What Makes a Printer Good? | Buy Smart, Skip The Regret

Picking a printer by its sticker price is the fastest way to overspend. The cheapest machine often burns through the most expensive cartridges, and a photo-focused inkjet will frustrate you if your real job is printing documents. What makes a printer good comes down to a handful of concrete factors: what you print, what it costs to run, and how it holds up to the way you actually use it.

The Most Important Factor: Match The Machine To Your Task

Start with the work you do most. For sharp text, fast output, and low running costs, a black-and-white laser printer is often the best value. For photos and colorful graphics, an inkjet with photo-paper support and color accuracy matters more than speed.

Consumer Reports highlights the distinction: a monochrome laser like the Brother DCP-L2640DW is a top pick for home documents because it’s cheap to buy and run, simple to operate, and less prone to clogging when idle. For a mix of tasks, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e stands out as a fast, reliable inkjet with print, copy, scan, and fax in one unit.

The Hidden Costs: Ink, Toner, And Total Cost Of Ownership

A low purchase price can vanish quickly if cartridges are pricey or need frequent swaps. Reviewers and buying guides consistently emphasize cost-per-page and high-yield cartridges over the upfront price tag.

• Inkjet: Lower entry cost, but cartridges run out faster. Look for high-yield options to cut per-page costs.
• Laser: Higher initial price, but toner lasts significantly longer, making it cheaper per page and better for occasional printing.

If you’re weighing budget-friendly options, our tested roundup of the best cheap computer printers breaks down which models balance price with running costs.

A printer is only good if it works when you need it. Inkjets can clog after sitting idle for weeks; lasers generally handle occasional use better. Beyond that core difference, the ease-of-use features decide whether the machine feels like a tool or a chore.

• Automatic duplexing for two-sided printing without manual flipping.
• Wireless connectivity and mobile printing support.
• An automatic document feeder (ADF) if you scan or copy multi-page stacks.
• A larger paper tray to avoid constant refills.

Automatic duplexing, paper-tray count, and paper capacity are the hidden usability factors that separate a good printer from a frustrating one, according to the experts at Wirecutter. Also verify driver support for your operating system before buying—compatibility problems are a common practical issue.

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