Difference between Inkjet printer and Laser printer
A printer is a device that accepts text and graphics as input from a computer and produces printed output on paper. Printers vary in size, speed, sophistication, and cost. When choosing a printer, consumers typically opt for either an inkjet printer or a laser printer. Both types of printers are effective and suitable for different user needs.
1. Inkjet Printer
These are the machines that sprays microscopic droplets of ink onto paper. The ink in the cartridges of these printers is in liquid form. They have nozzles from which ink is sprayed onto paper and it gets printed. The disadvantage of these type of printers is that if you do not use it for a long time, then the ink in the cartridges gets dry. Then you have to clean it to use it again.
Example –
HP Deskjet 1112 printer, Epson L130 single function printer, Epson L361 printer.
2. Laser Printer
It is a type of personal computer printer that uses a non-impact i.e., keys don’t strike the paper technology. The laser which is used in it, draws the document on a selenium-coated drum using electrical charges. They are more reliable in comparison to inkjet printers. They don’t use nozzle and its ink is in the form of powder which is to be put in the given bar, that is why ink of these types of printers don’t dry up whether you use these once a year or you don’t use it at all.
Example –
HP LaserJet printer
Difference between Inkjet Printer and Laser Printer :
| Inkjet Printer | Laser Printer |
|---|---|
| It is cheap in price. | It is expensive than Inkjet Printers. |
| They have nozzle from which ink is sprayed onto paper and it gets printed. | They do not have nozzle. |
| Ink in the cartridges is in liquid form, which dries if not used for a long time. | Ink is in the form of toner (powder), it does not dries up even if you don’t use it for a long time. |
| Ink should be refilled in a short span of time, which makes it quite expensive. | Ink in these printers lasts long. So, there is no need to refill the bar again and again. |
| At last, buying these printers in not expensive but using it over time costs more and more. | Buying these laser printers, is expensive at first but using it over time it costs less than Inkjet Printers. |
| If you are student or if you print assignments, projects or print colourful pictures, then one can prefer Inkjet printers. | If you want to print only text like documents or PDFs or want to print normal pages, then one can prefer Laser printers. |
Conclusion
Selecting between an inkjet printer and a laser printer depends on your specific printing needs and budget. Inkjet printers excel at producing high-quality photos and color documents on various paper types, making them ideal for creative projects. However, they often have higher ongoing costs due to ink cartridge replacements. On the other hand, laser printers are faster and more cost-effective for printing large volumes of text documents, though they may not produce photo-quality prints as well as inkjets.
Inkjet Printer and Laser Printer-FAQs
Which is better inkjet Printer or laser printers?
If you print a lot of text documents or require fast printing speeds, a laser printer is the better choice but If you need to print photos and color documents occasionally, an inkjet printer might be more suitable.
What is the disadvantage of a laser printer?
laser printers include their higher initial cost compared to inkjet printers, their larger size and weight, and the limitation of not being good at printing high-quality photos are some disadvantages of laser printers.
Which is cheaper between inkjet printer and laser printer?
Inkjet printers are cheaper to purchase initially compared to laser printers. However, the cost of running an inkjet printer, such as ink cartridges, tends to be higher for inkjet printers.
Which printer is better for photos, inkjet or laser?
inkjet printers are generally better for printing photos due to their ability to produce high-quality color prints and handle various paper types, which is ideal for photo printing.