Laser Printers vs Inkjet: What’s the difference?

There are two main types of plain paper printers available; laser printers which use toner powder and inkjet printers that use liquid ink. With hundreds of printer models on the market, it can be challenging to get past the jargon and know what type of printer is right for you.
Choosing between an inkjet and a laser printer depends on your specific needs. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide what is the best printer for your needs:

Laser Printers

Technology: Uses electrically charged powdered toner and a heated cylinder to melt the toner onto the paper. Interestingly, not all Laser Printers use a laser! Some Laser Printers use LED technology which utilises the same principle.
Best For: Higher-volume printing and speedier results.
Print Quality: Great for text and images for presentations, and printing documents with colour.
Cost: The general rule of thumb is, the less you pay for the printer the more you pay for the toner (Genuine). This may not be the case if Managed Print Services (MPS) are used.
Speed: Faster, making them ideal for large print jobs and busy workplaces.
Maintenance: Laser Printers can sit without use for a period of time without too much degradation to the components or toner drying up.

Inkjet Printers

Technology: Uses liquid ink sprayed through microscopic nozzles in a series of tiny dots. Designed specifically for photo printing, inkjet printers perform better with high white inkjet paper and inkjet photo paper.
Best For: High-quality photo printing and colour images. Also great for wide format applications.
Print Quality: Superior for photos and graphics due to a higher Dots Per Inch (DPI). This is only the case if using the appropriate paper.
Cost: This can vary a lot depending on whether it is a small home printer, a professional photo printer or a large wide format printer. They also come in versions that have large ink tanks that can massively reduce running cost. (These printers are generally more expensive to buy.)
Speed: Slower compared to laser printers, especially for high coverage print jobs.
Maintenance: Ink can dry out if not used regularly, leading to clogged nozzles or even rendering the unit not worth repairing.

Summary

Laser: Better for office use and frequent printing, where speed is important.
Inkjet: Ideal for low volume home use, photo printing, and large paper sizes.
If you print high quality photos or low volumes or want wide format, an inkjet printer might be the way to go.
If you need to print larger volumes quickly and efficiently, a laser printer would be more suitable.
If you have any questions, we are more than happy to help keeping in mind our forte is laser printers and multifunction devices.