Printers

Choosing the Right Printer: What to Expect at Different Budgets

by Sayan Dey March 24, 2023 0 comments

When it comes to buying a printer, many factors must be considered to zero in on the right choice. Printing quality, volume, and print speed are the performance parameters that will determine what type of printer will be suitable for you. The features you’d like to have in your printer will determine the budget.

Budget-wise, printers can be divided into three segments-Low, Medium, and High budget. Let’s discuss what you can expect from your printer at each budget point.

Low Budget Printers

In India, low budget printers are available at a price range of upto INR 5,000. For this price range, you will get basic Inkjet or Laser printers. While the former will give you both black and white as well as color prints, the latter will only give you monochrome printouts. Multimedia paper support, Envelopes printing, card printing, Photo paper support, etc. can be found in this segment.

Don’t expect to get high print speeds and features like auto-duplexer, WiFi connectivity, etc. The running cost might be a little high as the ink/toner cost might be a little high in this segment. So, you have to choose one very carefully. Very few options are actually cost-effective in this range like HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2335 All-in-One Printer. It’s a good printer, copier and scanner that’s simple to setup and ideal for everyday usage.

Mid-Range Printers

A mid-range printer can cost anywhere between 5 to 15k INR. In this price range, you can find more advanced Inkjet, Ink Tank or laser printers that offer faster print speeds and may include automatic duplexing, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. You will also get many options with AiO (all-in-one) features like scanning and copying. These printers may also have larger paper trays and more advanced paper-handling capabilities.

In this price segment, you can expect to get some advanced features like Low on Ink Sensor, Smart Guided setup, ID Copy button, etc. A good option to consider in this price segment is the HP Smart Tank 529 AiO. The AIO is great for small businesses like jobbers, law firms, coaching centers, retails stores, etc.

High Budget

High-budget printers can cost anywhere above 20K INR. It’s a suitable budget for various scales of business, offices, institutions, and photocopy shops. At this price point, you can expect advanced features like automatic document feeders, borderless printing, large paper trays, advanced paper handling, and AiO capabilities.

If you are looking for a printer for high quality color and monochrome printing, with auto-duplex capability and large color page printing yield, then check out the advanced inktank printers. HP Smart Tank 790 is one such option. For massive monochrome printing needs, which typically jobbers, law firms and education institutions have, laser printer is a better option. A good option to consider would be the HP LaserJet MFP M233sdw, which has a duty cycle of up to 20000 pages.

Verdict

Ultimately, the right printer will depend on your specific needs and budget. Consider factors like the type and volume of printing you need to do and the features you need before making a decision. Additionally, consider the availability and cost of ink or toner cartridges in your area when deciding, as this can be a high ongoing cost for some printers.

For more information on HP Smart Tank printers, please visit Smart tank > Printers – Shop HP.com India