Best Printers

Scan quality is for color photos, graphics, and text scanned at each model's default settings.

This Printer which tested best for Scan quality has the following features: Built-in fax, LCD viewer, Memory-card reader, Borderless photos, Individual color tanks, Automatic document feeder, Auto-duplexing, USB2, Networking, 4x6 photo cost ($), 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

Versatility indicates features that increase a printer's utility or capabilities.

This Printer which tested best for Versatility has the following features: Built-in fax, LCD viewer, Memory-card reader, Borderless photos, Individual color tanks, Water-resistant photos, Automatic document feeder, Auto-duplexing, USB2, Networking, PictBridge, 4x6 photo cost ($), 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

This score reflects how quickly the model can print one 8x10 photo on photo-quality paper. 2 minutes or less is excellent; 2 to 4 minutes is very good; 4 to 6 minutes is good; 6 to 8 minutes is fair; and longer than 8 minutes is poor.

This Printer which tested best for 8x10 photo time has the following features: .

Copy quality is for graphics and text.

This Printer which tested best for Copy quality has the following features: .

This indicates how well the printer conserves power between uses.

This Printer which tested best for Power saving has the following features: Borderless photos, USB2, 4x6 photo cost ($), 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

This score reflects how quickly the model can print text on five pages of plain, letter-sized pages. 30 seconds or less is excellent; 31 to 60 seconds is very good; 61 to 90 seconds is good; 91 to 120 seconds is fair; and longer than 120 seconds is poor.

This Printer which tested best for Text speed has the following features: Individual color tanks, Water-resistant photos, USB2, 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

Our assessment of the appearance of color graphics produced by the printer. Black and white lasers were judged on black and white graphics.

This Printer which tested best for Graphics quality has the following features: .

This is our assessment of the appearance of each photo. Models with higher scores produce more natural looking photos, with smoother changes in shading and fewer problems with banding.

This Printer which tested best for Photo quality has the following features: Borderless photos, Individual color tanks, Water-resistant photos, Auto-duplexing, Networking, USB2, 4x6 photo cost ($), 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

Estimated cost (in dollars) for ink and photo paper in a month of typical use, based on our tests and how our readers told us they print.

For inkjets: 23 text pages, 9 graphics pages, 2.4 large photos, 3.6 small photos, and 3.5 photos on plain paper.

For lasers: 62 text pages, 24 graphics pages, 1.7 large photos, 1.9 small photos, and 2.3 photos on plain paper.

Photos cost the most, text documents the least, so your results may vary from these figures, but they are useful for comparing models.

This Printer which tested best for Ink and paper/month has the following features: Built-in fax, Individual color tanks, Water-resistant photos, Automatic document feeder, USB2, Networking, 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

This indicates how crisply and clearly a printer produced black text in a variety of faces, sizes, and styles. Models with higher scores produce more uniform type, with sharper edges and smoother curves.

This Printer which tested best for Text quality has the following features: Individual color tanks, Water-resistant photos, USB2, 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).

This score reflects how quickly the model can print one 4x6 photo on photo-quality paper. 1 minute or less is excellent; 1 to 2 minutes is very good; 2 to 4 minutes is good; 4 to 6 minutes is fair; and longer than 6 minutes is poor.

This Printer which tested best for 4x6 photo time has the following features: LCD diagonal viewer size (in.), Memory-card reader, Borderless photos, Water-resistant photos, Can run on battery power, Rechargeable battery included, Carrying handle, Battery option ($), USB2 and PictBridge.

Measures the ease of carrying out a series of common activities with the printer.

This Printer which tested best for Convenience has the following features: Built-in fax, LCD viewer, Memory-card reader, Borderless photos, Individual color tanks, Water-resistant photos, Automatic document feeder, Auto-duplexing, USB2, Networking, PictBridge, 4x6 photo cost ($), 8x10 photo cost ($) and Text cost (cents).