Laser Printer vs. Inkjet Printer vs. Ink Tank
Which printer best suits your printing needs? Read on to know the difference between Inkjet, laser printer, and ink tank printers.
When looking for a printer, you’ve probably come across these types of printers: Inkjet, Ink Tank, and Laser printers. What exactly is the distinction between these printers? Which one is better suited to your specific needs?
Several aspects should be considered while determining which printer to purchase. It would be best if you considered the purpose of your printer in addition to the price. Are you looking for a printer for personal use, school, or for your small business? The capabilities of Laser, Ink Tank, and Inkjet printers are vastly different. Continue reading so you can make an informed decision.
What is an Inkjet printer?
- Uses liquid ink for printing by spraying thousands of microscopic ink droplets onto paper.
- Inkjet printer relies on pigment-based or dye-based ink to operate.
- Smaller in size compared to a LaserJet printer.
- Most Inkjet printers, such as Epson WF-2850 ink cartridges, use four separate ink cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Some printers only use two ink cartridges: black and tri-color. One example is the HP DeskJet 2752 ink cartridges which tri-color ink have cyan, magenta, and yellow in a single cartridge. Some printers use five different cartridges, including two blacks (typically one pigment black and one ordinary or dye-based black ink) and one each for cyan, magenta, and yellow ink. The Canon TS9520 ink cartridge is an example.
What is a LaserJet printer?
- The cartridge contains powder and not ink which is called a toner cartridge.
- Uses laser beam to melt toner powder onto paper to print.
- Larger in size than Inkjet printers.
- Laser printers use either one or four toner cartridges and have relatively basic printing mechanisms. If there is only one, like the HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge, the printer is monochromatic and only uses black toner. If there are four, it means that the LaserJet printer uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner cartridges. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw toner cartridge is an example.
What is Ink Tank printer?
- Also known as ‘continuous ink tank printers’.
- Uses dye or pigment-based liquid ink.
- With a built-in ink tank but no inbuilt print head.
- Utilizes a bulk ink system that is integrated. This means there is no need for ink cartridge replacements. Simply refill the built-in ink tanks placed within the printer with ink bottles.
- Uses refillable ink bottles in black, cyan, magenta, and yellow like Epson SureColor F170 dye-sublimation ink bottles.
Difference Between Inkjet, Laser Printer, and Ink Tank
Aside from the differences mentioned above, minor variances can cause speed, image quality, and functionality changes. You might prefer one printer over the other depending on your needs. Despite the fact that they generate crisp, clean text and images, their methods are different.
How does an Inkjet printer work?
- Printing process. Small nozzles are found in ink cartridges. They’re linked to a printhead that generates new characters by moving left and right across the page. When a sheet of paper is heated by electricity, these nozzles (jets) spray thousands of ink droplets onto it as it passes by. This method creates vibrantly colored visuals and is an excellent option for high-resolution photos, graphics, or images in your documents.
- Ink cartridge replacement process. When an ink cartridge is low or empty, you must remove it from the printer and replace it with a new one so that the printer may continue to function. If you don’t, your printer will stop working, even if the other cartridges are still full of ink.
How does Ink Tank printer work?
- Printing process. Ink Tank printers work similarly to Inkjet printers. An ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle after it has been heated by electricity. Because of the heat, the ink expands into a bubble, which then squirts onto the paper through the nozzle. When the ink bubble bursts, a vacuum is created, allowing more ink from the ink cartridge to flow into the nozzle and release the next droplet.
- Refilling ink process. The printing procedure is identical in both Inkjet and Ink Tank printers, however, ink cartridge replacement differs. There’s no need to remove the ink cartridges when you run out of ink with these printers because they have built-in ink tanks. Simply use a refilling ink bottle to refill each empty tank and print once more.
How does a Laser printer work?
- Printing process. LaserJet printers use toner cartridges to print. Toner cartridge is a grainier-looking powdered ink than ordinary ink. On a light-sensitive drum, Laser printers produce electrostatically charged dots that attract toner powder. A heating technique is used to transfer the toner to the paper and fix it.
- Toner cartridge replacement process. There are two types of LaserJet printers — a printer that incorporates the drum unit into the toner like most HP Laser printers and a printer in which toner cartridge and drum unit are separated like most Brother Laser printers.
To replace empty toner with a built-in drum, all you need to do is remove the drum with the empty toner from the printer. Next, install the new drum with toner in it into the printer. As easy as that!
To replace the empty toner with a separate drum, first, you will need to remove the drum unit and then remove the empty toner in it. Once done, install the new toner into the old drum unit. Lastly, install the drum unit with the new toner in it into the printer.
Ink Tank Printer vs. Laser Printer vs. Inkjet Printer Pros Cons
Inkjet Printer Pros and Cons
Pros
- Smaller in size.
- Cheaper upfront cost.
- Easier to maintain.
- Can be used in printing black and white documents or colorful photos.
- Better at blending colors since they are designed to print high-resolution images in a gallery setting.
- Can print on several types of paper like glossy.
Cons
- Ink cartridges are expensive.
- Prone to smudges.
- Slow printing speed.
- Paper tray capacity is limited.
Who can benefit from Inkjet printers?
- Those who print infrequently or only a few pages at a time.
- Those who need to print high-quality color photographs.
Best for: Personal use, as well as for home office, school, and small business printers that produce image-heavy documents.
LaserJet Printer Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lower cost-per-page.
- Faster printing speed.
- Can accommodate heavy loads of printing.
- Toner cartridges can print more sheets than ink cartridges.
- Business-oriented features.
- Huge replacement supply yields.
- Advanced security measures.
Cons
- Expensive than both Inkjet and ink tank printers.
- Pricier toners.
- Can’t print on any heat-sensitive paper like glossy.
- Average print color quality.
- Large and heavy.
Who can benefit from LaserJet printers?
- Those who print a lot of black-and-white documents.
- Those who need large printing capacity.
- Those who need fast printers.
- Those who are fine with medium quality for colored prints.
Best for: Businesses and busy offices with high black and white print volumes.
Ink Tank Printer Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lesser printing expenses in the long run.
- Larger page yields.
- Can be used in printing black and white documents or colorful photos.
- Better at blending colors since they are designed to print high-resolution images in a gallery setting.
Cons
- The upfront cost is expensive.
- Ink will dry up if left unused and will cause clogging problems.
Who can benefit from Ink Tank printers?
- Those who print color documents frequently.
- Those who prefer smaller printers.
- Those who are tired of having to refill ink cartridges on a weekly basis.
Best for: Businesses and busy offices that print color documents regularly.
Which is Better: Inkjet, Laser Printer, or Ink Tank?
- Inkjet printer is good if you print less frequently and if you need high-quality photo prints.
- Ink Tank printer is ideal if you print regularly and require a high color print. Ensure that you frequently print so the ink reservoirs won’t dry up and cause clogging issues.
- LaserJet printer is perfect for you if you print more documents and don’t need to print high-quality photos.
Deciding which printer is better totally depends on your usage and requirements. Once you’ve selected which printer type is best for you, you can limit your options by considering features and future printer usage.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions. Looking to save money on your printing projects? Check out www.compandsave.com for some great deals on printer ink and accessories! Remember to follow our blog for more interesting printing-related tips and guides.
About the Author
Showerly Sumaylo is a Researcher and Copywriter of Compandsave.com Inc. CompAndSave is a large eCommerce retailer of print and office supply products in the United States and Canada. Being a thrifty wife and mother herself, her articles can be quite helpful to those wanting to learn more about printer ink cartridges, photo papers, and more while getting the most out of your hard-earned money.
