Difference Between Laser Printer and Inkjet Printer
How does a laser printer differ from an inkjet printer? Which is better? Which one should you get? It’s time to clear up the mystery surrounding one of the most used machines at home and in the office – the printer. We are going to dissect the two types of printers to give you a better understanding of each. By the end of this article, you will be confident about which one to get.
Laser Printers and Inkjet Printers: What Are the Differences?
Both machine types produce print on paper, but you might be surprised just how different laser printers are from inkjet ones. Let’s take a look at various aspects and compare these two to see which is the best choice.
Printing Technology
The major difference between the printer types is the technology they use during the printing process. A laser printer uses electromagnetic charge to print on paper, while an inkjet printer uses a simpler method of spraying liquid ink onto paper.
A toner printer, more correctly called a laser printer, employs, as the name suggests, a laser to print. Laser printer ink, also known as a toner, is a powder that is charged by the laser’s static electricity to adhere to the paper. After that, a heating element seals the toner powder to the paper through the application of heat. Lasers produce finer and more detailed prints because of their technology.
Toner powder is easier to store and ship, which makes it less expensive to handle. There is no danger of drying out and wasting your printer toner. It can be stored for months without damaging it.
An inkjet printer, on the other hand, uses liquid ink deposited onto the paper. The print head sprays ink through micro-nozzles which produces microscopic droplets of ink. Liquids are not as precise and have a tendency to smear or bleed.
Ink tends to dry out, which is why more care is taken when storing and shipping cartridges. Dried-up inkjet cartridges cannot be used anymore.
Winner: Laser printer - It is equipped with better-performing and long-lasting technology.
Applications and Suitability
Laser printers are excellent for printing a huge number of text documents. High-volume printing is its forte. With a large paper tray capacity and super-fast print speeds, the laser printer is built to churn out large document files in a jiffy. It is perfect for big offices.
Inkjet printers are touted for producing vibrant images and photos. What it lacks in sharpness, it makes up for in color accuracy. Dye and pigment-based inks are easier to mix, which makes them suitable for printing pictures. This is perfect for printing out graphic reports and quality images for display. Unfortunately, as this printer uses liquid, it is prone to clogging and drying up if unused for long periods.
Winner: Laser printer - Most of the time, printers are used for printing out text documents. Laser printers are the best at that.
Print Quality
This is where the difference in technology can be seen. Laser printers are better at producing sharp text. It’s superior when it comes to printing small and/or stylized text. The laser printer’s line precision is unmatched by any inkjet printer. In addition to that, laser toners are sealed into the paper, making it smudge-proof immediately after printing.
An inkjet printer ink often bleeds slightly, making letters legible but not as crisp-looking. It also requires some drying time. This means that the ink tends to smear after printing.
Winner: Laser printer - When it’s a question of toner vs. ink, the toner comes out as a clear winner.
Printing Speed and Efficiency
The laser printer is unbeatable in printing black text. The average machine can churn out 20 pages per minute (PPM). One toner cartridge is capable of printing thousands of pages. The machine typically sports a huge paper capacity, so printing a large number of documents will be a breeze.
An inkjet printer produces an average of 6 pages per minute (PPM). Plus, the ink still needs to dry, or else it will smudge. Since the ink needs some time to dry, the sheet that slides on top of a newly printed page will most likely smear the ink.
Winner: Laser printer - It can print three times faster than an inkjet printer.
Initial Cost and Cost per Page
A laser printer typically costs 194 AUD or more. It’s more expensive than the affordable prices of inkjet printers. But atoner cartridge is cheaper and prints more pages which, in turn, lowers the cost per page. The toner for a printer costs less than 7 cents per black page and less than 22 cents for coloured.
Inkjet printers are cheaper, starting at 90 AUD. It comes with a starter-compatible cartridge which contains less than the standard one. This will force you to buy replacement cartridges sooner. Compatibleink cartridges are also more expensive, which is costlier in the long run.
Liquid ink is heavily developed and engineered by printer manufacturers to get the right consistency. More expensive inks dry faster and bleed less. This is why it costs 7-15 cents per page of black text and 22-37 cents per page of colour.
Winner: Laser printer - While the upfront costs may be pricier, it is more budget-friendly in the long run. The cost per page is extremely cheap because of efficient toners.
Size and Design
A laser printer is slightly larger and heavier as it has more parts. Newer printer models are usually designed to be multifunction printers that can also scan, copy documents. An inkjet printer is more compact if it’s solely a printer. If you need an all-in-one office printer, then a multipurpose inkjet printer will almost be as large as a laser printer.
Winner: Laser printer - Its efficiency justifies the slightly larger space it consumes on your desk.
Final Verdict
The laser printer outperforms the inkjet printer in almost all aspects. It is well-suited for your daily home, school, and office use. It’s also more economical, which makes it the overall leading printer of choice.