How to Differentiate Between Laser Printers & Inkjet Printers

Color Laser Printer

Laser printers are better suited to larger office environments with high-volume and high-quality printing requirements.

Difference in Technology & Networking Facilities between Inkjet and Laser Printers

The black inkjet cartridge has only black ink. The color inkjet printer contains two main ink cartridges, for black and other primary colors respectively. A powder called Toner is used by laser printers, fax machines and photocopiers to print text and images on laser and photo paper. The laser printers consist of the printer toner and the drum. This cuts down additional costs associated with networking, as is the case with ink printers. The ink printers cannot be linked to a network directly. The laser printers are larger in size than the inkjet printers.

Difference of Quality & Color between Laser and Inkjet Printers

Since Inkjet Printers spill out tiny droplets of ink to print, the resolution is lower than the laser printers. Laser Printers printer better quality text, as their resolution is higher. High resolution also helps the laser printers create precise fonts without fuzzy edges. However, the cost-effective inkjet printers are usually recommended for inexpensive color printing. These can print high quality text, large photo prints, graphics, banners and greeting cards at less than half the price of a color laser printer. Laser printers are capable of producing good quality prints on all kinds of printing paper but the inkjet printers will require inkjet paper to produce good quality prints without any fuzzy edge brought about by ‘bleeding’.

Difference in Speed between Ink and Laser Printers

The least expensive laser printer can print around 10 to 15 pages per minute.

Difference in Cost between Ink and Laser Printers

The inkjet printers have a low initial cost but a higher maintenance cost when compared to the high initial purchase cost and low operating cost of a laser printer. The initial purchase cost of an inkjet printer may be low but the cost as consumables like paper and ink may exceed your budget.

Summary By Bobby Hudson

All You Need to Know About Inkjet and Laser Printers

Inkjet Printers can be categorized as 3-color inkjet printers, 4-color inkjets and photo printing inkjet printers. The 4-color inkjet printers are the most popular ones in the printing industry. 4-color Inkjet Printers usually hold two ink cartridges (one for black and one for color). The 3-color inkjet printers are no longer popular as the 4-color inkjet printer prices are continually dropping.

Laser Printers have two different technologies for black & white (monochrome) and color printing. Among the laser printers, monochrome laser printers are the most popular ones in the industry. Generally, laser printers are faster than inkjet printers. Laser printers are quite popular as they offer fast printing, good print quality and low cost per page. However if you print color, you may want to go for an inkjet printer.

Most of the personal lasers in the market are monochrome laser printers. Because of their high prices, the color laser printers were not attracting personal users. Most of the workgroup laser printers are monochrome.

Summary By Sally Adams