With so many choices in the market, deciding on a multifunctional printer (MFP) while shopping can be quite overwhelming. These devices come with many features such as printing, scanning, copying, and even faxing, which makes them a wonderful addition to both home offices and businesses. However, it is very important to consider the key factors before purchasing the MFP to ensure that it meets your needs. This Multifunctional Printer Buying Guide will help you make an informed decision.
1. Print Quality and Speed
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying an MFP is print quality. Whether you’re printing documents for professional use or personal projects, the clarity and sharpness of your prints matter. Check the printer’s resolution (measured in DPI – dots per inch). A higher DPI generally means better quality prints, especially for graphics or photos. For regular text documents, however, most MFPs will be good enough with a resolution between 600 x 600 DPI to 1200 x 1200 DPI.
Print speed is another critical factor, especially in busy office environments. Printers are often rated by pages per minute (PPM), so if you’re printing large volumes of documents, you’ll want a printer that can handle high-speed output without compromising quality. Most MFPs offer speeds ranging from 20 to 40 PPM.
Tip: Think about your daily volume of printing to determine whether a high-speed printer or one of moderate speed is best for your needs.
2. Connectivity Options
Most modern multifunction printers offer connectivity options that can help integrate the device into your home or office network. The most common connectivity methods include:
- Wi-Fi: This is the best mode for wireless printing from computers, laptops, and even smartphones without cables.
- Ethernet: This is good for businesses or offices that require a constant, wired connection for many people.
- USB: Common in a smaller or personal printer that just connects directly from your computer
- Bluetooth and NFC: Very excellent for mobile printing where you print direct from your phone or pad.
Tip: Consider the number of devices that will connect to the printer and whether you want a wireless connection or would rather have the reliability of a wired option.
3. Cost of Consumables (Ink/Toner and Paper)
The cost of ownership is more than the initial cost of the printer. Ink or toner cartridges and paper are consumables, and their costs can add up over time, so be sure to factor these ongoing costs into your decision.
- Ink or Toner Costs: Depending on whether the printer uses inkjet or laser technology, the cost of replacement cartridges can be quite different. Laser printers are more expensive to buy, but they tend to have lower costs per page for toner. Inkjet printers may be cheaper initially but can be more costly in the long run because they require more frequent replacement of cartridges.
- Paper: Consider the paper handling capacity of the printer. Some printers can handle more paper volume than others. This is crucial for heavy print demands in offices.
Tip: Research the yield and cost of replacement cartridges for your chosen printer model. In addition, compute how many pages you print every month so you know whether the operating costs of the MFP are reasonable or not.
4. Size and Footprint
Such printing devices range from compact machines suitable for home use up to enormous devices used for high-volume operation at big offices. The size that best suits the available space both in an office or even a house depends on personal choice while ensuring the requirement of printing within is appropriately determined by their needs.
When buying an MFP for a small home office or space-constrained environment, one will be interested in a smaller model with minimal space to use.
However, where the need is for higher robust features for a business and one that may need more capabilities such as higher paper volume capacity, larger units costing more can be necessary.
Tip: Take measurements of your proposed print location and measure for ample space to operate such things as scanning and reloading paper.
5. Advanced Features and Functions
More than the simple printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, modern multifunctional printers come with added features that can make life easier. Here are some that you may want to have:
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF): This function enables you to scan or copy multiple pages without the need to feed each page into the printer. This is helpful for offices who often scan or copy documents.
- Duplex Printing: If saving paper is important, get a printer that automatically prints in duplex or double-sided format.
- Mobile and Cloud Printing: Many MFPs can now print from a cloud, such as Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, and printing directly from smartphones and tablets. For remote workers or those with different devices, this may be very convenient.
- Energy Efficiency: Energy-efficient printers help you to cut down on electricity usage; not only is it environmental but will also save you electricity over time.
Tip: Think about the features you most use in your workflow and weigh them against what matters the most. For instance, if you scan a lot, an MFP with an ADF that works will be worth the extra.