The use of laser printing aims to deliver a high-quality printout, whether for home use or for your business. It has a lot of types depending on your needs. These are the trusted laser printer that has been established in operating for years. Each of these printers is unique in their own way, but all of it aims to fulfill your printing needs.
Which is the Best Color Printer for Photos?
Regardless of being a hobby or an experienced photographer, everyone wants their images taken to be printed as high quality as possible. And to make this possible, the best color photo printer is a must-have.
Searching for one could be tough due to the abundance of available printers in the market which cater to your specific needs. But how do we recognize the best among them if there is a bunch of photo printers to select from?
Which is the best color printer for photos? The answer is, it comes in various sizes and shapes, expensive or cheap, huge or small, easy operation too complicated ones, portable or office-based, wireless or cord, and it can be the best for you as long as it targets what you are looking for.
In this article, we handpicked the best color laser photo printers there is in the market which cater to your distinct needs. In this way, it could bring enlightenment to your mind as to how and what are the best features of a printer that suit perfectly to your preference. Provided that many companies nowadays have been innovating each of their products to compete with the growing market.
1. HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dn Printer
Editor’s Rating: 4 out of 5
This HP color laser printer boasts its energy-saving features that have the ability to save up to 15% energy. It is a great partner if you have put up a business because it is equipped with features that will make your life easier and convenient. This color laser printer has the ability to print out quality texts, may it be filled with graphics or plain text.
It is equipped with an input tray that can contain 250 sheets of color laser printer paper and about 20 pieces of capacity envelopes. It can make the printing process faster because, in just a minute, it can print up to 30 pages. It has a compact size that will not take so much space, making it perfect even if you just have a small office. The toner cartridges it utilizes is designed for laser printing to avoid wastages.
You can easily transfer and share files through its built-in Ethernet capabilities. The main machines are protected from any software attacks because it has security features wherein you can set configuration policies. It can print out a document without connecting it to WIFI. Its 2.7” (6.8cm) touchscreen allows you to change and customize the printing setting.
Features
- Energy-saving features of up to 15%
- 850 sheets capacity input tray
- Fast printing of about 30 pages per minute
- Compatible toner cartridge
- Built-in Ethernet connection
- LED touchscreen
- The compact size of about 11.6 x 16.2 x 18.5 inches that weighs 48.5 pounds
2. Canon Office And Business MB2720 Printer
Editor’s Rating: 4 out of 5
This color laser printer is not just an ordinary printer, but it also has other functional attributes such as its scanning and copying abilities. It features different kinds of printing features such as the Google Cloud Printing, AirPrint, Canon Print App, Microsoft Mobile Print, Auto Duple Printing, and Moria Device Printing. It features a 2-sided single-pass printing, Scan to Memory, Scan to Cloud, Scan to Network, Network Scan, Scan to Concur, and Push Scan.
The package contains Setup CD-ROM, MB5120 Printer, Telephone Line Cable, Power Cord, and Full Set of Ink Tanks. Expect a sharp text with vibrant colors that boasts its quick turnaround time of about 6 seconds. It makes use of a Dual Resistant High Density (DRHD) inks for fast-drying, anti-smudge prints. It has a built-in WIFI so it can be operated through the Canon print app for an easy share and print functionality.
This laser printer is created to cater for heavy workloads. It has auto power on a feature that automatically runs the system as soon as it detects that there is a print job to be done. You can also set its power schedule wherein you can specify the time and the time duration that it will automatically switch on or off for energy-efficient use. Its weight and dimensions are just right to fit it in a small space.
Features
- Overall dimensions of 18.3 x 18.1 x 11.5 inches that weighs 25 pounds
- Auto power on feature
- Power schedule set-up
- Dual Resistant High Density to avoid blotting and smudging
- 2-sided single-pass printing
3. Lexmark C3326dw Color Laser Printer
Editor’s Rating: 4 out of 5
This color laser printer features its wireless functionality for easy and fast set-up. You can print documents from your gadgets via its WIFI functionality. It also supports USB, ethernet connectivity, mobile print app, Google Cloud Print, Mopria, and AirPrint capability. You can print up to 26 pages within a minute. It has about a 1-GHz dual-core processor with 600MB for efficient output. Aside from printing, you can also do scanning, faxing, and copying with this unit.
It is not only user-friendly, but it is also environmentally-friendly where the toner cartridge has recycling available. It has a sleep-print-sleep cycle for an energy-saving mode. Its toner cartridge provides a vibrant color that can print up to 3000 color pages and 3000 monochrome pages. If the cartridge loses its colored option, it would still allow you to print black-colored texts.
This laser printing features full-spectrum security to keep your information safe. One of the best features of this laser printer is that it allows you to replace the colors that you only need so you can maximize the use of the other color. It is equipped with a 2.7-inch color touchscreen for a more reliable set-up.
Features
- Wi-Fi, gigabit Ethernet, and USB
- Makes use of a 1-GHz dual-core processor that has 600MB memory
- Can print a total of 3000 color pages and 3000 monochrome pages
- Do scanning, faxing, and copying
- supports USB, ethernet connectivity, mobile print app, Google Cloud Print, Mopria, and AirPrint capability
- Makes use of one-piece toner cartridges for less time replacing but for a long-lasting use
4. Epson WF-2760 Color Printer
Editor’s Rating: 3 out of 5
This color laser printer is described as fast printing and quick copying. It is powered by a precision core which is known to deliver a laser-quality performance. It can work wirelessly to be connected to your smartphone, iPad, iPhone, and Android tablet through the capabilities. For easy and convenient navigation, it is equipped with a 2.7″ color touchscreen where you can customize its printing, scanning, copying, and faxing functioning.
The tray can hold up to 150-sheet paper so you’ll reload paper less often. Within 5 seconds, your document that is saved into your software will be ready as a hard copy. It makes use of a WIFI functionality and an ethernet capability, so you have other ways on how to utilize the laser printing functions.
Features
- USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and NFC connectivity
- Overall dimensions of 14.2 x 16.7 x 9.1 inches
- Auto-document feeder
- Double side printing
- 2.7” touchscreen
5. Brother MFC-J985DW XL Color Printer
Editor’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5
This color laser printer delivers an above-par photo quality that makes use of inexpensive ink cartridges. It offers two-sided printing and an automatic duplex to have versatile usage. The tray can hold up to 100-sheet paper printing capacity up to a legal-sized paper. It can be connected to laptops, desktops, mobile devices, and other gadgets for easy printing. The package consists of 4 ink cartridges that can print about 2,500 black pages and 1,300 colored pages.
The market price for one black page is about one cent, while the colored page is about less than five cents. It has wireless functionality such as the Wi-Fi Direct, Mopria, Brother iPrint&Scan, Google Cloud Print, and AirPrint. The use of this color laser printer is applicable, whether for a home or office use. This is one of the most compact and lightweight laser printers that is a space saver.
With or without the user manual, you can easily operate this printer because it is a user-friendly its touchscreen interface gives you a guide on what to do next or if you’re doing something wrong within the printing process, it will give you a notification on what could be the possible error. Its WIFI and Bluetooth functioning make it one of the best color laser printers in the market.
Features
- Overall dimensions of 13.4 x 16.5 x 6.8 inches that weighs 18.3 pounds
- Bluetooth and Wireless connectivity
- 100-sheet paper printing capacity tray
- The toner cartridge has the ability to print 2,500 black pages and 1,300 colored pages
- 4-ink options (Cyan, magenta, yellow, black)
6. Pantum P2502W Monochrome Laser Printer
Editor’s Rating: 4 out of 5
This monochrome laser printer has a sleek and compact design with a metal frame structure for durable use. It features a 700-page starter cartridge so you can use it immediately from the time you have purchased it for trial use. It has a one-step installation that lets you print one page in less than 7 seconds. It has a processor of about 600 MHz with a memory of 128 MB for fast and consistent performance.
Some of the laser printers in the market are hard to clean, but Pantum Monochrome Laser Printer has a dust-free design, so you will not spend most of your time cleaning it. It has a WIFI direct printing functionality so you can get data from your mobile devices and other gadgets directly. It can also be connected to a High-Speed USB 2.0 for less hassle printing. It has an automatic sleep mode functionality for an energy-efficient use that produces less footprint.
The compatible cartridge toner for this unit has about 1,600-pages printing capacity. It can cater to different kinds of media such as plain, thick, and transparent paper and in cardstock or envelope. It is for a heavy-duty use that can cater to a high printing volume.
Features
- Overall dimensions of 13.3 x 8.7 x 7 inches that weighs 12.57 pounds
- 700-page starter cartridge
- 1,600-pages printing capacity for its compatible toner cartridge
- Dust-free design
- A processor of about 600 MHz with a memory of 128 MB
- Automatic sleep mode functionality
7. Xerox B210DNI Monochrome Laser Printer
Editor’s Rating: 3 out of 5
This monochrome laser printer is compact and lightweight for versatile use. It has a standard wireless printing that is compatible with up to 5 connected devices for simultaneous use. It can be printed in different kinds of media such as in a thick, plain, thin, transparent, cotton, colored, recycled, cardstock, pre-printed, and labeled.
It has a capacity of 250 sheets in the tray that can be used automatically, or you can feed one paper the feed slot manually. It has a starter toner cartridge that has 1,000-pages printing capacity. The package consists of the main Xerox B210 Printer, a Starter Capacity Print Cartridge, installation guide, software and documentation CD, User manual, and the power cord.
If you do not have a WIFI connection, you can make use of the Bluetooth functionality so you can get data from your mobile device, desktop, laptop, or tablets from the Google Cloud Print, AirPrint, and Mopria. In as fast as 8 seconds, you can expect the first page out. It has the ability to reduce environmental impact because of its features such as the two-sided printing and the toner saver.
Features
- Toner cartridge that has 1,000-pages printing capacity
- 250-sheets capacity in a tray
- Standard wireless printing
- Automatic and manual feeding of paper
- Starter capacity print cartridge
8. Samsung SS256H#BGJ Electronics Xpress Laser Color Printer with Scanner, Copier & Fax
Editor’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5
This high performance and operational laser color printer boast its energy-saving features that are in a one-touch eco button to ensure that you will save up to 20% operational cost. It makes use of a smart color management system so you can be sure that what it prints is in a smooth and clean text. It prints fast because of its advanced 800 MHz speed. It operates well even in a heavy load at an affordable price.
It utilizes a two-piece toner system for cost-efficient usage. The toner cartridges that are compatible with this printer is a polymerized toner that complements its image processing technology. This laser printer is a 4-in-1 functionality that can be used for copying, printing, scanning, and faxing. It has a WIFI and ethernet connectivity for convenient use.
One of the unique features of this laser printer is that it has a scan-to-email feature so you can easily get the document that you will be printing directly from your email. This printer can be installed easily in a quick three-step installation. It has the ability to automatically detect what kind of connectivity used to receive the files to be printed. It has a printing speed of about 19 ppm for black and four ppm for colored.
Features
- Quick three-step installation
- Speed of about 19 ppm for black and four ppm for colored
- Energy-saving features that can save energy for up to 20%
- Makes use of polymerized toner
- 4-in-1 functionality (copying, printing, scanning and faxing)
9. Brother HL-L8360CDW Business Color Laser Printer
Editor’s Rating: 4 out of 5
This color laser printer is a professionally used printer that has features and printing speed that can do the printing job efficiently and conveniently. The outstanding feature that this laser printer is known for is its ability to print colored-pages in as fast as 33 ppm. If you are looking for a printer that will help you save time, money and is environment-friendly, this Brother HL-l8360CDW Color Laser Printer is one of the best options.
It has wireless or Gigabit Ethernet functionality to make its usage versatile. It is a perfect use for those who print heavy loads all the time because you can put an optional paper tray if you want to have a 1,300 pages capacity for the tray included is not enough. It has network security features, so your main printer is protected every time you use it.
It is low maintenance, and it is easy to set-up, so you need to spend time understanding the steps that are on the user manual, but if you want to be sure, that user manual included is easy to understand. The cartridge toner has 6,500-pages capacity, so it minimizes constant refill.
Features
- Speed of 33 ppm even for printing colored-pages
- Equipped with energy-saving features
- Optional additional paper tray
- wireless or Gigabit Ethernet functionality
- Integrated NFC card reader
10. Canon Color imageCLASS MF644Cdw Laser Printer
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This Canon color image laser printer has always been included among the list of the top laser printers on the market. It is known as the mobile-ready laser printer applicable for duplex printing. It has a nice combination of white and black exterior color, making it perfect in your office or in your private place that can add up texture into your bare space. It can copy, print, fax, and scan, so it does all the job conveniently in just one unit.
It features a direct hotspot functionality so it can be connected to other devices instantly. The hotspot functionality is perfect use if there are more than two devices that can share in using the laser printer. It can print black and colored-pages as fast as 20 ppm. It is equipped with a 5 inches touch screen where you can customize the settings to have a more reliable usage.
It has an easy one-touch functionality to operate this printer, so there is no need to be an expert in operating it. As long as the laser printer is set-up correctly, you can expect to have the printed page in a span of less than 10 seconds. It has a mid-size dimension perfect if you have space constraints. It allows two-sided printing to reduce paper consumption.
Features
- Overall dimensions of 16.6 x 17 x 16.6 inches that weighs 53.5 pounds
- A printing speed of 20 ppm
- Mobile-ready laser printer
- White and black exterior
- Equipped with a 5 inches touch screen
- Direct hotspot functionality
Buyer’s Guide
Before investing your hard-earned money on a printer, it is necessary to understand how to classify the best and what are the things to consider before buying one.
The information provided is a few of the most important factors to identify and pick the best color photo printer for you.
Durability
Choose a printer that has high durability. Many printer manufacturers do not impose or indicate such information on how long and how much their product will last, which is inexcusable. Hence, it is a key factor to look for in buying. Honest manufacturers have high-quality products, and they are usually proud to indicate it on the labels.
Paper Check
Quality of paper plays a big part in the general output of the image printed. Many printers cater to particular papers that are compatible with their machine. If you happen to use one type of paper for photo printing, then look for something that particularly caters to your choice. However, there are others that accommodate assorted types of papers as well, and it could still manage to provide a quality result.
The Best Resolution
Check the resolution it can produce. Low resolution is a low-quality image and could destroy the overall quality of the photograph. Choose a printer that has a minimum of 4800 x 1200 resolution capacity. Do not opt for cheap printers, or you will just be wasting money.
Size Matters
Check the size of the printer that accommodates your preferences. If you happen to travel a lot, you may need a portable printer with lesser weight and small in size though it may require you to invest more money. For stay at home or office works, large printers should be a choice. Most of these have better quality and capacity compared to compact printers and could deliver high-resolution images.
Know Your Gadgets and Storage
There are particular printers that are not specifically compatible with your gadgets or the photo storage you own. Therefore, before considering buying one, try to seek the type of printer that is precisely compatible with yours. Read product specifications. It gives you a more detailed description of the printer’s compatibility capacity with your gadgets and device storage.
Printing Capacity
Printing is the main goal for buying a photo printer, and having printers with less durability in printing should the ones to avoid. The specific capacity of the printer should be fully disclosed on the product specifications. Always note that not all high-quality color photo printers are expected to have a high printing cycle, some actually have less.
FAQs
Which printer all in one is the best?
Among the list provided above, the laser printer that stands out is the Canon Color image CLASS MF644Cdw Laser Printer because all the features that it possesses are the ideal features that an excellent color laser should have
How long should printers last?
A printer would last depending on your usage. If you would opt for a laser printer that is durable, you can enjoy its features longer.
Which printer is the best HP or Canon?
The brands’ HP and Canon are both included on the list of the best color laser printer. Both of these brands have unique features that make them stand out.
Conclusion
It is important to be wise in choosing the laser printer that will be useful in fulfilling your printing needs.
Among all the photo printers mentioned, the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454dn Printer and the Canon Color imageCLASS MF644Cdw Laser Printer. Each of the printers has a unique capacity that provides the needs of every user. The former could provide convenience to people traveling or with limited officer space. It will not take much space without compromising the delivery of high-quality outputs. In terms of printing capacity, the printer promises to not only generate bundles of prints, but you can have it in a glimpse of an eye with its speedy printing function.
Device compatibility should be less worried as the printer can easily transmit files through Ethernet built-in feature. It even furnishes a bonus feature that ensures your printer from software incursions and reduces power consumption.
As for the latter, it could be a great printer for home or work office usage. It can insanely bring high-quality resolution for photographers who intends to generate high-quality images that capture how they exactly shot it. It even has multi-functional features that could cater more than just printing. With its rapid printing feature, you can have bulk printing in a day. Very easy to operate; this printer allows users to time and power.
