The problems that some people have with their inkjet printer is that it stops working after a couple of months, which can be a great disappointment. So it is important to carefully consider choosing the most reliable inkjet printer. Here are the six top options we've found, based on our real-life testing.
Here are the most reliable inkjet printers you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Beginners: HP OfficeJet Pro 6978
- Best For Large Print Jobs: Canon MG3620
- Best For High-Precision Printing: Epson® WF-3820
- Quiet: Brother MFC-J4335DW
- Energy-Efficient: Brother MFC-J4535DW
- Fast Printing: HP OfficeJet Pro 9020
| 6 Most Reliable Inkjet Printers | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Beginners | HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 | |
Best For Large Print Jobs | Canon MG3620 | |
Best For High-Precision Printing | Epson® WF-3820 | |
Quiet | Brother MFC-J4335DW | |
Energy-Efficient | Brother MFC-J4535DW | |
Fast Printing | HP OfficeJet Pro 9020 | |
Best For Beginners: HP OfficeJet Pro 6978
- Beginner-friendly – easy setup, clear instructions, & easy-to-change cartridges
- Fast copying and scanning - built-in duplexing document feeder
- It could be sturdier
Of all the inkjet printers we tested, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 seems to be the most beginner-friendly because it's easy to set up, the instructions are clear, and the cartridges are a breeze to change.
With its built-in duplexing document feeder, you can quickly copy and scan both sides of a document, making tasks quicker and easier to complete.
The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 is a good printer for the price.
It’s also considered 50% more efficient than laser printers while still delivering high-quality prints, which saves you more.
With Ethernet and wireless networking, you can easily connect to your devices and print from anywhere.
| HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Functions | two-sided scanning and printing wireless printing fax scan copy |
Compatible Devices | Smartphone Laptop |
Print Speed (Up To) | Monochrome: 20 ppm Color: 11 PPM |
Input/output Capacity | 225 sheets, 60 sheets |
Highlight Features | easy setup, clear instructions, & easy-to-change cartridges built-in duplexing document feeder |
Offering simple setup, clear instructions, and easy-to-change cartridges, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 is a friendly option for beginners.
Best For Large Print Jobs: Canon MG3620
- Powerful and versatile – three handy printing options
- Save you time in refilling – ability to pair with a large-size ink cartridge
- Bulky and not easy to transport
The Canon MG3620 boasts multiple powerful printing options—Including Canon Print, Mopria, NFC, Google Cloud Print, and Airprint—while being able to pair with multiple devices for convenient wireless printing.
The high resolution allows it to produce incredible quality and detail. You can print on both sides of the page with auto 2-sided printing.
Best of all, you can use a large-size ink cartridge for this printer, so you won't have to change it out that frequently.
From our experience, the Canon MG3620 is a perfect choice for large print jobs. The only minor drawback is the large footprint, making it not easy to move around.
| Canon MG3620 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Functions | Print, copy, scan |
Compatible Devices | Tablet, Android, iPad, and iPhone |
Print Speed (Up To) | Monochrome: 9.9 ppm Color: 16 PPM |
Input/output Capacity | 100 sheets |
Highlight Features | three handy printing options ability to pair with a large-size ink cartridge |
The Canon MG3620 is our solid pick for large print jobs
Best For High-Precision Printing: Epson® WF-3820
- High-precision printing - PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology
- Ideal for professional printing jobs - DURABrite Ultra instant-dry pigment inks
- Quick navigation and control - 2.7
- Not easy to refill the paper
- A bit difficult to set up
The Epson® WF-3820 sets itself apart from the competition by using PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology to deliver fast, high-quality prints with precise dot placement.
In addition, the DURABrite Ultra instant-dry pigment inks are suitable for professional-quality prints.
This reliable printer has high-volume reliability for heavy workloads with innovative heat-free technology designed for reduced downtime.
You can maximize efficiency with the wireless setup using a smartphone or mobile device and the easy-to-use 2.7" color touchscreen for quick navigation and control.
| Epson® WF-3820 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Functions | |
Compatible Devices | Windows and iOS devices |
Print Speed (Up To) | Monochrome: 21 ppm Color: 11 PPM |
Input/output Capacity | 250-sheet |
Highlight Features | PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology DURABrite Ultra instant-dry pigment inks 2.7" extra-large color touchscreen |
The Epson® WF-3820 offers impressively high-precision printing capability without breaking the bank when it comes to one of the most reliable inkjet printers we’ve seen.
Quiet: Brother MFC-J4335DW
- Perfect for people sensitive to loud noise - Very quiet
- Hold more ink than traditional cartridges - exclusive INKvestment Tank technology
- No duplex scanning
We wouldn't say the Brother MFC-J4335DW is noiseless. It still emits a bit of sound while operating, however, nothing is irritatingly loud, so it's no problem to place this printer near you.
Our testers also noticed this inkjet printer worked much better than other brands on the market. Not only quiet, but it's also intuitive, responsive, easy to use, and fast-printing, which is ideal for businesses, home offices, or busy individuals who want uninterrupted, worry-free printing.
While you don't have to replace your ink cartridges constantly, the exclusive INKvestment Tank technology helps accommodate more ink and delivers more savings than regular cartridges—which is super-convenient.
| Brother MFC-J4335DW Specifications | |
|---|---|
Functions | Print, scan, copy, fax |
Print Speed (Up To) | Monochrome: 20 ppm Color: 16 PPM |
Input/output Capacity | 150-sheet |
Highlight Features | Very quiet exclusive INKvestment Tank technology |
Offering crisp prints quickly and quietly, the Brother MFC-J4335DW is a great choice for anyone who’s sick of that annoyingly noisy printer.
Energy-Efficient: Brother MFC-J4535DW
- Energy-efficient - EPEAT and ENERGY STAR certified
- Exceptional savings and convenience - 4 cartridges
- Easy to track the remaining ink - Page Gauge feature
- Color prints are not the best
At this great price point, no other options out there can beat the quickness and efficiency of the Brother MFC-J4535DW.
It excellently meets federal guidelines for sustainability and energy efficiency to receive EPEAT and ENERGY STAR labels.
Using 4 cartridges that are provided in-box, it delivers exceptional savings and convenience.
We appreciate the revolutionary ink system allows up to 1-year of uninterrupted printing, meaning you'll save time and money on ink replacements, while the Page Gauge feature eliminates guesswork on when to replace your ink cartridge.
| Brother MFC-J4535DW Specifications | |
|---|---|
Functions | Print, copy, scan, fax |
Compatible Devices | Smartphone, laptop |
Print Speed (Up To) | Monochrome: 20 ppm Color: 19 PPM |
Input/output Capacity | 400 sheet |
Highlight Features | EPEAT and ENERGY STAR certified 4 cartridges Page Gauge feature |
Energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and convenient, the Brother MFC-J4535DW continues to be our team’s favorite inkjet printer.
Fast Printing: HP OfficeJet Pro 9020
- Fast-printing - 24 ppm black and 20 ppm color
- Reduce downtime - an extra-large 500-sheet tray & a 35-page automatic document feeder
- digitize and organize receipts and business documents quickly - Smart Tasks feature
- A steep price
- No duplex scanning
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9020 is a versatile and powerful all-in-one printer that offers faster printing at 24 ppm black and 20 ppm color.
Compared to the HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 series, this version is twice faster scanning. It also features an extra-large 500-sheet tray and a 35-page automatic document feeder to help optimize your time.
Regardless, this model is considered nearly 40% smaller than its predecessor, which is space-saving and easy to maneuver.
The Smart Tasks feature in the HP Smart app lets you digitize and organize receipts and business documents effortlessly and quickly.
And with its sustainable design made with up to 10% recycled plastic, you can be sure you're doing your part for the environment.
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9020 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Functions | Print, copy, scan, and fax |
Compatible Devices | Smartphone and laptop |
Print Speed (Up To) | Monochrome: 24 ppm Color: 20 PPM |
Input/output Capacity | 500 sheets, 100 sheets |
Highlight Features | 24 ppm black and 20 ppm color an extra-large 500-sheet tray & a 35-page automatic document feeder Smart Tasks feature |
There’s so much we love about the HP OfficeJet Pro 9020, but the incredibly fast-printing ability impressed us the most.
How To Choose The Most Reliable Inkjet Printer?
There are a few key factors you'll want to consider when choosing an inkjet printer, such as print quality, speed, and reliability.
Speed is worth-considering if you need to print quickly, and reliability is key if you need your printer to be dependable.
Print Quality
Print quality is important if you need to print high-quality photos or graphics. After all, you want your prints to look their best! Here are a few things to keep in mind when assessing print quality:
Number of cartridges: Look for a printer with at least four ink cartridges so that you can produce rich, detailed prints.
Resolution: This is measured in dots per inch (dpi) and essentially dictates how detailed and sharp your prints will be. The higher the dpi, the better the quality.
Color accuracy: For many people, color accuracy is vital. Make sure to choose a printer that can accurately reproduce the colors you need.
Fade resistance: You want your prints to last, so fade resistance is an important factor to consider. Some inks are more fade-resistant than others, so do your research before making a purchase.
Blotchiness: Blotchy prints are never fun! Avoid printers that tend to produce prints with lots of smudging or streaking.
Printing Speed
If speed is a priority, look for a printer with high printing speeds.
The faster the printer, the more productive you'll be.
There are two main types of inkjet printers: those that print in black and white only, and those that print in color. Black and white inkjet printers are typically faster than color inkjet printers.
If you're looking for a fast inkjet printer, pay attention to the print speed specified by the manufacturer. The print speed is usually listed in pages per minute (ppm). The higher the number, the faster the printer.
However, keep in mind that the actual printing speed will depend on a number of factors, including the complexity of the document being printed and the quality setting you choose.
In general, black and white inkjet printers have speeds ranging from 15 to 30 ppm. Color inkjet printers have speeds ranging from 5 to 20 ppm.
Other Factors
Here are a few other important factors to ensure that you're getting a reliable inkjet printer:
-Duty cycle: This is the maximum number of pages that the printer can handle per month. If you print a lot, you'll need a machine with a high duty cycle.
-Connectivity: Make sure that the printer has the right ports and connectivity options for your needs. USB is the most common, but some printers also offer Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity.
-Paper handling: Look at the paper tray capacity and different paper types that the printer can handle. If you print on specialty paper often, make sure that the machine can accommodate it.
-Manufacturer
Which Brands Make The Most Reliable Inkjet Printer?
HP
For both home and office users, HP inkjet printers offer high-quality printing at an affordable price, with a wide variety of models to choose from.
In addition to offering reliable performance, they are also easy to use, making them a good choice for anyone who wants a hassle-free printing experience.
Canon
Founded in 1937, Canon is a Japanese company that specializes in imaging and optical products.
In the realm of computer printers, Canon inkjet printers are some of the most reliable on the market. This is due in part to the high-quality components used in their construction, as well as the rigorous testing they undergo before being released for sale.
Epson
Epson is a Japanese electronics company established in 1942 and one of the world's largest manufacturers of printers and scanners.
They're also a leading provider of digital imaging products. Epson has a reputation for making reliable products, and that extends to their inkjet printers.
FAQs
Are inkjet printers best for long term use?
No, they aren’t. Laser printers are known to last longer than inkjet models.
How long do inkjet printers last?
Under normal usage, inkjet printers last around 3 to 5 years
Is Canon better than Epson?
Regarding operation costs as well as scanning and copying speeds, Canon is more efficient than Epson. But in terms of printing speeds, Epson is the winner.
Is it worth repairing an inkjet printer?
It’s recommended repairing an inkjet printer only when the repairing cost is equal to or less than ½ the price of a new machine.
Are more reliable inkjet printers more expensive?
Yes, they are. Reliable inkjet printers commonly are made from well-known brands, built with higher-quality components, and/or backed by better warranty, so they’re more expensive.
Conclusion
After reading through all of the most reliable inkjet printer reviews, we hope you have found the perfect one for your needs. Do keep in mind that there are many different types of printers on the market, so be sure to do your research before making a purchase.
We also recommend reading user reviews to get a better idea of how a particular printer performs in real-world use.
Thanks for reading and happy printing!
Eugene WilliamsHi, my name is Eugene, the ultimate home enthusiast! I write buying guides and ideas on how to create a warm and welcoming home. Join me on my journey to make everyday in your house a staycation in the comfort of your own space!
