The good news is that if you’re a college student shopping for a printer, you have many options. Several types are well-suited for creating detailed pictures, speedily printing out many black-and-white sheets, or providing the lowest cost-per-print feasible. It is critical to select the most suitable printer to your needs so that you do not wind up spending more on ink refills than the printer itself or paying too much for an expensive printer that you will only use a few times each year.
The best student printers are indispensable for everything from printing term papers to obtaining registration documents and are a requirement for everyone from elementary school children to individuals in graduate school. Whether you’re looking for an excellent laser printer for kids or the best budget inkjet printer for color documents and images, a printer is a need in today’s educational atmosphere. Take a look at our evaluation to discover the finest color printer for your needs!
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1. Brother MFC-J4335DW INKvestment Tank All-in-One Printer
If you’re on a budget and searching for a low-cost machine to print essays or notes for a presentation, the Brother MFC-J1205W is the best printer for college students that we’ve tested from Brother Store. Despite its modest price, it is an all-in-one unit with an extremely low cost per print for both color and black-and-white papers.
It utilizes the INKvestment Tank system, a hybrid cartridge-tank system that generates high page yields. You won’t have to worry about ink replacements regularly, even if you print frequently. Its small footprint is ideal for those with limited room, and it includes a high-resolution flatbed scanner for digitizing notes and course materials. Additionally, you may connect it via Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, or Brother’s Mobile Connect App, enabling you to do maintenance duties and place orders directly from your mobile device.
Unfortunately, its print speeds are often slow, so you may have to wait a while if you’re printing lengthy research articles or courseware. Additionally, it lacks an automatic document feeder, which may be a deal-breaker if you frequently scan multi-page documents because each page must be manually placed on the flatbed. It’s an excellent pick if you’re seeking a low-cost printer.
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2. Brother HLL2390DW Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
Suppose you frequently print text documents and don’t want to worry about the additional costs of refilling colored ink. In that case, the Brother HL-L2390DW is the finest printer for students that we’ve tested. This laser printer prints just in black and white, and the black toner cartridge last an astonishingly long time before needing to be replaced.
The cost-per-print is exceptional due to the toner cartridge’s low cost and high page yield. It prints swiftly, which means there is less wait time for lengthy documents. The flatbed scanner digitizes notes, drawings, and printed materials at a high resolution. The lid’s hinges extend almost an inch above the scanner to accommodate bulky goods such as textbooks or manuals. Additionally, you may connect to the printer through USB or wirelessly with Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, or Brother’s iPrint&Scan app.
Regrettably, you must replace the toner and drum separately, which may raise the cost. However, Brother promises that the drum unit will last up to 12,000 pages, indicating that you will not need to change it frequently. Additionally, it is quite tall for a printer, which is inconvenient if you are low on space or require a more compact dimension. With that stated, it’s an excellent choice if you frequently print documents and don’t want color.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-4700 Inkjet Printer
The Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Inkjet Printer is an inkjet all-in-one printer from Epson Store designed for heavy printing in a small or home office. The ET-4760 is equipped with high-capacity ink tanks designed to print thousands of pages while keeping ink expenses to a minimum.
The Epson EcoTank ET-7460 is a terrific pick for another excellent student printer that prioritizes cost savings. It is great for a busy home, whether a family with multiple students or a shared apartment where everyone has a high academic load. The printer includes the initial set of ink bottles, which contain enough ink to print approximately 7,500 pages (black) and 6,000 pages (color) before refilling. Even if you purchase new ink, you’ll get a lot for your money, as each page costs less than a cent.
Its rapid printing and copying capabilities make it an excellent choice for any busy home office or a small team. However, you may miss the second paper tray. The printer’s small size and efficient two-sided printing make it a daily productivity champ.
4. Canon TR8620 All-in-One Printer
The Canon Pixma TR8620 is an excellent student printer with many capabilities, including scanning and faxing, a 20-page automated document feeder (ADF), a duplexer for two-sided printing, and two pieces of trays for having two types of paper on hand. A large 4.3-inch color touchscreen makes operation simple, and the printer supports a home automation connection with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
It’s an excellent student printer from Canon Store, with above-average print speeds and overall print quality. However, it is an excellent printer for students of art and photography. Text and color graphics look wonderful, but we noticed that glossy images are printed quickly. They use a 5-ink cartridge system with two types of black ink-produced photos with high-quality accuracy: natural-looking colors, fine details, and smooth transitions. The only major criticism we have with the Pixma TR8620 is the higher-than-average ink cost, which is partly attributable to the extra ink cartridge cost.
5. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the best photo printer for students that we’ve reviewed. It’s a low-cost all-in-one computer meant for home office use. It produces excellent-looking images with rich, realistic colors that you would not be embarrassed to frame or hang on a photo wall.
Because it is promoted as a home office printer, it includes a good selection of scanning functions, such as a high-resolution scanner, an ADF, and built-in OCR. It also means you may use it to scan a range of documents, such as handwritten letters or photocopies of text pages, and save them as customizable PDFs, allowing you to simply search for keywords or phrases. It also supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, so you may print from your smartphone or tablet.
Unfortunately, it has poor black and color page yields, a high total cost-per-print, and slow print rates. It’s important to limit how frequently you print to avoid paying the printer’s cost of replacing cartridges, and you’ll probably want to set aside time to wait for your assignment to print. The TR4720’s high-quality photographs make it a fantastic choice for photography or graphic design students, especially given its low price.
6. HP Smart -Tank Plus 651
If you have a busy house full of pupils, you should plan ahead of time to keep printing expenditures minimum. The HP Smart Tank Plus 651 is HP’s response to the Epson EcoTank and other printers that use refillable ink tanks instead of pricey cartridges to decrease ink expenses.
With hundreds of pages of ink included, the Smart Tank Pro 651 produces high-quality prints for a fraction of a cent per page. Aside from the low ink costs, the HP printers also produces high-quality printouts with precise letterforms and well-saturated colors and looks best when printing glossy images.
Unfortunately, HP’s printing, scanning, and copying functions were hampered by much slower-than-average output. Furthermore, the Smart Tank Pro 651 has a small 2.2-inch touch screen for operating printer tasks, and the monochromatic reading was disappointing.
7. HP Tango X Smart Wireless Printer
Don’t be misled by its understated style and diminutive size; this HP tiny printer has a devoted fanbase. First, this bad boy, which is already fairly quiet by all reports, features a dedicated ‘quiet mode’ for ultra-quiet printing. It’s also simple to set up using the HP Smart app on your phone—simply download the app, connect to your Wi-Fi, and print photographs and text documents (monochrome or full color) from any location.
Unlike the HP Envy, this printer does not include a built-in scanner. However, the software enables users to “scan” papers to a linked device merely by taking a snapshot with a phone or tablet—a creative workaround for students seeking scanning capabilities without investing in a piece of cumbersome equipment.
On the flip side, this printer’s compact design has several drawbacks—a relatively limited 50-sheet tray capacity and a slightly slower printing speed of eight to eleven rotations per minute, for example, make it best suited for smaller assignments.
8. HP DeskJet Plus 4155 Wireless All-in-One Printer
This HP DeskJet Plus all-in-one printer is one of the best college student printers available. The HP DeskJet Plus multifunction printer is capable of faxing, printing, scanning, and copying. As a result, this inkjet printer is versatile and can be used for home and office use. Additionally, it integrates with Alexa.
It is possible to print instantly from your smartphone or tablet with HP Wireless Direct technology. The touch display enables intuitive operation and impresses with its simple menu control.
With this solution, you may save up to 70% on ink expenditures and remove ink bottlenecks. Once the ink cartridges are depleted, the printer automatically orders replacements delivered straight to your home. This functionality is complimentary for the first three months following the purchase of the multifunction printer.
9. Samsung SL-M2020W/XAA Wireless Monochrome Printer
If you’re a Samsung devotee, this device has a lot. The Samsung SL-M2026W is a little printer that stands out due to its exceptional price-performance ratio, high print quality, and quick speed. With a maximum print resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi and a print speed of 20 pages per minute, it is great for college students seeking a simple printer that does not sacrifice print quality or speed.
Unlike other laser printers, this one includes a 150-sheet paper cassette, making it simple to set up and use in an apartment or dorm room. Duplex printing is also available. However, it must be done manually, which means that each page must be inserted twice.
Additionally, the software is easy to comprehend and use, and the mobile printing alternatives are crisp and simple to connect. With a weight of about 4 kilograms, the printer is extremely lightweight and compact, making it suitable for placement on a desk while conserving space.
10. Epson Expression Home XP-320
If you’re unwilling to forgo functionality but lack the funds to purchase a pricey multifunctional printer for students, consider the Epson Expression Home XP-32. Apart from being inexpensive, it includes most of the functionality found on high-end printers. Specifically, this inkjet multifunctional printer prints at a respectable 5,760 x 1,440 dpi resolution at an amazing 15 pages per minute in color and 33 sheets per minute in black ink.
Additionally, the Epson Expression’s LCD-Touch-Display simplifies setup and operation. This enables the printing of images, documents, and photocopies without using a laptop or desktop computer.
If you’re looking for a low-cost printer, the Epson XP-332 is an unquestionable contender.
Conclusion
Students can print, copy, and copy assignments and notes and document their best college experiences with an exceptional printer. While the initial cost of the printer and ink may appear high at first, having your printer in your university residence allows you to save money and time in the long term.
Here’s a selection of all of our printer reviews if you’d rather make your own decision! Avoid being overly absorbed in the details by remaining alert and aware. However, while no printer is perfect for every use, most printers are acceptable for the vast majority of users, and the differences between them are often inconsequential unless you look for them.
Our recommendations above are what we believe to be the best printers on the market for the vast majority of college students. We consider the pricing, the number of reviews left by previous customers, and the availability. Choose from the high-quality printers listed above, whether you’re looking for a low-cost printer or something more upscale!