Printers: Compare features & prices

Side-by-side comparison

Tested for occasional printing cost
Some printers use ink to clean their print heads. This increases the cost of printing if you print occasionally and turn the printer off between uses. In September 2012 we introduced a test to determine the cost impact of leaving time between prints. Select 'yes' to view printers that have undergone the occasional printing test.

Colour or Mono
Mono: Black and white printing only

Print on A3
Whether the printer can print on A3 paper

Photo printer
Printers listed include those from ranges designed for photo printing and models that include both a preview screen and option to print from memory card and/or cameras (via PictBridge) which are more popular if you want to print photos at home. Printers not labelled as 'photo printers' here may still have the ability to print photos from a computer.

Home office printer
Laser printers, inkjet printers from ranges designed for office tasks and models with automatic document feeders.

Dimensions hxwxd
We measure dimensions when the printer is open and ready to use, including any extra space used by the solid part of the cable where it enters the printer. This is why our figures are often different, or larger, than those supplied by manufacturers. All dimensions are given in centimetres.

Separate Colour Cartridge
Combined cartridges generally cost you more in long-term running costs that separate cartridges, particularly if you print photos.

Does the printer have a preview screen?
Printing photos from memory card is easiest with an LCD preview screen.

XP
Whether or not the printer supports the Microsoft XP operating system directly out of the box. You may be able to download an alternative driver from a freeware site but some printing features may be lost. NS means that the manufacturer has not stated if there is a driver avaialbel for this operating system.

Vista
Whether or not the printer supports the Microsoft Vista operating system directly out of the box. You may be able to download an alternative driver from a freeware site but some printing features may be lost. NS means that the manufacturer has not stated if there is a driver avaialbel for this operating system.

Windows 7
Whether or not the printer is compatible with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. For models tested prior to November 2009 we list whether a driver update for Windows 7 is available from the manufacturers' websites.

Mac OS10
Whether or not the printer supports the Mac OS10 operating system directly out of the box. You may be able to download an alternative driver from a freeware site but some printing features may be lost. 'Not stated' means that the manufacturer has not stated if there is a driver available for this operating system.

Bluetooth
We only provide details for printers that have Bluetooth built in. Others may offer optional Bluetooth printing which will require you to buy an adaptor at an additional cost.

Integrated fax
A fax feature is only available on selected all-in-one printers. Here we refer to printers with fax functions that use a phone line, not models that only have an eFax function.

Automatic Document Feeder
An automatic document feeder is useful for scanning or photocopying large documents. This feature is only available on all in one printers.

Borderless printing possible
Printers returning 'yes' for borderless printing can print a full size 6x4 inch photo and A4 photo without leaving a white border around the edge of the page. However, some cropping of the image is likely, so the very edges of the image my be lost.

Auto duplexing
If a printer has auto duplexing it means you can set the printer up to automatically print on both sides of a page.

Web printer
Web printers have 'web' features which may include apps that you can download to the printer, or a feature that enables them to print using Google CloudPrint, or their own email address - so you can email prints to the printer. Printers listed may have one, some, or all of these features.

Print from smartphone
Whether the printer claimed compatibility with the printer manufacturer's smartphone print app at time of testing.

AirPrint compatible
Whether the printer claimed compatibility with Apple AirPrint at time of testing.

Maximum page weight (gsm)
The maximum page thickness in grams per square metre (gsm) that the printer is compatible with. For models with a tray at the back of the printer and a second one underneath, the rear feed is usually one that takes thicker paper.

Print on transparencies
Does the printer claim to be able to print on transparent sheets?

10 Black text documents (£)
The estimated cost of ten A4 plain black text documents. Prices are based on continuously printing documents which doesn't take into account ink used by an inkjet printer to clean the print heads over time. Costs should be taken as a guide only.

Graphics (£)
The estimated cost of one A4 colour graphics document (spreadsheet) for colour printers. Mono laser printers cannot print in colour - any price given here for mono printers will be for a black and white graphics print. Prices are based on continuously printing documents which doesn't take into account ink used by an inkjet printer to clean the print heads over time. Costs should be taken as a guide only.

Photo (£)
The estimated cost of one 10x8-inch colour photo. Paper is not included in the cost. Prices should be taken as a guide only. We do not recommend printing photos on a laser printer so no prices are given for this type of document. Prices are based on continuously printing documents and should be taken as a guide only.

Black cartridge
This is the black ink or toner cartridge we used in our tests. High capacity cartridges are used where available.

Combination colour cartridge
This is the combined colour ink cartridge we used in our tests. If a printer takes a cobined colour cartridge, you have to replace the other colours if one colour runs out as they are all part of the same unit. High capacity cartridges are used where available.

Printing
Overall print quality and speed of text, photos, graphics, and desk top publishing.

Black text quality
Quality of printing an A4 letter in plain black text.

Black text speed
Speed of printing a 5 page A4 letter

Photo quality
Quality of printing an 8x10-inch photo. Where models have an optional photo ink cartridge, this was used.

Photo speed
Speed of printing an 8x10-inch photo.

Graphics quality
Quality of an A4 colour graphics document containing charts and tables. For colour printers we rate colour graphics. For mono printers we rate graphics printed in greyscale.

Graphics speed
Speed of printing an A4 colour graphics document containing charts and tables. For colour printers we rate colour graphics. For mono printers we rate graphics printed in greyscale.

Images with text quality
Quality of an A4 colour desktop publishing/web-style document containing images and text. For colour printers we rate colour graphics. For mono printers we rate graphics printed in greyscale.

Images with text speed
Speed of printing an A4 colour desktop publishing/web-style document containing images and text. For colour printers we rate colour graphics. For mono printers we rate graphics printed in greyscale.

Ease of printing
How easy it is to set up the printer and use it for printing.

Scanning
Quality and speed, and ability to scan different-sized items.

Speed of text scanning
Speed of scanning a black, text document.

Quality of scanned photos
Quality of scanning a colour photograph.

Speed of photo scanning
Speed of scanning a colour photograph.

Ease of scanning
Ease of using the scan function.

Copying
Speed and quality of copying text, images and photos, with and without a computer.

Quality of mono photocopies
Quality of mono (black) photocopies

Speed of mono photocopies
Speed of mono (black) photocopies

Quality of colour photocopies
Quality of colour photocopies

Speed of colour photocopies
Speed of colour photocopies

Ease of copying
Ease of using the copier function.

Direct Photo Printing
Quality, speed and ease of use of direct photo printing

PictBridge printing
Quality, and speed of printing from PictBridge

Printing from Memory Card
Quality, and speed of printing from memory card

Convenience of Direct Photo Printing
Convenience of printing using direct photo printing methods available

Power consumption
How energy efficient the device is.

Noise
How noisy the printer is when printing. A model scoring 4 stars will still make some clicks and whirrs but will be relatively quiet. Models scoring 1 or 2 stars are considered rather noisy.

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