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Are you looking for the best printer that saves ink? First, you must know that finding the bang-for-your-buck printers is a double-edged sword. The more functional they are (i.e., high-speed capacity and color printing features), the more ink cartridges you will have to buy.
When the cartridges are empty, things often get expensive. When it comes to buying a set of cartridges, it usually costs between $30 to $100! It’s therefore wise to choose an ink-saving printer or a printer whose ink can be refilled. But finding a good quality ink-efficient printer is like looking for a pin in a haystack.
I’ve done all the research for you and found that the HP DeskJet 2755e is the overall best ink-saving printer on the market. After this comes the Epson EcoTank printers. Don’t worry, when you continue reading, you’ll discover more details about these printers and find out other top options.
Lest I forget, you’ll also find some buying tips and answers to questions you may be asking just after the review.
Review of the Best Ink Saving Printers
1.Overall Best Ink-Saving Printer: HP DeskJet 2755e
Key features
- HP Smart App
- 6 months HP Instant Ink included
- Prints, copies, and scans
- Bluetooth and dual-band WiFi
- LCD
Many in the printing world often hold one myth: getting a colored printer will make the cost of expendables such as the ink cartridges go over the roof.
Come off that; the HP DeskJet 2755e is changing that annoying rule! This is without a doubt the best ink-saving printer on the market. And there are a couple of reasons why it is.
First, it comes with an exclusive 6 months of Instant Ink as a bonus and will last about 700 pages per month, 4,200 pages in total. Even when the free ink is exhausted, you’ll be able to save up to 50% ink when using the new one you order.
Another key feature with this printer is that it is almost dirt-cheap despite its cost-effective operation and feature-rich pack! The machine sells below $100 and has an ultra-compact dimension, saving you more space.
Apart from scanning and copying, you can do much more. The device is a 3-in-1 multifunction machine that integrates a touch panel screen to manage its functions. The printer can print, scan, and copy.
It also has wireless connectivity. You can connect to any mobile device or computer instantly. You can also manage it through its mobile application, the HP Smart App, compatible with Android or Apple.
Given its low price, there are some downsides that aren’t really a deal-breaker but are worth keeping in mind. First, don’t expect to do a double-side printing on this; there’s nothing like that here!
Again, it does not support Windows XP or Vista, and it is not the fastest among its counterparts. It also does not do duplex printing automatically. Of course, the resolution is very high, giving a fantastic quality. So, it’s ideal for those who do not print much but want quality printouts.
Pros
- WiFi connectivity for all types of devices
- It comes with free ink that can last several months
- Quality resolution
- Ink ordering service
Cons
- It does not have an automatic double-sided function
2. Best Multifunction and Cost-Effective Printer: Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Printer
Key features
- EcoTank printer
- Cartridge-free
- 10.5 pages per minute speed
- 5,760 x 1,440 dpi print resolution
- Voice-activated printing
- 1.44-inch color display
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 printer is a 3-in-1 inkjet multifunction device for printing, copying, and scanning. It uses Epson’s so-called MicroPiezo print head for a maximum print resolution of 5,760 x 1,440 dpi.
However, the speed is slow in both colored and black and white printing. It only manages 10.5 pages per minute in monochrome printing and is snail-like in colored – just 5 pages per minute. Honestly, I was expecting more for the price the printer offers.
However, with a single ink bottle set with four colors of 65 milliliters each, which is included in the scope of delivery, up to 4,500 pages can be printed in black and up to 7,500 pages in color. You can save up to 90 percent with replacement ink compared to cartridge ink.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2720 printer offers multiple connection options, including a classic USB connection, WLAN connection, and Ethernet connectivity. According to the manufacturer, wireless printing is also possible via WiFi Direct. Epson also says mobile printing is possible via the Epson Smart Panel. Google Cloud Print is, however, not supported.
The printer has a paper tray capacity of up to 100 sheets and supports numerous paper formats from DIN A4 and smaller. Manual duplex printing is also possible, but automatic double-sided printing or an automatic document feeder is unavailable.
The printer supports borderless photo printing up to a size of 10 x 15 centimeters at speeds of up to 10 photos per minute. According to the manufacturer, important information is displayed on a 1.44-inch color LC display.
Pros
- Mobile printing via the Epson Smart Panel
- 3-in-1 multifunction device for printing, scanning, and copying
- Supplied with ink set in four colors
- Replaceable ink offers up to 90% cost-efficiency
Cons
- No Google Cloud Print support
- No automatic duplex printing
3. Best Refillable Ink Printer: The Epson EcoTank 3750
Key features
- Ethernet connectivity
- Double-sided printing
- Prints, copies, and scans
- WiFi connectivity technology
- Includes EcoTank refillable bottles
With the Epson EcoTank ET-3750 multifunction inkjet printer, you’d be saying goodbye to expensive ink cartridges… And hello to refillable inks!
The EcoTank inkjet printer offers a special feature that sets it apart from other inkjet printers: it is equipped with a refillable ink tank. A filling corresponds approximately to the quantity of 88 individual cartridges.
This feature should make the EcoTank particularly ideal for frequently used printers. The tank is not replaced if the ink is used up, but the ink is “refilled” from bottles.
But what exactly is Epson’s ink tank technology? The ink tank is an alternative to the classic, small ink cartridges. Instead of using four small cartridges, the Epson EcoTank 3750 draws its colors from built-in tanks filled with ink in the appropriate color.
A tank holds approximately the contents of 88 individual color cartridges. The advantage is larger print volumes with low printing costs. And it is also more environmentally friendly because there is less waste.
The inkjet multifunction printer comes with ink for three years, i.e., printing up to 14,000 pages in black and white and around 11,200 pages in color.
The refillable ink tank reduces the printing costs of the EcoTank printer by up to 90 percent compared to the cartridge, says Epson concerning ink costs. Some consumers often wrongly ignore this point of follow-up costs.
The paper tray holds up to 150 sheets. Epson gives a 12-month warranty on this printer. As a 3-in-1 printer, the Epson can print, copy, and scan – however, this device does not have a fax function.
The automatic duplex and borderless printing as well as the ease of connection, are practical for everyday office life: the printer can be connected directly to a computer via USB or integrated into the company network via the Ethernet interface and WiFi. The Epson also communicates with smartphones or tablets via WiFi Direct.
Pros
- Refillable ink tank
- 3 year supply of ink included in delivery
- Can scan to cloud
- It doesn’t jam during double-sided printing
- It doesn’t require buying ink cartridges
Cons
- No fax function is available
- Double-sided scanning is not possible.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Ink-Saving Printer
Thinking of purchasing a printer independently, or do you still want to be sure the one you’re about to choose will save you needless expenses on ink? Read on to discover some of the factors to consider when selecting an ink-saving printer.
Printer type
Almost all models available on the market use either laser or inkjet technology. Printers with inkjet technology are popular for private use with low print volumes. With the inkjet printing technology, the quality is very high. Photos, in particular, can be printed borderless with great color and detail fidelity.
Laser printers are often the better choice for companies, especially when focusing on printing documents. Laser printers work fast, the print volume is high, and the printouts are smudge and water-resistant, which is not the case with inkjet printers.
Laser printers used to be expensive, and the printing costs were relatively high. However, this has changed over the years. The toner, fuser, and image drum prices are now significantly lower and no longer a costly affair.
Anyone who places more value on document printing needs a higher daily print volume and should choose a laser printer. A laser printer’s cost per printed page is far lower than that of an inkjet. If photo printing is more important, you should opt for an inkjet printer.
The newer models of inkjet multifunction devices are no longer equipped with four ink cartridges as standard but with five or even six cartridges. Although this improves print quality, the cost of prints increases by a margin.
If you have to print a lot, you should choose a device that can hold XXL cartridges. The larger bins also lower the price per printed page. The so-called EcoTank printers are even cheaper. Instead of exchangeable color cartridges, the ink is refilled from bottles in large, permanently installed ink tanks. An ink tank holds the amount of over 80 ink cartridges. The quality stays the same.
The functionality
The next question should be: Do I only want to print, or will I also scan, make copies, and fax? If you only want to print, the decision would be on a space-saving ink or laser printer. Otherwise, only a multifunction device comes into question. There are multi-functional printers that can print, copy, and scan.
Is a fax function required? If not, a 3-in-1 printer is sufficient, i.e., printing/copying/scanning. With 4-in-1, the fourth function would be faxing. The higher the functions, the more expensive the printer gets.
Monochrome, colored, or photo printing?
It is also important to consider the type of document the machine will print. Predominantly text documents, colored graphics, or rather photos? There are corresponding printers for all three variants. A color laser printer reliably takes care of texts and graphics, while inkjet printers are better at photos.
Print resolution
The print quality is crucial when purchasing the printer. This is usually given in dots-per-inch – dpi. The higher the dpi specification, the better the print quality. The same applies to the scan quality. This characteristic of quality applies to both photo and text printing. Text printing should not fall below 600 dpi. For images, it should be at least 1,200 x 1,200 dpi.
Printing speed
If there is a lot of printing in everyday office life, printing speed plays a decisive role. Printers with speeds of 5 to 10 pages per minute are fine for home use. For an office with several employees and a higher volume of print jobs, the speed should be over 25 pages per minute in color and 30 pages per minute in black and white.
Extra features
Should the printer be integrated into a home or office network? If so, then the printer must be WiFi-enabled.
If you often print out photos, you should choose a printer with a slot for an SD card. The printer can then print directly from the camera’s memory card. For photo printing, it should be a printer with five or six color cartridges.
If you print a lot and want to save paper, duplex printing is an exciting feature the printer should have. With the duplex function, the front and back of a sheet are automatically printed in one step.
In general, multifunction printers have an easy-to-use and intuitive display. A backlit display also makes the printer practical and is an uncomplicated control element.
Conclusion
Laser printers are almost unbeatable when it comes to printers that save ink. They’re also the ideal choice in terms of speed and drying time. The printouts are smudge-proof immediately after the page is printed.
Below is our final verdict on the best ink-saving printers:
- Overall Best Ink-Saving Printer: HP DeskJet 2755e
- Best Multifunction and Cost-Effective Printer: Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Printer
- Best Refillable Ink Printer: The Epson EcoTank 3750
Frequently Asked Questions
Laser printers have the lowest quality per page. For basic documents, monochrome laser printers are more economical on ink. However, inkjet printers offer the best print quality for photo printing. Although, Epson is changing the game in the scheme of economical printing. If you want an economical printer, choose an Epson EcoTank or the HP Deskjet 2755e.
Without a doubt, inkjet printers are cheaper than laser printers. However, the running costs for inkjet printers can be higher, while laser printers can help you save a lot on running costs.
Inkjet printers are convincing when it comes to photo printing but have relatively high follow-up costs in terms of ink cartridges. Here, Epson brought out a real innovation with its EcoTank, which is also remarkably inexpensive. The refillable tanks hold enough ink to even print for a few years. On the other hand, laser printers are often preferred by heavy-duty printers who need to print a lot in black and white.
Laser printers are economical on ink, especially if you’re printing many documents. If you want an inkjet printer that saves ink, the Epson EcoTank printers are very economical on ink.
