Even as things continue to go more digital, a quality printer remains a must have, but you don’t need to spend several hundreds to get a good one. The best cheap printers make it easy to print high quality documents and photos at home, and some of them even copy, scan, and fax, too. The most important part? You can spend as little as $80.
When choosing the best affordable printer, you have two options: inkjet and laser. Each one has its pros and cons:
- Inkjet printers: Great for color and photo printing, these usually cost less upfront, but they use inkjet cartridges, which need to be replaced fairly often; this means you'll be spending a bit more money in the long run. And if you print infrequently, you'll need to run a test page every now and then to keep the ink cartridges from drying up. But these do tend to be more compact, making them a solid option if you're working with limited space.
- Laser printers: While they cost a bit more upfront, these are perhaps the most economical printers in the long run, since they use long-lasting toner that doesn't require frequent refills. Another plus: Toner doesn’t dry up between uses. Most laser printers only print in black and white, but if you’re willing to spend more, you can get one that prints in color, too.
All of the options below can be used wireless or wired (though, for some, you'll need to provide your own USB cable). Whether you'll be printing every day or just once in a while, these are the best cheap printers on Amazon.
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