Small laser MFP. Laser or inkjet: which MFP to choose for your home? The best color laser MFPs for home and small offices

Multifunction devices (MFPs) are a useful technology for users who frequently work with documents. With a relatively compact size, MFPs combine the capabilities of several peripheral devices. Moreover, their cost is lower than that of individual devices with the same functionality.

Such devices will help office workers, students, as well as schoolchildren, teachers, photographers and various specialists. The TOP best MFPs that are worth buying for your home or office, selected by our experts, will help you choose the right model for your allocated budget and requirements. Let's study the top ranking of 2018-2019.

MFP selection criteria

Buying a multifunctional device should be as thoughtful as possible. If in the end you are not satisfied with the build quality or capabilities, this will affect the quality of work or study, and may even require the purchase of alternative equipment. We advise you to consider the following criteria before purchasing:

Resource. This applies to both toners and the printer. Conventional home models are designed to print 1-2 thousand pages per month. More advanced solutions can handle 5-10 thousand. Professional and office models can easily print 30 thousand or more pages in the same period. The resource of the cartridge, in turn, depends on its volume, and the larger it is, the better.
Photo printing and borderless printing. These options are not required by all buyers, so even relatively expensive models do not always provide them. Consider your needs and choose the appropriate model.
Print/scan speed. First of all, these parameters are important for office workers who print hundreds, if not thousands, of sheets weekly. The speed of the work often depends on the speed of operation of the MFP.
Wi-Fi availability. A useful addition that allows you to print photos and documents from mobile devices without connecting them via cable.
Paper Feed. Firstly, the capacity of the tray is important. Secondly, you should make sure that the device has automatic feeding of originals for scanning, if you need such an option. As a rule, it is found in expensive office solutions.

Which company's MFP is better?

The main brands in the MFP market for home and office are Canon, HP, Brother And Epson. These manufacturers produce the majority of commercially available models. Each of these companies stands out for its excellent quality of equipment and is represented in all price categories, which creates significant competition between brands.

Solutions from HP And Canon, but products came close to them Epson. As for other manufacturers, it is difficult for them to compete with such giants. But, nevertheless, popular and reliable MFPs can also be found in the company’s assortment Ricoh and a well-known brand Xerox.

The best inexpensive MFPs

HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5275

Opens the TOP MFP from HP. The American manufacturer knows how to create stylish and reliable equipment with excellent functionality. Thus, the compact MFP for home use DeskJet Ink Advantage 5275 combines the capabilities of four devices:

Printer;
copier;
scanner;
Fax.

This solution can be purchased for about 7-8 thousand rubles, which makes it one of the most expensive in the list of budget MFPs. However, the device justifies its cost with excellent functionality. Thus, the DeskJet Ink Advantage 5275 has automatic two-sided printing and borderless printing, and the printing speed of color and black and white pages is 17 and 20 pages per minute, respectively.

Since this is a budget solution, the manufacturer chose thermal inkjet printing technology. For convenience, HP has added to its device a 2.2-inch display, a wireless Wi-Fi module and support for the AirPrint function, which allows you to print documents over the air from devices based on iOS and Mac OS.

Advantages:

excellent versatility
photo print quality
presence of a 2.2-inch screen
AirPrint support
high speed document printing

Canon PIXMA TS3140

If your budget is as limited as possible, then pay attention to the cheapest MFP from Canon - PIXMA TS3140. With an average cost of 3 thousand rubles, this model can be called the best choice for the home. It can be chosen by a schoolchild for printing educational materials, a student planning to install an inexpensive and high-quality solution in his dorm room, and an ordinary user who wants to get the basic functionality that a color MFP can offer.

Note. If you plan to frequently print photos for your home collection, then give preference to the Canon PIXMA TS3140.

The Canon PIXMA TS3140 also uses inkjet printing technology, but not thermal, but piezoelectric. Experts note the great attractiveness of this solution over analogues for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the final print quality in this case is higher, which guarantees both greater text clarity and better image quality. Secondly, the reliability of piezoelectric systems is higher than that of alternative solutions. Thirdly, the color rendition of this technology is a little more accurate, which is important when printing photos.

Advantages:

very low cost for its capabilities
noise level is only 46 dB
presence of Wi-Fi module
compact dimensions
well-developed ergonomics

Flaws:

Borderless printing is not available for A4
volume and cost of cartridges

Canon MAXIFY MB2140

If you work in a small office and want to save on purchasing equipment, then it is better to purchase the MAXIFY MB2140 inkjet MFP from Canon. At a cost of about 5,600 rubles, this device can please any buyer with its characteristics:

resource up to 20 thousand pages monthly;
automatic two-sided printing;
possibility of printing photographs;
the presence of a wireless Wi-Fi module standard 802.11n;
support for USB drives (standard 2.0 port) and Compact Flash memory cards.

In standby mode, the Canon color MFP consumes only 1 W of electricity, and during operation this figure increases to 27. As for the noise level, it is slightly higher than that of its analogues, and is 56 dB. This can be considered a minor drawback, since the office environment for which the MAXIFY MB2140 is intended does not require silence.

In addition, the MFP allows you to print from a smartphone via a wireless connection. But this is only possible through AirPrint, so this function is available only to owners of iOS, and not Android devices.

Pros:

impressive resource
broach scanner
print quality
two-sided printing
price-quality ratio
there is a slot for memory cards
AirPrint support

Minuses:

Print and scan speeds are a bit slow for an office

The best laser MFPs for home

Brother MFC-L2700DWR

A special place among the best laser multifunctional devices is occupied by the MFC-L2700DWR model, produced by the legendary Japanese brand Brother. This solution only offers black and white printing, but its speed reaches 26 pages per minute. The improved resolution of the scanner included in the device is an impressive 19200x19200 dpi.

Note. Considering the cost of over 17 thousand rubles and the lack of color printing, an MFP from Brother may seem like the least profitable purchase. However, in terms of reliability and quality of work, this model will give a head start to almost any competitor.

The resource of the photodrum and black and white cartridge in the MFC-L2700DWR is 12 thousand and 1200 pages, respectively. This is a relatively quiet MFP, the noise level of which does not exceed 33 and 49 dB in standby and operating modes, respectively. The functionality of the device is excellent; I was very pleased with the presence of a Wi-Fi module and automatic paper feed.

Advantages:

Reliability surpasses almost all competitors
low noise level when printing documents
Convenient internal paper tray
impressive scanning resolution
print speed of 26 pages/minute

Canon i-SENSYS MF633Cdw

It would be a mistake not to include the i-SENSYS MF633Cdw model in the review of the best MFPs. Canon has done a great job on this device so that its customers get the best experience every time they use their printer, copier and scanner. The improved resolution of the latter, by the way, is 9600x9600 dpi. As for the printing speed, it is the same for black and white and color documents and is 18 pages/min.

Note. This model is perfect for a small office, as it has excellent characteristics and a resource of 30 thousand pages per month.

An excellent color MFP for home and office from Canon can please you with its support for paper with a density of 52 to 200 grams per square meter. However, this is not where its advantages end, since using the i-SENSYS MF633Cdw you can print on: labels, envelopes, glossy, matte surfaces and film.

In terms of equipment, the model under review is not inferior to its competitors and even outperforms them. So, Canon added to its device a huge 5-inch color screen, an RJ-45 port, a wireless Wi-Fi module and a USB 2.0 connector. One of the best MFPs for home supports direct printing as well as AirPrint.

Peculiarities:

multifunctionality of the device
Supports paper up to 200 g/m2
quality and stability of work
moderate power consumption
large and convenient display
automatic feeding of sheets for scanning

Ricoh SP C260SFNw

The economical Ricoh color MFP deserves to be the best option for purchase for several reasons. Firstly, the printing resolution (for both modes) here is 2400x600 dpi, and its speed is 20 pages per minute. The SP C260SFNw has a fax function, and the hardware platform uses Intel Celeron-M with a frequency of 400 MHz and 256 MB of RAM.

Note. The SP C260SFNw multifunctional device is often chosen by small office workers and ordinary users who want high quality and excellent functionality for little money. At a cost of 15 thousand, Ricoh is not only not inferior, but also outperforms direct competitors from Canon, HP and Brother.

Among the best MFPs for home, the SP C260SFNw also stands out for its support of all popular OS, which includes Android. Of course, the device under review also has the ability to print “over the air” via Wi-Fi.

Advantages:

print speed and quality
affordable price for its capabilities
economy and build quality
support for all popular systems
relatively low noise level

The best MFPs for offices

Canon i-SENSYS MF421dw

Do you have a sufficient budget and want to know which MFP is best for a medium-sized office? An excellent option to buy would be i-SENSYS MF421dw. This device is designed exclusively for black and white printing, so it is ideal for working with documentation.

Note. The i-SENSYS MF421dw multifunction device has a large resource of 80 thousand pages/month, as well as an impressive print speed of 38 pages/minute, so it is redundant for home purposes, but students who often need to print term papers and diplomas for themselves and fellow students can take a closer look at this option.

In reviews, Canon MFPs are praised for supporting three desktop (Windows, Mac OS, Linux) and two mobile (iOS, Android) operating systems. For ease of control, i-SENSYS MF421dw has a 5-inch color display with three buttons below it. The device offers automatic two-sided printing, and its maximum resolution is 1200x1200 dpi.

What pleased me:

Toner is enough to print 3100 pages
Wi-Fi module, AirPrint support
works with Linux and Android systems
duplex function
impressive monthly print yield
impressive printing speed

Ricoh SP 325SFNw

If you're looking for a small office MFP at a reasonable cost, then the SP 325SFNw is the perfect choice for your needs. Like the Ricoh model described earlier, this device offers the best quality and functionality for its price. The SP 325SFNw's capabilities include a printer, scanner, fax and copier.

The resolution and print speed of this MFP are 1200x1200 pixels and 28 pages/min, respectively. The scanner has the same resolution with automatic two-sided sheet feeding (can hold up to 35 pieces at a time). As for the scanning speed, it is 4.5 and 13 pages for color and black and white documents. There is also information about the toner level

Advantages:

print speed
cartridge resource (3500 pages)
double-sided scanning
printing up to 35 thousand pages per month
attractive price
It is possible to connect via NFC

Xerox WorkCentre 3215NI

The next small office MFP model in the review, which is also designed for small offices and black and white printing, is the WorkCentre 3215NI from Xerox. The print speed of this model is 27 pages/min. The device is quite economical and has a first-class build. The scanner of the reviewed model has an automatic feeder (40 sheets), as well as a wireless Wi-Fi and Ethernet module.

The maximum paper density that one of the best MFPs in terms of price and quality can work with is 163 g/m2. The WorkCentre 3215NI toner resource is enough to print 1500 pages. In addition, the device allows you to print on: labels, films, cards, envelopes, glossy and matte paper. The resource of the Xerox WorkCentre 3215NI is 30 thousand pages per month.

Advantages:

high quality printing
functionality
automatic feeding of sheets for scanning
good print speed

Flaws:

noisy work

The best inkjet MFPs for home

HP Ink Tank Wireless 419

Mid-budget HP equipment is perfect for home users, combining high quality, extensive functionality and reliability. The Ink Tank Wireless 419 model is an excellent example of an advanced inkjet MFP that can be purchased for about 12 thousand rubles.

The device uses thermal inkjet technology and should not be chosen for photo printing. But the Ink Tank Wireless 419 copes with text documents with a solid five. However, recommended monthly volumes are limited to only 1000 sheets.

However, if you are not too demanding on the quality of pictures, you can use this in a Hewlett-Packard MFP. There is also a borderless printing option. The printing speed of the Ink Tank Wireless 419 is as follows:

Text: 19 and 15 ppm for b/w and color documents;
Images: 8 and 5 ppm for black and white and color A4.

An important advantage of the device under review is its support for paper with a density of 60 to 300 grams per square meter. The MFP supports Windows, Android, Mac OS and iOS, and for the latter two there is even an AirPrint option available.

Advantages:

ratio of price, quality and functionality
The delivery set includes 2 bottles of black paint
good document scanning quality
availability of Wi-Fi module and proprietary HP Smart application
printout quality as for a thermal inkjet device
excellent A4 print speed (19 and 15 pages/min for black and white and color documents)

Epson L382

In first place in the category is the best MFP for home use in the review - Epson L382. This model is ideal for printing photographs and boasts a high print resolution of 5760x1440 pixels. The scanner here acts mainly as a nice addition, since its resolution is 600x1200 dpi.

Note. With high-resolution color printing, borderless printing capabilities and support for paper weights up to 255gsm, the L382 is ideal for photographers. However, here you cannot quickly print a picture from your phone via a wireless network, which is a minus for a price of about 14 thousand rubles.

The L382 outperforms not only color, but also many black-and-white inkjet MFPs in terms of speed of printing b/w documents - 33 pages/min. For non-ferrous materials this parameter is 15 pieces in the same time. At the same time, the resources of black and white and color toners installed in the device are enough for 4500 and 7500 pages, respectively, which is quite a decent result for such a compact device.

Advantages:

huge resource of cartridges
supports high paper density
build quality and features
black and white printing speed
presence of CISS
impressive print resolution

Flaws:

at such an impressive cost, the manufacturer did not add Wi-Fi

Which printer is better to buy?

Choosing the best MFP for your home or office is not the easiest task. First you need to decide on the type of printing (laser or inkjet). Each of them has its own pros and cons. For example, lasers are more economical and often provide higher clarity.

Inkjet ones are cheaper and often provide better color rendition, which is important for printing photos. But laser ones are more expensive to maintain, and inkjet ones may have problems with cartridges. After that, pay attention to the resource, price and availability of additional options that are important for your tasks.

If you are thinking about buying a color laser printer for your home, then we present to your attention five new products for 2016. The ability to print in color is a modern need that is no longer considered a luxury. A few years ago, such models were very expensive, but now they can be easily purchased at an affordable price. Although the capabilities of modern color laser printers will be fully in demand by those people who conduct active business activities while working from home.

The home color laser printer model is the best in the review due to its small size and, most importantly, affordable price. At a cost 150$ (9500 RUR) the user receives a powerful printing tool with excellent quality. Moreover, the energy saving system classifies the model as Eco class. Low noise level makes it ideal for use in home environments. It is compact and very nimble.

You won't have to wait long for your prints to come out, because Canon's Quick First-Print technology significantly speeds up the process. Printing black and white text at a speed of 16 ppm, and color images at 4 ppm. The output is excellent quality prints with a maximum resolution of 2400 x 600 pixels. You will immediately notice excellent detail, sharp contours and clear text with smooth grayscale transitions. All this is provided by the new generation S-toner.

High energy efficiency will allow you to save on electricity, which is very important given the current rising energy prices. The company is actively involved in the environmental sustainability of the environment and makes its products completely safe in this regard. In terms of electricity consumption, the printer is Energy Star certified at 0.5 kWh per week in normal operating mode and 1.1 watt hour in sleep mode.

The monthly printing resource is 15,000 pages, and loading sheets into the tray is designed for 150 pages. You can use plain paper, thick paper, or even transparencies. This is without a doubt the best color laser printer for home in 2016.

Our rating of color laser printers for the home included one that supports various mobile devices. This means that finally there is a printer of this level that supports printing directly from a smartphone or tablet using an NFC wireless connection. The dedicated Mobile Print app supports all major operating systems: Android, iOS, Windows and even Amazon Kindle. Quickly synchronize your mobile phone with the Xpress C430W by holding it close to the printer and immediately print any document.

The built-in modern 400 MHz processor allows you to quickly print black and white text at a speed of 18 sheets per minute, and color pictures at 4 sheets per minute. Each print is of very high quality with high brightness and clarity, which is made possible by Samsung ReCP special page processing technology for black text and Smart CMS technology for color. At the same time, toner cartridges received an increased resource of up to 1500 pages.

The One Touch Eco Button will put the printer into economy mode with one click. And a special utility, Samsung Easy Eco Driver, will remove pictures and unnecessary text from source documents. The maximum print resolution is 2400 x 600 pixels, manual duplex printing is supported. If you just need to print all the information from the screen, then just press the corresponding button on the printer. The noise level has an average of 46 dB, and the weight of the device is almost 10 kilograms. Buy a color laser printer for your home at a price 200$ (13,000 rubles) will be a very tempting offer.

The next color laser printer for the home is not only its compact size, but also its high efficiency when printing black and white text. The model is also one of the most economical in terms of electricity consumption. Get professional-quality color output with HP ImageREt 2400 technology, which creates smooth color transitions and delivers ultra-clear images and text. If you use original cartridges HP with ColorSphere toner, the print quality will remain at a high level throughout its operation.

The print speed for black is 16 pages per minute, and color is 4 pages per minute with a maximum resolution of 600 x 600 pixels in both cases. If you need to replace the cartridge, it will be very easy to do - they can be quickly pulled out and replaced. The reliable design of the printer greatly facilitates replacement and maintenance in general. Just like previous companies and their models, this printer is environmentally friendly and is positioned as one of the most energy-efficient printers in the world.

The model is ideal for creating promotional materials using the HP Creative Studio for Business portal, where you can implement all your creative projects. Media sizes of 7.6 x 12.6 cm and up to 21.4 x 35.4 cm are supported. The maximum monthly load is 15,000 pages per month. The tray can hold 150 sheets. An excellent, reliable model from a renowned manufacturer will become indispensable in your work. The model belongs to inexpensive color laser printers for the home and costs 160$ (RUB 10,000).

World famous manufacturer Xerox updated its range of printers and introduced a new development called . The company's engineers managed to create a very compact color laser printer for the home, achieving a very small size of the printing mechanism. At the same time, technical capabilities have not decreased at all, but only improved. The device is very reliable, productive and with high print quality. During development, the main requirement was to achieve compactness with maximum efficiency.

Frame Phaser 6020BI made of high-quality materials that are pleasant to the touch. This series of printers is the smallest and lightest of its kind. At the same time, the print quality is very high, the improved resolution is 1200 x 2400 pixels. The resulting prints are clear and bright, with a slight shimmer of gloss. All this still depends on the quality of consumables, so it is better to use original ones about the company Xerox. To ensure that the print is always in color and the source looks like it is on the screen, Pantone light fill emulation technology is used.

As for print speed, black will be printed at 12 pages per minute, and color images at 10 pages per minute. Not very fast compared to previous models, but not bad either. The device supports Wi-Fi communication and can work without a wired connection. Synchronize any mobile phone on Android, iOS, Windows and immediately print a document. There are several interesting features: printing multiple pages on one sheet, creating banners, and also printing watermarks. You can buy a color laser printer for your home for 220$ (RUB 14,000).

The latest model in our review, Brother HL-3170CDW, cannot be called inexpensive, as it will cost 320$ (RUB 20,000). It can be easily included in the best color laser printers for the home, thanks to its powerful technical characteristics, which are quite suitable for the average office. With a print speed of 22 pages per minute in both modes (color and black and white), the printer is one of the fastest in its class. This series of new generation LED printers is very efficient.

With this printer you can definitely guarantee the highest print quality at the lowest cost. Using it you will certainly significantly increase your productivity in the office or at home. There is support for automatic two-sided printing (7 pages per minute), which will also reduce the amount of waste. Any idea can be easily realized with this Brother printer.

The case has a convenient LCD display, which will allow you to quickly control the device. Wi-Fi wireless connectivity is supported for quick connection to smartphones, tablets or laptops and instant printing from them. Services such as AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and others are supported. Typical energy consumption is 1.1 kWh of energy per week, which immediately places it in the category of very economical. The sheet tray has a maximum capacity of 150 sheets. The price of a color laser printer for home is not the lowest, but it is definitely worth the money.

Purchasing a multifunctional printing device may be due to various reasons. For some, this is the first step towards practicality; for others, it is a kind of versatility upgrade.

However, most ordinary users have the question “How to choose an MFP for the home?” still causes some difficulties. Still would! After all, today the market for “printing” products is represented by dozens of well-known companies and hundreds of new companies.

It’s understandable that it’s easy to get confused about who to give your preference to and what modification you should focus on. After all, everyone has different goals and everyone intends to use the purchased piece of office equipment in their own way. “How not to be deceived in expectations?” - it is in this vein that the topic of the presented article will be revealed.

Laser or inkjet: which MFP to choose for your home?

Today, two fundamentally different technologies for applying paint to paper (and not only!) are widely used. A laser printer uses toner, while an inkjet printer uses ink of different types and properties. In the first case, dust particles of paint interact with an electric charge and are fixed on paper through heat treatment.

The second type of printing allows you to obtain the most detailed image using the smooth operation of thousands of nozzles (nanomized holes). If you want to achieve the highest quality perception from the image (photo) obtained as a result of printing, then the appropriate choice is obvious. However, the user may not always pursue purely “creative” goals...

Rainbow Value

If color and an immense palette of paints are an unjustified luxury for you, and you do not intend to endure significant expenses for “juicy” printing, then the monochrome option - a black and white paint application scheme - is your choice, which, by the way, solves the problem of how to choose a laser MFP for home.

Typically, this goal is pursued by business people when their home environment doubles as a work environment. However, it is not only high-tech laser printers that have the “black and white” saving advantage. Most inkjet units can also operate in economy mode, but when purchasing such a device, you will still have to pay for a color cartridge, since it is included.

Copying advantages

The versatility of the device provides a number of incredibly convenient functions. And the more “favorables”, the higher the price of the product. However, the built-in scanner must be able to copy a document with a resolution of at least 600 Dpi, which will allow you to save a digital duplicate of the sample with optimal accuracy. It is quite possible that, in principle, the standard “copier” function (simultaneous scanning and printing) is provided in the model that you like. If not, expand your search...

Print speed

The above parameter is very important when the consumer poses a question like this: how to choose an MFP for the office? The number of copies per minute is not only a technical indicator of the speed capabilities of the device, but also a condition, the favorableness of which will affect the productivity of your activities. By the way, the printing speed declared by the manufacturer will differ slightly from the actual performance.

The justification for a company to "reassure" the consumer through technical documentation is likely to be the "Ideal Conditions of Use" clause. Carefully, even practically, make sure that the printer is fast enough to meet the conditions of use “In an external environment”.

Number of paper trays

Not a critical indicator, but nevertheless in the context of the previous paragraph - more than important. However, the question “How to choose an MFP for your home?” taking into account some circumstances of domestic use, it is also appropriate here.

Having multiple paper trays can be a very handy addition, especially if you do large volumes of multi-format printing. It is worth noting that under this condition the user will spend less time loading consumables. And one more argument in favor of “multithreading” - the simultaneous use of different types of paper requires a certain comfort in organizing the supply of sheets for printing.

"Cellulose addiction"

Some multifunction devices are somewhat of a generalist when it comes to the types of paper they support. If not everything, then a lot depends on the design features of copying equipment. How to choose an MFP if you need to print envelopes or, on the contrary, documents that exceed the A4 standard?

Very simple! Ask the seller how “omnivorous” the model you are considering is. It would be a good idea to ask us to demonstrate the process of loading different paper sizes. Remember, the future usefulness of the purchased device depends on the breadth of optional features.

Duplex printing capability

Incredibly convenient feature. Imagine how much easier the operation will be if you are freed from the sometimes difficult process of manually turning pages printed on one side. Of course, if you choose a laser MFP for your home, then with a 99% probability the device will have the ability to independently transfer the document for the subsequent printing stage. It is worth noting that duplex can also be provided in an inkjet printer, but most devices of this type do not have this capability.

Device performance

Another important factor in making an appropriate choice is the duty cycle. This term usually expresses the number of pages printed per month. Therefore, the lower the “efficiency factor”, the greater the risk that the device will not withstand intensive printing. A laser printer is more productive than an inkjet printer. Therefore, when the user is faced with the task of everyday replication, the selection process must correspond to the specifics of the question: “How to choose a laser MFP for the home?” For your information, there are multifunctional devices with a truly titanic safety margin (from 25,000 to 50,000 pages per month), the rest of the majority are “owners” of a light duty cycle.

Communication properties

Agree, when a device is able to print a document directly from a flash drive, it is incredibly convenient. Make sure that the printer interface has a USB connector. The existing slot (card reader) will be a nice addition, since almost all compact gadgets are equipped with a camera and save data to a memory card.

But the most important advantage of the MFP is still considered to be the presence of an Ethernet connector. The ability to connect locally will significantly expand the horizons of comfortable use. And if you don’t know which MFP to buy for your home, then focus on this convenience. The presence of a Wi-Fi module or Bluetouch makes the model even more attractive...

After all, in the future the user will not have difficulties organizing a local network, and the inconveniences associated with connecting connecting cables will disappear on their own. Don't forget that a wireless network allows you to interact with mobile devices. So sending a photo directly from your smartphone to print is a reality today! Finally, PictBridge technology. Perhaps some readers will consider the mentioned functionality overkill, however, when connecting the camera to an MFP, the user will have the opportunity to instantly print out the footage.

Ergonomics and design

The home environment is a place of special atmosphere. The harmony of the interior depends primarily on the aesthetics of the surrounding objects. When a buyer solves a “forced by circumstances” problem of how to choose an MFP for his home, then the color, lines, shape and size of the device must match the household space in which it will take its place. The smell emitted by a working unit and the sounds of mechanisms should not be a source that destroys the perception of home comfort.

Control Panel

As a rule, budget modifications have a small number of buttons. In the case where the result of the selective process “how to choose an MFP” is important to the buyer, it is imperative to test the tactile travel of the keys and objectively evaluate the convenience of their location. By the way, fairly “serious” devices are equipped with an LCD display and a keyboard module.

There are printers with a touch control unit, through which the user can work absolutely comfortably in offline mode, that is, edit multimedia data without the participation of a computer. True, such monsters can hardly claim to be a home MFP, since their cost may border on the expression “exorbitant.”

Question of price

Good selection is not the definition of high value. Laser monochrome printing technology will be the optimal option for students, as well as a group of people whose professional activities require systematically printing reporting documents, etc.

The high performance, wide range of features and practicality of an all-in-one printing device will require a more significant investment. If, when deciding how to choose an MFP for your home, you need to take into account the economic feasibility of the purchase, then you should give your preference to an inkjet type of printer and standard equipment with a minimum set of additional functions.

Now about the value of the acquisition

After you have made sure that all the points have been taken into account, and the question “How to choose the right MFP?” implemented in the form of an optimally selected option, analyze... You may have missed something from the list below.

Laser color printers are much more expensive to maintain than competing technologies.
Choose an inkjet MFP model with cartridges that can be refilled later.
Calculate how much paint will cost you?
Are there high-capacity cartridges for your chosen MFP model?
Bet on the future. Do not buy a device with clearly limited functionality, as you may need “rejected” options in the future.
You should not trust a manufacturer that has not been tested by time. You can always learn about products from well-known brands from reviews and opinions of users, which can always be found on specialized forums.

Finally

It is impossible to give a specific answer to the question: “Which MFP is best for the home?” Because each user has their own set of preferences and requirements. Therefore, before you buy, you need to study the subject of your attention in more detail, and only when your desire gains the strength of confidence, make the right choice. Happy printing to you!

“Which is better, laser MFP or inkjet?” - a question that worries many. Multifunctional devices were first created in 1977 by the Xerox company. They are intended for printing and copying images. Today, there are laser and inkjet MFPs. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. In order to understand which is better - a laser MFP or an inkjet one, you need to understand the design of these devices. Additionally, a lot depends on the manufacturers.

Laser MFP device

Any color laser MFP for home has a special mirror. The beam from the drum hits him. There is also a large image drum that wraps paper around itself. The toner is installed nearby, and with its help the image is directly transferred to the page. For this purpose, there is additionally a special transfer roller. At the back of the laser device there is a stove that brings the paper to a certain temperature. This is enough to burn the toner and fix the image on the sheet.

A primary charge shaft is provided for waste powder. Additionally, there is a squeegee for cleaning the photodrum from toner. Also, all laser devices have a blade that protects the paper. The toner compartment of laser MFPs consists of a seal, a hopper and a seal. At the same time, there is a system that monitors the uniform distribution of toner on the paper.

How do inkjet devices work?

For the most part, inkjet MFPs have a similar design. They include the printing mechanism, paper feeding system and control unit. Manufacturers also establish a control scheme, which differs in different models. The printing mechanism consists of a head, which is located in the center of the inkjet MFP. There are also ink cartridges that come in different types. Next, a motor is installed, which is responsible for rotating the head. A belt is connected to it for these purposes. Lastly, there is a stabilizer rod in the printing mechanism. It is necessary for accurate printing and is responsible for the vibrations that occur inside the head.

The paper supply system consists of a tray and rollers. Additionally, there is a separate motor for scrolling the sheet. The paper itself passes through the rollers inside the inkjet MFP.

The power supplies of the above devices are usually standard. Previously, bulky transformers were used for this purpose. These days, power supplies don't take up much space. The control system of the inkjet MFP is presented in the form of an electrical circuit. Her job is to decode the data. Additionally, the control system allows you to transfer information to a personal computer and back.

Some models of inkjet MFPs are also installed. In other cases, they are replaced by a serial device. Manufacturers can also install small computing system ports. There are two types of ink spray technology in string MFPs. The first is the thermal bubble system. Most often it can be found in models from the Canon and Hewlett Packard brands. The second type of atomization is called a piezoelectric system. It is based on the work of special piezocrystals. This technology was patented by Epson.

Advantages of laser models

The main advantage of laser MFPs is fast printing. If we talk about large volumes of work, then this is simply an irreplaceable device. In this regard, it is very superior to regular MFPs. However, it is the first sheet of paper that will take a long time. This fact is associated with the need to warm up the photodrum. The second advantage lies in the simplicity of the device. The need for its repair occurs extremely rarely, and it is quite simple to maintain. Unlike inkjet MFPs, there is no need to constantly worry about ink problems.

What are the disadvantages of laser devices?

Color laser MFPs for the home, of course, also have disadvantages. First of all, it hits the pocket hard. You can especially notice the difference if you choose a color laser MFP. Additionally, it takes up a lot of space, and it is quite difficult to place it on the table. Another drawback lies in the cartridges of laser MFPs. Like the devices themselves, they are expensive on the market. Despite their large resource, sometimes it is the price of cartridges that stops many potential buyers.

Pros of inkjet models

The main advantage of inkjet MFPs is their low cost. Most models are available to absolutely everyone. Moreover, the housings of these devices are quite compact. All this allows you to place the inkjet MFP almost on the edge of the table. Plus, they print the first page much faster than laser ones. Taking this into account, if we talk about one document, then inkjet MFPs are the leaders here.

Additionally, it is possible to supply cartridges directly, which are very cheap. By the way, you can refuel them absolutely independently without any problems. You can print on different types of paper. The ink adheres perfectly to both matte and glossy surfaces. The final advantage of inkjet MFPs lies in print quality. It is simply excellent, and if we talk about photographs, then ink is simply irreplaceable in this situation.

Cons of inkjet devices

Unfortunately, inkjet MFPs also have disadvantages. First of all, this is the printing speed. If you have to work with a large volume, then it will take a long time. Some models are close to the speed of laser MFPs, but there is a problem. The second drawback lies in the maintenance of these devices. The ink often dries out and has to be replaced. In some cases, you just need to replace the cartridge. To solve the problem, you need to periodically use inkjet MFPs to warm up. This will always waste ink.

Hewlett Packard laser models

“Which MFP is better to choose?” - a complex question, but Hewlett Packard has long established itself on the positive side, and it has something to offer. Laser models of this brand differ from others in their reliability. It is possible to work with paper of various densities. The average print speed is 25 pages per minute.

Additionally, many models are equipped with a fax. It supports a wide variety of operating systems. Additionally, you can note the user-friendly interface. On average, the memory of these devices is 128 MB. In general, they can be described as productive. The most popular model is the Hewlett Packard M1536dnf. This laser MFP has good reviews from customers.

Hewlett Packard Inkjet Products

In terms of print resolution parameters, Hewlett Packard inkjet MFPs are significantly superior to laser models. It is possible to print on photo paper, as well as gloss. Additionally, there is a function for optimized resolution of work from a personal computer. A variety of paper sizes can be skipped. However, the recommended sheet density is 75 g per square meter. m. On average, the printing speed is 4 pages per minute. In turn, the first sheet is ready in 24 seconds. The boundaries of the printing area are quite extensive. You can also select a wide range of colors.

Power consumption is insignificant and allows you to save money. When in operation, the Hewlett Packard inkjet MFP consumes approximately 10 W. At the same time, only 2 W are consumed in standby mode. Also, in many models, manufacturers have installed a sleep mode system. When activated, the Hewlett Packard inkjet MFP consumes 0.9 W. One of the features is the presence of special contact image sensors. In general, the color depth is approximately 24 bits. Additionally, there is a scanning input mode. Copy speed is 4.5 sheets per minute.

How are Canon laser MFPs different?

Many models have a good maximum print resolution. This figure came very close to Canon inkjet MFPs. Additionally, we can note the good quality of document scanning. A wide variety of paper formats and densities are allowed. However, there is, of course, no opportunity to work with photo paper or a matte surface. The average print speed is 23 pages per minute.

As a rule, Canon laser MFP is equipped with a fax. The printing boundaries are quite extensive: the top, bottom and sides are 5 mm. Management is generally satisfactory. Many models are equipped with a convenient display for this purpose. The total memory of most models is at 256 MB. Operating systems support a variety. However, the Canon laser MFP consumes quite a lot of power. In operating condition, the device consumes approximately 500 W. In standby mode, power consumption is 5.4 W.

All this makes us think about the cost-effectiveness of laser MFPs. Moreover, their dimensions are quite impressive. On average, a Canon laser MFP model has a height of 390 mm, a length of 440 mm, and a depth of 360 mm. In this case, the weight of the device will be approximately 12 kg. The Canon MF217W model (laser MFP) is perfect for home use.

Canon inkjet models

Most Canon inkjet MFPs boast good optical resolution. In this case, the droplet size is 2 pl. The density of printing paper is allowed from 64 to 105 g per square meter. m. Additionally, it is possible to work with photo paper. On average, a Canon inkjet MFP model produces 10 sheets per minute. If we talk about color printing, then this parameter drops to 6 sheets per minute. In turn, photo printing takes an average of 44 seconds. Additionally, you can highlight the ability to print without borders. The interface is generally pleasant and many will like it.

You can also highlight the cost-effectiveness of inkjet MFP models. On average, only 0.7 W is consumed. When copying, the Canon inkjet MFP consumes only 0.19 W. The dimensions of most models are quite compact. On average, the height of the device is 300 mm, the length is 440 mm, and the depth is only 150 mm. In this case, the weight of the device is on average 5.5 kg. The Canon MG4240 model is in greatest demand. This MFP has only positive reviews.

Summarizing

"Which is better - laser MFP or inkjet?" - a question to which there is no clear answer. However, first of all, it is necessary to determine the requirements that will be imposed on the device. If you look from the point of view of print quality, then the leaders in this regard are inkjet MFPs. They are simply irreplaceable for working with photographs.

However, this class of equipment is definitely not suitable for offices. Documents must be printed quickly. In this case, there should be no problems with the device. From this point of view, laser MFPs are clearly becoming the leader. Considering all of the above, the question is: “Which is better - a laser MFP or an inkjet one?” - must be considered on a case by case basis.