Which wireless printer should you buy? Read on for a selection of worthy options.
Connecting a printer to your PC or network doesn't mean you have to worry about finding the right cables and hooking everything up. Instead, why not use Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or NFC for simple, clutter-free connections to all your devices? To help you decide which wireless printer is right for you, we rounded up a bunch of the best of them for a variety of uses and environments.
Brother HL-L5200DW
Anyone in the market for a monochrome laser printer should consider the Brother HL-L5200DW. This thing spits out up to 42 prints per minute, it will automatically print on both sides of a page, and it has a 250-sheet tray. PCMag awarded this printer an Editors Choice, stating in its review:
Among its strengths are its blazing speed, its good output quality led by above-par text, good standard and excellent optional paper capacity, multiple wired and wireless connectivity choices, and a low running cost.
You can connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network to let all connected devices print to it, or connect with USB or Ethernet in times when Wi-Fi isn't available. If your device is compatible, you can even take a more "direct" route with Wi-Fi Direct. This printer starts at about $180.
Dell E310DW
Monochrome laser printers don't have to set you back more than $100. This wireless option from Dell starts at about $90 and delivers decent print speeds (27 pages per minute) and automatic two-sided printing. It was awarded an Editors Choice by PCMag, where the site had this to say in its review:
Factoring in its balance of speed, paper handling, connection choices, price, and mobile printing support is enough to make it an attractive alternative as a shared printer in a micro office and our Editors Choice personal monochrome laser printer.
A 250-sheet paper tray keeps you printing longer, and Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity mean you can say goodbye to cables. If you need a laser printer that gets the job done without being too flashy, have a look at the Dell E310DW.
Epson SureColor P600
Some of you shopping for a printer are no doubt looking for something that can print high-quality photos right from home. If you have the budget, definitely check out the Epson SureColor P600. It was chosen as The Wirecutter's top pick for a photo inkjet printer. In the site's review, it said:
These are truly gallery-quality prints that can provide many years of viewing pleasure whether you're hanging them on your wall or selling them to others.
The P600 uses nine colors to give you incredibly accurate pictures, and Epson's new ink lasts longer than ever. It handles plenty of different paper sizes up to 13 inches wide for your convenience, and it can even print 10-foot panoramas. Connect with Wi-Fi for wireless network printing, or plug it straight into your PC with USB.
This printer starts at about $750, but you really get what you paying for.
Canon SELPHY CP1200
Printers can be big and bulky, and not everyone has the room in their home or office for such a device. This is especially true if all you want to do is print your photos. The SELPHY CP1200 from Canon is only 7.1 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall without the paper tray attached, and the entire thing weighs only 2.5 pounds. Because of its size, it cannot print anything larger than 4-by-6-inch photos, but for many people, that's all they need.
This printer was awarded an Editors Choice award by PCMag for these reasons:
Canon's Selphy CP1200 photo printer offers a winning mix of low price and running costs, portability, multiple connection choices, and good print quality.
A 2.7-inch LCD display on top of the printer lets you tweak settings as you see fit, and Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity let you ditch the cables. This compact photo printer starts at about $150.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 All-in-One
When they're in the market for a new printer, plenty of people want something that can serve multiple purposes. It's taking up room in your home or office, so why not get something that scans and copies at the same time? The OfficeJet Pro 8720 from HP is exactly that. It was selected by The Wirecutter as the best all-in-one inkjet printer on the market:
With worry-free installation, great software, cheap ink, and sharp results, this printer is easily the least annoying all-in-one you can buy. When it comes to printers, that's really saying something.
You can replace color cartridges separately so you waste less ink, there is a 250-sheet paper tray, and the photo prints come out faster and cleaner than most other all-in-one options that sit around the same price. You can connect directly with USB, or connect wirelessly with Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct or NFC. This printer starts at about $190.
Canon Pixma MG5720
If you can't see yourself paying more than $100 for an all-in-one inkjet printer, have a look at Canon's Pixma MG5720. It was also awarded an Editors Choice by PCMag where they had this to say:
The Canon Pixma MG5720 Wireless Inkjet All-in-One delivers better output quality than most inkjet multifunction printers, making it ideal for home use or as a light-duty personal printer.
This printer might be a bit frustrating to set up (a common problem in the printer world) but it delivers clear text, double-sided printing, and prompt color photo prints while also serving as a scanner and copier. There are no fax or Ethernet ports, but it connects via Wi-Fi for wireless network printing. This all-in-one starts at about $75.
HP PageWide Pro 577DW
Small businesses and offices usually need an all-in-one printer that can handle a lot of action, and HP's PageWide Pro 577DW fills this role. It can scan, copy, fax, and print, and Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and NFC connectivity mean you don't need cables. Tom's Guide chose this printer as the best option for offices, stating:
The HP PageWide Pro 577DW prints quickly and delivers low costs per page, after the initial cost. Fast scanning and two-sided copying with the ADF will suit fast-paced offices. High print quality on plain and glossy media, as well as high-quality copies and scans, make this a good fit for those with exacting imaging requirements.
This printer will produce about 24 pages per minute, and its 500-page paper tray won't quickly run out. A touchscreen on the front allows for easy control over your print jobs, and automatic dual-sided printing saves paper in the long run. For an office printer that spits out high-quality color images and monochrome text documents, check out the HP PageWide Pro 577DW.
More printers
Take a look at our other roundups for more great printers, or jump over to our guide to connecting a wireless printer to your Windows 10 PC.