Imagine needing to print a school project, a recipe for dinner, or even a funny picture to decorate your room. Suddenly, your printer just won’t work! It’s frustrating when you need to get things done, and your printer lets you down. Choosing a printer that can do it all, an “All Purpose Printer,” can feel like a huge puzzle with too many pieces.
There are so many printers out there, and they all promise different things. Some print in color, some are super fast, and others say they can scan too. It’s tough to know which one is best for your home or school. You want a printer that’s easy to use, doesn’t cost too much, and can handle all your printing needs without any fuss.
In this blog post, we’ll help you understand what makes a great All Purpose Printer. We’ll break down the important features in a way that’s easy to understand. By the end, you’ll feel much more confident about picking a printer that will be your go-to for all your printing adventures!
Our Top 5 All Purpose Printer Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 All Purpose Printer Detailed Reviews
1. HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Rating: 9.5/10
The HP DeskJet 2855e is a fantastic printer for any home. It handles all your everyday printing needs, from to-do lists and letters to important financial papers and delicious recipes. This all-in-one machine also scans and copies, making it super convenient. Plus, it comes with 3 months of HP Instant Ink, so you’ll save money on ink right away.
What We Like:
- Smart printing with HP AI that makes web pages and emails look perfect on paper, no more wasted pages!
- Easy wireless setup with Wi-Fi that fixes connection problems by itself.
- Print, scan, and copy right from your phone, computer, or tablet using the simple HP app.
- Great for home use, handling common tasks like printing documents and recipes.
- Includes 3 months of HP Instant Ink to get you started with savings.
What Could Be Improved:
- Color print speed is a bit slow at 5.5 pages per minute.
- Only has a single-band Wi-Fi connection.
- The input tray holds only 60 sheets, which might be small for big printing jobs.
Overall, the HP DeskJet 2855e is a user-friendly and smart choice for home printing. Its helpful AI features and easy app control make it a great addition to any busy household.
2. HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Rating: 9.0/10
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer is designed to help you work from home like a pro. This printer offers reliable technology that is uniquely built for your home office needs. You can easily print, scan, and copy, and it even comes with an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and duplex printing for extra convenience. Plus, you get a 3-month Instant Ink trial and AI-enabled features to make printing even smarter.
What We Like:
- Print from your couch using the best print app.
- Always be ready to print with its smart technology.
- Never run out of ink thanks to the Instant Ink trial.
- It’s a wireless all-in-one, so it handles printing, scanning, and copying.
- Duplex printing saves paper by printing on both sides.
- The ADF makes scanning multi-page documents a breeze.
What Could Be Improved:
- The “AI-enabled” features could be more clearly explained for users.
- Initial setup might require a strong Wi-Fi signal for seamless operation.
This printer truly aims to make your home office printing experience smooth and efficient. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home printing setup.
3. Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer for Duplex Printing
Rating: 8.8/10
The Canon PIXMA TS4320 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer is a smart choice for anyone needing a reliable printer at home or for remote work. This white, all-in-one printer offers great value and handles all your printing, scanning, and copying needs. It’s designed to be easy to use and fits nicely into any space.
What We Like:
- It’s affordable and offers a lot for the price, making it great for students, families, and people working from home.
- Prints are clear and colorful. The 2-cartridge ink system makes text sharp and photos pop.
- Setting it up is simple. You can connect it to your phone or computer quickly and start printing right away.
- The dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz) gives you a strong and steady connection, so you can print from anywhere in your house.
- It easily scans and copies documents, saving you trips to a copy shop.
- Automatic double-sided printing saves paper and time.
- It can print on different types of paper up to 8.5” x 11”, with or without borders.
- Its small size means it won’t take up much room on your desk.
- You can print directly from your phone or tablet using apps like Canon PRINT App, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria.
- It’s good for the environment, with EPEAT Silver and ENERGY STAR certifications.
What Could Be Improved:
- The ink cartridges are a bit pricey when you need to replace them.
- It only has one paper tray, which can be a little inconvenient if you switch paper types often.
This Canon PIXMA TS4320 printer is a versatile and cost-effective solution for your home printing needs. It makes printing, scanning, and copying simple and efficient.
4. Brother Work Smart 1360 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Automatic Duplex Printing and 1.8” Color Display
Rating: 9.1/10
The Brother Work Smart 1360 is a versatile color inkjet all-in-one printer designed for home and home office use. It can print, copy, and scan, making it a great all-around tool for your tasks. This printer also boasts wireless connectivity and a handy color display.
What We Like:
- It’s perfect for home and home offices, handling printing, copying, and scanning all in one compact unit.
- You can easily print from and scan to popular cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox using the simple 1.8-inch color display.
- Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing saves paper and time.
- The 20-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) makes scanning and copying multi-page documents a breeze.
- It prints at a decent speed, up to 16 pages per minute in black and 9 pages per minute in color.
- You have flexible connection options, including wireless networking and USB.
- The Brother Mobile Connect app lets you manage printing, copying, and scanning from your phone and track your ink levels with Page Gauge.
What Could Be Improved:
- The color display is a bit small at 1.8 inches.
- The printer uses specific LC501 series inks, which might limit your choices.
This Brother printer is a solid choice for anyone needing a reliable and feature-rich machine for their home or small office. It offers a good balance of convenience and productivity.
5. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scan and Copy
Rating: 8.6/10
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a fantastic printer for your home. It prints in color and can also scan and copy your documents. This printer is designed to make printing easier and cheaper for you. It’s a great choice for basic home printing needs.
What We Like:
- Cartridge-Free Printing: You won’t buy tiny, expensive ink cartridges anymore. One set of ink bottles is like having about 80 regular cartridges.
- Save Money on Ink: You can save up to 90% on ink compared to regular cartridges. You can print thousands of pages with just one set of ink.
- Plenty of Ink: The printer comes with enough ink to last up to two years. You won’t run out of ink as often.
- Less Waste: Using this EcoTank printer means less plastic cartridge waste goes into landfills.
- Good Quality Prints: It uses Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology for sharp and colorful prints.
- Fast Printing: It prints up to 10 pages per minute, so you can finish your jobs quickly.
What Could Be Improved:
- No Automatic Document Feeder (ADF): For scanning or copying many pages, you have to feed them one by one.
- No Duplex Printing: It doesn’t automatically print on both sides of the paper. You’ll have to flip the pages yourself.
- Basic Features: It’s a straightforward printer. If you need advanced features like faxing or a touchscreen, you might need a different model.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a smart choice for anyone looking to cut down on printing costs and waste. It offers great value and convenience for everyday printing tasks.
Your Guide to Finding the Best All-Purpose Printer
Picking the right printer can feel like a big decision. You want something that can do a little bit of everything, right? This guide will help you find the perfect all-purpose printer for your home or small office.
What Makes a Printer “All-Purpose”?
An all-purpose printer is like a helpful friend. It can print documents, photos, and sometimes even scan and copy. It’s designed to handle a variety of tasks without being too complicated.
Key Features to Look For
When you’re shopping, keep these important features in mind:
- Printing Technology:
- Inkjet: These printers spray tiny drops of ink onto the paper. They are great for colorful photos and are usually cheaper to buy.
- Laser: These printers use a laser to put toner (a dry powder) onto the paper. They are super fast for text documents and last a long time.
- Connectivity:
- USB: This is the old-school way to connect your printer to a computer with a cable.
- Wi-Fi: This lets you print wirelessly from your computer, phone, or tablet. It’s really convenient!
- Ethernet: This is a wired connection for networks, good for offices.
- All-in-One Capabilities:
- Print, Scan, Copy: Many all-purpose printers can do all three! This saves you space and money.
- Fax: Some advanced models can also send and receive faxes.
- Print Speed: This is how fast the printer puts ink on the page. It’s measured in pages per minute (ppm). Faster is usually better if you print a lot.
- Print Resolution: This tells you how sharp and clear your prints will be. Higher numbers mean better quality, especially for photos.
- Paper Handling:
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF): This lets you scan or copy multiple pages at once.
- Duplex Printing: This means the printer can print on both sides of the paper automatically. It saves paper!
- Ink/Toner Cartridge Costs: This is a big one! Some printers are cheap to buy but have expensive ink or toner. Always check the cost of replacement cartridges.
Important Materials and Build Quality
Most printers are made of strong plastic. Look for a printer that feels sturdy and well-built. This means it will last longer. Some printers have metal parts inside that make them even tougher.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
- Improves Quality:
- High-Quality Ink/Toner: Using the brand-name ink or toner usually gives you the best results.
- Good Paper: The type of paper you use makes a difference. Photo paper is best for photos.
- Sharp Images: Printing from a high-resolution image file helps your prints look amazing.
- Reduces Quality:
- Low-Quality Ink/Toner: Cheaper, off-brand ink might not be as vibrant.
- Using Plain Paper for Photos: Regular paper won’t make your photos look their best.
- Faded Originals: If you’re copying something faded, the copy might not be much better.
User Experience and Use Cases
An all-purpose printer is great for many people.
- Students: Print homework, essays, and study guides. Scan notes or important papers.
- Home Offices: Print reports, invoices, and marketing materials. Copy documents.
- Families: Print school projects, vacation photos, and recipes.
- Hobbyists: Print craft patterns, artwork, or photos for scrapbooking.
The setup should be easy. You should be able to connect it to your computer or Wi-Fi without too much trouble. The controls on the printer should be simple to understand.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About All-Purpose Printers
Q: What is the main difference between an inkjet and a laser printer?
A: Inkjet printers spray liquid ink. Laser printers use dry powder called toner. Inkjets are better for photos, and lasers are faster for text.
Q: Is Wi-Fi printing really useful?
A: Yes! Wi-Fi lets you print from almost any device in your house without cables. It’s very convenient.
Q: How important is print resolution?
A: Print resolution is very important for clear pictures. A higher resolution means sharper details.
Q: What does “ppm” mean?
A: “Ppm” stands for pages per minute. It’s how fast the printer prints.
Q: Should I worry about the cost of ink or toner?
A: Yes, definitely! Some printers are cheap to buy but have very expensive ink or toner. Always check the replacement costs.
Q: What is an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)?
A: An ADF is a part that lets you put a stack of papers on it. The printer will then scan or copy them one by one.
Q: Can an all-purpose printer print photos well?
A: Many can! Inkjet all-purpose printers are usually good at printing colorful photos.
Q: What is duplex printing?
A: Duplex printing means the printer can print on both sides of a page automatically. This saves paper.
Q: How do I know if a printer is easy to use?
A: Look for printers with clear buttons and simple menus. Read reviews to see what other users say about setup and daily use.
Q: Can I print from my phone with an all-purpose printer?
A: Yes, if the printer has Wi-Fi. Many modern printers have special apps that let you print easily from your phone or tablet.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.
Hi, I’m Florence Disha, the creator behind HomesMend.com. With a passion for making every house a home, I share my personal experiences, tips, and expertise to help you transform your living spaces. Whether it’s practical advice, creative ideas, or tried-and-true solutions, my goal is to inspire and guide you in creating a home that feels just right. Let’s make every corner of your space truly yours!