Inkjet and Laser Printer Differences

You require a new printer but you do not know whether to buy an inkjet or a laser printer.

So what are  the differences between the two?  When buying a new printer each user or organisation is faced with the same  dilemma

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The choice of printer you should purchase depends on your requirements. , inkjet printers are usually ideal for home users,they are great for everyday use of printing out emails, homework assignments or other general text and basic photo printing needs. Laser printers are better suited to larger office environments with high-volume and high-quality printing requirements for a more commercial use.

There are a few broad segments to differentiate Inkjet and laser printer, namely: cost (initial and maintenance), speed, quality, space and networking facilities. It is also essential to understand the technology and branding behind the manufacturing of the laser toners and ink cartridges as this is a major contributing factor towards the cost.

Mechanical differences between Inkjet and Laser Printers

Inkjet Printers

The technology used for inkjet cartridges is simpler and the parts are less expensive than the laser toners. The black inkjet cartridge has only black ink. The color inkjet printer contains two main ink cartridges, for black and other primary colors respectively. The primary colors are then divided into three compartments for cyan, magenta and yellow ink. The primary colors are consequently mixed to produce all other colors. It works by producing a continuous flow of ink out of small nozzles, onto the paper and into the picture or text it is printing. One of the downsides to using this type of fluid ink is that if you do not use your printer often enough the ink in the cartridges can dry.

Laser Printers

Laser toners use a more elaborate and complex technology. A powder called Toner is used by laser printers, fax machines and photocopiers to print text and images on laser and photo paper. Initially carbon powder was used but now manufacturers use disposable cartridges which can sometimes be refilled. When printing, toners work in a way in which the ink melts and binds with the fiber’s in the paper. This way the image is generally smoother and clearer.

Difference in Speed between Ink and Laser Printers

If laser printers lose out to their inkjet counterparts on account of price, they are way ahead when it comes to speed of printing. Users who need large volumes of printing also prefer the laser printers. Laser printers are more suited to general office use than the inkjets. The least expensive laser printer can print around 20 pages per minute. Inkjet printers are usually rated on the speed of draft or quick printing mode, which is suitable only for proofreading purposes. Depending on the quality of your printer you can purchase laser printer that print from a range of 20 – 50 printer sheets per minute. Factors which affect how fast the printer prints include: if you are printing in colour or black, if high quality black text is printed, and if you want to print quality photos.

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. Inkjet printers are cost-effective and  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. Nevertheless, it should also be seen if the cost of ink and paper suits your maintenance budget. Laser printers are capable of producing good quality prints on all kinds of printing paper.  Inkjet printers will require inkjet paper to produce good quality prints without any fuzzy edge brought about by the bleeding ink.