Printer Users
This section will let you know the ideal printer type for each user. We’ll also outline any specific features you should look for which will help you to get the most out of your printing.
Home User:
Home printers (including those who work from home) should likely prioritise printer size and opt for a compact printer due to space limitations. Home printer users should look for wireless printing support to save even more space. They also make printing a more convenient process. Printers with mobile printing functionality give you the option to print from a phone or tablet. Home users would benefit more from inkjets due to the lower cost of both the machine and the consumables. Additionally, the ability to print higher quality photos will also benefit home printers, who are more likely to want to print photographs.
If you’re working from home, you should look for features like an ADF, duplex print support, touchscreens and additional paper trays. While inkjet printers do offer a lower price point for low volume printer users, those who are working from home and printing mainly text documents might find a small laser printer to be more beneficial.
Our home printer recommendation is the Epson WorkForce WF-2935DWF, an A4 colour multifunction inkjet printer. It’s a compact family printer which focuses on convenience. The Epson WF-2935DWF uses Epson 604 and 604Xl ink cartridges.
Business User:
When it comes to businesses, laser printers are the obvious choice, thanks to their higher print volume and faster print speeds generally. The combination of the laser and drum means these machines can produce multiple documents quickly. They also work digitally, so it doesn’t matter how much content is on the page, they can still be relied upon to print at fast speeds. If you want to buy a printer for your business, you should consider the monthly duty cycle of the machine and compare this against either your current or expected print volume to ensure it can handle the business’s output. Other specifications and features to look out for include a high paper capacity, an automatic document feeder and auto duplex printing support, all of which will be expanded upon later in this guide. All three of these features can save you time and mean you can leave the printer mid-job, for greater productivity.
The Brother MFC-L8690CDW is a great printer for workgroups of up to five users and is an efficient multifunction machine with the ability to print, scan, fax and copy. This Brother printer accepts Brother TN-421 toner cartridges.