We did the work to find the best and these are the results:
| Preview | Name | Awards | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Brother Wireless All-In-One | Best Overall | |
  | Canon PIXMA Pro-100 | Best Inkjet Printer | |
  | HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 | Best Wireless Printer | |
  | Brother HL-2270DW | Best for the Money | |
  | Canon Office and Business MX922 | Best on a Budget |
Selecting the best printer for college students is not easy at all, yet it becomes an actual necessity at some point. At first, you need to understand what actually defines printers for students. Second, you need to research the market a little. There are literally dozens of printers out there. Some of them might look identical in features and specifications. Some others look more professional. It is worth identifying your necessities before even starting to look for potential printers. As if all these were not enough, do take your time to research. It might take weeks to do all these, so learn from others instead.
A few reviews will open a lot of doors and can lead you in the right direction. Forget about doing your homework yourself, but benefit from others’ education and unbiased recommendations, reviews and tips. Spotting the best printer for college students will become a breeze then.
Our Best Printer For College Students Top Pick
Brother HL-2270DW Compact Laser Printer With Wireless Networking And Duplex is a leading name in terms of college related applications. It can handle most needs, but at an efficient rate as well. This printer can do it at 27ppm – high clarity for graphics and drawings that demand attention to small details. Also, it has a built-in wireless network interface, so you can connect to it and print without clogging your small room with wires. If you like wires more, you can use the Ethernet network interface. Most printers are unable to provide both these capabilities though.
It is worth mentioning the automatic double printing too. If you want to print papers on both sides, you do not have to make any calculations and place the half printed pages in a different position. Skip the stress and let the printer do everything for you.
1Best Printer For College Students By Type
Best Printer For College Students By Type
Printers can be categorized by more criteria and the printing type is one of them. Inkjet printers are quite popular among home users due to the good rapport for price, quality and footprint. On the other hand, the laser type offers some benefits over inkjet alternatives – text quality and speed. They are ideal for everyday printing and the necessity to handle large amounts of jobs. LED printers operate in a similar way, yet they are smaller, more compact and more reliable in the long run because they do not have too many moving parts. Check out the front runners in each category, yet you can also explore them in smaller details, with more products.
It is worth mentioning the automatic double printing too. If you want to print papers on both sides, you do not have to make any calculations and place the half printed pages in a different position. Skip the stress and let the printer do everything for you.
1. Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer allows wireless printing and comes with duplex capabilities – printing on both sides. The inkjet printer has its own document feeder and also allows printing from anywhere in the world, as well as sharing this capability with others. It is compatible with more types of ink tanks.
AirPrint: Print wirelessly and effortlessly from your compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch- no drivers needed!
2. Brother HL-2270DW Compact Laser Printer With Wireless Networking And Duplex is the leading laser printer for students. It prints up to 27ppm for a great clarity, but it also comes with built-in connections – both wireless and Ethernet. It has an adjustable paper tray, 32MB of internal memory and the capacity to print documents on both sides.
Built-in wireless and Ethernet network interfaces
3. Brother Wireless All-In-One Color Printer With Scanner, Copier And Fax can become the best printer for college students due to its capacity and functionality. Not only it prints, but it also faxes, scans and copies. Its printing capacity goes up to 23ppm. It is a solid LED printer with Internet connections and double side printing features.
Never run out of toner with this Amazon Dash Replenishment enabled printer
2Best Printers for College Students by Brand
Best Printers for College Students by Brand
To plenty of people, shopping for a printer is about shopping for a brand. Indeed, some brands are more reputable than others. You do not want to buy a printer made in the middle of nowhere by a manufacturer that no one has ever heard of. The manufacturer’s reputation is a good indicator in the process then. However, almost every brand out there has both expensive and cheap models, depending on the budget and necessities. When it comes to cost efficiency, here are some of the leading printers coming from the most popular brands out there. Check the detailed section for more details though.
1. Brother Wireless All-In-One Color Printer With Scanner, Copier And Fax is probably is probably the best Brother printer for college students. Apart from printing, it also scans, faxes and copies, not to mention its speed and 23ppm capability. It has a 3.7 inch wide touchscreen interface and the WebConnect technology.
Never run out of toner with this Amazon Dash Replenishment enabled printer
2. Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Wireless Color Professional Inkjet Printer With Airprint And Mobile Device Printing comes with a maximum printing size of 13×19 inches as well a 4800x2400dpi – extremely high details. It has eight different inks for all kinds of colors, but it is also compatible with individual CLI-42 tanks.
8 Dye based inks for amazing gradients and color, 3 of which are dedicated grayscale inks for beautiful black & white prints
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer can do more than just printing. It also allows double side printing, faxing, wireless printing and many more functions. The HP application allows you to print from anywhere in the world if the wireless is connected. This printer is known for low printing costs and compatibility with many operating systems.
Main functions of this HP color inkjet printer: copy, scan, fax, wireless printing, two-sided duplex printing, and more
4. Epson WorkForce All-In-One Wireless Color Inkjet Printer WF-2540 will pleasantly surprise you with the type of performance available in such a small and compact unit. It is ideal for small places then. Also, it accepts Internet connections and comes with a 2.5 inch wide LCD screen for a top-notch navigation.
Offering the smallest footprint in its class, this sleek all-in-one features fast print speeds. It offers a 2.5-Inch LCD, mobile device printing and wired and wireless connectivity.
3Best Printer For College Students On A Budget
Best Printer For College Students On A Budget
Buying a printer is not all about the type or brand. The budget is just as important, as you cannot spend more than what you have. Fortunately, you can find these gadgets in a wide range of prices, so there is no way to fail in matching your budget.
1. Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Wireless Color Professional Inkjet Printer With Airprint And Mobile Device Printing is probably the best printer for college students if money is not an issue to you. With eight dye based inks, more combinations, high compatibility, the Optimum Image Generating System and incredible details, it just cannot be overlooked.
8 Dye based inks for amazing gradients and color, 3 of which are dedicated grayscale inks for beautiful black & white prints
2. Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer can print, scan, copy and fax for less than $200. Moreover, it does it without handling one document at a time, but 35 of them. It has automatic duplex printing, so you can print on both sides of a page. Besides, it allows printing from anywhere in the world if connected to the Internet.
AirPrint: Print wirelessly and effortlessly from your compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch- no drivers needed!
3. HP Officejet Pro 8610 Inkjet Multifunction Printer is by far the best printer for college students under $100. It can do more than just printing, so it becomes a multifunction tool that can be controlled from long distance. Its operating and printing costs are about 50% lower than in other printers.
Main functions of this HP color inkjet printer: copy, scan, fax, wireless printing, two-sided duplex printing, and more
1Best Printer For College Students By Type Full Review
Best Printer For College Students By Type Full Review
Selecting the best inkjet printer for college students is tricky, but the good news is that this basic choice will save money and handle the most common necessities out there. Whether you want to print your papers, reports, essays or just some mails, it can be done in no time. Inkjet printers can handle smooth images and cover more types of paper, including glossy paper or fabrics.
AirPrint: Print wirelessly and effortlessly from your compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch- no drivers needed!
Costs are surprisingly low, so it becomes a good budget choice. Users can save money in the long run as well. Cartridges do not have to be replaced, but also refilled. Maintenance is easy too, while the compact size will help an inkjet printer fit into any decor – be it a small room or a tiny office. With all these, inkjet printers are not perfect, so they do have some negative elements as well. The ink can get quite expensive, even if you save the money for the cartridges. It is also based on water, so your work can be easily damaged when exposed to humidity.
Laser printers are different. They are pretty fast. You cannot notice the difference if you print a few pages or just a long essay every once in a while. Speed becomes obvious when it comes to volume printing though. A laser printer is excellent for those who need text printing. It produces the perfect text. Therefore, if you mostly print text and occasional pictures, this is the way to go.
Efficiency is not to be overlooked either. A laser printer will, indeed, cost more than a basic inkjet printer. However, you will save more money overtime in consumables due to the increased efficiency. The negative parts of this model are not to be overlooked either. For instance, they require a little time to warm up – not such a good choice if you are in a rush. Second, you better invest in a quality item because toner leaks will become a nightmare to handle.
LED printers are similar to laser printers from many points of view. The operating principle is different, yet they also provide an exquisite text quality. They are not as compact and small as inkjet printers, but they can certainly reduce the costs per page. They are built to last, so they are highly indicated if you have to deal with high volume printing.
When it comes to pictures, color reproduction is a bit behind inkjet printers though. Occasional pictures every once in a while will not cause any problems. But if you mostly print pictures, you might want a different model. Startup costs are higher too, yet quality never comes for free. Besides, you cannot really print fabrics or special papers, so make sure that you analyze your needs upfront. Laser printers do take a while to warm up, but the results are likely to surprise you in the long run.
2Best Printer For College Students By Brand Full Review
Best Printer For College Students By Brand Full Review
Brother does not need too many presentations when it comes to its printers. It is certainly among the front runners, yet some of its products are better rated than others. From this point of view, Brother Wireless All-In-One Color Printer with Scanner, Copier And Fax (MFC9330CDW) is highly indicated for its functions, printing features and display. It comes with a 3.7 inch wide color display, not to mention the WebConnect technology. Brother MFC9130CW Wireless All-In-One Printer With Scanner, Copier And Fax might be similar in features and capabilities, yet details are not as obvious as in the previous model. It prints up to 19ppm.
Never run out of toner with this Amazon Dash Replenishment enabled printer
In terms of internal memory, Brother HL-2270DW Compact Laser Printer With Wireless Networking and Duplex comes with 32MB. Brother HL-3170CDW Digital Color Printer With Wireless Networking And Duplex is a bit more professional and becomes a main choice for high impact printing – up to 600x2400dp. Finally, Brother MFC-J870DW Wireless Color Inkjet Printer With Scanner, Copier And Fax is extremely intuitive and easy to deal with.
If you are a fan of Canon, the good news is that you will find quite some enticing models too. Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Wireless Color Professional Inkjet Printer With Airprint And Mobile Device Printingby Canon comes with eight inks, a deep compatibility with other cartridges and the possibility to print over your mobile phone. Canon Color imageCLASS MF8280Cw Wireless All-In-One Laser Printer is a little different due to the seven line display, not to mention the possibility to print up to 14 pages a minute.
If you are after cost efficiency, duplex printing and up to 35 pages in memory, Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer will pleasantly surprise you. It looks quite fancy too, but not as futuristic as CANON MG7520 Wireless Color Cloud Printer with Scanner and Copier, which is compatible with mobile phones and tablets too. It also comes with the PIXMA Touch & Print technology, just like Canon Pixma MG6620 Wireless All-In-One Color Cloud Printer.
HP does not fool around when it comes to functionality. The modern and always busy college student will get along pretty nicely with HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, as it can print, copy, fax and scan. Although HP Officejet Pro 8610 Inkjet Multifunction Printer feels a bit similar in features, it is known for a good wireless connectivity. If you plan to use the wireless control, this might be the best printer for college students.
HP Envy 4500 Wireless All-in-One Color Photo Printer and HP Deskjet 1000 Printer will surprise you with their speed and connectivity, yet the first one will impress you with the border-less printing features too. Finally, HP Deskjet D1660 Printer is all about simplicity. This printer does not come with any bells and whistles, but only the most important things for quick and efficient printing. It is designed for those who only require volume printing.
HP Envy 4500 Wireless All-in-One Color Photo Printer and HP Deskjet 1000 Printer will surprise you with their speed and connectivity, yet the first one will impress you with the border-less printing features too.
Epson’s products are worth a little attention too – especially Epson WorkForce All-In-One Wireless Color Inkjet Printer WF-2540, which has both a scanner and a copier. If flexibility is your main concern, Epson Expression XP-410 Wireless Color All-in-One Inkjet Printer might make your life easier. Epson XP-310 Wireless Color Photo Printer may add to the wireless connectivity solution too – everything is available at your fingertips, whether you use a tablet or a smartphone.
If you want something more complicated, take a peek over Epson WorkForce WF-3640 Wireless Color All-in-One Inkjet Printer. Indeed, it looks a little overwhelming with all those buttons, but they are labeled and intuitive. Besides, it is quite speedy and cost efficient. Finally, Epson WorkForce WF-3620 WiFi Direct All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer is among the cheap, yet powerful models from Epson – speedy, low cost operation and 35 page document feeder. It also scans and copies.
3Best Printer For College Students On A Budget Full Review
Best Printer For College Students On A Budget Full Review
If money is not a problem for you, you certainly want the best unit on the market. You are not alone in this venture though. Canon has stepped in with Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Wireless Color Professional Inkjet Printer – up to eight inks, compatible with many tanks and an extremely fine technology. Canon Color imageCLASS MF8280Cw Wireless All-in-One Laser Printer is similar in features, but also cheaper. It is quite easy to use due to its connectivity and can print up to 14 pages per minute.
8 Dye based inks for amazing gradients and color, 3 of which are dedicated grayscale inks for beautiful black & white prints
Brother Wireless All-In-One Color Printer is more deluxe than you might expect. Quality printing goes to 23ppm and comes with automatic double side printing. The same technology can be found in Brother MFC9130CW Wireless All-In-One Printer With Scanner, Copier And Fax too, yet it also brings in the wireless 802.11b/g/n interface. Finally, do not overlook Brother HL-2270DW Compact Laser Printer With Wireless Networking And Duplex, which has 32MB of internal memory and an adjustable 250 sheet paper tray.
Looking for the best printer for college students under $200? Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer has both the price and the quality with the AirPrint technology and the auto duplex printing features. HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Wireless All-In-One Color Inkjet Printer will print, duplex print, wireless print, scan, fax, copy and so on. With all these, it cannot beat Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer in terms of sales. It is among the best selling printers over the Internet, maybe because of the looks, features and specs.
HP Deskjet 1000 Printer is classic, simple and designed to fit a budget. It does not have any bells and whistles, but just the most important things. Epson WorkForce All-In-One Wireless Color Inkjet Printer WF-2540 is similar in features and specs, only it has extra capabilities. It also copies and scans.
If $200 is still a bit too much for you, maybe you should find the best printer for college students under $100. HP Officejet Pro 8610 Inkjet Multifunction Printer might be inexpensive, but it still has the right features to make printing a breeze. HP Officejet Pro 8610 Inkjet Multifunction Printer is just as handy to copy, scan or fax, yet wireless printing from any part of the world is just as attractive. Maybe you should give Epson Expression Home XP-420 Wireless Color Photo Printer a shot too, specifically for the multifunction profile, compact and small design.
Canon Pixma MG2920 Wireless Color Printer and Canon PIXMA MG2920 Wireless Inkjet All-In-One Printer/Copier/Scanner might look identical, but the first one is mostly recommended to volume printing projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wireless Versus Wired Printers
Wired printers are classic, while the wireless ones represent an actual innovation. The wireless alternatives provide some flexibility. You can use them from pretty much any part of the world with the right software. Otherwise, you will love the possibility to install the printer in the right place, without worrying that wires may come into your way. You do not risk tripping over and knocking the printer down either. As for the actual operation, it is most commonly maintained through a wireless Internet connection.
Which Type Of Printer Is Best Suited For College Students And Why?
College students will most commonly make this investment with the budget in mind. It is not a general rule though. The good news is that you can find something handy in any price range. Other than that, most students will have to print in black and white. They will print essays, papers, homeworks and even classes. Based on what they study, there are situations when they will require printing graphs or pictures too. If this is the case, it is highly indicated to choose a printer with a good image printing capability.
How To Connect A Wireless Printer To Your Router
Find the button that turns the wireless mode on or off. It should be quite intuitive. Otherwise, just check the owner’s manual. Configure the printer in order to connect to the router. Enable the DHCP feature and configure the server. Print a page whenever the installation is complete. If the printer does not work, chances are you have done something wrong. Double check the IP and restart the process.
How To Connect A Wired Printer To Your Computer Via A Router?
The first step implies connecting the router and the printer with an Ethernet cable. At that point, the printer will become a networked device. Some printers might require a few installations in order to take full advantage of their features and capabilities. Go through their owner’s manuals for more details, yet the connectivity procedure is the same in all of them, regardless of the extra features.
What Is Google Cloud Print And How To Use It?
When you print through Google Cloud Print, your file is safely sent to the desired printer over the Internet. This is a web service. Therefore, it works no matter where you are. You can be in the same room with the printer or on a completely different continent. Also, it does not matter if you use a regular computer, a smartphone or a tablet.
How To Refill A Toner Cartridge For A Laser Printer?
You know you are out of toner when the printer starts failing and loses its color. Cartridges might wear out in the long run as well, but they are so well built that they will last way longer than expected. Make sure that you only use where to add toner, but also a good match for the original one. Cartridges are designed to work with particular toners, so the printer may not work if you use a different one. Locate the filling hole or make one yourself, add the toner and sea the hole.
How To Refill An Inkjet Cartridge?
Get an inexpensive ink refill kit first. Remove the old cartridges – the ones that are empty only. Different cartridges come with different refilling specifications, so you will have to check the instructions coming with the kit as well. Locate the hole needed to refill, then use it to refill the cartridge with a syringe. Protect yourself and the surroundings against the messy ink.
Resources
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/inkjet-vs-laser-printers-which-is-better-for-home-use-176198
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1159224,00.asp
http://www.hardwarezone.com.my/feature-buying-right-printer-inkjet-laser-led-and-more
http://www.wikihow.com/Refill-and-Reuse-a-Printer-Cartridge
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