For many years, paper and printers have been our main source for gathering and keeping records of various information. However, this is the era of digital and virtual reality where the need for printing is not too intense. Everything can be done online digitally with the help of your smartphone or computer.
Although no matter how paperless we become, we are yet to overcome our ties with the physical documents. So, there is always a need for a printer for your occasional printing needs. Isn’t there?
Getting a printer that you know is not going to be in use as frequently surely puts one in a conundrum. So, you need to be well informed to find out the best printer for occasional use.
How did We Make This List?
There are many printers in the market with different functions and qualities. Ipso facto, it can be difficult to choose just the printer perfectly fitting your version of an ideal printer. Therefore, we took the liberty to find you your most suitable printer.
To give you the most appropriate choice for the best printer for infrequent use, there was a lot of research and analysis to go through. We spent a lot of time surfing through the internet and gathering all the possible information we can muster.
We checked different products and their features through different websites, articles, and blogs to get the full picture. But not only that, to confirm the reliability and durability of the products promised by the manufacturer, we went to different platforms like Subreddit, Amazon, and Youtube.
These platforms helped us connect with the present customers and allow them to share their experience and review so we can find out whether these products stand true to their claims or not.
What to Look for in the Best Printer for Infrequent Use?
There are some attributes that you have to look for in a good printer even if you are not going to use it multiple times in a day. The very first thing that you have to look out for is the type of ink the printer uses because cheap ink can block and jam it, which consequently only adds to the inconvenience.
After that comes the other factors that are also essential for a printer like the type of printer, connectivity, and durability. These are some of the key factors that you have to look for.
Best Printer for Infrequent Use
Canon is one of the companies that has been ruling the printer market for quite a while. The Canon Color imageCLASS MF644Cdw – All in One Wireless Laser Printer is one of the best printers for infrequent use that are available in the market.
It offers a great resolution color print with full precision and details. This printer provides such a detailed print which an inkjet printer can never match.
This printer may not be the most space-efficient or compact in size but it sure does have an elegant appeal which makes it good to look at. Plus, it is very easy to set up – you just have to plug it into a power source and you are good to go.
The Canon Color imageCLASS wireless printer comes with toner ink which is much more long-lasting than the traditional ink cartridges. Additionally, the ink doesn’t dry up and block the printer, something of an advantage for sure.
This is an all in one printing machine, which means it provides the functions of scanning, copying, and printing as well as taking care of all of your other printing needs. Furthermore, it also has an automatic document feeder duplex scanner, which states that it can also print dual-sided with just a push of a button.
However, the operational cost of this printer can be a little hard to bear. The color prints in this printer can go up to 16 cents per page which is a little higher amount than usual. In addition, the price of this machine is also a little steep, so you have to think about your budget before buying this printer.
Pros
- This printer does not require maintenance on a regular basis
- It is very easy to set up and configure – just plug it in and start printing
- Canon Color imageCLASS wireless printer comes with automatic duplex printing
- It is a very quiet machine so you can print without a lot of noise
Cons
- The operational cost of this printer is higher than standard printers
- It is a little expensive and may not be suitable for budget buyers
Verdict
Canon Color imageCLASS MF644Cdw – All in One Wireless Laser Printer can be a great choice for you whether you want frequent prints or not. With toner ink and minimal maintenance, it can last you for a long time. People who are looking for a great quality printer should surely consider this piece of machinery.
It wouldn’t be preposterous to say that Epson has kind of become synonymous with the work printer itself. They offer a large variety of printers for people with different needs at an affordable rate.
In fact, Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer has been one of their best sellers for quite a while.
Many customers in the market prefer a laserjet printer since they are long-lasting and the toner is less prone to dry out. However, with a product like Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer, you can certainly make an exception.
As the name suggests, the Epson EcoTank consists of large ink reservoirs that can store a large amount of ink in their tanks. These ink tanks can be very budget-friendly and easy to refill. And with the help of these large tanks, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 printer promises to deliver thousands of printed pages in just one fill.
This printer can print up to 4500 pages of black paper and 7500 pages of color paper in a single fill which is something ṭhat had turned many heads in the direction of this product. Also, the operational cost of this printer is also very low which can help in cost reduction.
Although, the question of dry ink still arises. Since it is an inkjet printer the ink of these printers can dry out and can clog the nozzles if it is not used over a period of time. Nevertheless, this problem can be solved if the user prints a black and color page in some intervals which will keep the ink from drying out.
Pros
- It provides a large number of connectivity options, both wired and wireless
- It can print high-quality prints at a very affordable price, giving the lowest operating cost possible
- This printer comes with 2 years of ink included in the shipping package
- Has a compact design ensuring that less space is occupied
Cons
- The print speed is not too great and can take some time in printing bulk prints
- The small screen is also a drawback for the Epson EcoTank wireless all in one printer
Verdict
Even after having a downside in printing time and drying ink, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer is considered to be the best printer in the market. With many tricks up its sleeves, it can win the hearts of many people and last for a long time if taken care of properly.
If you want a printer with no fuss and frills then the HP 115 Color Single Function Ink Tank Printer is made for you. As the name suggests, the HP 115 Color Single Function Ink Tank Printer is a single function printer that offers only and only one thing! Printing.
It is an ideal product for customers who just want a simple and traditional printer with no high tech functions like duplex printing, scanning, copying, etc. or a vast variety of connectivity options like wireless printing cloud connectivity.
Nevertheless, this printer does have a USB slot which is the one and only source of connectivity. Just plug it with your computer or laptop and it will easily download all the drivers necessary for printing.
Regardless of having fewer features to work with, the HP 115 Color Single Function Ink Tank Printer sure does provide a good resolution print and the dpi (dots per inch) of this printer can go up to 4800 which is considered to be a good number.
The printing speed of the HP 115 color ink tank printer is also pretty impressive. It is capable of printing 7.5 pages of black paper per minute (ppm) and 4.5 pages of color paper in a minute.
Besides the high-performance speed, this printer will also be a good choice for your pocket since it can print a page of standard paper at an affordable operating cost.
Pros
- It is extremely affordable, hence it is ideal for budget buyers
- This printer can print with a great performance output of 7.5 pages of black and 4.5 pages of color print
- The HP 115 color ink tank printer also comes with the feature of duplex or dual-sided printing
Cons
- It lacks many advanced features which are necessary in the current environment
- The ink options that you can be used in this printer is limited and only supplied by HP
Verdict
The HP 115 Color Single Function Ink Tank Printer is a great choice for an individual who is looking for a simple, affordable yet reliable printer. It can provide you great resolution output quickly and at an affordable price too. Something that is basically what we all look in a printer generally.
The HP LaserJet Pro M15w Wireless Laser Printer is another great choice for the tech-savvy people. It offers a variety of different features at an affordable price.
Plus, the HP LaserJet Pro M15w Wireless Laser Printer is said to be the smallest and the most compact printer in its class which will be a great benefit for people with small working areas.
This monochrome printer offers only black and white printing which will be great for printing occasional documents for your school or office work. Furthermore, since it is a laser printer the toner of the printer tends to last much longer than usual, making it ideal for light home use.
Besides having a compact design and elegant looks, this printer is also a strong competitor when it comes to performance. The HP LaserJet Pro M15w Wireless Laser Printer is designed for productivity and durability meaning it can print high-quality prints at a ridiculously fast speed.
It provides you a reasonable number of connectivity options and comes with wireless features like Wi-Fi and cloud printing. You can also print directly from your smartphone with the help of the HP mobile app. Moreover, it also offers basic USB connectivity for computer printing.
However, it does not offer auto-duplex or dual-sided printing, which means you have to manually turn over the pages whenever you want to print dual-sided.
Pros
- This printer is capable of printing on various media including envelopes, papers, etc.
- It offers a sleek and compact design and also is the smallest printer in its class
- It is very easy to set up and configure which is a great advantage according to some customers on Reddit
- HP LaserJet Pro M15w printer is capable to print high-quality pages along with fast performance
Cons
- The one major drawback of this printer is printer is that it does not provide duplex printing
- It only offers black and white printing
Verdict
The HP LaserJet Pro M15w Wireless Laser Printer is a perfect choice for infrequent home or office use. With its compact size and superior features, it can be an ideal choice for many people who are looking for a compact printer for low usage.
The Brother MFC-J995DW INKvestmentTank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer is a 4 in one printer that can fulfill all your copying, printing, scanning as well as faxing necessities.
This INKvestment tank contains large ink reservoirs inside the printer that can give 150 printed pages per month up to one whole year. So, with this printer, you do not have to worry about getting an ink refill every couple of months.
This printer also has a good operating cost which helps you further to save money on printing. Not only that, but it also comes with an advanced ink meter which numerically shows the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank.
The Brother MFC-J995DW INKvestmentTank Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer also features multiple wired and wireless connectivity options. Besides having several connectivity options like Wi-Fi, cloud printing, and different connecting ports, this printer also has a unique touch to connect feature which allows it to take printing commands easily.
Pros
- This printer comes with large ink tanks which can provide prints for a long time
- It can fulfill all your necessities like copying, scanning, printing, and faxing
- Can provide high-resolution prints up to 6000x1200dpi (dots per inch)
Cons
- This printer is not suitable for large bulk prints because it has low output ability
- It does not come with an auto-duplex feature
Verdict
The Brother MFC-J995DW All-in-One printer is a perfect choice for people who are not looking for high printing needs. Because of its INKvestment ink cartridges, it is capable of printing up to 1 year in a single fill with no dry ink problem. With features like touch to connect and high-resolution prints, it can easily be someone printing pal.
Also Read: Best Printer for Crafters
Buying Guide:
Although printers that are specifically designed for infrequent use are not yet being marketed, there are some components that can help you select your ideal printer for occasional use.
To keep your mind at ease, we also took the liberty to give you all the information you need to choose your perfect printer.
1. Warranty
As we all know machines like printers are made for being used and give you finished output. However, as we are not going to use these printers very frequently the printer can malfunction and break down over a period of time. Hence there is a huge need to have a reasonable warranty period if your printer causes problems over time.
2. Types of Printer
It is important to figure out what type of printer is most suitable for the customer. Since we are looking for the best printer for infrequent use, then the ideal choice would be a laser printer. It is well known that laser printers are more long-lasting because they use toner instead of ink cartridges which are less prone to drying out.
3. Size of the Printer
This is also a major component to look for, as the customers are not going to use the printer so frequently. So, a compact size printer would be ideal in this situation. A large size printer will just look tacky and will be an eyesore for the buyer.
The Conclusion
Now, it is time for the final say.
In the end, we can assure you that the products mentioned above are the best of the best and are considered to be the highest players in the market.
But, if we have to choose a king between these five printers then we have to give the crown to the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer.
With large ink tank reservoirs and superior features, it surely stands out from the crowd and gives an exceptional printing experience. We hope that this article is enough for all your doubts and concerns and will help you in getting your favorite printer.