Top 5 technical printer features to look out for 

An all-in-one printer is an essential tool for both the office and the home. It will allow you to carry out important life admin at home, print homework or college assignments, and even print your family photos. In a busy office, it will support day to day business, with the printing of accounting documents, employee information, company policies and contracts.

There are a few features to consider with a new printer that will support more productive printing, and allow you to choose a printer model suited to your individual needs.

1. Print quality 

Print quality is an important feature as it will render your prints professional and presentable. Print quality is measured in dots per inch or DPI.

Monochrome printers typically have a minimum resolution of 600 x 600 dots per inch. This is sufficient for printing internal documents in the office, for example. Black and white resolutions of 2400 x 1200 DPI produce high-quality prints for more important external documents. 

A colour print quality of 1200 x 1200 DPI is a good minimum standard for any household and will produce high-quality results when printing colour documents or photos.

There are some niche printer models with a resolution of 4800 x 2400 DPI geared at producing excellent-quality colour printouts. This would be preferable for those wishing to print professional-looking photographs with their printer. HP has brought out some great all in one inkjet printers with 4800 DPI high resolution which means you will get high quality, vivid prints while printing with HP ink cartridges. The 4800 DPI mode is specifically for printing images larger than 600 dpi on premium photo papers with the correct computer systems.

2. Print speed

Print speed is typically measured in pages per minute or PPM. It refers to the number of pages the printer can print per minute.

Inkjet printers usually have a PPM rate from 10 to 33 pages per minute, while laser printers tend to run faster with an average print speed of 20 pages per minute. (for black pages). A higher PPM rate would be a smart choice for a busy office environment where time is a valuable asset. If you are using the printer less frequently or are printing lower volumes, then you can afford to choose a printer with a lower PPM.

As a guideline, a print speed of at least 10 colour pages per minute and 20 black and white pages per minute is a minimum standard to look for as a print speed specification if you’d prefer to avoid waiting on your prints.

3. WiFi connectivity 

Wireless printers are extremely convenient as they accommodate multiple users of one printer. This is useful in both the office and in a household with family members sharing the printer.

You can also typically connect a computer or laptop to the wireless printer without installing drivers, as well as avoid using messy wires and cables to connect.

WiFi printers with mobile print capabilities will allow you to print instantly from your mobile phone. This is advantageous in busy work or home environments or when on the go, saving you valuable time.

4. Automatic Document Feeder

An automatic document feeder is a great time-saving feature for your printer. It saves you from having to manually insert each page into the printer when scanning, copying, faxing or printing. Simply place a stack of papers on the feeder tray and the ADF will do the rest of the work. This is especially useful in an office or home office environment where time is an asset and there are multiple users waiting to use the printer.

There are also ADF features capable of duplex scanning, This means that the printer will automatically scan both sides of the paper, automatically flipping it over when complete. This is known as a Reverse automatic document feeder (RADF).

There’s another ADF feature called Duplexing automatic document feeders (DADF) that scan both sides of the page in a single pass.

5. Ink replacement costs

It’s wise to consider the replacement cost of ink when buying a printer. Ink for the printer can cost more than the printer itself over time and costs vary between printer models. You can compare the cost per print that can be expected from the ink or toner cartridge. By dividing the cost of the cartridge by the expected yield, a cost-per-page estimate can be calculated.

 It is advisable to shop around for the best deal and consider alternative printer consumable brands. 123ink.ie have a reliable reputation for low prices and quality cartridges. Their own brand cartridges have a lower cost per print than originals and come with a lifetime guarantee.

Consider these technical printer features when buying a new printer to save you time and money. If you would like more tips on choosing a printer, check out 123ink.ie.