The two main types of printer use completely different technology to put ink on paper. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right one for your needs.
How Inkjet Printers Work
Inkjet printers spray tiny droplets of liquid ink onto the paper. They are excellent at producing smooth colour gradients, which makes them ideal for printing photos. They tend to be compact, affordable to buy and capable of printing on a wide range of paper types including photo paper.
How Laser Printers Work
Laser printers use a laser beam to create an image on a drum, which is then transferred to paper using heat and toner powder. The result is sharp, crisp text and fast print speeds. Laser printers are better suited to high-volume text printing.
Print Quality
For photos and colour graphics, inkjet wins. The colour accuracy and smooth gradients are hard to beat. For text documents, laser printers produce sharper, more professional-looking results at higher speeds.
Running Costs
Laser toner cartridges typically print more pages per cartridge than inkjet cartridges, making the cost per page lower for laser printers when used frequently. However, if you print infrequently, inkjet cartridges can dry out between uses, wasting ink on cleaning cycles.
Speed
Laser printers are significantly faster than inkjets, especially for monochrome documents. A typical laser printer can output 30 or more pages per minute, while inkjets are typically 10 to 15 pages per minute.
Verdict
Choose inkjet if you print photos, print in colour frequently or need a compact printer for light home use. Choose laser if you print large volumes of text documents, need fast speeds or want the lowest running cost for office use.