Buying a printer can be a big expense. The cost of ink can rise to hundreds of dollars per year depending on how frequently you print. The best way to cut down on printing costs is to find a printer with a low cost-per-print. This will ensure that your budget is within reach.
Consumer Reports offers a test program that will help you choose the right printer for you. The program assesses printers on many criteria, including print quality and text legibility. It also provides tips to help save ink. The printer should be used in conjunction with an ink subscription program to keep track of your ink levels. This ensures that you won't run out of ink and have to pay for it.
Consumer Reports rated the Epson Expression Premium XP620 printer as the best overall printer. It costs only $100. This versatile printer can print high-quality text and photos. It also has an automatic document feeder, WiFi networking, and supports Apple AirPrint. It works with Windows and Mac devices. It can also be used to print PDF files.
Another printer is the Samsung Xpress M2020W. This printer holds ink in four large tanks. This printer has Apple AirPrint and allows you to print more ink. It is also compatible with a subscription plan from Epson.
Consumer Reports' Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro 4000 was the worst printer. This printer used five times the ink of the HP printer. It also needs more ink for maintenance. Brother DCPJ140W was another printer that was tested. It uses less ink and costs around 80 dollars. This printer produces excellent text quality and was rated Best Buy.
Consumer Reports included the HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 as a test item. It has an automatic document feeder, fax capabilities, WiFi networking, and an Ethernet port. It can scan, print, and copy documents. It supports Apple AirPrint. You can even print directly from your Windows device using the app. The printer supports HP Smart, which can help you print documents, PDF files, and photos.
Consumer Reports' top overall printer test was the Epson Expression Premium XP620. The price of the printer is $100. However, you can subscribe to ink for as low as $14 per month. Although it prints great photos, it is not ideal for long documents.
BLI, a world-famous independent document imaging device testing agency, also awarded the Lexmark OfficeEdge a prize. It was noted for its reliability and exceptional text quality. It also includes a subscription plan with ink for a lifetime. This plan allows you to print 15 pages per month.
The consumer reports test program is designed to simulate real-world printing. It tests printers with 30 pages of text and 30 pages of color graphics. The tests print a lot of pages until a cartridge runs out. The printers then print intermittently. The printer then evaluates both the quality of the text and the smoothness, if any, of the curves. The higher the scores, the smoother the curves.