Hi there! If you‘re trying to decide between an inkjet or laser for your next printer purchase, this guide will walk you through all the key differences to consider. I‘ll compare everything from print speeds to photo quality to reliability and supplies cost. My goal is to arm you with enough insider knowledge to choose the best printing technology for YOUR needs…
Overview: Inkjet vs Laser Key Differences
Before diving in, here‘s a high-level overview of how inkjets and lasers differ:
- Inkjets spray liquid ink directly onto paper while lasers use static electricity and powdered toner
- Laser printers are significantly FASTER at printing pages
- Inkjets produce superior photo prints and graphics quality
- Ink cartridges cost more over time than laser toner
- Inkjets have smaller footprints than bulky laser printers
- Lasers are built rock-solid to handle high monthly print volumes
Now let‘s explore the history and inner workings of these technologies…
A Brief History of Printing Technologies
Inkjet printing has its origins in the late 1950s when Siemens engineers developed the first inkjet devices for instrumentation recording. It was a primitive start – early inkjets printed slowly at low resolutions using only a single color.
The big breakthrough came in 1976 when IBM introduced serial inkjet printing technology to label products on assembly lines. Through the 80s and 90s, the capabilities of inkjet expanded dramatically with innovations like:
- Drop-on-demand printing
- Thermal inkjet nozzles
- 4-color (CMYK) printing
- Higher output resolutions
- Integrated scanners/copiers
The photographic below shows an early thermal inkjet cartridge with tiny nozzles spraying CMYK ink:
Laser printing entered the scene in 1969 when Xerox researchers pioneered the use of static electricity and toner powder to print pages – what we now recognize as xerographic printing. The first commercial xerographic printer – the Xerox 9700 – launched in 1977.
Early laser printers were behemoths – large, expensive machines targeted for major corporate and government offices. But by the late 1980s smaller semiconductor lasers made personal lasers affordable for small businesses and homes.
Innovations in laser printing over the decades include:
- Faster print speeds (20+ pages per minute)
- Higher 1200+ DPI resolutions
- Color printing capabilities
- Duplex printing support
- Integrated scanner/copiers
So while both technologies have been evolving since the 1950s/60s, engineers keep finding ways to push the boundaries on print speed, image quality and capabilities.
Now let‘s peek under the hood to understand how these two printing technologies actually work…
Inkjet vs Laser Printing Technology Explained
Inkjet printers work by spraying microscopic droplets of liquid ink directly onto paper. The print heads contain hundreds of tiny nozzles that move back and forth across the page during printing.
Some inkjets use "piezoelectric" crystals that expand when electrically charged. This forces ink out through the print head nozzles as shown below:
Other inkjet printers heat the ink to form rapidly expanding water vapor bubbles that eject ink drops from the print head. This "thermal inkjet" approach is also popular.
No matter the method, inkjet printers must precisely control these tiny ink droplets to place them on the page and build up text, images and documents.
The key components of an inkjet printer include:
- Print heads with hundreds of piezo or thermal nozzles
- Cartridges containing liquid color and black ink
- Precision page feed and movement mechanisms
- Integrated scanner/copiers on most consumer models
Laser printers, on the other hand, use static electricity and toner powder to print text and graphics. The printing process involves several steps including:
- A laser beam projecting the page image onto a photoreceptor drum
- The drum picks up tiny toner particles with static charge
- The drum transfers toner onto paper through heat + pressure
- Toner fuses with paper fibers to render the printed image
This approach allows laser printers to easily handle thousands of pages per month thanks to their heavy-duty components:
- Laser scanner assemblies
- Photoreceptor drums
- Toner reservoirs/fusers
- Integrated scanner/copiers
The infographic below summarizes the difference between inkjet and laser printing technology:
Next let‘s see how these underlying technical differences impact print speeds…
Print Speed Comparison
When it comes to print speeds, laser printers leave inkjets in the dust thanks to their robust fuser assemblies rapidly processing page after page.
Consumer inkjet printers typically print at modest speeds around 10 to 30 pages per minute (PPM) in black and white. Using a photo print mode with color ink drops speeds further to 5 PPM or less.
But laser printers achieve speeds rivaling copy machines, ranging from 20 PPM up past 100 PPM on high-end office models! Even affordable home lasers boast 20+ PPM.
For example, the popular HP Neverstop 1202w laser printer prints 21 pages per minute. But Epson‘s WorkForce Pro inkjet maxes out at 16 PPM.
The table below compares print speeds across a range of consumer/small biz printer models:
| Printer Model | Print Technology | Print Speed (PPM) |
|---|---|---|
| Canon Pixma G6020 | Inkjet | 10 PPM |
| HP Neverstop 1202w | Laser | 21 PPM |
| Brother MFC-J6545DW | Inkjet | 22 PPM |
| Xerox B215 | Laser | 36 PPM |
Faster speeds make lasers the superior choice for high-volume office use. But inkjets work fine if you just need to occasionally print out household documents or homework assignments.
Now let‘s evaluate how inkjet and laser printers compare when printing photos…
Photo Printing and Image Quality
While lasers trump inkjets for document printing speed, the tables turn when it comes to photographic image quality. Consumer inkjet printers leverage many innovations to render graphics and photos beautifully.
Most inkjets boast photo-centric printing modes with 2400 x 1200 DPI or higher resolutions. Some professional photo printers like the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 hit resolutions exceeding 4800 x 2400 DPI.
By spraying microscopic 1.5 picoliter ink droplets, they achieve gorgeous smooth gradients and tonality. The samples below show the difference clearly:
Laser printers peak at around 600 x 600 DPI on entry-level consumer models, stretching to 1200 x 1200 DPI on some high-end machines. While fine for basic business documents, laser printed photos often show visible graininess and banding as toner particles cannot achieve continuous tones.
Of course laser printers cost a fraction of $500+ professional inkjet photo printers. So lasers satisfy everyday photo printing needs. But for catalogue, gallery or fine art quality, inkjet rules.
Next let‘s tally up the costs…
Printer and Supply Cost Comparison
One obstacle many shoppers face is the upfront PRINTER cost when choosing inkjet over laser. With better speeds and duty cycles, laser printers demand a bigger financial commitment.
Decent inkjet printers start around $80 ranging up to $200 or so. But laser printers start at $250 for single-function monochrome models, ranging past $500+ for multifunction color lasers.
However, laser printers prove more economical OVER TIME when you calculate TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP including vital consumables – replacement ink/toner.
Let‘s crunch the numbers:
- Black ink cartridges run $30 to $60 while color costs $50 to $75
- Inkjets average 2 to 10 cents per B&W page and 15 to 25 cents per color page
- Toner cartridges range from $30 to $300 (usually cost per page drops for higher yields)
- Lasers average 1 to 3 cents for B&W pages and 8 to 15 cents for color pages
The table below summarizes page cost averages:
| Consumable | Black/White Cost per Page | Color Cost per Page |
|---|---|---|
| Inkjet Ink | 2-10 cents | 15-25 cents |
| Laser Toner | 1-3 cents | 8-15 cents |
While ink and laser toner have similar yields, over the long haul toner saves money. And cheap third-party toner knocks costs down further. Just remember to factor ongoing supply expenses into your purchase decision!
Okay, let‘s take a timeout to stretch our legs and compare the size of these printer technologies…
Printer Size Comparison
Many buyers overlook the impact a bulky printer can have on a small home office or crowded work area.
Thanks to compact print heads, inkjet printers claim a tiny footprint – some as small as a loaf of bread! The popular Canon PIXMA TS3520 inkjet measures only:
- 14.7 inches wide
- 7.8 inches deep
- 12.5 inches tall
So sliding an inkjet onto a small desk or tucking it on a shelf is no problem.
Meanwhile, laser printers gobble up your precious counter real estate thanks to their beefy internal components including:
- Laser scanner assemblies
- Large toner reservoirs
- Internal fans/ventilation
For example, Brother‘s HL-L2370DW monochrome laser printer spans a hefty:
- 16.1 inches wide
- 18.9 inches deep
- 9.6 inches tall
So if you‘re short on space, inkjet definitely saves room versus having a large laser machine occupying your entire work area.
Now for the big reliability question…
Printer Reliability Comparison
In the past Inkjet printers earned a poor reputation for leaks, clogs and failures compared to rugged laser printers. But thanks to better technology, modern inkjets boast much improved reliability.
When using original cartridges and following usage guidelines, current inkjet printers deliver a service lifetime on par with lasers:
- Duty cycles over 1000 pages per month
- Lifespans over 2+ years
- Far fewer clogs/maintenance issues
Just avoid bottom-dollar printers lacking decent build construction. And print periodically rather than leaving ink idle for months.
However laser printers still edge out inkjets in extreme heavy usage scenarios thanks to their simplistic mechanical design and sealed toner system:
- Duty cycles over 10,000 pages per month
- Lifespans ranging 5-10 years
- No leakage/clogs to worry about
But either printing technology should provide several years of dependable service for most people‘s needs. Only extreme high-volume environments might require the ultimate durability of laser.
Inkjet vs Laser Printer Comparison Chart
Before providing printer recommendations, here‘s a helpful chart summarizing the differences:
| Printer Attribute | Inkjet | Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Initial printer cost | $ | $$ |
| Print speeds | 10-30 PPM | 20-100+ PPM |
| Photo print quality | Excellent | Mediocre |
| Page cost (supplies) | 2-25 cents | 1-15 cents |
| Printer size | Very compact | Large footprint |
| Reliability | Very good | Excellent |
Inkjet vs Laser Printers: Which Should You Buy?
Hopefully the info above gives you confidence to choose the best printer technology for your needs and budget…
For photo-loving households, an inkjet like the Canon PIXMA TS3520 covers home printing nicely at only ~$80. It prints gorgeous 4800 DPI photos easily handled thanks to a small 14" wide body.
Small office heroes on a budget should check out the Brother HL-L2370DW monochrome laser printer. At only $180 you get crisp text printing up to 27 PPM, ideal for workgroups producing piles of documents daily.
And photo/graphics professionals wanting exhibition gallery quality prints will love the 13" wide Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300. It delivers commercial-grade 2400 DPI photographic output reliably.
So in summary:
- Inkjets = Photos and graphics
- Lasers = Business documents
- Professional Inkjets = Commercial gallery prints
And if you just can‘t decide…buy one of each!
I hope this guide has made your buying decision easier. Please reach out with any other questions!