When shopping for a printer, consumers may be unsure whether to buy a laser or an inkjet model. Each printer type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the choice ultimately depends on what kind of print jobs will be most common.
The Advantages of Laser Printers
Laser printers use a xerographic process to bond toner – a fine plastic powder – to sheets of paper. The toner is usually stored in large cartridges. The benefits of laser printers are:
- Printing costs. Laser toner cartridges print far more sheets relative to their cost than inkjet cartridges. They are also less wasteful, as inkjet cartridges that aren't used often need to be cleaned, which consumes extra ink.
- Print speed. Laser printers print very quickly – once the printer is warmed up, pages are printed as fast as they can pass through the machine, with no waiting for ink to dry.
- Text detail. Lasers are much better at printing fine details, such as very small fonts. Some high-quality inkjets are able to approach laser-quality text output, but not only are they more expensive, they must use more ink and take more time to produce those results.
The Advantages of Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers, like their name implies, print with liquid inks that are sprayed out of cartridges through microscopic nozzles in the print head. The benefits of inkjet printers include:
- Photo printing. Inkjet printers excel when it comes to producing lab-quality photos. Some manufacturers even make inkjet cartridges specifically for photo printing.
- Start-up costs. Generally, inkjet printers cost less to buy than their laser counterparts. A good, all-purpose color inkjet can be bought for about $100, whereas even a basic black-and-white laser may cost significantly more.
- Convenience and space. Inkjet printers can also be much smaller and lighter than lasers, with dedicated photo printers (those that exclusively make four-by-six-inch prints) being smaller still.
Where Laser Printers and Inkjet Printers Fall Short
But both laser and inkjet printers have drawbacks – where one kind of printer is strong, the other is often weak. For instance, inkjets are significantly slower than lasers, while lasers (even color lasers) struggle with reproducing the subtle gradations of photographs.
Inkjets and lasers also have different strengths depending on the amount of work they do. Laser printers are more economical for those who do high-volume printing, while those who do occasional print jobs will generally save more with inkjets.
Laser Printers vs. Inkjet Printers – Which Is Best?
Ultimately, the overall use of a printer determines whether a laser or inkjet model is best.
Those who foresee printing mostly text or line graphics – especially in a business setting, where speed and running costs are more essential – will do better with a laser printer. For moderate home use, printing occasional documents as well as snapshots from cheap digital cameras, inkjets are the better choice.
There are exceptions, of course: professional photographers will still want inkjet printers, while home users who are only interested in occasional document printing will do better with lasers in the long run.
So until new printer technologies become available, consumers have to make an informed choice between lasers and inkjets.
Luke Arnott - Luke Arnott has a Master's Degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Western Ontario, where he is currently enrolled in the ...
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