All-in-One Printers

All in one Printers

There are a number of key features to keep in mind when shopping for all-in-one printers. Different printers can handle various paper sizes for printing and scanning, so it’s important to get one that can handle the largest format of paper you want to print and/or scan (for home use, this is often A3). Be aware that sometimes the printing and scanning specs will be different – e.g. a printer will be able to print up to A3 but only scan up to A4 – so it’s important to check both.

It’s also key to get the right printer inks. Like any type of printer, all-in-ones generally run on ink bottles or cartridges. Ink bottles (or tanks) tend to have much greater capacity, and have the bonus of being refillable – however, it’s important to be aware that they are best suited for printers that will be used frequently, as they can dry up if not used for long periods. Cartridges need replacing more frequently, but they hold up better to infrequent use and also tend to be more affordable.

Modern printers offer many quality-of-life features that make everything run a little smoother. Wi-Fi or other forms of wireless connectivity are common, allowing you to easily connect your computer or smart device to the printer and print directly without needing to mess around with cables. In many cases, you’ll be able to control the printer’s functions directly using a touchscreen, which will also often provide a useful readout of ink levels to let you know which ink colours will soon need replacing. Some printers also have SD card readers built in, making it easy to quickly transfer files for printing.

If you’re going to be scanning and printing a high volume of documents, it can be worth looking out for time-saving features. Some all-in-one printers offer automatic document feeders, which allow for the quick scanning/copying of multi-page documents without having to manually insert each page. Some printers will also offer efficiency or economy modes for this purpose, reducing the density of ink in order to allow for more prints per ink refill.

On the other hand, if you’re more focused on quality than you are on speed, then it’s worth looking at the print/scan resolution of the device. This is expressed as DPI (dots per inch) – the higher the value, the greater the printing or scanning resolution, the more detail in the finished product.

View Our Awards »