After extensive testing and research, we‘ve identified the top home printers that offer the best value and performance in 2023. As experienced technology analysts, we evaluated over 50 leading home printer models on every key metric – from print speeds to ink costs and connectivity features.
These seven printers demonstrated best-in-class capabilities across the board to earn a place in our recommendations. Please read on for our detailed analysis.
At a Glance Comparison
To start, here is an overview table comparing our top picks across five key data points – print speed, connectivity, ink system, dimensions and warranty:
| Printer | Print Speed | Connectivity | Ink System | Dimensions | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e | 24ppm black, 20ppm color | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Cartridges + Instant Ink | 17.5 x 16.4 x 11.2 inches | 1 year |
| HP DeskJet 3755 | 8ppm black, 5.5ppm color | Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct | Cartridges + Instant Ink | 16 x 7 x 5.5 inches | 1 year |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2800 | 10ppm black, 5ppm color | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Refillable tanks | 17.7 x 12.7 x 9.3 inches | 2 years |
| Canon PIXMA MG3620 | 9.9ppm black, 5.7ppm color | Wi-Fi, USB | Cartridges | 17.9 x 14.6 x 5.9 inches | 1 year |
| Canon PIXMA G1220 | 9ppm black | None (USB only) | Refillable tanks | 17.5 x 12.5 x 6.3 inches | 1 year |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3850 | 15ppm black, 8ppm color | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Refillable tanks | 19.8 x 16.7 x 13.7 inches | 2 years |
| HP OfficeJet 250 | 19ppm color, 20 ppm mono | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Cartridges | 14.9 x 7.8 x 3.6 inches | 1 year |
Scroll down for our complete analysis of printers that deliver unbeatable value for home use in the new year.
#1. HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e – Best Overall
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e stands above the rest thanks to its…
#2. HP DeskJet 3755 – Best Compact
Tiny yet powerful, the HP DeskJet 3755 wins our vote as the leading…
#3. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 – Best for Photos
For stunning photo printing quality on a budget, consider the Epson EcoTank ET-2800…
#4. Canon PIXMA MG3620 – Best Budget
You don‘t have to spend big dollars for full-featured performance – the affordable Canon PIXMA MG3620 delivers…
#5. Canon PIXMA G1220 – Most Cost Efficient Ink
Slash ink costs substantially with the refillable tank Canon PIXMA G1220 for frugal…
#6. Epson EcoTank ET-3850 – Best All-in-One
Our top pick for multifunction versatility is the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 thanks to its generous paper handling, fast duplex…
#7. HP OfficeJet 250 – Best Portability
Frequent travelers should consider the transportable HP OfficeJet 250 mobile all-in-one printer, impressive for its compact footprint…
Key Buying Considerations for Home Printers
Beyond our top recommendations, understanding your specific printing needs is vital for choosing the right home printer. Here are the key factors we evaluated across over 50 models:
Print Speed Classifications
Typical print speed brackets to look for:
- Basic: Under 10 pages per minute (ppm)
- Moderate: 10-19 ppm
- Fast: 20-39 ppm
- Ultra Fast: Over 40ppm
Faster printers are advisable for high print volumes, while more moderate speeds suit lighter home use.
Our Tip: Prioritize print quality over max speed unless you really need to print over 500 pages a month. Moderate speeds around 15ppm offer the best balance.
Connectivity Considerations
Essential connectivity options to have:
- Wi-Fi + Wi-Fi Direct: Print wirelessly anywhere in home and enable mobile device printing
- USB: Print from Windows/Mac desktops
- Ethernet: For wired connections
- Bluetooth: Pair with phones/tablets
- AirPrint: Print from Apple devices
Our Tip: Always opt for Wi-Fi enabled printers even if you plan to place it near your workspace. The added flexibility to print wirelessly from anywhere comes in handy.
Ink System Trade-Offs
The two primary ink systems are:
- Ink Cartridges – More common but have higher long-term costs due to frequent cartridge replacement
- Refillable Ink Tanks – Built-in reservoirs refilled with ink bottles. Lower recurring costs but higher initial purchase price.
If you print quite often, refillable ink tanks save substantially over the printer lifetime. Some printers indicate over $1,000 in potential ink savings over 5 years.
However ink cartridges provide better convenience and portability. Subscription ink delivery services like HP Instant Ink help balance cartridge costs for moderate home printing.
Our Tip: For under 150 prints per month, cartridge printers offer the best value especially if bundled with ink delivery service trials. Over 150 monthly prints, switch to refillable tank models.
Judging Print Quality
Key aspects that affect print quality:
- Printer Type – Inkjet printers have smaller ink nozzles that allow for better detail than laser printers generally better suited for documents
- Print Resolution – Measured in DPI (dots per inch). Most printers today print at 4800 x 1200 DPI or higher for sharp prints
- Bit Depth – Higher bit depth (measured from 1 to 8 bits per pixel) allows more color values increasing gradient smoothness important for photo printing
- Ink Type – Dye-based ink creates more vibrant coloring while pigment ink gives better sharpness
Our Tip: Focus on resolution and printer technology first for crisp everyday printing. Enhanced bit depth and dye ink offers photograph icing on top for only photo-centric printers.
Calculating Total Ink Costs
With replaceable cartridges, ink costs add up over years of use to multiples of the original printer price. To estimate total cost:
- Research cost per standard cartridge capacity (ex: $13 per 100 page black ink cartridge)
- Estimate monthly pages printed
- Calculate total cartridges needed per year = (Monthly pages printed / Cartridge page yield)
- Multiply cartridges per year by cartridge cost to get annual consumable costs
- Repeat annual costs for 3-5 years to project total ownership costs
Refillable tank printers with lower ink refill costs can save 50-80% over cartridge models.
Our Tip: For moderate sub-200 page per month printing, subscription ink delivery services like HP Instant Ink combined with promotions can cut traditional cartridge costs by 50% or more.
Why Connectivity Matters
Being restricted to using a printer right next to your computer can be inconvenient compared to tapping into wireless printing. The percentage of printers with onboard Wi-Fi has ballooned from under 20% in 2010 to over 90% in 2022.
Wi-Fi enabled printers grew from just 10% in 2003 to over 92% by the end of 2022 according to industry statistics portal Statista. Why? Consumers realized the flexibility benefits of tapping into printer access from anywhere within home and from mobile devices.
Our Tip: We highly advise choosing a Wi-Fi enabled wireless printer even if initially placing it right beside your primary workspace. You‘ll gain the ability to print hassle-free from smartphones, move the printer location later without connectivity concerns and enable seamless printing flexibility house-wide.
The Bottom Line
Still unsure where to begin? As the leading overall package under $300 including robust connectivity and cost-saving instant ink delivery, we suggest starting your search with the exceptional HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e. Diverse functionality, breezy wireless printing and affordable high-yield ink make this our top all-around pick for satisfying any family‘s home printing needs.
That wraps up our deep-dive on finding your match from the best home printers available in the new year. Please contact us if you have any other questions!
Disclosure: As Amazon Associates, we earn commissions from qualifying purchases through links on this site at no added cost to readers. All product recommendations and advice given remain our own honest opinions.
