Expensive printers are often cheaper in the long run: Stiftung Warentest approves of these printers

The price differences between printers are enormous. Whether an expensive device is worth it or a cheaper model is the better option depends primarily on how often and for what purpose it will be used. Stiftung Warentest can help you decide.

Anyone looking to purchase a new printer has a huge selection to choose from. Prices range from approximately €50 to €500. Which one is the right choice depends on several factors. Do you primarily print text, is photo printing important, should it be color, or is black and white sufficient?

How often a device is used is also particularly important. If you print infrequently, an inexpensive printer with high printing costs may be profitable. Conversely, an expensive device with low printing costs may quickly pay for itself if your output is correspondingly high.

Specialists are hardly worthwhile

Most of the devices on offer are multifunction printers that also have scanning and copying capabilities. If you never need these extras, you might be able to get a better deal by choosing a printing specialist, but the price differences compared to the versatile value-for-money winners aren't that great.

To keep track of things and make a targeted selection, Stiftung Warentest 's test list of 213 currently available printers is a great help. 28 devices have been tested in the past six months and have received good overall ratings. The cheapest of these costs around €190, the most expensive around €560.

Inkjet

The best multifunctional inkjet printer, with a quality rating of 1.9, is the Canon Maxify GX6550 . It prints, scans, and copies well and has good environmental credentials, including its power consumption. Stiftung Warentest lists the device at an average online price of €525, but you can find the printer for less than €450. Furthermore, you can save a lot of money in the long run if you use it regularly, as its printing costs are very low.

The same applies to the Epson Ecotank ET-4850 , which also earned the test winner with the same overall score. However, at around €380, it's significantly cheaper and easier to handle than its Canon competitor—and it's the best photo printer in the test.

If the copying function can only be satisfactory, the Epson Ecotank ET-2860 is an equally economical, but significantly more affordable alternative, starting at around €180. Several other printers, all with similar names and some of the same design, also received the same overall rating. These include the Ecotank ET-2864 and 2865 models. If in doubt, take a quick look at the best-of-the-line list and choose the cheapest option.

The best printing specialist among inkjet printers is the Canon MAXIFY GX5550 , with a quality rating of 1.9. It prints well, consumes little power, and its ink costs are very low. With prices starting at around €370, however, its only real advantage over multifunction devices is its smaller footprint.

If you only print occasionally, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9110b, priced at around €120, is an interesting alternative. Its results, ink costs, and environmental performance received satisfactory ratings.

Laser printer

The best color multifunction printer with laser technology just barely achieved a good quality rating with an overall score of 2.5. The Canon i-Sensys MF657Cdw prints and copies well, but Stiftung Warentest rated its copying performance and toner costs as only satisfactory. Its environmental credentials didn't fare much better. The printer is hard to find for under €400.

You'll have to spend considerably less if you're looking for a good laser printer that only prints. In this category, the Canon i-SENSYS LBP633Cdw takes the lead with an overall score of 2.3. However, toner costs and environmental performance are still only satisfactory for this device. With a little luck, you can find it for well under €300.

Black and white printers are cheaper

Overall, you'll get a better deal by purchasing a black-and-white laser printer. The test winner among multifunctional devices is the Canon i-Sensys MF264dw II, with a quality rating of 2.2. It not only prints, copies, and scans well, but is also quite economical (2.2). Its price: around €330.

The best black-and-white printer is the Canon i-SENSYS LBP246dw , which retails for just under €230. It achieved an overall score of 2.0 and performed well in all individual categories.

If you print infrequently, the Canon i-SENSYS LBP122dw is worth a look, even though it received only satisfactory ratings for its environmental credentials and toner costs. It costs only around €175 and achieved the best print results in its category.