Digital technologies have transformed the world around us. Sending letters, reading magazines and books, exchanging documents - today, a simple smartphone is enough to perform these and many other tasks. However, in some cases, you may need physical, rather than digital copies. The best color MFPs will help you get them, ideal for printing term papers, organizing business papers, and even printing photos. We decided to talk about which device is better to buy depending on the allocated budget, as well as individual requirements, in our today's rating.
- Best color laser multifunction printers
- 1.HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M180n
- 2. Canon i-SENSYS MF641Cw
- 3. Ricoh SP C260SFNw
- 4. KYOCERA ECOSYS M5521cdn
- 5. Xerox VersaLink C405DN
- Best color inkjet MFPs
- 1. HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3835 All-in-One
- 2. Canon PIXMA G2411
- 3. HP Smart Tank 515
- 4. Canon PIXMA TS9140
- Which color MFP is better to buy
Best color laser multifunction printers
First of all, the consumer needs to decide on the type of device. Opt for laser models if you are looking for a fast and economical MFP. In terms of these parameters, inkjets are somewhat inferior to their "colleagues". However, consumables for the latter can be found at a better price. Another plus of laser solutions is the ability to withstand increased loads. And the quality of text documents printed on this technique is also not satisfactory.
1.HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M180n
If the appearance of the device is one of the key selection criteria for you, then we strongly recommend taking a closer look at the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M180n. By design, this MFP with laser printing bypasses, if not all, then most competitors in the price category occupied (from 224 $). And the build here will not disappoint.
The device is equipped with a small monochrome display that allows you to see the main print parameters, as well as control the ink level. The controls (6 buttons) are located around the screen.
The print speed here is not very high, and with the supported resolution of 600 x 600 dots, it reaches 16 pages per minute. The copier has the same productivity, and its maximum cycle is 99 copies. As for the scanner, here it is a flatbed (up to 14 sheets / min in color and b / w). HP's best home MFP supports 60 to 220 gsm paper and can print on labels, envelopes, card stock and photo papers.
Advantages:
- attractive design;
- quality of color printing;
- variety of interfaces;
- automatic shutdown;
- great option for home use;
- reliability in work;
- relatively quiet operation.
Disadvantages:
- proprietary software for smartphones;
- the result of printing on photo paper.
2. Canon i-SENSYS MF641Cw
No compromise between design and functionality. These words can be used to describe the Canon i-SENSYS MF641Cw - one of the best MFPs in the ranking in a combination of cost and capabilities. The resolution of the scanner in this model is 600 × 600 dpi, and thanks to interpolation, an improved mode is available here (9600 by 9600 pixels). As for the printer, its characteristics are the same for color and for b / w: maximum 1200 × 1200, speed 18 sheets per minute.
Thanks to its functionality, not only for the home, but also for the small office, Canon MFP is the ideal choice. So, users can send copies of documents by e-mail immediately after scanning, and due to AirPrint, printing documents on iOS and Mac OS is available wirelessly. You can also connect cameras to the i-SENSYS MF641Cw, and if you need to change the device settings, a web interface is available for this.
Advantages:
- reasonable price;
- high-quality assembly;
- scanning speed;
- convenient control using the display;
- print resolution.
3. Ricoh SP C260SFNw
The third line was taken by another "Japanese" - SP C260SFNw. However, this model is not produced by Canon, but by a slightly less popular company Ricoh. However, this is only beneficial for buyers, since for relatively modest 238–252 $ they can get a really good device that can boast a print speed of 20 ppm.
Ricoh differs from the solutions described above for the office MFP in the support of the automatic two-sided printing option. The printer also has a higher resolution (2400x600 dpi), making it ideal for the office.
The SP C260SFNw scanner can process 6 black and white or 12 color sheets per minute. Its resolution is 600 × 600 dpi, and the automatic document feeder can hold 35 originals. In addition to excellent print quality, Ricoh MFPs also offer support for all popular systems, including Linux and Android. For ease of operation, there is not only a panel with buttons, but also a 4.3-inch color display.
Advantages:
- high-quality printing;
- good speed;
- NFC and Wi-Fi support;
- sending scans to email;
- duplex scanning and printing supported;
- support for mobile OS.
Disadvantages:
- the cost of consumables;
- slow scanning.
4. KYOCERA ECOSYS M5521cdn
Moving on to solutions for the medium office. Of course, the need to print documents more often does not always mean that the company is making more money. For this reason, we decided to consider a 4-color laser MFP from the KYOCERA brand. The average cost of ECOSYS M5521cdn in the Russian market is 336 $.
The printer of this device can print 21 pages per minute in any operating mode. The device spends 32 seconds to warm up. The monthly productivity of ECOSYS M5521cdn is declared at 65 thousand sheets. KYOCERA color MFP is equipped with a 300-sheet paper feed tray (standard; 550 pages maximum).
Advantages:
- Japanese quality;
- low cost of printing;
- performance;
- low noise level;
- fast work.
Disadvantages:
- expensive cartridges;
- does not print A4 borderless.
5. Xerox VersaLink C405DN
The most expensive and weighty review unit is the Xerox VersaLink C405DN. Make sure that your desk can withstand a load of 33 kilograms, because an accidental breakdown of the MFP takes 840 $ will be quite unpleasant. Model C405DN combines a printer, scanner, copier and fax with similar resolutions - 600 by 600 dpi. Based on the reviews, the Xerox MFP is great for text, spreadsheets, graphs and similar material.
During operation, the device consumes up to 750 W of energy, and its noise level can reach 53 dB. In standby mode, the values drop to 82 watts and 29 decibels.
As for the pictures, they are not impressive on this model. However, such a device will obviously not be purchased for the home, and in the office they rarely do photo printing. But the VersaLink C405DN copes with documents flawlessly. The high print quality in this MFP is complemented by a good speed (35 ppm) and good productivity (up to 80 thousand pages per month). There is also RJ-45 and USB 3.0.
Advantages:
- monthly resource;
- many interfaces;
- nimble processor frequency 1050 MHz;
- touchscreen;
- great choice for the office;
- high-quality printing;
- high speed.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- dimensions and weight.
Best color inkjet MFPs
The technique described above can also be used at home. However, it is mainly intended specifically for offices. Color inkjet MFPs are ideal for personal use. In addition, they are usually cheaper. And the cost of cartridges for such models, as noted above, is a little more affordable. The disadvantage of inkjet devices is the increased cost of a print. But pictures with laser analogs will not be half as high quality.
1. HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3835 All-in-One
Good budget MFP from the American brand HP. The minimum cost of the DeskJet Ink Advantage 3835 is at 70 $, and if you do not have a lot of money to buy, then we recommend that you take a closer look at this option.The device can print without borders and is perfect for creating a home photo collection.
The maximum resolution of one of the most interesting MFPs of the TOP is 1200 × 1200 and 4800 × 1200 for black and white and color documents, respectively. The print speed in the first case is 20 pages per minute, and in the second - 16. The printer takes 14 and 17 seconds to output the first print.
The paper tray is not very large here (60 sheets). But for home users, in most cases, this will be enough. The paper weights supported by the 3835 range from 60 to 300 grams per square meter. As a result, HP offers almost no alternative solution for the indicated price.
Advantages:
- silent work;
- affordable cost;
- good functionality;
- good speed of work.
Disadvantages:
- paper misfeeds occur;
- cost of original cartridges;
- does not print images on A4 sheets.
2. Canon PIXMA G2411
Choosing the best affordable color MFP was tricky, but we settled on Canon's PIXMA G2411. This model can be found in domestic stores for about 126–140 $... The print speed here is not high (9 and 5 pages per minute for b / w and A4 color pages), but very high quality!
The PIXMA G2411 is equipped with a continuous ink supply system. This makes maintenance cheaper, easier and less frequent. So, black and white and color toners in this model are enough for 7 and 6 thousand pages, respectively.
The reliable inkjet MFP stands out at 4800 x 1200 dots for both modes, and 1200 x 600 for the scanner. The latter works at a speed of 19 pages per minute for both monochrome and color documents. The only thing that can disappoint buyers is the meager interface kit - only USB 2.0.
Advantages:
- photo print quality;
- reasonable cost;
- economical ink consumption;
- a high resolution;
- functionality.
3. HP Smart Tank 515
Before moving on to the leader, let's consider another model with CISS - Smart Tank 515 from HP. This MFP with photo printing is designed for 1000 pages per month, which is enough at home even with a margin. I am glad that the speed of Smart Tank 515 can be compared with laser counterparts - 22 and 16 pages for b / w and color per minute. If the user needs to print images, the process will slow down slightly (5 and 11).
The feed and exit trays in the monitored device can hold 100 and 30 sheets. The device is equipped with original bottles of black, cyan, magenta and yellow ink, each with a volume of 135 ml. They provide the best color quality for your HP MFP. But for refueling, you can buy more affordable analogues.
Advantages:
- supports all popular operating systems;
- low power consumption;
- continuous feed system;
- scanner resolution 1200 × 1200 dpi;
- smart processor;
- connection via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is possible;
- print speed like laser.
Disadvantages:
- slow scanning;
- photo print speed.
4. Canon PIXMA TS9140
Looking for a good value-for-money inkjet MFP for photography? There is hardly anything better on the market than the PIXMA TS9140. Canon offers from 196 $ not just good, but a perfect device for the home user. The main advantages of the monitored model can be distinguished by the excellent design and thoughtful control through a 5-inch touch screen.
Despite the best (for its class) print quality in the ranking of color MFPs, Canon PIXMA TS9140 stands out for its smallest dimensions (372 × 140 × 324 cm). But the weight of this device is the largest among the inkjet models - 6.7 kg.
In reviews, the MFP is praised for its excellent print quality. And this is not surprising, because the reviewed model uses not 4, but 6 colors at once. Among them there are two black ones, one of which is used only for printing text, standard cyan, yellow and magenta, as well as blue, designed specifically for photographs.
PIXMA TS9140 supports 64-300 gsm paper, can print on matte and glossy paper, envelopes and card stock, labels and photo paper.The source for the best combined price-quality MFP Canon can be Windows, iOS and Mac OS systems (the latter two can work without wires), SD cards, cameras.
Advantages:
- wireless printing;
- variety of interfaces;
- great photos;
- scanning to the cloud;
- built-in SD card reader;
- modern design and compactness;
- high-quality assembly;
- moderate cost;
- convenient control.
Which color MFP is better to buy
If you need an MFP for home use, then you should choose inkjet models. They are inexpensive and versatile, which is important if you plan to print abstracts, presentations, and photographs.
To save money, reduce the cost of maintenance, as well as ensure uninterrupted operation when printing large volumes of materials, we recommend choosing devices equipped with CISS. If you need something cheaper then buy the HP DeskJet 3835. Love photography? Your choice is Canon PIXMA TS9140.
When the highest quality text is required and speed is important, laser solutions are the best option. The first three in the corresponding category are intended for small office and home (productivity up to 30 thousand sheets per month).