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Best Cheap Printers
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Cheap Printers Buying Guide
If you're looking at cheap printers for home use -- that is, for printing the occasional web page, email, document, or photo -- all you need is a good cheap inkjet printer. With so many products on the market, you'll have no trouble finding a cheap inkjet printer that's easy to set up, small in size, and costs no more than $85.
Printers from Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark rule the cheap printers category. At first glance, many models make the same claims in terms of performance and features, but buyers beware: your cheap inkjet printer can quickly become an expensive investment if you don't know what to look for. To help you choose wisely, we've broken down the features you want to have and the performance you can expect so there are no surprises when you set up your cheap inkjet printer at home.
The best cheap printers can handle more than run-of-the-mill print jobs. Indeed, the best cheap printers also spit out mean photo prints, be they images downloaded from your computer, camera, or smartphone. If you plan to use your new printer to reproduce visual images, resolution makes all the difference; indeed, it matters more than if you'll just be printing text. The best cheap inkjet printers offer at least 4800x1200 dots per inch (dpi) for color printing, with overachievers coming in at 9600x2400 dpi. (The higher the number, the better your photos will look.)
Other factors also demand consideration. Ease of installation is critical, particularly if you rank among those who struggle to keep up with the latest technology. Many cheap printers require USB cables, although more and more companies are offering wireless printers. In terms of paper size and paper holding, most cheap printers handle 30 to 100 pieces of paper or envelopes. Cheap printers are fairly portable and easy to maneuver, too, with weights varying but topping out at slightly more than 12 pounds. The one downside with these handy devices is the speed with which the ink, particularly the color ink, disappears, and the high cost of new cartridges.
We've focused our research on cheap inkjet printers that excel in photo and text printing, although a few that we like have copy and scan capabilities, as well. The cheap inkjet printers that made our list cost between $49 and $79, give or take a few pennies, and satisfy users' demands for relatively headache-free installation and ongoing operation, speedy printing, and excellent print quality. Cheap inkjet printer reviews indicate that ease of use involves more than just installing the necessary software and connecting the printer to your computer. Users also care about paper that doesn't jam and alerts that accurately report when ink cartridges need replacing. Quiet operation is important, especially during those late night print marathons just before the holidays or the due date for a big project. And finally, consumers expect crisp and clear text output and vibrant and sharp color output, although their standards generally aren't as high as those of the experts.
With all this in mind, here are our picks: For best cheap inkjet printers, we chose the Canon PIXMA iP4820 Premium Inkjet Photo Printer (starting at $79, Amazon
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Best Cheap Printers
Canon Pixma iP2600
With solid resolution, decent print speeds, and the ability to print on more paper sizes than many of its peers, the Canon Pixma iP2600 is a good entry-level printer that produces photos without borders. Reviewers are impressed with the output but users gripe that it gobbles ink and the feeder frequently malfunctions. Read more »Where to buy
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Canon PIXMA iP4820
This new user- and environmentally-friendly inkjet from Canon packs a whopping 9600x2400 dpi and produces high-quality photo prints at what passes for lightning speed in the budget category. Automatic two-sided printing and 300-sheet paper capacity help compensate for the absence of copy, scan, and fax capabilities. Experts are slightly more impressed than consumers. Read more »Where to buy
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Good Cheap Inkjet Printers
Canon PIXMA MP495 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One
Canon PIXMA MP495 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One (starting at $49, Amazon)
Another new inkjet from Canon, this one features built-in wireless printing and scanning and churns out good color photos of 4800x1200 dpi. Users like the wireless capabilities, print quality, easy installation, and quiet operation of this entry-level all-in-one.
Read more »
Where to buy
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HP Deskjet 3050 All-in-One Printer
This wireless inkjet printer scans, prints, and copies, and includes templates for calendars, games, and specialty paper. Users report installation is a breeze and most are satisfied with its print performance, although quite a few gripe about noisy operation and a handful report difficulty setting up the wireless. Read more »Where to buy
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Don't Bother Cheap Inkjet Printers
Lexmark Z2300
A flimsy feel and omission of black ink in the packing box make this one-trick Lexmark printer hard to defend in a competitive market that offers photo print, copy, and scan for just a few dollars more. Read more »
Epson WorkForce 30 Color Ink Jet
Fast print speeds and print capabilities on multiple paper types don't compensate for weaknesses identified by users, which include poor output, excessive/unreliable ink usage, and loud and noisy print runs. Read more »
Products Mentioned in This Review
Lexmark Z2300 ReviewEpson WorkForce 30 Color Ink Jet Review
Canon PIXMA MP495 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One Review
HP Deskjet 3050 All-in-One Printer Review
Canon Pixma iP2600 Review
Canon PIXMA iP4820 Review
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