The difference between laser and inkjet printers.
The answer to the question of where to buy a new printer is obvious. At D&O, of course! But choosing which type of printer often turns out to be a bit more complicated. When is it best to buy an inkjet printer, or is a laser printer more suited to your or your organization’s requirements, and what exactly is the difference between the two? This roadmap will help you find the right device for you or your organization.
1. Know your organization’s needs.
What do you think are the main advantages to a printer? Do you print a lot of images or rather texts? How important is print speed to you? Do you use your printer often or rather occasionally? Look critically at your printing habits and then make a list of all your needs. Then use this list to find the device that works best for you. Think ok if you want to find the cheapest option or rather are looking for the best possible quality.
2. Choose the type of printer that best suits your needs.
The basic rule for choosing a new printing device goes like this: if you print a lot and it’s not images, a laser printer is the best choice for you. Most businesses opt for a laser model. That one prints quality documents at maximum speed. You can also use it for printing pictures, but the quality will be lower than a black and white document without pictures.
If you work less often or only with images, it will be more interesting to work with an ink-based printer. Thus, the quality of the image will be much better.
If you are looking for a device that prints completely dry photos, it is best to opt for one that works with a laser anyway. When printing large photos with an ink-based device, the sheet coming out of the device is often still a little wet. This never happens with a device that works with lasers.
3. The financial picture
To determine which type of device is best for you, it is also best to look at how often you use the device.
Inkjet printers are cheaper to buy, but the downside is that the ink cartridges the device works with are expensive and must be replaced often. So using such a device becomes increasingly expensive over time.
A laser printer must be filled with a powder-based toner. You don’t have to replace that toner as often as an ink cartridge. Therefore, while the price of buying a laser printer is more, the usage is cheaper over a long period of time.
So if you print infrequently, it makes more sense to buy an inkjet printer. If you plan to print often, a laser printer is the right choice for you!
D&O will be happy to guide you!
As a Xerox reseller, we are pleased to offer our customers a complete range of quality Xerox products, from business printers and multifunctionals to toners and cartridges, to meet every printing need of organizations. Our company offers unique expertise in printing and digital solutions to meet your needs. With years of expertise in the printing industry, we at D&O Partners aim to be your preferred partner in Belgium for Xerox products and services. We distinguish ourselves through our excellent customer service and the customized guidance we provide.
If you would like to visit our showroom in Brussels to discover our wide range of Xerox business printers, including the latest models, and test them directly on site, don’t hesitate to contact us to make an appointment!
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a laser printer and an inkjet printer?
The difference is first of all technological: the laser printer uses a toner powder, while the inkjet sprays liquid ink. This translates into different uses. The laser excels at text and high volumes at high speed; the inkjet is more comfortable with photos and colour images, with a richer rendering. The right choice therefore mainly depends on what you print and how often.
Laser or inkjet: which to choose for professional use?
For frequent professional use focused on text and documents, the laser printer is generally the best choice: it prints fast and stays reliable on large volumes. It’s in fact the version most businesses choose. The inkjet is better suited to occasional use or specifically geared towards images and photos.
Which technology is cheaper to run?
It depends on your printing frequency. The inkjet is cheaper to buy, but its cartridges are expensive and need replacing often, which increases the long-term cost. The laser requires a higher initial investment, but the toner is replaced less often: it therefore becomes more economical over time. In short: little printing → inkjet; frequent use → laser.
Does inkjet cause a drying problem on large images?
Yes, it can happen: on large images, the paper coming out of an inkjet printer is sometimes still slightly damp. With a laser printer, this problem doesn’t exist — prints come out completely dry. If this point matters to you, the laser is the safest choice.
How can I be sure to choose the right printer for my organisation?
Start by listing your actual needs: print volume, proportion of text or images, importance of speed, priority on purchase price or quality. It’s these printing habits that determine the most suitable technology. Our D&O Partners experts help you decide and welcome you to our showroom in Brussels to test the models directly, across Belgium.
