Colour laser printer for home
Discussion
Hi All
Looking for a colour laser printer for home use, fairly occasional and not high volume. I can live without the scanning functionality. Needs to be WiFi ready.
Easy to default to an HP but happy with other brands, just not want mental running costs, actually how much more expensive to run are they vs an inkjet?
Thanks
Looking for a colour laser printer for home use, fairly occasional and not high volume. I can live without the scanning functionality. Needs to be WiFi ready.
Easy to default to an HP but happy with other brands, just not want mental running costs, actually how much more expensive to run are they vs an inkjet?
Thanks
My main reason for going with laser at both me and the rest of the families' home is that toner seems to last longer when not in use. Ink can dry up pretty fast in some printers, forcing you to buy cartridges before they're fully utilized. I've bought my folks a b&w laser for 50 quid. The cartridge that came with it is half filled (as they often are) which should be good for 2000 pages. From my calculations, that should last them 'till 2035.
I have a HP MFP M177 that's been used very sporadically (20 pages/month) for the past ELEVEN years (just looked it up, damn), but now gets used a bit more (200 pages/month).
Toner is expensive but it lasts a lot longer. Because of our low use, I think I only ever replaced the black toner once. Wanting to print the occasional photo it's obvious that a decent inkjet is just better at it. Anyway, the HP served me well so far with basically no issues (I've f
ked it up now, haven't I?).
From my experience, laser is just less of a hassle. It's very good on low use or on very high use, for moderate use an inkjet would be better with probably better photo print quality bang for buck.
I haven't got experience on the newer "ink bottle refill" ones. It would be nice if you could fill them up just a little, for like half a year use. I think full fill up on these is often around ~5000 pages, which runs your risk of the ink drying out in the printer if you for example only do 200 prints/month.
I have a HP MFP M177 that's been used very sporadically (20 pages/month) for the past ELEVEN years (just looked it up, damn), but now gets used a bit more (200 pages/month).
Toner is expensive but it lasts a lot longer. Because of our low use, I think I only ever replaced the black toner once. Wanting to print the occasional photo it's obvious that a decent inkjet is just better at it. Anyway, the HP served me well so far with basically no issues (I've f
ked it up now, haven't I?).From my experience, laser is just less of a hassle. It's very good on low use or on very high use, for moderate use an inkjet would be better with probably better photo print quality bang for buck.
I haven't got experience on the newer "ink bottle refill" ones. It would be nice if you could fill them up just a little, for like half a year use. I think full fill up on these is often around ~5000 pages, which runs your risk of the ink drying out in the printer if you for example only do 200 prints/month.
Edited by ZesPak on Wednesday 3rd December 08:45
The logic of laser for occasional use seems right to me. We have a simple ish monochrome one that is web connected, scans then emails, etc.
My brother gave it me, from a surgery he worked at. They were chucking it out. I got a replacement drum and toner cartridge for really not a lot, and now it's grand.
I'd have a look on FB Marketplace, and make a cheeky offer if I were you. I can see a couple local to me that have had their price reduced, so clearly are difficult to shift.
My brother gave it me, from a surgery he worked at. They were chucking it out. I got a replacement drum and toner cartridge for really not a lot, and now it's grand.
I'd have a look on FB Marketplace, and make a cheeky offer if I were you. I can see a couple local to me that have had their price reduced, so clearly are difficult to shift.
We've just bought a new printer and in the end, went for this one.
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/epson-ecotank-et...
Yes, it's an inkjet, but no cartridges. Fill up the reservoirs from the bottles. Slightly more expensive initially, but so much cheaper than the alternative on ink
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/epson-ecotank-et...
Yes, it's an inkjet, but no cartridges. Fill up the reservoirs from the bottles. Slightly more expensive initially, but so much cheaper than the alternative on ink
Edited by Slow.Patrol on Wednesday 3rd December 09:18
I think about the same cost to run an inkjet and a laser printer. Inkjets run the risk of drying out but you'd be years down the track to have that happen. Printing photos is better with inkjet, printing regular documents is better with laser so your usage of the printer would probably swing it either way.
https://au.pcmag.com/printers/113366/ink-tank-vs-l...
I've got a HP mfp m281fdw which has been pretty good but it always stings a bit getting toner cartridges for it. But it has printed a lot of documents over the time I've had it - 14,776. As it's a multifunction it also copies and scans and the scanning has had hundreds of documents go through to keep electronic copies of things.
https://au.pcmag.com/printers/113366/ink-tank-vs-l...
I've got a HP mfp m281fdw which has been pretty good but it always stings a bit getting toner cartridges for it. But it has printed a lot of documents over the time I've had it - 14,776. As it's a multifunction it also copies and scans and the scanning has had hundreds of documents go through to keep electronic copies of things.
rodericb said:
I think about the same cost to run an inkjet and a laser printer. Inkjets run the risk of drying out but you'd be years down the track to have that happen.
It depends on how "sealed" the ink is in the printer. I've seen printers in the past with dried out ink that was inserted less than a year earlier.Laser runs the opposite risk of course, if any moisture gets in your toner becomes a stone. But I haven't seen that since the '90s.
When I had a colour laser I had a few Oki models which worked well.
Problem is that generally once something other than the toner needs replacing (or even if all four toners run out at the same time) it's generally cheaper to get a new printer, which is why until recently there were two fairly large Oki laser printers in our garage.
I find now the only things I print out are returns labels and colouring pages for the grandkids.
Problem is that generally once something other than the toner needs replacing (or even if all four toners run out at the same time) it's generally cheaper to get a new printer, which is why until recently there were two fairly large Oki laser printers in our garage.
I find now the only things I print out are returns labels and colouring pages for the grandkids.
carl_w said:
Problem is that generally once something other than the toner needs replacing (or even if all four toners run out at the same time) it's generally cheaper to get a new printer, which is why until recently there were two fairly large Oki laser printers in our garage.
FYI, a LOT of printers get delivered with a half filled cartridge, if that. So the economics on "cheaper to replace the entire printer" is often false when talking about ink or toner.
Look up the Brother printer thread on here. They are cheap, great, with cheap consumables. Nothing touches them for colour lasers.
Agreed on OKIs. I had a huge colour oki laser and I just kept having to buy drum, developer etc, then the parts became scarce / OEM (way too expensive) only.
No such issues with Brother.
Agreed on OKIs. I had a huge colour oki laser and I just kept having to buy drum, developer etc, then the parts became scarce / OEM (way too expensive) only.
No such issues with Brother.
Found this:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AHGL798kR/?mibexti...
I could get some compatible cartridges from the cartridge centre for £40 which would work out good value.
The printer is a current model and £170 ish
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AHGL798kR/?mibexti...
I could get some compatible cartridges from the cartridge centre for £40 which would work out good value.
The printer is a current model and £170 ish
I have an HP 3302fdw that I bought during COVID for about £200. Needed it when we did a lot of wfh and it gets sporadic use. Still on the original cartridges/toner and it’s been great. As a bonus it does do copying and scanning, connects to WiFi and uses AirPrint. Will scan to email too which is quite handy.
No idea if it’s any good in the grand scheme but it’s been faultless and useful for me so gets my recommendation.
No idea if it’s any good in the grand scheme but it’s been faultless and useful for me so gets my recommendation.
Griffith4ever said:
Look up the Brother printer thread on here. They are cheap, great, with cheap consumables. Nothing touches them for colour lasers.
Agreed on OKIs. I had a huge colour oki laser and I just kept having to buy drum, developer etc, then the parts became scarce / OEM (way too expensive) only.
No such issues with Brother.
Some manufacturers build their printers to require official toner cartridges. I have read that Brother don't do this, one reason why I bought a Brother laser printer. Model not relevant to OP as mine's not a colour model. Agreed on OKIs. I had a huge colour oki laser and I just kept having to buy drum, developer etc, then the parts became scarce / OEM (way too expensive) only.
No such issues with Brother.
rodericb said:
I think about the same cost to run an inkjet and a laser printer. Inkjets run the risk of drying out but you'd be years down the track to have that happen. Printing photos is better with inkjet, printing regular documents is better with laser so your usage of the printer would probably swing it either way.
https://au.pcmag.com/printers/113366/ink-tank-vs-l...
I've got a HP mfp m281fdw which has been pretty good but it always stings a bit getting toner cartridges for it. But it has printed a lot of documents over the time I've had it - 14,776. As it's a multifunction it also copies and scans and the scanning has had hundreds of documents go through to keep electronic copies of things.
Not my experience. When we had inkjets just about every time it would insist on a head clean... and that used a chunk of ink. Half the time it would be missing bits and need *another* clean *and* a re-print. https://au.pcmag.com/printers/113366/ink-tank-vs-l...
I've got a HP mfp m281fdw which has been pretty good but it always stings a bit getting toner cartridges for it. But it has printed a lot of documents over the time I've had it - 14,776. As it's a multifunction it also copies and scans and the scanning has had hundreds of documents go through to keep electronic copies of things.
We seemed to forever have to replace cartridges and it would take a whole load of messing about every single time we wanted to print.
The laser on the other hand just works... and has done for the last 13 years! Sometimes its sat for 6 months without printing anything, turn it on and it works first time. I think its had three cartridge replacements at ~£25 (4180 pages in total).
Its a *very* different ball game if you're printing regularly.
I'll find out later what my in-laws got, they're really happy with theirs.
EDIT: Brother MFC-L3740CDW
Edited by Fastdruid on Wednesday 3rd December 18:06
Brother dcp l3550cdw here.
Wot everyone else said basically. After years of constantly drying/ running out HP inkjets, the brother is revelation.
Toner is NOT cheap, (even compatibles), but you get 1,000s out of a set of toner cartrudges, instead of the 25-45 pages we'd get (in practice) from and hp ink catridge...
It just works. Bought ours 3 years ago I think, still on the original cyan cartridge, replaced the others with compatible high capacity versions
Wot everyone else said basically. After years of constantly drying/ running out HP inkjets, the brother is revelation.
Toner is NOT cheap, (even compatibles), but you get 1,000s out of a set of toner cartrudges, instead of the 25-45 pages we'd get (in practice) from and hp ink catridge...
It just works. Bought ours 3 years ago I think, still on the original cyan cartridge, replaced the others with compatible high capacity versions
Doofus said:
I have an HP. Toner is fking expensive (£400+ for the set), and I have never found a compatible that works.
Honestly, I'd be better off buying a new printer (with small but free toner cartridges) every time the ink ran out, because the machine is only £150.
Whenever you buy a laser, 1st go onto Amazon and see if there are 3rd party kits available before you make the printer purchase. Not some messy refill kits (looking at you Oki), but proper, cheap cartridges.king expensive (£400+ for the set), and I have never found a compatible that works.Honestly, I'd be better off buying a new printer (with small but free toner cartridges) every time the ink ran out, because the machine is only £150.
Griffith4ever said:
Doofus said:
I have an HP. Toner is fking expensive (£400+ for the set), and I have never found a compatible that works.
Honestly, I'd be better off buying a new printer (with small but free toner cartridges) every time the ink ran out, because the machine is only £150.
Whenever you buy a laser, 1st go onto Amazon and see if there are 3rd party kits available before you make the printer purchase. Not some messy refill kits (looking at you Oki), but proper, cheap cartridges.king expensive (£400+ for the set), and I have never found a compatible that works.Honestly, I'd be better off buying a new printer (with small but free toner cartridges) every time the ink ran out, because the machine is only £150.
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