1. Printing Technology

It is a basic feature, based on which printers are divided into 4 categories. 

Laser: Printing is done by ink spraying. They are designed for small to medium print volumes and also support various paper types, from plain photocopy paper to photo/illustration paper, making them ideal for the average user. They print higher-quality photos, good documents, and have cheaper inks.

Inkjet: Laser printers were originally designed for professional use. In their first form they were large in size, as they were intended for office needs, which required large quantities of documents and frequent use. In recent years, however, they are also used at home, since their size has been significantly reduced and they are more economical in the long run. They operate with heating technology. They offer faster printing for black-and-white text and slower for color, compared to inkjet. As consumables, they use Toner and Drum.

Thermal: Similar to laser but with higher printing speeds, less bulky and lighter.

LED: They are designed and mainly used for producing photo prints, IDs, credit card machines and cash registers. They use ribbons and special paper/material.

Zink: Pocket printers (small size): They are portable printers that do not contain ink and are used exclusively for photos, which are printed with the specific type of zink paper.

2. Connectivity

Prints via Wi-Fi, cable, or simply by touch from your mobile phone? Make sure the printer you choose connects the way you want!

Ethernet / LAN: Connects via cable with an ethernet (LAN) cable and can be used by devices on the same network. 

Bluetooth: Wireless connection with devices that also have Bluetooth such as PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets. 

Wi-Fi: Connected devices can send prints wirelessly. 

NFC: NFC technology allows printing by touch from your compatible smartphone. 

USB: Printers connect to a computer with the classic USB cable.

3. Color & black-and-white printing 

A color printer can print in black and white, while a black-and-white printer will never be able to print in color. 

For this reason, if you want to print anything in color, choose a color printer!

4. Features and functions 

See and choose from the corresponding filter the extra functions and features you want your chosen printer to have. 

All-in-One: The all-in-one is the device that combines a printer, scanner or even fax (yes, it still exists!).

Duplex Printing: Automatically turns the paper over to print on the back side as well. 

Portable: See printers in a practical size that you can take with you everywhere!

Ink Tank: Inkjet printers with refillable tanks so you can fill the printer’s ink yourself with special ink bottles. They provide the ability to produce large print volumes at a lower printing cost. 

Exclusively for Photos: Printers made exclusively to keep your best memories alive.

Printing from Mobile Devices: Accepts prints from mobile phone or tablet. 

Fax: Sends and receives fax if connected to a telephone line. 

Card Slot: Can print directly from a memory card.

5. Scanner features 

Have you decided you want an all-in-one? Choose what features you want your scanner to have!

Automatic Document Feeder (ADF): Allows copying or scanning multiple pages at once, without the need to place each individual page on the copier or scanner. 

Duplex Scanning: Scanning is performed on both sides of the paper without needing to manually turn the sheets in the scanner.

6. Maximum Print Resolution 

The maximum resolution at which the printer can print, measured in DPI (dots per inch). High DPI means higher quality but more time-consuming and costly printing. A typical high-resolution value is 600x600.

Do you know the use? We know what you should pay attention to!

For the home 

If you want to print occasionally either small-to-medium volume black-and-white documents or photos, a good choice is Inkjet.

In cases where you want to turn your home into an office and need a large volume of prints, mainly documents and at fast speeds, then a small laser would be ideal for you!

In any case, pay attention to the Wi-Fi connection function and the ability to print from a mobile phone or tablet, for even greater convenience! 

For your business  

If you handle a large volume of prints at fast speeds, then Laser is for you. They deliver the best quality in black-and-white documents, while we would recommend choosing an All-in-One, so you can scan and also use the fax function. We would recommend choosing a printer with duplex printing and an automatic feeder!

To print photos and various creative designs

Ideally, you need a good inkjet printer, with the ability to print in different paper sizes and capacity for many ink tanks. It would be good to pay attention to Print Resolution, the so-called DPI (dots-per-inch), since what mainly interests you is the quality performance in the photos you print.

To capture your best moments on the go 

If you want to capture moments in photos, whether you are at a party or on vacation, then an portable mini printer (thermal technology or zink) would be ideal for you, allowing you to share photos with your friends at any time, from your mobile phone.

Don’t forget! Many times there may be a difference in a product, based on its overall features as well as its construction. Before deciding, read other users’ reviews too, to see their opinion as well!