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Looking for a multifunctional laser printer for your home or office but can’t decide which one? It is understandable. Many factors influence the purchase, and that is sometimes difficult to understand. Consequently, this causes you not to know what to do.
Therefore, today we want to show you a complete shopping guide to understand all the functionalities that these wonderful printers hide. The best of all is that in the end, surely you already have in mind the machine you want to buy. So let’s get started.
The Most Important
- Multifunction laser printers are a type of machine that works with a beam of light (laser). This projects the image to be printed on the sheet and, with the help of toner, permanently plasters it on the document.
- These types of printers include copier, printer, scanner, and, in certain cases, fax. In addition, some models come with a Wi-Fi option and a cloud connection to manage files.
- There are important criteria for choosing an ideal multifunction laser printer. For example, the volume of work, size and weight, type of printing, and volume of printing, among other factors, must be taken into account.
The Best Multifunction Laser Printers in the Market: Our Recommendations
Multifunction laser printers are very varied in terms of technology, capacity, and type of printing. Therefore, it isn’t easy to decide for yourself which one to choose. But, don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for. In this section, we show you the 4 best multifunction laser printers, taking into account the basic needs that exist.
The Best All-in-One Laser Printer for Value for Money
HP Color Laser MFP 179fnw – Color, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Multifunction Laser Printer (4ZB97A)
The HP Laser MFP 179fnw printer is an ideal choice. This all-in-one printer allows us to print and make copies in color and scan and fax very quickly. It also gives printing directly from the mobile or tablet since it has a wireless connection and USB 2.0 port.
Users value it with the best ratings. The reason? This printer has an unmatched value for money. Therefore, if you are looking for a compact, fast machine with great features, this is for you.
Best Multifunction Black and White Laser Printer
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M148fdw – Monochrome, Wi-Fi, Ethernet Laser Multifunction Printer (4PA42A)
This specific model of printer in the HP LaserJet Pro family is an excellent choice for monochrome printing. With it, you can print double-sided automatically. Also, scan, make copies, and send faxes quickly. In addition, it has a wifi option to print from our mobiles—prints at a speed of 30 pages per minute.
This is undoubtedly a great option for its versatility. It is because it offers us several advantages for our comfort, with a compact and light size. In addition, users highlight that it is an excellent purchase concerning its price and good quality.
The Best Multifunction Color Laser Printer
HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw – Color, Wi-Fi, Ethernet Multifunction Laser Printer (W1A80A)
If you are looking for a complete color multifunction laser printer, this is for you. This HP model includes double-sided printing, scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities in a compact design. The recommended volume of prints per month is 4,000 sheets. In addition, it includes a tray to store 300 sheets. And best of all, you can control everything from its mini touch screen.
This model is very versatile and is designed to save you time by automating many steps on a single machine. In addition, it will provide you with quality prints, both for images and documents.
Best Multifunction Laser Printer for a Home Office
Brother MFCL3770CDWG1 – 4-in-1 Compact Color Multifunction Printer, White
This Brother brand color model has a compact design that includes all 4 important functions in 1 machine: double-sided printing, scanning and copying, and faxing. It is possible to print from mobile devices and the Google and Apple printing cloud. In addition, it includes a Wi-Fi / LAN function to connect with your smartphone or tablet.
This compact Brother multifunctional color laser printer brings together many high-quality elements. These will help you get the most out of your home office. This brand is known for avoiding waste and optimizing resources. In addition, it includes a 3-year warranty. So it is a totally reliable choice.
Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Multifunction Laser Printers
When buying a multifunctional laser printer, you may have many doubts about its operation, types, or if there are alternatives. For this reason, below, we will answer some of the most common questions. They will surely help you with your choice.
What is a Multifunction Laser Printer?
Multifunction laser printers, known as all-in-one, are printers that work based on static electricity. It is to attract toner particles to the transfer roller. These particles stick to the sheet of paper. Meanwhile, heat and pressure make a quality print on the sheet in a couple of seconds.
But multifunction laser printers aren’t just limited to printing. In addition, they fulfill the functions of multiple devices. For example, it is also possible to copy and scan documents with one of these printers, including the fax option.
What are the Characteristics of Multifunction Laser Printers?
The Laser Multifunction has some unique features. These differentiate them from other printers such as ink. Therefore, if you want to buy a printer of this type, you have to know what makes them a great work tool.
- An electro-photographic process does printing.
- It has a variety of functions, such as printing, copying, scanning, and faxing.
- The page is scanned, creating an image that is printed.
- Laser printers use toner instead of ink.
- In general, multifunction laser printers have three levels of print quality: draft, normal, and fine.
- All multifunction laser printers come with a certain amount of RAM. It is to store data received from various equipment for printing. The more RAM, the shorter the wait time to print.
- They consume much more power than ink or dot matrix printers. However, the latter consume up to 95% less.
What Types of Multifunction Laser Printers are there?
The multifunctional laser printers have different designs that adapt to the needs of the market. Therefore, we can find several segments focused on the end-user of them. Next, we review their ranking.
| Type | Characteristics | Size | Ideal For |
| All in One Basic | Intended for printing and scanning. Decent PPM | Compact | Home |
| SOHO Printer | All in one + fax. Fast printing capability | Medium | Home office |
| Office Printer | It usually includes features such as encrypted document management, Wi-Fi, mobile and USB compatibility | Big | Medium or large office |
| Production Printers | Very high price. Focused on high speed and quality printing. Advanced layout options | Big | Stationery stores and offices with high demand |
What kind of Ink does a Multifunction Laser Printer Use?
As we mentioned before, multifunction laser printers do not use ink but rather another type of component called toner. It is a kind of powder that has two basic elements: plastic and color pigments.
- Toner is a bit more expensive than ink, but it yields more. Therefore, the printing cost per page is lower.
This powder still comes in cartridges, and, unlike ink, you can store it for quite a long time without the concern that it will be damaged or lose its qualities.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Multifunction Laser Printers?
Multifunction laser printers are a great option, whether it’s in an office or at home. But, of course, you have to consider certain advantages and disadvantages that these products have. Therefore, below, we show you the most important insights.
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent print speed Silent printing Lower cost of printing per page Avoid smudging as the ink dries instantly. They centralize work They save time They require fewer repairs. | Higher initial investment Heavy and bulky They are not ideal for high-quality images. More expensive repairs. Toner is more expensive. |
What is the difference between a Normal Laser Printer and a Multifunction Laser Printer?
There is no difference in the method you use to print, but there is in your capabilities. Basically, a normal laser printer is intended solely for printing. Instead, a multifunction laser printer can do much more than that. It is because it replaces other machines, such as scanners, fax, and copier. Therefore, a multifunction laser printer uses more energy.
Another difference between a normal laser and a multifunctional one is their size and weight. By including more functionality, a multifunction laser printer requires more space at home or in the office. In addition, they usually have more trays to store paper with different dimensions for printing.
Being more complex machines, multifunction laser printers need complete periodic maintenance mainly if it is of great use to perform well and not have problems in the long run.
What Alternatives are there to Multifunction Laser Printers?
Multifunction laser printers are a great alternative to take home or office. However, sometimes the price, power consumption, or different printing purposes can lead people to choose other options. What are these?
First of all, you can go for a normal laser printer. It has the same printing characteristics, but it is cheaper and more compact compared to an all-in-one.
There are also inkjet printers, which are the best known and most used. They are easy to use and maintain. These are generally used in small offices, commercial premises, homes, and graphic design. Also, ink cartridges are cheaper than toner, although they don’t do as much.
If your goal is to have a business more focused on billboards and commercial promotion in huge sizes, plotters are more suitable. These work with inkjet, so they have an incredible print quality.
Purchase Criteria
After reviewing the most frequently asked questions, perhaps you want to know some other aspects that will help you define which multifunctional laser printer best suits your requirements. Therefore, we have collected the most important criteria for you, which will surely help you.
- Size and weight
- Functions to use
- Connectivity
- Print type
- Volume of work
- Paper size
Size and Weight
This is one of the most important factors, considering where you want your multifunctional laser printer. Some printers are tiny, and you can easily accommodate them on a desk. Therefore, they will occupy minimum space. Besides, they are light, and you can move them without problem to another space.
There are also multifunction laser printers that are large and bulky. This is because they have more impressions per minute, storage, and impressions per month. Therefore, depending on the needs of your company or office, it will be better to choose one or the other model. You also have to consider the place of installation and the ease of moving it to a different position.
For example, we can find basic and compact multifunctional laser printers for the home that weigh just 4 kilos. However, there are other models with better features that can weigh between 14 and 15 kilos. And many more complete models can be used in high-demand offices and stationeries that can weigh more than 100 kg.
Functions to Use
A multifunction laser printer by law includes the options of printing, scanning, and copying documents, apart from a fax. But, in addition to this, there are other functions a little more special, depending on the model we find.
Current models with software can scan text sheets and transform them into digital documents for editing with Microsoft Word.
If your idea is to use the fax, you should also be clear about the memory of pages you need. This characteristic represented the number of pages scanned and stored in memory while faxes are being sent.
Another special function is the number of paper trays. The more trays, the less time will be wasted reloading the printer with sheets. In addition, it will allow having other sizes of paper. In the end, if the printer includes more functions than are necessary, it will give us more comfort and save resources.
Connectivity
When it comes to thinking about the necessary connectivity, some printers have different technologies. These make it easy to set up and use a multifunction laser printer. So what are those types of technology?
| Option | Description |
| Cabling | It is prevalent for printers to come with a USB port and a wired connection to interconnect several devices on the same network. It is usually done with Ethernet cables. |
| Wifi | We only need the mobile and the printer to be connected to the same network to print anything. There are options with Wifi Direct, which works similarly, but the devices connect without having to go through a Wi-Fi network. |
| NFC | It uses near-field communications that give way to a direct connection between the mobile and the printer. With this, you work quickly, thanks to the direct proximity to the printer. |
| Cloud | Function to send and download files from the cloud. It allows you to work directly with storage systems, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, One Drive, Box, or One Note. |
Print Type
Some multifunction laser printers have certain features that others do not. First, you must analyze if you want your printer only to print texts or make copies of documents. For this, it would be ideal to purchase a multifunction laser printer that only prints in black and white.
But if you want to print images, colorful texts, or official documents that include the company logo, you definitely need a multifunction laser printer that includes color toner.
You also need to consider the print quality you want to achieve. The multifunction laser printer models have a maximum resolution. This can range from 300 dots per inch (DPI) to 2400 DPI. This characteristic defines the number of pixels that an image contains and, with this, the quality. For example, with a DPI of 1200, it is more than enough and acceptable.
The last point is about double printing. What do we mean? Basically, it is whether the printer can print double-sided automatically or we have to do it manually. The double-sided printing option is very relevant if we want to save time, paper and avoid wasting sheets.
Volume of Work
It is essential to know the number of monthly or annual impressions we will need for different reasons. First, the price of the printer, its maintenance, and consumable changes will be different depending on this need.
Another factor to consider is the maximum number of pages per minute (ppm) that a printer can output. The more demand to print per day, the more important it will be that the ppm is higher since it will save us time.
The monthly duty cycle of a printer is just as important. Even though you can print continuously for a while, there is a point that it starts to get too hot or deteriorate.
The number of impressions that we will make must be estimated and compared with the option that interests us. Thus, we will avoid damaging the printer and affecting its lifetime.
Paper Size
Before buying any multifunction laser printer, you have to consider the paper size it allows you to use for printing. Any printer allows printing with A4 sheets, which are the standard size.
However, there are printers with more capacity, which allow printing in A3 format. This size is usually used for drawing, creating plans, making advertising designs, and more. It is because it allows you to see small details much better.
In addition, there are multifunction laser printers that accept other types of smaller formats, such as A5 and A6, among others. These measurements are ideal for printing information sheets.
Conclusion
Multifunction laser printers are designed to do a wide variety of tasks and make life easier for people. Thanks to their role as a copier, scanner, fax, and more, they are an excellent alternative to implement in offices and at home. But, of course, they need a higher initial investment than other types.
Do not forget to consider the purchase criteria such as volume of work, functions to be used, size, and weight. In this way, you can make a smart purchase. Finally, since you have reached the end of this guide, do not forget to tell us which option you chose. Do not hesitate to share this article on your social networks so that more people know this information.
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