A good printer in your home or office can be a welcome convenience for a number of reasons. Whether hanging a notice, filling records, or any of the many other things for which you might want a hard copy.
Even so, a printer represents an ongoing expense that can make many people balk at getting one in the first place. Ink, toner, and paper will all need to be replenished on a regular basis, and the device itself can need repair or maintenance at the worst of times.
The inevitable cumulative costs of maintaining a printer only become more daunting when compared with the initial purchase. An all-in-one printer can be more expensive than the computers that it will be connected to, even without the need for upkeep or maintenance.
All of this leads consumers to look for savings wherever possible on printers, and some manufacturers have risen to the challenge of producing a quality budget printer. Here are five such machines that you can add to your home or office system.
Our Best Product Reviews and Comparisons
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
EDITOR’S CHOICE  | 1. Canon PIXMA TR4520
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| RUNNER UP | 2. Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
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  | 3. HP DeskJet 3755
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  | 4. Brother HL-L2320D
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  | 5. Pantum P2502W
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1.Canon PIXMA TR4520
Product Highlights
An ambitious multipurpose printer that connects with both desktop and mobile devices alike
Features
- Wireless connectivity and proprietary app
- Two sided printing in full color
- Amazon Dash replenishes the right ink on time, every time
- Includes copy, scan, and fax functions
What We Like About Canon PIXMA TR4520
This printer provides a cheap solution to several needs at once in a family or office setting.
What We Don’t Like About Canon PIXMA TR4520
Poor interface with no touchscreen and complicated setup.
PROS
- Multirole printer
- Double-sided printing
- Amazon Dash ink and toner replacement
- Wireless compatible
- Proprietary mobile app for designing and printing
CONS
- No touchscreen can complicate user interface
- Inkjet cartridges are costly and inefficient
2.Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
Product Highlights
Multicolor ink system produces color printing more true to life than a single cartridge.
Features
- Five ink tanks for exacting color reproduction
- USB and SD card ports
- Large touchscreen interface
- Automatic document feeder
What We Like About Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
This printer is great for photo printing with multiple media inputs and several ink feeds.
What We Don’t Like About Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
All those ink cartridges working together means they are all used up relatively quickly, drastically reducing the yield per cartridge.
PROS
- High-definition printing
- Supports SD card printing
- Touchscreen interface
- Document feeder
- Prints on specialty products such as invitation cards or DVDs
CONS
- Low yield per cartridge
- Does not support any third-party supplies
3.HP DeskJet 3755
Product Highlights
This printer saves you space and money both, featuring a tiny footprint to be easily added to a desk or shelf.
Features
- WiFi printing with Apple AirPrint compatibility
- HP proprietary ink replacement program
- Scrolling scanner to save space
- Quieter than most similar models
What We Like About HP DeskJet 3755
The scrolling feed system and HP specialized ink cartridge carrier keep this printer among the most compact on the market.
What We Don’t Like About HP DeskJet 3755
This printer is relatively slow and has a low feed capacity.
PROS
- Minimal space required
- HP ink subscription ships replacements from the manufacturer
- Print, scan, and copy functions
- Low noise output
- Good wireless adapter
CONS
- Slower than other models
- Not suitable for high workloads
4.Brother HL-L2320D
Product Highlights
This is a simple and inexpensive tool for those looking to get back to the basics.
Features
- 30 pages per minute
- 250 sheet input tray
- USB port
- Adjustable feed holds everything from letters to legal stationery
What We Like About Brother HL-L2320D
This printer is fast and durable, with high capacity and yield.
What We Don’t Like About Brother HL-L2320D
This printer’s main shortcoming is that it is monochrome, making it unsuitable for those hoping to create visual appeal.
PROS
- Works fast
- Large input tray
- Low cumulative cost
- Adjustable feed
- Laser printing for finer detail and greater ink economy
CONS
- Monochrome printing
- Extremely limited interface and functionality, with no screen, wifi, copy, scan, or fax.
5.Pantum P2502W
Product Highlights
This printer is a well rounded device that combines many qualities of the others on this list.
Features
- Small footprint to fit easily into an existing workspace
- Metal chassis prevents wear and tear
- Ample 150 sheet input tray
- 23 pages per minute
What We Like About Pantum P2502W
This printer is up to decent workflow and is quite economical, offering laser printing quality and economy alongside excellent file sharing capabilities
What We Don’t Like About Pantum P2502W
This is a monochrome, single-purpose printer, and so will not be suitable for many common applications.
PROS
- Quick working
- Compact size
- Large feed tray
- Low ink usage
- Supports several leading cloud printing services
CONS
- Monochrome printer will be unsuitable for many customers
- Single-purpose printer does not have the usual additional perks such as scan, copy, or fax
Final Verdict
These printers prove that you can get quality performance without breaking the bank. Each one is available for less than 100 USD, making them an important and affordable addition to your home or office.
It should be noted that despite the low device cost of these machines, buyers should also consider the upkeep that they will demand. A low-cost printer that uses expensive ink will rapidly become a strain on the same tight budget that made the user look for an inexpensive device in the first place.
Buyers should carefully consider their needs before ordering any of these to ascertain that they have selected the right printer for their personal situation, and keep an eye out for inexpensive ink. If possible, it should be purchased from the manufacturer to maximize savings and ensure that only the exact ink cartridge needed will be used.