Is there a budget color printer that doesn't suck?
August 14, 2019 4:16 PM Subscribe
I am sad to find that the lower-end color versions of my beloved Brother monochrome laser printer don't have very comforting reviews. Is there any consensus on a cheap - or I will settle for cheapER color printer - in the current general lineup?
We have very minimal color printing needs - a little color text, occasional cross-stitch patterns, minor craft applications. I'm prepared to give up duplexing, I don't need a multi-function but I'll buy one if that's the one to get, do want wireless, don't need a lot of special paper capability beyond maybe doing Avery-type labels. We're going to use it once a week, maybe. Comfortable buying refurbished assuming it's from a reliable outlet.
All the reviews I've looked at make them all sound like ink-cheating headache machines, even the ones in the low $200 range, which I really don't want to spend but would if I had some confidence it would actually work without making me angry for, I dunno, a couple of years?
Do you have a color printer you don't loathe?
We have very minimal color printing needs - a little color text, occasional cross-stitch patterns, minor craft applications. I'm prepared to give up duplexing, I don't need a multi-function but I'll buy one if that's the one to get, do want wireless, don't need a lot of special paper capability beyond maybe doing Avery-type labels. We're going to use it once a week, maybe. Comfortable buying refurbished assuming it's from a reliable outlet.
All the reviews I've looked at make them all sound like ink-cheating headache machines, even the ones in the low $200 range, which I really don't want to spend but would if I had some confidence it would actually work without making me angry for, I dunno, a couple of years?
Do you have a color printer you don't loathe?
I also have a canon ts9xxx at our house and would recommend.
posted by askmehow at 4:44 PM on August 14, 2019
posted by askmehow at 4:44 PM on August 14, 2019
The thing with inkjets is that if you don’t use them fairly frequently, the ink will dry out in the heads, and you’re out an ink cartridge or print heads (depending on if your printer has the heads integrated into the cartridge).
It may be worth considering if you could use a b&w laser for everyday printing, and pay a few cents per page to print color at a Staples/OfficeMax/FedEx or similar. I’ve found this works well for my needs, which sound similar to yours.
posted by Alterscape at 5:29 PM on August 14, 2019 [8 favorites]
It may be worth considering if you could use a b&w laser for everyday printing, and pay a few cents per page to print color at a Staples/OfficeMax/FedEx or similar. I’ve found this works well for my needs, which sound similar to yours.
posted by Alterscape at 5:29 PM on August 14, 2019 [8 favorites]
I have an HP Laserjet 200 Color M251nw that I'm very happy with, but looking around the price for a new one has dramatically increased. You might be able to find a refurbished one for about $200 (which is about what I paid for it new 6-7 years ago).
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:50 PM on August 14, 2019
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:50 PM on August 14, 2019
I just started sending all my color printing to a local UPS Store/Kinkos or the like. It's way better quality than I would every be able to maintain and even at $.20 or $.25 a page, way cheaper than I would ever practically be able to obtain.
(Based on trying for several years.)
I realize that might not be an option if you don't have an appropriate color printing outlet somewhat nearby.
However, even in that case you may be able to use a remote printing service and have them mail it to you. For things you need only once a week or so, this type of arrangement can be so worth it.
posted by flug at 6:18 PM on August 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
(Based on trying for several years.)
I realize that might not be an option if you don't have an appropriate color printing outlet somewhat nearby.
However, even in that case you may be able to use a remote printing service and have them mail it to you. For things you need only once a week or so, this type of arrangement can be so worth it.
posted by flug at 6:18 PM on August 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Another vote for Canon.
We have an MG5420 wireless, that has worked flawlessly, on 3rd party inks, for 6-7 years. Just not sure that model is still available in your budget. Anyway, it’s a Canon and well designed.
One trick is to keep an inkjet printer ON all the time, it saves on ink to do this, and if you just use it about once a week it’ll keep the heads from drying out. (This one is an Energy Star rated device).
posted by artdrectr at 11:52 PM on August 14, 2019
We have an MG5420 wireless, that has worked flawlessly, on 3rd party inks, for 6-7 years. Just not sure that model is still available in your budget. Anyway, it’s a Canon and well designed.
One trick is to keep an inkjet printer ON all the time, it saves on ink to do this, and if you just use it about once a week it’ll keep the heads from drying out. (This one is an Energy Star rated device).
posted by artdrectr at 11:52 PM on August 14, 2019
I bought the cheapest Brother laser printer available to me, this one, after I threw out the shitty, infuriating Epson bubblejet we had in a fit of pique.
It's been bloody fantastic and I don't regret paying more ending with a larger printer one bit. It reliably prints colour, when I want, and there's been no funny business with print heads stuffing up, shitty drivers, etc etc. I really like it and will never, ever go back to bubblejet.
Note: lasers are shit for printing photos - I don't care, as I don't print photos at home.
posted by smoke at 4:21 AM on August 15, 2019
It's been bloody fantastic and I don't regret paying more ending with a larger printer one bit. It reliably prints colour, when I want, and there's been no funny business with print heads stuffing up, shitty drivers, etc etc. I really like it and will never, ever go back to bubblejet.
Note: lasers are shit for printing photos - I don't care, as I don't print photos at home.
posted by smoke at 4:21 AM on August 15, 2019
In my experience, the cheapest color laser is a huuuuge improvement over an inkjet, every time. I have a Samsung laser printer I paid like $150 for new several years ago and it is awesome. I buy the cheap aftermarket toner replacements off Amazon and they work okay, not art-print-quality but that doesn't sound like what you're looking for.
There are several entry-level color lasers from Samsung and Brother aruond the $200 price point, which I don't have direct experience with, but other experience with those brands would tell me they'll do fine with what you're needing color printing for.
If you do want duplexing and higher quality, the Brother MFPs in the $350 range are excellent, we've got two (MFC-9970CDW and MFC-9340CDW) in the office and they're reliable workhorses.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:46 AM on August 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
There are several entry-level color lasers from Samsung and Brother aruond the $200 price point, which I don't have direct experience with, but other experience with those brands would tell me they'll do fine with what you're needing color printing for.
If you do want duplexing and higher quality, the Brother MFPs in the $350 range are excellent, we've got two (MFC-9970CDW and MFC-9340CDW) in the office and they're reliable workhorses.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:46 AM on August 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm happy with a Canon LBP612Cdw. Not sure if it's in your price range but it doesn't suck.
posted by bink at 11:03 AM on August 15, 2019
posted by bink at 11:03 AM on August 15, 2019
The less your color printing needs are, the more expensive per page owning a color printer is. I send all my color work to FedEx Kinkos (now FedEx Office) and it's very reasonable per page. In theory I think it takes up to 2 hours but in practice it's almost always ready within 30 minutes. Plus you can get a variety of colored papers and cardstock for special projects.
posted by wnissen at 1:01 PM on August 15, 2019
posted by wnissen at 1:01 PM on August 15, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
I guess the TS9120 is the the newer but seemingly identical model and it looks like third-party ink is about $36 for a full set of cartridges. It's not amazing, but pretty good by inkjet standards. Hopefully the newer one deals with third-party ink as well as mine does.
It's like a $100 printer and like I said I don't have the exact model you would buy today, but I've been pleased. Plus it has a duplexer.
posted by GuyZero at 4:25 PM on August 14, 2019