There are two major types of printers: the inkjet printer and the laser printer. An inkjet printer is more geared toward low-volume printing, whereas a laser printer is more for high volume use. Having a laser printer avoids the hassle of replacing ink cartridges and cleaning printer heads. In this article, we are going to dive into laser printers, the benefits of them, and some recommended options.
What is a Laser Printer?
A laser printer uses high-voltage circuits to electrically charge the components inside. Within the printer is a photoreceptor drum that has a positive electric charge. The laser beam draws out the image on the drum and, while doing so, replaces the positive charge with a negatively charged outline.
The toner, which is positively charged, is then released onto the negatively charged drum, filling in the lines. Think of the toner as a comic illustrator sketching an image. From there, a negatively charged piece of paper interacts with the drum pulling the toner outline onto the page. The paper then goes through hot rollers that use heat and pressure to fuse everything onto the page.
Benefits of a Laser Printer
Laser printers have a longer lifespan and are a better long-term investment than an inkjet printer. With an inkjet printer, you have to worry about the nozzles getting dried up and clogged, ink leaking, and replacement cartridges. If you don’t print often, the nozzles of an inkjet printer can get dried up within two weeks. Ink is not a cheap resource to constantly replace on a printer.
When it comes to cost, laser printers are more expensive than an inkjet printer. However, over time, you will be putting more money into ink replacements and general maintenance on an inkjet printer than a laser printer. It’s worth noting: you will have to replace the toner cartridge of a laser printer, and those are more expensive than ink cartridges. However, toner cartridges last significantly longer than ink. Plus, you don’t have to worry about cleaning the toner or having it dry up.
The cost per page for an inkjet printer averages out to 5-10 cents per page for black and white. A laser printer averages out to 2-5 cents per page for black and white. If you’re printing in high volumes, it’s a no-brainer to invest in a laser printer.
In terms of print speed, laser printers are going to print incredibly faster than an inkjet. An inkjet prints an average of 5-20 pages per minute, whereas a laser printer could go from 20-100 pages per minute.
You can get a sense that inkjet printers are more for casual home use. Laser printers are more geared toward office and high-yield use.
Features When Buying a Laser Printer
You’ve decided to invest in a laser printer, but now you’re not sure which one to get. There are tons of different features to consider before buying.
The higher the Resolution the more clear and smooth the image is. Laser printers can have a resolution range from 300 dpi all the way to 1200 dpi. As you increase the dpi you also get more color, clarity, and sharpness.
The Speed in which a laser printer prints is important. A slower laser printer will print around 12 to 17 pages per minute, whereas the faster ones will be anywhere from 60 – 100 pages per minute. Figure out how many pages you typically print and how fast you’ll need them printed.
Determine if you need a Color printer or a Monochrome printer. If you print in black and white then a monochrome laser printer will be what you’re looking for. But, if you need color then you’ll want a laser printer with a higher dpi to get accurate color. Keep in mind, color laser printers will print at a slower speed than monochrome.
Most laser printers nowadays have built-in Wi-Fi for wireless printing. Having a printer with a lot of connectivity options is vital. I always gravitate toward printers that have a nice app interface and a good display. I’m a big tech person, the more digital my printer, the better!
Best Laser Printers
Best Color Multi-Function
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw Wireless Duplex Laser Printer
This HP color LaserJet Pro increases the printing speed and offers the added features of scanning, copying, faxing and emailing straight from the printer. Based on an HP internal data review, this is the number-one choice for small businesses. Included features are a 4.3” touchscreen with customizable shortcuts, a 550 sheet paper tray, and a 28 page per minute print speed. You also get the benefit of Airprint, an ethernet connection, and Wi-Fi compatibility.
- Color and Monochrome
- 28 pages per minute
- 550 sheet paper tray
- 600 x 600 dpi
- 3” touchscreen display
- Copy, Scan, Fax and Email
- AirPrint, Wi-Fi, ethernet, and USB compatible
Best Monochrome Multi-Function
Xerox B305/DNI Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer
One of the best monochrome laser printers is from Xerox. This printer is ideal for home use as well as small and large businesses. It prints at a speed of 40 pages per minute, and has a resolution of 600 x 600 dpi. If you don’t need a color printer, then look no further! This Xerox printer has AirPrint, Wi-Fi, and an ethernet port built in. You also get a 2.8” color touch screen, a 50 sheet document feeder, a scanner, and a 250 sheet tray.
- Monochrome
- 40 pages per minute
- 250 sheet paper tray
- 600 x 600 dpi
- 8” touchscreen display
- Ability to scan
- AirPrint, Wi-Fi, ethernet, and USB compatible
Best High-Capacity Monochrome
HP LaserJet Pro M501dn Black and White Laser Printer
If you need a monochrome printer that is more of a workhorse, then this HP LaserJet Pro has got you covered. With a fast speed of 45 pages per minute, and a 650 sheet tray you’ll be printing throughout the work day. This printer offers a resolution of 600 x 600 dpi, AirPrint, Wi-Fi and an ethernet connection. Instead of a touchscreen display, you have a 2-line LCD with a numerical keypad.
- Monochrome
- 45 pages per minute
- 650 sheet paper tray
- 600 x 600 dpi
- 2-line LCD with numerical keypad
- AirPrint, Wi-Fi, ethernet, and USB compatible
Best High-Capacity Color
Lexmark CS720de Color Laser Printer
This Lexmark laser printer is an absolute beast. You’ll be able to print in color with a speed of 40 pages per minute. With a high dpi of 2400 x 600, you’ll have clear and crisp images on each page. The sheet tray holds up to 650 pages at a time, allowing for heavy use. With a bright 4.3” touch screen, you have even more ways to print. One thing to be aware of is that this printer does not have Wi-Fi support, and will need either an ethernet connection or a USB transfer to print.
- Color and Monochrome
- 40 pages per minute
- 650 sheet paper tray
- 2400 x 600 dpi
- 3” touch screen
- Ethernet and USB compatible
Best Economy Color
Brother HL-L3230CDW Wireless Compact Printer
Do you have a tight budget, but still need a good color laser printer? This wireless compact printer from Brother has all the features you need for a great price. It offers fast printing up to 25 pages per minute in color, and black and white. You can print from your mobile devices with the Brother app, or AirPrint. Each page comes in a resolution of 2400 x 600 dpi, and the paper tray holds up to 250 sheets.
- Color and Monochrome
- 25 pages per minute
- 250 sheet paper tray
- 2400 x 600 dpi
- AirPrint, Google Cloud, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB compatible
Best Economy Monochrome
Canon imageCLASS LBP236dw Wireless Laser Printer
On the other side, if you don’t need to add color to your pages, this monochrome Canon Image laser printer will help save you some money. Designed for small businesses, this Canon Image can print at a speed of 40 pages per minute. The first sheet prints out as fast as 5.4 seconds. The printer creates a Wi-Fi Direct hotspot allowing a direct connection with mobile devices. The resolution is 600 x 600 and the paper tray can hold up to 600 sheets.
- Monochrome
- 40 pages per minute
- 600 sheet paper tray
- 600 x 600 dpi
- AirPrint, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB compatible
Best Office Color
Xerox VersaLink C500/DN Color Laser LED Printer
For larger businesses, you’re going to need a laser printer that can handle the workload. This color laser printer from Xerox has an incredibly high resolution at 1200 x 2400 dpi. This printer offers some of the best color, clarity, and smoothness you can get. The printer prints at a speed of 45 pages per minute, and has a sheet tray that holds 550 pages. A 5” color touch screen sits atop the printer, giving you more options for customization. There is also support for AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and the Xerox App.
- Color and Monochrome
- 45 pages per minute
- 550 sheet paper tray
- 1200 x 2400 dpi
- 5” color touch screen
- Airprint, Google Cloud Print, Wi-Fi, ethernet, USB compatible
Best Office Monochrome
LaserJet Enterprise M507n Monochrome Laser Printer
This is an incredible, top-of-line monochrome laser printer from LaserJet. With a print speed up to 45 pages per minute and a resolution of 1200 x 1200 dp, you’ll be printing sharp pages in seconds. The sheet tray holds up to 650 sheets and the printer comes with a 2.7” color LCD with numerical keypad. You also have multiple different printing options from AirPrint, to Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint, Wi-Fi, ethernet and USB.
- Monochrome
- 45 pages per minute
- 650 sheet paper tray
- 1200 x 1200 dpi
- 7” color LCD with numerical keypad
- Airprint, Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint, Wi-Fi, ethernet, USB compatible
Best Overall
HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw Wireless Duplex Laser Printer
This HP Color LaserJet Pro is a top-tiered color laser printer for an incredible price. With a printing speed up to 22 pages per minute and a 250 sheet paper tray, you’ll be printing efficiently. This LaserJet Pro has AirPrint and a dual band wireless connection for wireless printing. The DPI resolution is 600 x 600, which will give you clear and crisp colors. You can even download the HP Smart App to scan, and save documents to print.
- Color and Monochrome
- 22 pages per minute
- 250 sheet paper tray
- 600 x 600 dpi
- 7” touchscreen display
- AirPrint, Wi-Fi, ethernet, and USB compatible
Conclusion
Investing in a printer for your business or home use is a big step. The best thing about taking the leap is the level of efficiency a laser printer has versus an inkjet. Not having to worry about nozzles being clogged, and ink needing to be replaced is a huge weight off the shoulders. It might be a big purchase up front but, in the long run, you’ll be glad you made the switch.
