Our Top Picks
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjetone size13.29 x 18.11 x 9.17 inches17.6 poundsCheck on Amazon
Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless PrinterOne Size11.7 x 17.2 x 7.5 inches12.7 poundsCheck on Amazon
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function PrinterStandard15.7 x 16.1 x 12.5 inches25 poundsCheck on Amazon
The best printers for most households are the ones that match how often you actually print, not the ones with the longest feature list. A low-cost cartridge inkjet suits occasional pages, a refillable-tank model suits steady weekly printing, and a compact monochrome laser suits people who mostly print text. This page sorts eight Amazon listings along those lines, using only what each product title states. Where a title is silent, we say “check the listing” and tell you what to look for.
Top picks at a glance
HP DeskJet 2923 Color Inkjet Printer | Wireless | All-in-One | Easy Home Printing | Color Documents | Mobile Compatibility | Print, Scan & Copy | Ideal Home Use
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HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, Scan, Copy, ADF, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home Office, 3 Month Trial of Instant Ink Included, AI-Capable (C2VJ4A)
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HP Smart Tank 5003 Ink Tank Printer | 3 Years of Ink Included | All-in-One | Low Cost Printing | Cartridge-Free Refillable Ink System | Wireless Printer | Print, Scan, Copy | Ideal for Home
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HP DeskJet 2955 Color Inkjet Printer | Wireless | All-in-One | Easy Home Printing | Color Documents | Mobile Compatibility | Print, Scan & Copy | Ideal Home Use
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Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black
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Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Printer, Copy, Scan, Duplex, Mobile Printing
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Canon MegaTank G3270 All-in-One Wireless Color Printer | Print, Copy, Scan, Refillable Tank System, Compact Desktop Design, Home & Office Use
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| Model | Key point from the title | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP DeskJet 2923 | Wireless color inkjet, print/scan/copy | Budget | Light, occasional home printing |
| Canon PIXMA TS4320 | Wireless color inkjet, compact design | Budget | Small spaces, mixed documents and photos |
| HP DeskJet 2955 | Same wording as the 2923 | Mid-range | Shoppers who find it in stock locally |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Auto document feeder, built-in fax | Mid-range | Home paperwork and the odd fax |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 | ADF, duplex, Instant Ink trial | Mid-range | Home office with multi-page jobs |
| HP Smart Tank 5003 | Refillable ink, 3 years of ink included | Premium | Frequent color printing at low cost per page |
| Brother DCP-L2640DW | Monochrome laser, duplex, wireless | Premium | Text-heavy printing |
| Canon MegaTank G3270 | Refillable tank, home and office use | Premium | High-volume color on a budget per page |
Where home printing is heading
Home printers are splitting into three camps, and knowing which camp a listing belongs to saves more money than comparing feature checkboxes. The first camp is the classic low-price cartridge inkjet, sold cheaply on the assumption that you will keep buying ink. The second is the refillable-tank printer, which costs more at the register but is built around bottled ink that is generally cheaper per page. The third is the compact laser, which has become small enough to sit on a shelf and favors text over color.
Subscription ink programs have also become common. Instead of buying cartridges when you run out, you pay a monthly fee based on pages printed. These plans can be convenient for light, steady users, but the terms matter: page allowances, rollover rules and what happens when you cancel differ between programs. A free trial in a product title is a promotion, not a feature of the hardware.
Phone-first setup is another shift. Many printers now expect you to install a companion app, sign in and join the printer to your network from your handset. That is easy when it works, and annoying when your router, phone permissions or account requirements get in the way. Labels such as “AI-capable” in a title are marketing language; if it matters to you, look for a plain explanation on the listing of what the feature actually does.
Security has quietly become part of the shopping list as well. A printer is a small computer on your network, so look for firmware updates on the maker’s support page, change any default passwords, and avoid exposing the device to the internet. None of the titles here discuss this, which is normal; it is a reason to check the manufacturer’s documentation rather than a reason to avoid any of the models.
Finally, many shoppers print less than they expect. A printer that sits idle for weeks has different needs from one that runs every evening, which is why we group these listings by ink system first. Treat any claim about page yield or running cost as a manufacturer figure until you have compared it against the consumable prices on the day you buy.
How we picked these
We started from the eight listings supplied for this page and compared them on the information published in each title, backed by general knowledge of how inkjet, tank and laser printers work. We looked at ink system, features named in the title, and the kind of household each one plausibly fits. Nobody on the team used or measured these units. Our basis is published specifications, manufacturer documentation and buyer reviews, so treat every performance statement as a seller or manufacturer claim until you confirm it on the product page.
The listings, one by one
HP DeskJet 2923
The title describes a wireless color inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans and copies, with mobile compatibility and a “home use” pitch. That is the standard entry-level recipe: a small footprint, low sticker price and cartridge-based ink. Picture a shared flat where a few forms and a school project get printed each month, and nobody wants to maintain a machine.
The trade-off is simple. You get a machine that covers the basics and little else, so every extra, from a feeder to two-sided printing, is something you do by hand. Buyers who print a handful of pages a month rarely miss those extras. Anyone who copies multi-page statements, or prints thick packets for a club or a class, will feel the limits within weeks and may prefer one of the feeder-equipped models further down.
Pros
- Low entry price within this set and a simple feature list.
- Wireless and mobile-ready according to the title, so no cable is needed.
Cons
- Cartridge ink in cheap printers can cost more per page over time.
- The title mentions no document feeder or duplex printing.
Check the listing: which cartridges it uses, whether starter cartridges are included, supported paper sizes, and whether an account is needed during setup. Ask before buying: how many pages a month will you print, and does a replacement set of cartridges cost more than a large share of the printer’s price?
Canon PIXMA TS4320
This listing calls itself a wireless color inkjet with print, copy and scan, a “cost efficient” multi-function design for home use, a compact body and easy setup. It also uses the words “photo printer,” which is a marketing label rather than a specification. Think of a student desk or a bedroom corner where space is tight and printing is a weekly event.
Against the DeskJet 2923, the differences visible in the title are the compact-design pitch and the photo wording, not a clear step up in features. That makes the choice largely about familiarity, paper handling you may prefer, and which maker’s ink you would rather buy. Compare the replacement cartridge prices for both, because that figure, not the printer’s sticker, decides which one is cheaper after a year or two of use.
Pros
- Compact design stated in the title, helpful on small shelves.
- Covers print, copy and scan at a budget level in this set.
Cons
- No feeder, duplex or fax mentioned in the title.
- “Cost efficient” is a claim; it says nothing about cartridge prices.
Check the listing: the cartridge model numbers and whether a high-capacity version exists, paper tray capacity, and what photo sizes are supported if photos matter to you. Ask before buying: will occasional photo prints on this machine satisfy you, or would you prefer sending them to a print service?
HP DeskJet 2955
Read the title side by side with the DeskJet 2923 and you will find the same wording: wireless, all-in-one, easy home printing, color documents, mobile compatibility and print, scan and copy. We cannot tell from the titles what, if anything, separates them, and this one sits higher in the price ordering. Treat it as a near-duplicate listing and compare the two product pages line by line.
The most honest advice here is to treat this as a comparison problem. Open the two product pages in separate tabs, look at the bullet lists, the box contents and any listed model differences. If the listings are truly identical in everything that matters to you, the cheaper one wins. If the 2955 offers something specific, such as a bundled ink allowance or a longer warranty, the extra cost may make sense, but that has to come from the listing, not from guesswork.
Pros
- Same entry-level feature set as its sibling, so setup expectations are similar.
- May be easier to find in stock in some places; availability varies.
Cons
- Higher price tier with no difference visible in the title.
- No feeder or duplex mentioned.
Check the listing: the “what’s in the box” and “item differences” fields, ink bundle details and warranty length. Ask before buying: what exactly do I get for the extra cost over the 2923, and if the answer is nothing visible, why pay it?
Canon PIXMA TR4720
Here the title names an automatic document feeder, mobile printing and built-in fax, on top of wireless all-in-one printing, in black. Few budget inkjets mention a feeder, which makes this the practical choice for someone who copies multi-page paperwork. Imagine a household that still receives the odd form that must be faxed, or a sole trader scanning a stack of invoices on Fridays.
It also fits a small-business mindset on a minimal budget: a market stall owner who photocopies supplier paperwork, or a landlord who scans lease pages for tenants. The built-in fax is the unusual detail. If you genuinely never send faxes, this is not a reason to buy it, and you could save money with a model aimed at plain printing. If you do, a built-in option avoids juggling an online fax account every time a form arrives.
Pros
- Document feeder and fax in the title, rare at this level.
- Wireless and mobile printing for everyday jobs.
Cons
- Feeder capacity and two-sided scanning are not stated.
- Cartridge costs are not in the title and affect the long-term price.
Check the listing: feeder sheet capacity, whether fax needs a landline, cartridge sizes and duplex printing support. Ask before buying: do I truly need fax, or would a scan-to-email feature cover it?
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125
The title packs in the most workplace features of the inkjets here: wireless all-in-one, print, scan, copy, an automatic document feeder, duplex printing, a three-month trial of an ink subscription and an “AI-capable” label, with model number C2VJ4A. It is pitched at the home office. A freelancer who prints contracts double-sided and scans stacks of receipts is the obvious user.
This is the listing we would shortlist first for a work-from-home setup within this group, simply because its title names the most office-oriented tools together: feeder, duplex and a trial plan. That does not make it the best performer; nobody on the team has measured speed or print quality. It just means the stated feature list lines up with how a home office actually works, and the extra cost over the basic DeskJets is easy to justify on paper if you print or scan several times a week.
Pros
- Feeder and duplex named in the title.
- Trial subscription may help you judge whether the plan fits your habits.
Cons
- Subscription trials can be followed by a paid plan; read the terms.
- “AI-capable” is not explained in the title.
Check the listing: what the AI label refers to, whether the feeder scans both sides, monthly page ratings, and cartridge availability outside the subscription. Ask before buying: will I use the subscription, and what happens to printing if I cancel?
HP Smart Tank 5003
This is the first of two refillable designs. The title says ink tank printer, cartridge-free, refillable ink system, low-cost printing, three years of ink included, all-in-one, wireless, print, scan and copy, ideal for home. A family printing homework and recipes every week fits the use case; the whole point is spending less per page after the higher purchase price.
Think of it as a decision about habits rather than gadgets. A household that prints a weekly meal plan, homework and the occasional boarding pass will feel the lower cost per page quickly. A household that prints only at tax time will not, and a cheap cartridge model might serve better. Also consider space for ink bottles and the willingness to refill carefully; the process is not hard, but it is less tidy than snapping in a cartridge.
Pros
- Refillable system aims at lower running cost for regular printing.
- The title says a long supply of ink is included.
Cons
- Higher up-front cost than cartridge inkjets in this set.
- Refilling can be messy; follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep ink bottles away from children.
Check the listing: what “three years of ink” means in pages or bottles, whether it assumes a particular usage level, and whether a feeder or duplex is present, because the title mentions neither. Ask before buying: do I print enough each month to justify a tank?
Brother DCP-L2640DW
A wireless, compact monochrome laser multi-function printer that copies, scans, prints two-sided and supports mobile printing. Monochrome means no color output at all. If your printing is mostly text, such as shipping paperwork, school forms or work documents, a mono laser keeps things tidy and avoids the dried-nozzle worries inkjets sometimes have after long idle periods.
Another reason to consider a mono laser is reliability of the experience: toner does not dry out the way liquid ink can, so a machine used in bursts, such as a home business that prints invoices on the first of each month, tends to be easier to live with. The cost is flexibility. A single color school project means a trip to a print shop or a second machine. Also confirm the paper handling and whether the scanner is flatbed only.
Pros
- Duplex printing named in the title.
- Laser toner is generally well suited to infrequent text printing.
Cons
- Black and white only.
- Higher purchase price tier in this set.
Check the listing: whether it includes a starter toner cartridge, toner yield for replacements, whether there is a document feeder, and paper sizes. Ask before buying: will I miss color within six months, even for something like a school poster?
Canon MegaTank G3270
The second refillable design is described as an all-in-one wireless color printer with print, copy and scan, a refillable tank system, a compact desktop design and home and office use. It does not mention a feeder, fax or duplex. A small shop or a home with teenagers printing assignments weekly benefits from low cost per page, if the numbers work out.
This one competes directly with the HP Smart Tank 5003, and the title gives you few differences to separate them beyond brand, the compact-desktop wording and a higher tier here. Treat the choice as an ecosystem question: which maker’s apps, replacement bottles and support policies do you prefer? Neither title mentions a feeder or duplex, so shoppers who need those should look to the OfficeJet Pro 8125 or the Brother laser instead.
Pros
- Refillable tank system for regular color printing.
- Compact desktop footprint according to the title.
Cons
- Highest price tier in this set.
- Title mentions no feeder or duplex printing.
Check the listing: included ink volume, replacement bottle prices, and tank capacity-based page ratings. Be wary of any listing without a clear statement of what is in the box. Ask before buying: do I print enough to recover the premium compared with the HP Smart Tank 5003, and does the lack of a feeder matter?
How to choose among them
Start with ink system, not features
Cartridge inkjets minimize the purchase price but can be pricey to feed. Tank printers reverse that. Laser models cost more than the cheapest inkjets and tend to pay back on text-heavy workloads. If you cannot decide, estimate your monthly pages honestly. Under roughly twenty pages a month, a budget cartridge model is usually fine; above a few hundred, running cost starts to dominate.
Features that earn their place
A document feeder is worth paying for if you copy or scan stacks. Duplex printing saves paper and is useful for anything longer than a couple of pages. Fax is rarely needed, but if a landlord, clinic or agency still demands it, the built-in kind is easier than an online service. Wireless and mobile printing are common across this set, so use them as a baseline rather than a selling point.
Setup, apps and accounts
Check whether the printer needs a manufacturer account, and whether it works without a phone app. Some models limit features unless you sign in. Look at the operating systems supported and whether older computers are covered. Keep firmware updated by following the manufacturer’s instructions, and secure the printer’s network settings with a password.
Worked example: five years of ownership
These numbers are illustrative assumptions, not prices from any listing. Suppose you print 40 pages a month, 60 percent of them in color. Assume a cartridge printer costs a low amount to buy, with replacement cartridges adding the equivalent of 8 cents per page for color-mixed output. A tank printer costs more to buy but only about 2 cents per page. Over 60 months you print 2,400 pages: the cartridge route adds about 192 in ink, the tank about 48. The 144 difference may or may not cover the higher purchase price, which is exactly why the break-even point depends on your volume. If you print 10 pages a month, the cartridge route nearly always wins. If you print 100, the tank route usually does. Always verify consumable prices on the day you buy.
| Spec concept | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ink system | Cartridge, tank or toner named in the title | Sets running cost per page |
| Document feeder | “ADF” or “auto document feeder” plus sheet capacity | Saves time on multi-page copying and scanning |
| Duplex | “Duplex printing” rather than “two-sided scanning” | Cuts paper and makes bulky documents manageable |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, mobile printing, USB, Ethernet if offered | Determines how easily every device prints |
| Starter supplies | “Included” ink or toner quantities | Starter packs are often smaller than replacements |
Maintenance and long-term care
Every printer type asks something of you. Inkjets benefit from regular use, since printing a page every week or two helps keep nozzles clear. Tank models add refilling and the occasional cleaning routine. Lasers need little day-to-day attention but should sit in a ventilated spot, and you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions when replacing toner or clearing a paper jam. Unplug the machine before opening panels, and never force a stuck sheet out with tools. If a model is installed in a shared office, ask who will take ownership of supplies, because a printer without a nominated owner tends to run out of ink on the day it matters most.
Paper and media
Check the paper types and sizes supported. Envelopes, labels and photo paper often need specific settings. If you plan to print shipping labels at volume, read our label printer comparison instead, because a dedicated label printer generally handles that job better than an office all-in-one.
Brand-specific shopping
If you already lean toward one maker, see our look at Epson printers for alternatives outside this group.
Mistakes buyers make
The first mistake is shopping on purchase price alone. A very cheap printer can turn into the most expensive route after a couple of years of cartridges. The second is paying for features you will not use: fax, feeders and duplex all add cost, so skip them if your habits do not call for them.
The third mistake is trusting a free-ink promotion without reading the terms. Three years of ink or a three-month trial can help, but you should know what the allowance is and what happens afterward. The fourth is ignoring idle time. Inkjet printers left unused for long periods may clog and waste ink on cleaning cycles; if your printing is rare, consider a laser or accept occasional maintenance.
The fifth is assuming duplicate listings are different products. The two DeskJet titles read the same, so confirm differences before paying more. The sixth is skipping safety basics: keep ink bottles and toner away from children and pets, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for refilling, cleaning and disposal.
Verdict by use case
- Occasional printing on a tight budget: the HP DeskJet 2923 or Canon PIXMA TS4320.
- Paperwork with a document feeder: the Canon PIXMA TR4720 or HP OfficeJet Pro 8125, depending on whether you want fax or duplex.
- Frequent color printing at low cost per page: the HP Smart Tank 5003 or Canon MegaTank G3270, after checking what is in the box.
- Mostly text, black and white: the Brother DCP-L2640DW.
- Not recommended without comparison: the HP DeskJet 2955, until you can see what justifies its higher tier over the 2923.
If your project is more about making objects than documents, the 3D printer guide covers a different category entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Is an inkjet or a laser printer better for home use?
It depends on what you print. Inkjets handle color documents and occasional photos, and they tolerate long gaps between jobs better than most lasers. A monochrome laser suits households that mostly print text pages such as forms, school handouts and shipping paperwork, because the toner generally stays usable through quiet stretches. If you print color rarely and text often, a mono laser is a sensible match. Check each listing for supported paper sizes and consumable costs before choosing.
Are refillable ink tank printers worth the higher purchase price?
They can be if you print regularly. Tank designs usually cost more up front, but bottled ink is generally cheaper per page than small cartridges. Whether you ever recoup the difference depends on your volume. Someone printing a few pages a month may never break even, while a family printing weekly school and work documents often does. Read the listing for what is included in the box, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when refilling.
Do I need a printer with an automatic document feeder?
Only if you copy or scan multi-page documents. A feeder lets you load a stack and walk away, which matters for tax paperwork, contracts and school forms. If you mostly scan single receipts or photos from the glass, a feeder adds cost without much benefit. In this set, the titles of the HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 and Canon PIXMA TR4720 mention one, so confirm capacity and whether it handles two-sided originals on the listing.
What does duplex printing mean?
Duplex printing means the printer can automatically print on both sides of a sheet without you flipping the paper. It cuts paper use and makes thicker documents easier to handle. Do not confuse it with two-sided scanning, which is a separate feature. In this roundup, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 and Brother DCP-L2640DW mention duplex in their titles, but check whether other listings offer manual two-sided printing only.
Can I print from my phone to these printers?
Several titles mention wireless printing or mobile compatibility, which usually means you can send jobs from a phone or tablet over your home network using the maker’s app or built-in system printing. Setup quality varies, and routers with separate guest or 5 GHz bands can cause pairing trouble. Check the listing for supported operating systems and whether an account is required. Keep the printer’s firmware updated using the manufacturer’s instructions.
How do I know whether a “free ink” offer is really worth it?
Treat it as a promotion to verify, not a spec. Find out what the allowance is in pages or bottles, how long it lasts at your usage, whether activation or an account is required, and what happens when it ends. A genuine multi-year supply could remove most of your ink cost for a family that prints weekly. A small trial on a printer you would not otherwise buy is not a reason to choose it.
