
Laser printers work by negatively charging a light-sensitive surface called an optical photoconductor (OPC) drum. Also, because the ink takes a second or two to dry, they might be slower still when duplex (double-sided) printing. Printers with higher resolutions – measured in dots per inch (dpi) – can place more dots on the page.Īs their print heads usually need to move about to cover the page, inkjet printers tend to be slower than lasers. Inkjets create prints by placing thousands of tiny dots over every inch of the page.

How to choose the best printer for you What’s the difference between laser and inkjet printers?

Is it best to go with an inkjet or laser printer? Cartridges or refillable tanks? Do you need a multifunction printer (MFP) that also scans and copies, or are you after something that just prints? When similar-looking printers cost anywhere between £30 and £300, how much do you need to spend? The problem with definitively choosing the best printer on the market is that there are so many things to consider.
