Best Inkjet Printer: Rated by Inkjet Experts

11th Jun 2024
Simon Cross

In my experience, finding the right inkjet printer can feel like navigating a jungle of options! There are so many features to consider, from budget to print quality, and it's easy to get lost in the tech specs.

That's why I put together this guide – to be your personal inkjet sherpa! I've spent years testing printers for all sorts of needs, from everyday home printing to professional photo projects. We'll take a look at printing volume, budget-friendly options, must-have features, and how well each printer handles photos.

By the end of this adventure, you'll have all the intel you need to find the perfect inkjet printer for your unique situation. So, grab a cup of coffee (or your favourite beverage), and let's find your printing soulmate.

Best Inkjet Printer For Home Use

Inkjet printers are workhorses in many homes, handling everything from printing homework assignments to those cherished family photos.

But with so many options on the market, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. That's why I wanted to share my experience with the Canon Pixma TS8750.

Canon Pixma TS8750

My honest review

So, I ran a series of tests with the Canon Pixma TS8750 to see how good it was for useful printing at home. In terms of what we considered, we looked at speed, cost effectiveness, wireless/space savings and photos / document printing.

It' been put it through its paces for a few months, printing photos, documents, and even getting a little creative. Overall, it was great at photo printing and documents. The speed was pretty good for this printer and of course it tucked nicely into our home office.

Photos come out well and look great, and of course being able to use your phone to AirPrint and use the Canon PRINT app on Android and Apple devices helps as well. It’s a very convenient printer that we enjoyed using and would recommend to anyone in the market.

Pros

• The quality of the prints actually stood out to us quite a lot. This was a big win! Photos came out sharp and vibrant, with smooth colour transitions. Text documents were crisp and clear, no ink bleeding or feathering.
• Being able to print over the Wi-Fi is also a huge benefit. Printing from my phone or tablet using the Canon PRINT app was a breeze. No more scrambling for a computer cable and saving more of my precious time. This is available for both Android and Apple devices.
• This printer surprised me with its versatility. I successfully printed greeting cards, fun stickers, documents and photos. It's a great way to unleash your inner creativity at home.

• The large colour touchscreen makes navigating this printers multitude of settings and features really easy, and more or less everything can be done via this display.

Cons

• As with many inkjet printers, Canon ink cartridges can be expensive. While the TS6350A isn't the worst offender, keep this in mind if you print a lot. There are also options for recycled Canon PG-530 CL-531 ink cartridges for this printer which can help keep costs low.
• This isn't a deal breaker for everyone, but for larger print jobs, an automatic document feeder would be a handy time-saver. But this is exactly why this printer suits better at home and not in an office.

What I liked about it

Honestly, the ease of use was a big plus. Setting up the printer with the phone app was straightforward, and everyday printing tasks are simple. The touchscreen display helped play a large part of the ease of use straight out of the box. Plus, the compact size makes it perfect for space-conscious home offices.

Again, it’s perfect for non tech savvy home users who require high quality printing every now and then. Even if you are a beginner at printing, this is a great printer to start with.

My advice

If you're a home user who values high-quality photo and document printing, with the occasional creative project thrown in, then the Canon Pixma TS8750 is a great choice.

However, if you're a high-volume printer or cost is a major concern, you might want to consider a model with lower ink costs or an automatic document feeder.

Best Inkjet Printer for Business

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850

My honest review

When it comes to finding the best inkjet printer for your business, the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is a top contender. I put this printer through its paces in a busy office environment to see how it performs in real-world conditions.

We ran all sorts of print jobs, from standard documents to high-resolution colour pages, and even large multi-page reports. We checked out its print speed, paper handling, and also tested its scanning and copying features.

Plus, we made sure to try out all the connectivity options to see how smoothly it fits into an office setup. Overall, the cost of running this printer was the main feature and selling point for us. Speed was good and so was the paper handling. We were impressed overall.

Pros

• Actually, The EcoTank has really low running costs. The EcoTank system uses refillable ink tanks instead of traditional Epson ink cartridges, which means a much lower cost per page. In our tests, we printed over 5,000 pages and still had plenty of ink left, saving a lot of money on ink costs.
• We found this printer consistently gave us sharp text and vibrant colours. Our test prints of marketing materials and business reports looked really professional, with clear details and clean colours.
• This printer is actually really fast, churning out up to 25 pages per minute. When we printed large documents, it maintained high speed without dropping in quality.

Cons

• The upfront price is higher than many other inkjet printers. However once running costs are factored in this machine is very cost effective
• This machine does take up more room than your average printer, but given its specialty in an office environment this isn't a deal breaker
• It doesn’t have a built-in fax feature, which might be a drawback if your business still uses fax communications. Considering the decline in Fax we do not think this function will be missed.

What I liked about it

As mentioned above, I was really impressed with the cost efficiency of the EcoTank system. It’s able to print thousands of pages before needing a refill, a huge money and time saver.

The print quality was consistently high, no matter what we were printing. The fast printing speed was a big plus, as it meant we could get through large print jobs quickly. We now know this machine holds up great on busy office days where lots has to be done very quickly.

Also, the large paper capacity and tank capacity was great for continuous printing without constant interruptions for machine maintenance.

My advice

The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is perfect for businesses that need a printer that's high quality, reliable, and fast. We think even though the initial cost is higher, the long-term savings on ink and the printer's durability make it worth it.

Overall, I think the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is a good investment for businesses looking to streamline their printing and cut down on costs. Its speed, quality, and efficiency make it a standout choice.

Best Budget-Friendly Inkjet Printer

Canon Pixma TS3355 A4 Colour

My honest review

If you’re on the hunt for a budget-friendly inkjet printer for your business or home, the Canon Pixma TS3355 is a solid option. I put it through the rigorous IJT tests in both home and office settings to see how it performs.

I printed everything from standard documents and colourful material to invoices, spreadsheets, school homework and family photos. I also checked out its scanning and copying features and here’s what I found.

Pros

• This printer is seriously kind to the wallet considering the quality it delivers. If you don’t do much printing or are keeping a tight eye on your budget, this is a golden ticket.
• Absolutely no complaints about quality. The text on my documents comes out crisp and clear with no blurry lines or ink smudging – a major win if you want professional quality prints without paying out.
• You would barely notice this machine, it slotted into the corner of our desk discretely and allowed plenty of room for documents, notepads etc.

Cons

• In honesty this machine does not have the fancy features other printers do, but for simple text and colour printing this machine is your number one choice.
• One thing to bear in mind is this machine isn't the fastest at printing large documents, a fair trade-off for the price we have concluded.

What I liked about it

Simplicity is the headline here. Setting it up was a breeze, and printing is straightforward. Plus, the quality is good enough for all business and home needs without having to pay a premium for it. Bonus points for being able to print directly from my phone with the Canon app too.

My advice

If you're someone who needs a reliable and affordable printer for everyday documents, then the Canon Pixma TS3355 A4 Colour is your perfect match.

It's easy to use, delivers decent quality prints, and won't break the bank. Just remember, this little guy is more focused on function than fancy features. But for those essential business documents, it gets the job done perfectly!

Best Eco-Friendly Inkjet Printer

Epson EcoTank ET-4800 All-in-One Printer

My honest review

So, as someone who's trying to be kinder to the planet but still needs a high functioning printer, the  Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is your perfect choice.

This printer actually uses refillable tanks you top up with Epson 104 ink bottles, making it way more sustainable for the environment and cost effective on the user.

A great feature we found was the EcoTank has automatic double-sided printing, which when spanned across months of paper buying can make a difference to running costs. Also, this makes saving trees practically effortless, just saying. 

Pros

• This Epson is honestly very versatile. It can print, scan, and copy, making it perfect for anyone who needs a do-it-all printer.
• More often than not we have to sacrifice sustainability for quality, but low and behold The EcoTank delivers crisp text documents and surprisingly vibrant photos
• I loved the printing from your phone or tablet feature, its so quick and easy one tap and the things printing for you.

Cons

• Okay this machine is going to cost you more than your average printer upfront, but trust me, the savings on Epson ink over time will make it worth it. Think of it as an investment and you’ll see the return over time.
• I thought it did take up a good amount of room on our desk, nothing that can't be solved by some measuring and planning.

What I liked about it

The Epson ET-4800 printer is a win-win for me. It's good for the environment, saves money on ink in the long run, yet it still delivers fantastic quality prints. Setting it up with the ink tanks was a breeze, and everyday printing is simple.

Refilling the ink for this printer was so much cleaner and easier than other models. As this one uses ink bottles you squeeze into a tank there is no way you can make a mess which is a life saver for many.

My advice

For anyone looking for an eco-friendly printer that's also a reliable workhorse, the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is a fantastic option. If you are someone who needs to print but are very conscious of saving the planet, then this is really your solution.

So long as you can overcome the slightly higher initial cost, you will enjoy negligible running costs for a very practical machine.

Best Premium Range Inkjet Printer

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300

My honest review

This printer is designed for people who want the best of the best. Not only does it have all the features, they are all to the highest standard. Speed, print quality and features all scored very highly.

I did find myself surprised by what money can buy with this printer. I would say for sure anyone would be blown away by this machine. We’d say it is basically perfect for creative professionals and artists, although its features would make it very productive in an office.

Pros

• The PRO-300 makes some serious museum-quality prints. We're talking deep, rich blacks, vibrant colours that jump out of the page in stunning detail.
• Something that does make a difference is this printer isn't picky about your paper choices. From heavy thick paper to fine art it handles a wide range of materials well. So you won't have to worry about smudging or odd textures. There is somewhat of an art to picking the correct paper type for your printer. I have your back though, my blog helps you choose the best paper for printing. 
• Okay, I know this is where things get a little technical, but trust me, it's important. The PRO-300 gives you incredible control over colour accuracy. You can fine-tune everything to match your vision perfectly.

Cons

• Let's be honest, this printer isn't cheap. It's an investment for creatives. But hey, if you're passionate about your photography or art, it might just be worth the splurge. Additionally, businesses could benefit from all the features this thing has to offer.
• Now, it's not exactly a plug-and-play situation. Setting it up, and figuring out all the colour controls can be difficult. Although it doesn't take long to get your head around it

What I liked about it

For those who are willing, this Canon printer can provide a great return on investment. It’s top tier and does everything a printer should do and more to a professional grade.

We thought the control you have over your prints was astonishing, as it allows very specific fine tuning that can make all the difference. We often found ourselves saying ‘wow’ out loud when exploring different features.

My advice

For any working professional in the arts industry this printer is where you go for the best of the best, and so I would consider it a must for any business concerned with quality output.

My advice would be to utilise online guidance on how to operate the machine in order to get the most bang for your buck, as it can be overwhelming, but absolutely worth the time it takes to master its functions.

Best Photo Inkjet Printer

Canon PIXMA TS6351A A4 Colour

My honest review

This one is for all the photo lovers! If photo printing is important to you then this Canon Pixma TS6351A is going to be the one you want. This printer has everything it needs to bring back special memories in vibrant colour.

Now, I'm not a professional photographer by any means, but for capturing memories with my family and friends this thing is perfect . Birthday parties, holidays, even just silly pet pics are perfect for this printer.

Pros

• The photo prints are what really wowed me, you can tell this printer suits coloured photos as the technology almost makes them true to life. It's like holding a mini window back to that moment. Especially when using the ‘print borderless feature’.
• I didn't have to wait around for the photos to print as this machine is nice and speedy, handling a pile of prints in minutes.
• Despite specialising in colour photos this printer has the bells and whistles you'll need to do any other type of printing, I found no weird lines, textures or smudges when printing text.

Cons

• Overtime Canon ink cartridges prices can add up and seem pricey. At this time I would recommend looking into recycled cartridges.
• This isn't a deal breaker for me, but for those bigger printing jobs, an automatic document feeder would be handy but not necessary.

What I liked about it

I absolutely loved how easy this printer was to set up. Considering it does have some high tech features and colour controls, I easily navigated my way around. It's worth mentioning how little space it's going to take up on your desk too.

Quiet printing might seem like a small detail, but trust me, it makes a big difference. The TS6351A is surprisingly quiet when printing, unlike some printers that sound like a jet engine taking off. So no more scaring the cat, (or yourself).

My advice

This printer is a great option if you are focused on colour photo printing, as well as basic printing as it's easy to use, produces stunning photos, and handles everyday documents just fine.

I recommend experimenting with different paper types. Glossy photo paper is great, but matte finishes can also add a nice touch to your photos. Just be mindful of the lack of an automatic feeder for larger printing jobs.

Best All-In-One Inkjet Printer

Epson WorkForce WF-2930DWF A4

My honest review

This ones for the busy bees out there. If you're juggling a home office and feeling like you need an extra set of hands, the  Epson WorkForce WF-2930DWF is the answer to all your problems. This all-in-one printer is a secret weapon for staying productive and organised.

Now, this printer isn't a fancy bells-and-whistles machine, this is a workhorse printer for everyday tasks, perfect for someone like me who needs to print, scan, copy, and fax to a good enough standard without paying through the nose for it.

Pros

• The best thing I can say about this printer is that you can do it all. Every feature you'll need for the office or home, this versatile printing will get it done.
• It’s a great bonus I can print from my phone or tablet with the Epson app. If I need to print a quick invoice or that important document it's done from the comfort of my own sofa.
• Actually, this machine is pretty cheap when you look at what you get. Other models that copy, print, scan and fax will all be considerably more expensive than this Epson

Cons

• The phrase ‘Jack of all trades, master of none' applies to this printer. While it does function to a great standard there are specialised printers out there that can do so quicker and to a higher quality on specific features
• It’s fair to say that you may want to stick to recycled Epson 604 ink cartridges for this machine, as the ink can be expensive if you’re doing lots of printing.

What we liked about it

I could easily navigate my way around all the features without feeling overwhelmed, it was easy to get the hang of and once I did, I had plenty of functions at my fingertips. This all rounder could handle everything I threw at it and delivered to high quality.

The most noteworthy, and my favourite thing about this printer is the practicality. One thing you will never say is that the Epson WorkForce WF-2930DWF wasn't useful, or well prepared for anything

My advice

This printer will be a lifesaver for anyone's home or office if you have a wide range of printing needs. It's easy to use, will keep you organised with printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. It even lets you print on the go with your phone.

That's why this printer screams the most value for money! Taking into account the quality and features you’ll get for the price, if you want a practical printer we recommend this one.

Conclusion

This guide dives into the world of inkjet printers, helping you find the ideal one for your needs. We explore a range of categories, including:

Best Overall: Canon Pixma TS8750 - Offering high-quality photo and document printing with a user-friendly design, this model is perfect for home users who value quality and ease of use.

Best for Business: Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 - This powerhouse excels in busy offices, thanks to its incredibly low running costs, high-speed printing, and sharp quality.

Budget-Friendly: Canon Pixma TS3355 A4 Colour - Kind to your wallet, this printer delivers crisp text and colour printing for basic home and business needs.

Eco-Conscious: Epson EcoTank ET-4800 All-in-One Printer - This eco-friendly option utilises refillable ink tanks and double-sided printing, reducing waste and saving you money in the long run.

Premium Photo Printing: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 - For professionals and serious photography enthusiasts, this top-tier printer boasts museum-quality output with exceptional control over colour accuracy.

All in One Workhorse: Epson WorkForce WF-2930DWF A4 - This versatile printer tackles all your home or office needs, offering printing, scanning, copying, and faxing functionalities at a reasonable price. If you've found the WF-2930DWF isn't the All in One printer you're after, my Best All in One Printer in 2024 blog gives loads of useful extra information.

Remember, the best printer depends on your priorities. Consider factors like printing volume, budget, desired features, and photo printing needs before making your choice.

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.