5 Good Home Office Multifunction Inkjet Printers 2017

An all-in-one printer may be a better multifunction solution than many realize.

While a laser printer may, on average, have a lower cost per page, it's typically much more expensive and out of the question for those looking for a simple solution for the occasional print job.

In this post we'll take a look at 5 inexpensive all-in-one inkjet solution and talk about a few more of the pros and cons for going with an inkjet printer.

I recently decided to upgrade my old printer to something with a few more options. By that I simply mean that I needed something that could copy, scan, and print when I couldn't use a digital document or wanted a quick photo.

In the course of searching for the best all in one printer for my needs, I came across a technology that was much more refined than I remember it being. Unlike a few years ago you can now find inkjets that are faster, wireless, more reliable, and cheaper to use per page.

Advantages:

• Perfect for photos and Colored Documents
• Can Print on various types of paper and even some types of fabrics
• Refilled Cartridges and generics are less expensive
• Prints in Color

Disadvantages

• Ink is water-based and can be damaged if exposed to water or fade if put in the light
• Cartridges occasionally need to be cleaned
• Tray holds less paper than laser printers
• Doesn't print as many copies as a laser printer

Save up to 80% Vs. Cartridge Purchases:

If you go out and purchase a brand new ink cartridge every time you run out, then you might start questioning why you bought an inkjet printer in the first place.

Consider using an ink refill kit, going to a local refill store, or purchasing a generic model online. Generic models have typically been filled and refilled before and can be found for very inexpensive prices.

Using generic ink cartridges or refilling them yourself can save you nearly 80% of your overall cost per page.

• Thermal Design - This is the design used in most common consumer printers.It heats the ink and pushes into the page like a bubble and uses only water-based types of inks. This type of head is cheaper to produce than consumer piezo electric heads.

• Piezo Electric - This head type takes electricity to a crystalline inside which then releases the ink in droplets. This type of head is used more on commercial inkjet printers because it allows for more ink types and it eliminates the ink buildup sometimes found with thermally designed heads.

Dye Based

• Wide variety of colors
• Less expensive because it uses less ink in the droplets
• Not the best with fine details
• Almost no water resistance

Pigment based

• Sits on the surface of the paper
• Less color options
• Better for fine details
• More expensive
• More water resistant

Under $100 - Brother MFCJ450DW Inkjet Vs. Epson C11CC87201 XP-410

Brother MFCJ450DW

Any time you can purchase a printer that prints, scans, copies and even faxes for under $100 you may begin to question its reliability. However, seeing as this product was from trusted manufacturer Brother I decided to give it a chance.

I was surprised at how quick it prints, up to 33ppm black and 27ppm color) and I was able to find a complete 5 pack set of the ink cartridges for under $20. The black Cartridge alone I was able to find for under $6. Other great features like double sided printing, an ink level display, automatic feeder, and a web connect option which allows you to directly scan or print from the cloud or even your cell phone.

Final Thoughts:

It's possible that Brother is selling this printer so cheap in the hope that you'll continuously buy expensive cartridge refills. If you stick with generics at under $20, then this is a great overall value for a home or small business.

Epson C11CC87201 XP-410

Another solid option in the under $100 category is the Epson XP-410. Like the Brother model it has Wi-Fi direct so you can easily print from wherever you are and includes double-sided printing.

This includes your tablet or cell phone. The Epson model also includes a 2.5" LCD touch panel looks good and the compact design works well in small offices.

Final Thoughts:

Compared to the Brother model above it doesn't have the speed printing or feeder tray option. If that's important to you, then go with the Brother model, if not, then you can save $20 and go with a printer that's nearly as good.

Good Inkjet Printers Under $150

Canon is well-known for their popular compact and DSLR cameras. If you're looking for an option that will allow you to create unforgettable photos or posters, then I recommend going with a Canon Pixma model.

Specifically the ix6520 is a great option for those specifically looking for a photo image option because of its Full HD movie print. This allows you to record video from your DSLR, play it back, and choose that perfect moment to print.

Canon gives you the best overall value:

For a better multifunction option, the MX712 still gives you high resolution, 9500 x 2400, quality prints and has more overall features.

For Under $200 Consider the Epson Artisan 50 Color Injket Printer:

If you want something that pretty much does every type of print you need in the quality you want it in, then you should definitely consider the Epson Artisan 50 for around $200.

Professional Quality Photo and DVD Printing:

It gives you better than lab quality photos, can make professional looking CDs and DVDs and is smear resistant.

Overall inkjet printers have come a long way in the last couple of decades. Spending over $100 doesn't seem to be necessary for most homes and with readily available generic ink cartridge products printing is less expensive than ever.