own? That may be a difficult calculation to make, because many factors come into play.

For example, let's take the HP OfficeJet 250, a portable printer whose high-yield cartridges have estimated costs per page of 6.7 cents for black, and 17.3 cents for color pages. Even with the basic plan, which comes out to 7 cents a month, it looks like you would come out ahead if you printed just a few color pages per month. By this logic, the more color pages you print, the more you are saving by having a subscription plan.

As previously described, you don't lose pages you don't use. But, you can only roll over so many. On the Basic plan of 15 pages a month, you can roll over a maximum of 30 pages. With the 50-page Occasional plan, you can roll over up to 100 pages, and so on. As long as you use up all your pages, it appears that you will save money over buying cartridges on your own, when you need them.

By the same token, the HP Envy 7855 offers costs per page of 7.1 cents (text) and 18 cents (color) when using high-yield cartridges. The Moderate plan of 100 pages monthly would knock down your cost per page to 5 cents. The more color pages you print, the more money you're saving.

If you need to downgrade your plan, and do so in time, you should be able to prevent any loss in rolled over pages.

HP Instant Ink ready printers

Many of the company's Deskjet and Officejet printers are eligible for the program, including all of the models recently tested by Tom's Guide. This includes models seen in our best printers list, like our HP Tango X review, the HP Envy 7855 printer review and the HP OfficeJet 250 that tops our list of the best portable printers. Several of HP's office-oriented printers, like the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025, also support an Instant Ink subscription.

Given the long list of compatible models, it’s most likely that an HP model on your short list supports Instant Ink. HP’s online store offers a page listing Instant Ink printers.

One critical feature for compatibility is a working internet connection. If a printer is offline, it will not be able to report supply levels and trigger shipment of your next set of ink cartridges (or, toner cartridge).

However, Instant Ink is not available on all HP printers. The slightly older HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, for example, isn't eligible for an Instant Ink plan.

What you'll find missing from this list is any mention of HP's many laser printers, but that's not going to be the case for long. HP has recently added toner to the Instant Ink plan, letting monochrome laser printer owners enjoy the same subscription-based savings and convenient refills by mail. At press time, color laser printers were not supported.

Is HP Instant Ink worth it?

There is no doubt that HP Instant Ink can save you money, if you maximize your monthly print limit. HP claims that you can save up to 50 percent, but this calculation is based on standard cartridges, not high-yield cartridges, and assumes a fixed cost per page. The biggest question is how many color pages you print—the more color pages you print, the more you'll save by switching to an Instant Ink subscription, particularly if you make lots of large prints of color photos. Or, to look at it another way, having an Instant Ink subscription will free you up to print all those documents in color that in the past you printed in black-and-white in order to avoid the high cost of using your color inks.

It may take vigilance to avoid losing rolled-over pages. You need to make sure to downgrade your plan if you are not using all your pages, and are approaching the limit of rolled-over pages. HP makes this part easy, allowing you to downgrade at the next monthly billing cycle, without locking you in to a longer term. Checking your print volume is easy via HPSmart.com.

Also, you will want to make sure you upgrade your plan if you need to, so you don't overpay for extra pages. HP makes it easy to purchase extra pages, and also allows you to upgrade in the middle of a billing cycle, if you want to. That's quite a bit of flexibility.

All that said, even if you were to lose some pages in your plan, your cost per page would not skyrocket to the traditional costs of color pages, using ink cartridges without a subscription.

For example, even if you only used 75 of the 100 pages allowed each month under the Moderate plan—and lost them all because you maxed out the allowed rollover—your cost per page would only increase from 5 cents to 6.7 cents. That's still less than the cost of a text page when printing with high-yield cartridges in the HP Envy 7855.

As a worst-case scenario, if you only used 10 of the 15 pages under the Basic plan, you'd be paying 9.9 cents per page, using the same "lost rollover pages" assumption.

Although your individual savings may depend on what you print, and the consistency of your print volume, HP Instant Ink appears to be a pretty solid bet for most printing scenarios. Given the flexibility of the plans, the number of allowed rollover pages, and the ability to change plans without getting into a long-term commitment, it appears HP Instant Ink offers a subscription service that can save most inkjet printer owners money.

RingCentral Fax offers some of the most compelling and powerful faxing features we've seen from an online fax service. It also offers some of the best online support guidance, too. 

But RingCentral's fax-only component is part of the company's bigger voice services juggernaut, and its apps and Web-based interface on mobile, Web and desktop reflect this in a way that's distracting to fax-only usage. For that reason, we rate other offerings ahead of it in our best online fax services rankings, though some people might find its fax component compelling.

• Best all-in-one printers
• MetroFax review: Why this is the best online fax service

RingCentral Fax review: Pricing

RingCentral changed its pricing and plan sizes since we first reviewed the service. Your starting package now gives you 750 pages for $15 when billed monthly. (Signing up for an annual plan lets you save on your monthly costs: the 750-page tier drops to $13 per month for annual subscribers.) 

RingCentral says its best value tier offers 1,500 pages for $23 a month (which drops to $18 for annual subscriptions). There's also a 2,500-page tier ($60 a month) and a $50 unlimited plan that also includes access to two shared fax numbers.

If you need additional numbers, it's $4.99 a month per user. Contrast that with Biscom 123, which includes five numbers in its $14.99 Small Groups offering, though Biscom has less generous page limits than RingCentral.

Free Trial: RingCentral offers a 7-day free trial for its faxing service, a shorter test period than was previously available.

RingCentral Fax review: Setup

You can choose a toll-free number, vanity number, or local phone number. RingCentral is the only service I tried that supports a toll-free number or a "vanity" toll-free number made up of letters, numbers or symbols (at a one-time $30 setup fee). RingCentral was also the only service I tested that walks you through the transfer of an existing fax number to the service online; other services require you to contact the company to initiate a transfer.

When choosing a local number, you can drill down to specific towns and cities within an area code, with greater detail than we’ve typically seen. After you choose your phone number, you’ll enter your contact information, followed by payment and billing info, and which payment plan you choose (monthly or annual). The service now verifies you are who you say you are with a separate authentication via your mobile phone. Only then will you get to the last step in setting up the 7-day free trial — activating the account via an emailed link. 

When you follow the link, you’ll create a password, a PIN, and a security question. The PIN’s purpose is unclear for the fax service user; the interface says it’s for accessing your voicemails, but...this is a fax service only, not RingCentral’s full unified messaging product.

For your account, you'll always log in using your fax number. During initial account creation, RingCentral prompts you to set up a password and PIN, and the company has stronger requirements for these than other services I tried, for example requiring both a capitalized letter and a number.

When you first log in, you'll walk through an express setup for your account, adding some company information as well as your information for the account, including how your name, email and time zone should appear. The service now has a smooth walkthrough that explains how to send and receive faxes. It also prompts you to download mobile apps for iOS and Android, and apps for Mac and PC. 

While the mobile apps are for receiving faxes, the desktop apps let you both send and receive faxes, as well as add a custom cover page or schedule a fax delivery.

This is the first place I started to see the annoying elements of RingCentral's cross-use interface. For example, for our fax-only account, the account info tab prompts you to confirm your extension info, a question that only makes sense if you're a unified communications subscriber, not a fax-only subscriber — meaning you use the voice service, too. The service's interface via the Web, and via its mobile and desktop apps, are littered with references like that to the voice service; ditto for the ample help files.

Interface

The Web interface is designed to be universal, covering faxing as well as the voice and unified communications components of RingCentral's services. I found the frequent voice and unified communications references distracting, and the lack of clearly fax service-specific elements annoying. The sole fax-specific element sits in the far right side of the display, a subtle icon that’s meant to indicate a page being sent via fax.

This becomes especially clear with the multipurpose mobile app, which exists for the unified communications side of RingCentral, not the Fax service. For example, when I logged into the mobile app, the first thing I saw was a welcome screen telling me that RingCentral lets you put your business phone number on display for calls, texts and faxes even when you're not at your desk; and five of the six initial welcome screens have nothing to do with the fax service. For some users, the shameless self-promotion could cause moments of pause and confusion before realizing that these other services are just not relevant to them.

When I logged into the mobile app, the first thing I saw was a welcome screen telling me that RingCentral lets you put your business phone number on display for calls, texts and faxes even when you're not at your desk.

On the plus side, the settings section includes some features not found elsewhere. RingCentral is the only service of those I tested that can notify you of inbound and outbound faxes by both email and SMS. You can also set your cover page information and opt to block numbers.

Once you log in to the Web interface, you're faced with a design with a top navigation bar, for accessing your account overview of recent messages and recent calls, messages (which includes folders for inbox, outbox, sent box, and deleted items), call log, contacts, settings, billing and tools (which leads to app downloads). As noted earlier, the option for sending an outbound fax is obscured with a meaningless icon, to the far right of this top nav bar. Blink, and you might miss the reference, especially frustrating given that we were subscribed to the fax-only service.

RingCentral Fax review: File format and cloud support

RingCentral supports more than 40 file formats, double what we saw the last time we reviewed the service. There was no support for OpenDocument files. The service is one of two I tested that can handily access files from Web storage: Dropbox, Box or Google Drive. In fact, RingCentral is now integrated with Google for Work. HelloFax has broader support, though: It supports grabbing files from those services, as well as Evernote and OneDrive, and it lets you store inbound faxes in the cloud, too. Because of this, I preferred how HelloFax's cloud storage integration worked.

RingCentral Fax review: Apps

To complete the initial walk-through, the service next prompts you to download the appropriate free app(s) for iOS and Android for mobile, and Mac and Windows for desktop. I tried the Android app and the Windows app; both have a consistent interface and approach that more favors the components of the voice service than the fax-only service.

The Android app offers good functionality, and makes it easy to download an incoming fax from the cloud, view it and then choose to email it or forward it as a fax. But there's no tagging or management of inbound faxes, and the app is designed to cover all RingCentral communications, including voice, which means there are a lot of irrelevant menu options if you're a RingCentral Fax subscriber.

The Windows app has similar issues. It is compact, requiring just a narrow band of screen real estate, like a typical chat messaging app would. The app shows incoming faxes, and will pop up an on-screen notification that a new fax has been received. However, I noticed a delay between the notification and when the fax was received in the RingCentral Web inbox and in my email. Tap on a fax to view it in your chosen desktop PDF reader.

RingCentral Fax review: Sending and receiving faxes

The first-time setup of RingCentral does a great job of introducing users to how to send or receive a fax. As with other services, you can send a fax via email using the fax number (no "1") @rcfax.com, or you can send via the Web, mobile or desktop apps.

Inbound faxes arrive as an email PDF (you can choose not to have the PDF included), and show up in the Web and mobile interfaces in your Messages tab. That same Messages tab would be how you'd access voicemails if you were a unified communications RingCentral Office subscriber. It's also where RingCentral delivers voice messages related to your account, such as if you've changed a password or performed other such account activity.

The actual template for sending a fax is, at least, a friendly and useful presentation. RingCentral starts by prompting you for the recipient's fax number, which you can add manually or by selecting from contacts stored in RingCentral (you can import contacts from a CSV file). Click the checkbox beneath to include a cover page, from your choice of 13 templates, but not one of your own design. Next, you select the file(s) to attach and fax. You can choose a file from your computer, or hook into Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive cloud storage to retrieve the file(s) you need to fax.

The next step in sending is to schedule your fax for sending now, or sending at a scheduled time. Hit schedule, and your fax enters the outbound queue for processing and sending. This is the only service we tested that lets you schedule a fax. This is a powerful feature, especially for businesses.

For as much as I liked the easy scheduling feature, and the Web-storage support, I also found RingCentral missing fax-specific functionality. Specifically, it lacks inbound and outbound fax management, so you can tag and search faxes, or at the least sort by inbound and outbound faxes. While the scheduling makes it easy to do high-volume faxes, the lack of fax management makes the service less conducive for a highly active fax line.

RingCentral says it uses SSL security. However, the service is not HIPPA-compliant, so if that’s important to you consider a service like Sfax.  You can send international faxes, but you must first buy credits to do so.

RingCentral Fax review: Verdict

There is a lot to like about RingCentral Fax's offerings for faxing, with a flexible set of features and strong mobile and cloud support. The service makes it particularly simple to send scheduled faxes, and it is the only service we tested that allows for scheduled faxes. 

However, MetroFax and Nextiva vFax both cost less. And RingCentral's heavily combined voice and fax interface and the lack of fax-tracking management limits the service's appeal. We prefer MetroFax for its easy fax searching and tagging, and its clean, fax-centric interface.

The Epson EcoTank ET-4760 ($449, or less with the right Epson coupon code) is an inkjet all-in-one that's built for heavy printing duty in a small office or home office. Outfitted with high-capacity ink tanks, the ET-4760 is built to print thousands of pages, yet keep ink costs very low.

This EcoTank model prints, copies, scans and faxes. There's a duplexer for making two-sided prints, and a 30-page automatic document feeder (ADF) for drawing multipage documents across the scanner glass. It offers a fair number of features and respectable performance, making it a contender for the best all-in-one printers.  We liked it so much, we named it one of the best printers in our 2021 Tom's Guide Awards. Ink costs per page are extremely low, although your overall savings may require thousands of printed pages compared to less expensive models with office-worthy features.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760: Design

The ET-4760 has a modest-sized 2.4-inch color touchscreen on its control panel, which tilts upward almost 90 degrees. The screen is on the small side for navigating menus for stand-alone operation. The only physical buttons on the control panel are for the power, home and help functions. There is a USB port, Ethernet port and fax port, plus support for Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct. There is no USB thumb drive port or memory card slot.

Like other tank models, the ET-4760 has windows into the ink tanks on its front panel, so you can see if you're running low on ink. The initial set of ink bottles should last you a while, however. The bottle of black ink is rated to print 7,500 pages, while each bottle of color ink lasts an estimated 6,000 pages.

This EcoTank is quite compact, measuring 10 x 16.4 x 19.8 inches when set up to print. It's also lightweight, at just 15 pounds. A 250-sheet paper tray is at the bottom of the unit. There isn't a secondary paper tray, so you can't keep more than one kind of paper loaded. When switching paper, you will need to change the paper type in the settings menu; paper type is not automatically detected.

The ET-4760 has a 33.6 kbps modem and can store up to 100 pages. The unit can store up to 60 speed dial numbers.

The all-in-one comes in black or a creamy off-white.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760: Print speed

The ET-4760 printed documents quickly on plain paper. It printed a five-page text document in 27.1 seconds, or 11.1 pages per minute (ppm). The average is 33.1 seconds, or 9.1 ppm. Similarly, the ET-4760 printed our six-page text and color graphics document faster than the average. It printed the document in 1 minute and 32 seconds, or 3.4 ppm. The average is 2 minutes and 16 seconds, or 2.2 ppm.

Our letter-size glossy photo printed in 4 minutes and 34 seconds. This was slightly slower than the average by 11 seconds.

Two-sided print speeds were fast. Two-sided text documents printed at 6.5 ppm, and mixed text/graphics documents printed at 3.2 ppm. While these speeds were much slower than the more expensive Epson ET-5850 (14.5 ppm and 9.5 ppm, respectively), they were much faster than the less expensive Canon Pixma G6020 (2.3 ppm and 1.8 ppm, respectively).

The ET-4760 copied a page of mixed text and color graphics in 30.1 seconds, which was faster than the average of 34.8 seconds. It also copied a black-and-white page quickly, doing so in 12.8 seconds, compared to the average of 19.2 seconds. The EcoTank scanned a page in black-and-white to PDF format in roughly average time, making the 300 dpi scan in 12.4 seconds. Scanning at high resolution to JPEG format, however, was on the slow side: Compared to the average of 1 minute and 9 seconds, the EcoTank took 40 seconds longer to make the same scan.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760: Copy and scan speed

The ET-4760 is quick at copying in black-and-white, and faster than the average at copying color documents. This EcoTank copied a color page in 30.1 seconds, versus the average of 34.8 seconds. Making a black-and-white copy of a text document in 12.8 seconds, the EcoTank bested the average of 19.2 seconds by a significant margin.

Using its ADF, a five-page text document copied in 1 minute and 7 seconds, or 4.5 ppm. By contrast, the pricier Epson ET-5850 was much faster, copying the same document at 13.8 ppm.  The less expensive Canon G6020 does not have a document feeder.

The ET-4760 does not make two-sided copies from two-sided originals via its ADF.

Black-and-white scanning was a little slower than the average. The ET-4760 scanned a page in black-and-white in 12.4 seconds, versus the average of 11.6 seconds. Color scanning, however, was quite slow. It took the ET-4760 almost two minutes to capture a color document (1 minute and 49 seconds), versus the average of 1 minute and 9 seconds.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760: Print quality

Text prints with fairly sharp edges and fairly dark letterforms. Upon close examination, however, there is some ink splatter beyond the letters and some lumpy-looking edges.

Graphics looked very attractive, with well saturated colors that looked very natural. Pixels were visible in some areas where textures could have looked smoother, however, which also contributed to some fine details not looking razor sharp. Overall, however, graphics looked quite attractive.

The biggest print quality let-down was with duplex prints. Making a two-sided print of the same document, both text and graphics came out a little lighter, with a slightly washed-out appearance that made fine details look a little less sharp, and made the sense of depth look shallower.

The ET-4760 made faithful reproductions of text and graphics. Whether copied or scanned, the EcoTank captured sharp details and accurately reproduced natural-looking colors. When using the ADF, however, there were occasional anomalies in multi-page copies: One line of copied text looked stretched out and demonstrably taller than the previous one, suggesting a problem with the paper feed. Photographic scans, which came out a little dark, lost details in shadow areas. Compared to scans made by our Editor's Choice, the Canon Pixma TR9120, these scans looked darker overall, with more abrupt dark mid-tone transitions, and lacked some sharpness in the finest details.

Glossy photos printed with plenty of details, smooth textures and well-saturated colors.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760:  Ink cost and yield

The ET-4760 has four ink tanks. One bottle of black ink is rated to last 7,500 pages. Each of the three colors (cyan, magenta and yellow) is rated to last 6,000 pages. The black ink costs $19.99 per bottle, and the color inks sell for $12.99 each. There is also a three-pack of color inks, but it will only save you 2 cents. No matter. With page yields this high, you'll spend just 0.2 cents per text page and 0.9 cents per color page.

So, is this ink tank model right for your wallet? That could depend on your print volume. For example, compared to the $200 Brother INKvestment MFC-J995DW, which uses ink cartridges, the ET-4760 will save you 0.7 cents per text page and 4.1 cents per color page. This assumes the MFC-J995DW is outfitted with high-yield cartridges (standard yield cartridges have a slightly higher cost per page). Given that the MFC-J995DW costs $249 more than the TR9120, you will need to print more than 35,000 text pages or 6,000 color pages to recoup that extra investment.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760: Setup and software

After removing roughly a dozen pieces of packaging tape, you fill the ET-4760's ink tanks, which is easy to do. After turning on the printer, it takes about 10 minutes for the ink charging process. The startup guide lists the URL for downloading software (there is no QR code). The software package includes a setup utility, scanning software and fax utility.

After selecting your connection type on the screen, you connect your computer (if using USB). If you choose to put the printer on your wireless network at a later time, you simply follow the on-screen menu selections, which are self-explanatory.

Before printing, you need to perform a printhead alignment. You print five pages of lines and blocks, and then select which of the seven sets is best aligned or does not overlap. This completes the setup.

The ET-4760 supports a variety of mobile apps and protocols. You can use the company's Epson Email Print, Remote Print, and Scan to Cloud apps, for example, in addition to Epson iPrint for iOS and Android. Also supported are AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Android printing, for example.

Startup was relatively quick, with the main menu screen illuminating in 8 seconds from pressing the power button.

Epson EcoTank ET-4760: Verdict

The Epson EcoTank ET-4760 offers office-worthy features and performance, and ink costs so low you might fantasize about what you'll do with all the money you'll save. With an initial price of $449, however, you would need to print thousands of pages to make up the difference between the ET-4760 and, for example, the less expensive $200 Brother MFC-J995DW, which also offers low costs per page with its high-yield ink cartridges.

Fast printing and fast copying make this printer a good fit for a small office, and its footprint is modest, though you may miss having a second paper tray. The duplexer makes for convenient two-sided prints, but pages print lighter than single-sided documents. The printer's ADF enables quick copying and scanning, but anomalies in copied documents suggest the document feeder may not be totally reliable, which is unfortunate for an office workhorse.

All things considered, if you need an office workhorse for heavy print and copy duty—while keeping ink costs extremely low—you will most likely find the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 to be a valuable office all-in-one.

Part of 3D printing's promise is that you'll be able to print useful things at home. And that's precisely what the Toybox from Make.Toys does: it simply and quickly prints toys. You just pick the toy you want from a selection on the company's website, hit the print button and wait. Your completed toy then pops out, ready for play.

The process works, mostly: We were able to print some of the best toys like trains, track, castle parts and walls and small action figures from the simple-to-use web interface, and they were faithfully printed in sturdy, nontoxic PLA in a range of colors. But, like growing up, there are a few teething issues you need to get through first with the Toybox, such as the odd failed print and an interface with a few rough edges.

Still, if you look at 3D printing as a hobby for you and your kids can enjoy together, Toybox is one of the best 3D printers you can buy.

Toybox 3D printer review: Price and availability

The Toybox 3D printer debuted a few years ago for $399. These days, the starter bundle costs $299, and you buy it directly from Make.Toys.

Toybox 3D printer review: Design

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the Toybox is cute. It's a small printer, less than 8 inches wide and a little more than 9 inches high. The frame is metal, with open areas revealing the printhead and removable print bed. The print bed is a magnetic sheet that holds tightly onto the base, but which slides off easily when the print is done. Because this base is flexible, you can remove prints by bending it until they lift off.

Spare print beds are cheap: three will cost you $14. The filament comes in 0.5lb (about 220g) reels that cost $10 each and fit onto the back of the printer. Although these reels are smaller than most and carry only 0.5lb of filament, you can use any 1.75mm PLA filament if you can work out a way to feed it to the printer.

The Toybox can't produce large prints: they are limited to just over 3 inches on each side. Considering the size of the printer, that is no big surprise, and the toys on offer are either small, or print in small parts. The train track, for instance, can be printed in 2-inch lengths that fit together to produce a larger model. The layer height (the thickness of the layers used to create the print) is also fixed at 0.2mm, which is pretty standard for small printers.

Make.Toys plays up the cute angle with the naming of the parts: the power supply is an "electron feeder" and the filament is "printer food." The food metaphor stretches to the colors as well: green filament is called apple, purple is grape, white is coconut and so on. It's a cute idea, but it also has to be accompanied by the warning that the filaments are not edible.

MORE: 10 Things You Never Knew Your 3D Printer Could Produce

Although the Toybox is designed to print toys, there are a few things about the printer that aren't kid-friendly. The hot printhead can be touched fairly easily, and fingers could be crushed by the moving printhead. (Update, 12/17: Make.Toys tells us that the Toybox uses low torque motors, so the motors should stop rather than crush anything.) There is also another curious omission: There is no way to stop the print midway on the device itself. The only way to stop it is to pull the power plug out, or hit the stop button in the web print interface. The latter method takes a couple of seconds to take effect.

Toybox 3D printer review: Controls

The Toybox keeps the controls on the printer itself simple. There's a single small LCD touch screen that shows the status of the printer and offers a simple interface to load filament, set up the printer and configure a few other basic settings. The printer connects to the Make.Toys online service over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so you'll need to set up an online account to control your printer.

There's are a great selection of free toys available at Make.Toys, from trains and tracks to castles, miniature figures, seasonal toys like a cute pumpkin and oddities like an owl cookie cutter. The Make.Toys web interface also allows you to create your own toys, either by modifying one of the available models or uploading your own.

To print one of the existing models, you just select the model and hit print. The service does the rest; there is no need to copy files, connect cables or process files. An online editor lets you create personalized figures or tweak an existing model by stretching and scaling it. The service's 3D editor is pretty basic, but I could build a few simple models without problems.

You can load existing 3D models in .stl or .obj formats, but the editing tools are still pretty basic. If there is a problem with the model (such as a hole in the 3d mesh), the system will warn you, but can’t fix it. We also found that more complex models, such as the geometric sculpture and set of planetary gears we typically use in testing, were a bit much for this system to cope with. That's not surprising, as both are complex models designed to confuse a printer, and are not really what the Toybox was intended to work with.

Toybox 3D printer review: Print process

Once you've chosen or created your toy, you hit print in the web interface, and your object starts printing. All of the hard work of configuring the print, creating the print file and sending it to the printer is done by Make.Toys' online service.

We found printing to be mostly successful, but we did have a few failures. The PLA print material does not always stick to the Toybox's unheated print bed, so we had some prints fail at the beginning as parts came loose and stuck to the extruder rather than the printhead. On more than one occasion, I had to pry a goopy lump of melted PLA off the extruder when it became stuck.

Other prints failed partway through the process, ruining the print. A print of the train track bridge, for instance, failed when one of the towers of the bridge came loose and stuck to another part of the print.

But these cases were more the exception than the rule. Most of our test prints on the Toybox worked flawlessly, creating prints that stuck to the print bed and which were easily removed from the print bed afterward.

Toybox 3D printer review: Print speed

Because of the small size of the print area of the Toybox, we were not able to do our full comparative tests that feature a 4-inch-high print. Toybox prints max out at a little more than 3 inches tall. However, we did find that the Toybox is a fairly fast printer — a 3-inch high version of our Thinker print took just 1 hour and 45 minutes to print.

Toybox 3D printer review: Print quality

We were generally impressed with the quality of the prints produced by the Toybox, which were clean and well printed. The thick layers of the print are somewhat obvious (look at the close-up photo of the Thinker statue, for instance), but don't usually detract from the look and playability of the prints.

The Toybox did struggle with some fine details,though: The clips that hold the wheels on the train were not very well formed, so the wheels had a tendency to stick as they went around, or to sometimes fall off.

Toybox 3D printer review: Verdict

The Toybox is a lot of fun, allowing you to print simple, colorful and fun toys on demand that might give a young maker insight into how things are made. And the process is wonderfully simple: no messing with installing apps and configuring slicers. It is just press print, wait and play. But the Toybox is not perfect: We had a certain number of failed prints and other quirks that make it not quite the hassle-free process you might hope for.

So, is this 3D printer going to replace a big box of Legos? No. The prints the Toybox produces are not as high quality as mass-produced plastic blocks, and some users will find the print times frustrating. But for older children who know where not to stick their fingers, and who want to add a creative angle to their play, the Toybox is a great and not overly expensive printer.

One thing that strikes you immediately about the Peopoly Phenom when you first lay eyes on this 30.7-inch tall 3D printer — it’s one of the biggest models available to home users. That’s because this 3D printer has a huge build area: a stonkingly large 10.8 x 6.1 x 15.8 inches, for a total of over a million cubic inches of build volume. That’s more than four times the build volume of the Form 3 at about half the cost. 

That sounds awesome, but is the Peopoly Phenom usable enough to land on our list of the best 3D printers? Our Peopoly Phenom review find that the answer is yes, but with enough caveats to make this a pick for 3D enthusiasts only. 

Peopoly Phenom review: Price and availability

When we first reviewed the Peopoly Phenom about a year ago, it cost $1,799. These days, the printer costs $1,999, which is still significantly less than the Form 3's $3,499 asking price. You can buy the Peopoly Phenom directly from Peopoly's website.

Peopoly Phenom review: Design

The Peopoly Phenom uses a combination of an LCD screen and UV LED rather than the UV laser used in the smaller Peopoly Moai and the Form 3. In the Phenom, the UV light comes from a grid of LEDs under the print bed which shines through the LED screen. 

Where this screen is opaque, the light is blocked and the layer of resin between the build plate and the print bed remains liquid. Where the screen is see-through, the UV light passes through and the resin is solidified. Once the resin is solid and sticks to the build plate, the plate is raised, liquid resin rushes in and the process repeats, building the print layer by layer.

The upside of Peopoly’s approach is that it is simpler and requires fewer moving parts: you don’t have to use an intricate mirror system to bounce a laser beam around. The downside is that the parts wear out quicker: the LCD screen can be damaged by the intense UV light and will need to be replaced eventually. Peopoly estimates that this will happen after about 400 hours of print time. That might sound like a lot, but with large prints often taking 24 hours or longer, it can quickly get eaten up. The LCD screen, which is a modified 4K laptop screen, can be replaced with a replacement unit costing about $100. 

Although the Peopoly Phenom design and construction is generally excellent, we noticed a few quirks. For one, there is no Wi-Fi on the 3D printer, despite the on-screen display advertising it as a feature. Peopoly told us that this is because the firmware used on the printer supports Wi-Fi and that the company was not able to remove it. Instead, you have to use wired ethernet to connect to the Peopoly Phenom.

Peopoly Phenom review: Controls

You control the Phenom through a small touch screen on the front of the printer, which is pretty easy to use. With that touch screen, you control every function of the 3D printer including moving the print bed up and down, setting the brightness of the UV light and starting and stopping prints. 

The print files are sent to the printer either through a wired ethernet connection or on a USB drive. To create files for the Phenom, you could use any 3D printing app, but Peopoly recommends the free Chitubox. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux, it’s a good choice that is easy to use and is focussed on printing with resin printers like the Phenom. 

With Chitubox, load the model and click on Add Supports; the program analyzes the model and automatically adds supports that will make it easier to print. Chitubox can also do things like automatically hollow a model, removing the interior so it uses less resin to print. 

Once the print file is ready, you can save it to a USB drive or send it directly to the Peopoly Phenom over the wired ethernet connection. 

Peopoly Phenom review: Materials and maintenance

Peopoly doesn’t place limitations on which resins you can use with the Phenom: you can pour any resin you like into the print tray. Different resins require different settings, though, so you will need to tweak settings (notably the LED power and exposure time) for different types. Peopoly mentains a Google Sheet of recommended settings and there is an active community of users on the Peopoly forums. 

Peopoly offers its own Delft resin for this printer, which is priced at $60/kg. Due to the coronavirus pandemic occurring during our testing, this resin was not available. Instead, we used Siraya Tech Fast, a resin designed for use with LED printers like the Phenom that was recommended by Peopoly. This costs a very reasonable $35/kg. It’s a good example of the benefits of not having your 3D printer tied to just one material — when the global supply chain is interrupted, you can just switch to another. 

As noted above, the LCD screen that the Phenom uses is damaged over time by the UV light and requires replacing after about 400 hours of print time. A replacement screen costs $100, and the process of installing it requires removing the tape holding the old one in place under the print vat, disconnecting the controller cable, plugging in the new screen, putting it in place and taping it down. It’s not a difficult process, but it is more hands-on than the simple snap-into-place process of replacing the laser module on a Form 3. It also presupposes that you are comfortable enough to start tearing large amounts of masking tape out of the printer and unplugging things. 

Peopoly Phenom review: Print process

Producing a 3D print with the Peopoly Phenom is fairly straightforward, though it involves a few manual steps. First, you have to fill the print tray with resin since there is no auto-fill feature like what you’d find on the Form 3. The Phenom also lacks the ability to detect low resin, so, if you don’t fill the tray enough, your print will just fail part way through without warning or notice. 

Once the tray is ready, you insert the USB drive with the print file and hit Print on the control panel. If you need to confirm you are printing the right thing, the Phenom shows you a small preview of the print on the screen. 

During our testing for this Peopoly Phenom review, we found printing to be a bit of a stinky, noisy process. To keep the UV LEDs cool, the Phenom has two fans on the side of the case, pulling and pushing air over the LEDs. This makes a lot of noise — about the same as a vacuum cleaner running in the next room. This also means that the slight chemical smell of the resin gets spread through the room. Let’s put it this way: You wouldn’t want to sleep in the same room as the Peopoly Phenom. 

Peopoly Phenom review: Print speed

The Phenom is a fairly fast printer, because the UV LED and LCD screen approach means it can print an entire layer at once. That doesn’t make it much quicker than printers that use a single laser spot, though, because the LED lights aren’t as intense as the laser, so they have to be exposed for longer. 

In the end, the two different approaches are about equal: The Phenom took just under 13 hours to print a 4-inch high Thinker model, which is comparable to the Form Labs 3. 

Peopoly Phenom review: Print quality

We were impressed with the print quality of the Phenom, which produced clean, smooth-surfaced prints. We found that our test print of Rodin’s thinker was printed with natural, smooth curves.

Our geometric sculpture print had sharp, clean edges, and our test print of a set of gears fit together well, requiring little cleaning to make the various gear teeth and screw threads fit together. 

That’s not to say that the process is hassle-free, though: like all resin printers, you need to treat the prints to get the best results, washing them in alcohol and hardening them with UV light. None of this is handled by the Phenom; you have to handle all this yourself. 

Peopoly Phenom review: Verdict

There is no doubt that the Peopoly Phenom is a great printer. It offers a huge print volume, it’s relatively easy to use and it can produce excellent prints. And the price for this 3D printer is great: at $1,999, the Peopoly Phenom costs almost half as much as the Form Labs Form 3 and can print much larger objects.

There’s some “buts,” though. The Peopoly Phenom is  a hands-on printer that needs a fair amount of tweaking to get the best quality out of it. To use it effectively, you need to be comfortable with getting into the guts of the thing, tweaking settings, fiddling with rather unpolished software and doing multiple print tests to find the settings that work best for each type of resin. That’s a different approach to the hands-off, press-and-print approach of the Form 3. 

If you just want to print and not worry about the process, the Form 3 is the better pick. But if the idea of tweaking and fiddling to get the best results sounds like fun (and you have the time and energy to do it), the Peopoly Phenom is the resin printer to get.