15 best color printers

The color printer has become an excellent assistant for both students and office workers, allowing you to deal not only with the processing of text documents, but also work with pictures. Home printers are usually chosen for their price, their operating speed is low, and the service is relatively cheap. Office machines are faster, have large dimensions, but sometimes they give out the best quality compared to their “home” counterparts.

The main criteria for choosing a printer include:

• Print type. for home use, inkjet printers are predominantly chosen, and laser printers for the office.
• Print speed. a good office printer typically prints 33 pages per minute.
• Permission. 600x600 is often taken as the optimum. Higher quality is needed for detailed photos or maps.
• Weight and dimensions. For the home, we recommend compact models with low power consumption. When using in the office, it is better not to waste time on trifles and take an unpretentious printer with a large working resource.

We've handpicked the top 15 best color printers for you across multiple categories based on customer reviews, test results, reputable channels, and specifications.

Best color printers for the office

Often, employees at work have to print not only text documents, but also various color graphics, diagrams for illustrating a presentation or commercial proposal, brochures for clients and much more. Therefore, today color printers for offices are by no means a luxury, and even more so not a rarity.

The most suitable for the office, despite the increasing distribution of the main competitor - an economical inkjet printer with CISS - are still considered to be laser and sometimes LED devices. After all, the printing speed of the best of them can amount to tens of pages per minute, the paper tray holds an impressive stack of sheets, and the mechanisms are designed for fairly heavy loads.

5 Canon PIXMA TS704

The Japanese managed to combine fast work, low noise level and good print quality in Canon PIXMA TS704. The official website will be extremely useful for the owners of this model, as they regularly post the latest drivers. Well compatible with the moody Ubuntu operating system. The box contains several extra sheets of photo paper for the job.

The small volume of cartridges limits the performance of the printer. The application for Android is not very stable during operation. According to customer reviews, photo processing will have to be done in separate applications, and working with folders is generally problematic here.

4 Xerox Phaser 6020

Xerox Phaser is the most functional office printer with an attractive price tag. Although recommended for use in relatively small businesses, it is reliable enough to print 30,000 pages per month and supports Wi-Fi and AirPrint. Therefore, you can send a file for printing from almost any device in the office, be it a computer, tablet or smartphone. The device also earned its place in the rating with the best resolution of 2400 x 1200 pixels for its price, surpassing even the capabilities of many premium laser printers. At the same time, it weighs less than 11 kilograms and is compact enough for a serious color printer.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Xerox ranks among the most highly rated office devices. Buyers praise it for its functionality, versatility in interaction with computers and mobile devices, convenient utilities and decent print quality.

3 HP Color LaserJet Professional CP5225 (CE710A)

The top three would be incomplete without a professional mid-size office laser printer. The price, which was slightly too high for its main characteristics, prevented it from climbing higher.However, if a laser printer with support for A3 format is required for work, then LaserJet Professional, in comparison with analogues, can be called a very profitable acquisition. At the same time, it is designed for active use with printing up to 75 thousand sheets per month, is distinguished by good speed and capacious color cartridges with a resource of 7,300 pages, which is many times more than that of many competitors.

Despite the rather high price, the printer is not only in demand among medium and sometimes large enterprises, but also received a number of good reviews. Its advantages include the speed of printing both black and white and color documents, quality, reliability and not too fast ink consumption. The downside is the high price of original cartridges.

2 HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553n

The HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553n laser printer should be classified as an expensive and high-performance printing device. However, it was precisely the high price that did not allow this model to be awarded the title of the best, even despite the high quality of the files received and a large working resource.

Designed for mid-level office use, the HP printer won't get lost in large workspaces. Its resource is measured by 80 thousand printed pages per month, which is more than enough for the needs of large companies. The maximum quality of the resulting images is 1200x1200 dpi. The print speed is also okay: the device can print up to 38 black and white or color pages per minute. The resource of color cartridges is designed for 5 thousand pages, and black - for 4 thousand. The printer is large and massive, but not devoid of creativity and corporate identity. Its weight is 27 kilograms.

1 HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M653dn

Recommended by the experts for the offices of large companies, this solid color laser printer performs best in the most important operating parameters. The special pride that makes the LaserJet Enterprise stand out from all others is the literally lightning speed of color and text printing on 56 sheets per minute, which is simply not equal. At the same time, the laser printer pleases with a resolution of 1200 x 1200, good for an office device, a feed of up to 3200 sheets, an output tray for 500 sheets, support for the Internet and direct printing from various devices, a color LCD screen and even automatic two-sided printing, which is rarely found in laser models. ...

The huge cartridge yield of the most productive American brand printer also speaks in favor of HP. Color toner is enough to print 10,500 sheets, and black for all 12,500. Therefore, this HP is a godsend for those who do not want to splurge on ink.

The best inexpensive color printers: budget up to 10,000 rubles.

Low cost models are a special category in high demand. Indeed, for home or even basic work needs, a cheap printer is often enough, and the lightest and most compact of them are useful even for travel.

Although the budget segment is represented only by basic inkjet devices, it is worth noting a good selection and variety. Some printers, despite their availability, in terms of functionality and quality of printed images are not inferior to individual participants in the rating with an average price. Moreover, among them there are models with a continuous ink supply system or CISS, which allows you to significantly save on consumables.

5 HP OfficeJet Pro 8210

One of the most inexpensive and functional, this color printer is suitable for both home and small business. Duplex mode, rare in the budget segment, is designed to speed up and simplify the work with double-sided documents. Excellent performance is no less surprising. The OfficeJet Pro can easily print up to 34 color or black and white pages in just a minute. In this case, the first print appears after 9 seconds. Therefore, urgent printing will not be a problem, just like printing from a tablet or smartphone, including the AirPrint function.Of course, these beneficial properties have a positive effect on your HP rating.

Many owners consider the model to be the most practical and modern representative of the class. Also, reviews often highlight the pleasant small screen and simple controls. But the manufacturer saved on print quality, which is why sometimes small streaks appear on documents, and photo printing is not supported at all.

4 Canon SELPHY CP1300

Unlike the previous participant in the rating, the Selphy printer only supports the A6 format, that is, it prints only on photo paper and labels. With a weight of less than 900 grams and dimensions comparable to the size of a small but thick book, the mini-printer will fit not only on any shelf, but also in a backpack or even a handbag. Therefore, the model is suitable for both home and instant printing of photos on the go. Amateurs will undoubtedly consider the built-in card reader a noticeable plus, which allows you to view, edit and transfer fresh photos from an SD card to paper. In addition, the portable printer is battery operated and supports a number of wireless technologies.

In addition to lightness and functionality, many users are attracted to the pocket model by the excellent print quality for such a crumb and good speed. The printer is often praised for its pleasant ergonomics combined with a large color screen.

3 Canon PIXMA TS304

The novelty from the very beginning of 2018 is confidently among the top three due to the favorable ratio of properties, high-quality assembly and the lowest cost. As the cheapest modern color printer, Canon will amaze even the most sophisticated user with its rich functionality and print accuracy. Even devices that are many times more expensive than Pixma will envy the 4800 x 1200 resolution. The print speed is average, but the inkjet printer supports borderless mode. At the same time, the device interacts with other equipment via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, gets along with devices on iOS and Android.

Also, the model is energy efficient and consumes only 2 watts during standby and 10 watts during operation. Regarding consumables, the printer, alas, is not so modest. The original cartridges required for its operation are designed for only 180 pages, costing no less than other Canon consumables. However, they can be replaced with cheap counterparts.

2 Epson L312

In second place in the ranking of the best inexpensive inkjet printers is the Epson L312 - a solid device designed to work primarily at home. The main advantages of this printer are its complete set, long cartridge life and excellent design, bordering on low weight.

Like its competitors, Epson is designed to print A4 documents, but at the same time bypasses everyone in terms of compactness. Its weight is only 2.8 kilograms. The use of paint during work is also striking. The resource of the color cartridge is enough to print about 6.5 thousand pages of a standard form. To expand the possibilities for printing and trouble-free refueling, the inkjet printer is equipped with a CISS - a system of additional ink supply from reservoirs, prudently placed by manufacturers under the matching housing. The only drawback of the model is the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity. However, with such advantages, such a minus is simply imperceptible.

1 Canon PIXMA iP7240

The undisputed leader in this category is the Canon PIXMA iP7240 inkjet printer. This is a great model that attracts buyers with its original design, medium size and low cost. It is perfect for placing at home, and its impressive characteristics can answer for the print quality and reliability of work.

First of all, it is worth noting the function of printing photos and automatic two-sided printing, which is an unconditional plus in the karma of this model. The maximum resolution for color printing is 9600x2400 dpi, which can also be considered a good indicator.A system of five cartridges is responsible for the color and quality of image printing. The standard CMYK scheme is complemented by another, pigment black. This fact does not in the least affect the already excellent monochrome printing, as it is intended solely for the photo printing function. The control interface is simple and straightforward, so there are no problems in working with this model.

Best color printers for the home

Almost any printer can be called personal. However, when choosing a device for themselves, and not for the office, most users are more willing to pay attention not to the volume of paper feed, cartridge yield and print speed. Although these properties are important, relatively small inkjet devices with good printing, support for A4 and A6 formats, useful additional features and a more or less affordable price are often in demand for the home.

However, there are exceptions. In particular, those who have to print a lot often prefer inexpensive laser machines with high-capacity toner or find a compromise in printers with CISS, which often exceed the ink supply of inexpensive laser devices. Therefore, models for the home are very diverse and are represented by different types of devices.

5 KYOCERA ECOSYS P5021cdw

Over the long history of the brand, Kyocera devices have established themselves as a decent price-performance ratio and the most affordable laser printer continues a good tradition. Despite the impressive dimensions and weight of 21 kilograms, this model is purchased for the home just as often as for the office. It will undoubtedly come in handy when printing color documents, diagrams and even drawings. Indeed, for a laser device, this participant in the rating received a very good resolution. Feeding 300 or more pages can be handy when printing a large project. Built-in card reader and wireless modules allow Kyocera to receive files without connecting to a computer.

In many reviews, the printer is considered a good option for home and home office due to a decent resolution of 1200 dpi, long lifespan and useful add-ons. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the rather large dimensions and not the best color reproduction.

4 Brother HL-3170CDW

The printer with LED printing, much like laser, is often called the best because of its high speed and unpretentiousness. Designed for high volume, Brother is equipped with high capacity paper trays and prints at 22 sheets per minute. The resource of a cartridge of 1400 pages for color printing and 2500 for black and white exceeds even laser counterparts. At the same time, unlike inkjet printers, the model is also suitable for occasional printing. The ink in cartridges does not dry out with rare use, which, combined with a good resource, makes it possible to rarely change consumables. The printer is also handy for double-sided documents and supports a range of wireless technologies.

Brother ranks prominently among the high-volume home appliances for many users. Reviews noted speed, all sorts of interfaces, including Wi-Fi, ease of use and ease of maintenance.

3 Canon PIXMA G1410

Surprisingly, the leading three best printers for the home include a budget and in all respects profitable inkjet machine. Despite the lack of popular interfaces, the model is considered very technologically advanced and modern. Its main advantage is the perfectly implemented CISS technology, thanks to which there is no longer a need to choose between economy and print quality. Inks for CISS are cheaper than conventional cartridges, and their volume reaches 7000 sheets for color printing. At the same time, the resolution reaches 4800 x 1200 dots, which guarantees stunning accuracy of photos and documents.

Experts and hobbyists alike appreciate the color and detail of prints. Also, many consider the budget CISS to be profitable and quite nimble, compared to other inkjet printers.The only weak points of the device are its modest functionality and the absence of a USB cable.

2 Canon PIXMA iP110 with battery

Productive, high-quality and compact, this printer will hardly leave indifferent travelers and those who do not want to take up most of their living space with technology. Weighing 2 kilograms and small in size, Canon does an excellent job of high-resolution photos in both standard and large format. In the images he printed, the number of dots per inch is 9600 by 2400 dpi, which is the best indicator not only in the category, but also in the rating. The speed for an inkjet printer is also quite good - up to 9 black and white documents, or about 6 color documents per minute.

A special advantage of the printer for home and travel is a large portable battery that holds a charge long enough to print 240 sheets wirelessly or 290 when connected to a computer. According to reviews, on average, the battery lasts for 3-4 hours of active use. At the same time, the printer supports Android, Windows, iOS systems.

1 HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M180n

High-quality color printing that slightly falls short of a photo printer. Parts are copied with a high level of detail. There is a quick setup for printing over the network. It connects equally well to current Windows 10 or old and good Windows 7. HP Smart Print software has an intuitive interface with a minimum of settings. It will take about a minute to print on warm-up.

Of the shortcomings, the same HP Smart is noted, which frankly dulls when you press some buttons. It can print 100 pages of plain text and another 100 color photos without replacing the cartridge, which is a definite plus. Despite the relatively low capacity of the cartridges themselves, maintenance is cheap. Note that it is rather weak for the office. The appearance also raises some questions. According to buyers of the model, black would be more suitable.