Buying Guide for the Best Epson Printers
When you're choosing an Epson printer or any printer in general, it's best to first consider what you'll mostly be using it for. Ask yourself if you’ll print mostly documents, photos, or a mix of both. Think about how often you’ll print and whether you need extra features like scanning or wireless printing. Understanding your typical use will help you focus on the right features instead of just being swayed by marketing claims.Printer Type (Inkjet vs Laser)The main types of printers are inkjet and laser. Inkjet printers are known for producing vibrant color images and photos, and are versatile for home use, school projects, and occasional documents. Laser printers, meanwhile, excel at printing sharp text documents quickly and are often used in offices for high-volume printing. If you'll print lots of color photos, inkjet is usually better. If you mostly need black-and-white documents and speed, laser might be more suitable.
Print Quality (DPI)DPI stands for dots per inch and measures how detailed the print can be. A higher DPI means sharper images and better quality, which is especially noticeable for photos and graphics. Typical home printers start at about 600 x 600 DPI, sufficient for documents. If you plan to print photos or images often, consider something in the 1200 x 2400 DPI range or higher. However, for basic text documents, super-high DPI is less important.
Print Speed (Pages Per Minute - PPM)Print speed tells you how many pages the printer can produce in a minute. This is usually listed for both black-and-white and color pages. For home use or light office work, a lower PPM is generally fine, as you probably won't print in massive quantities. For busier environments or when printing lots of pages at once, a higher PPM can save you time and improve efficiency.
Functionality (All-in-One vs Single-Function)Some printers are standalone, designed just for printing, while 'all-in-one' models can also scan, copy, and sometimes fax. If you'll need to make frequent copies, scan documents, or need more tasks done from one device, an all-in-one model is convenient and saves space. If you just need to print, a single-function printer is often simpler and easier to use.
Connectivity (USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Mobile Printing)Printers can connect to your computer or other devices in several ways: USB (direct), Wi-Fi (wireless), Ethernet (wired), or mobile printing (apps or cloud services). Wireless connectivity, such as Wi-Fi and mobile printing, makes it easy to print from smartphones, tablets, or laptops anywhere in your home or office. If you have multiple devices or want to print from a distance, prioritize wireless options. If you'll only print from one computer, USB connections are sufficient.
Ink System and CostsPrinters can use traditional ink cartridges or newer refillable ink tanks. Cartridges are easy to replace but can be costly over time, especially if you print a lot. EcoTank systems or similar options use refillable tanks, which are generally more cost-effective for frequent printing and reduce waste. Consider how much you’ll print: if it’s a lot, a refillable system can offer big savings and less hassle with replacements.
Paper Handling (Tray Capacity, Size Support, Duplex Printing)Paper handling covers how many sheets the printer can hold, what paper sizes it can use, and whether it can print on both sides of a page automatically (duplex printing). A larger tray means less frequent refilling, helpful for busy settings. Automatic duplex is great for saving paper and time. Make sure the sizes supported match what you plan to print, like envelopes or card stock for special projects.