Printers comparison
Compare inkjet, laser, and all-in-one printers — pages per minute, resolution, duplex, ADF, and AirPrint.
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Best printers right now
What matters when comparing printers
This printers page covers 17 products and compares the measurable fields that most often separate one model from another: type, pages/min (mono), pages/min (color), color, auto duplex. Use the filters to narrow the field, open a product page for the complete readout, and use a head-to-head page when two models are close enough that a category-wide rank is not enough.
How to read the ranking
Mars Score is a normalized category score, not a laboratory replacement and not a claim that the highest-ranked product is right for every buyer. A high score indicates broad strength across the weighted fields; a lower score can still be the better choice when one specific requirement matters more than the average.
Read the scoring methodology →Popular printers comparisons
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Brands in printers
How to choose a printer in 2026
Printers remain the most quietly hostile category in consumer tech: subscription ink, firmware-locked third-party cartridges, and feature drift over time. The Mars Score weights print quality, speed, running cost (cost per page), connectivity, and warranty/firmware policy.
Inkjet vs laser
Inkjet (HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e, Canon PIXMA TR8620a) is best for photo printing, occasional color, and low-volume use. Laser (HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw, Brother HL-L2400DW) is best for high-volume mono printing, sharper text, and infrequent-use reliability — toner does not dry out the way ink does. Choose by usage pattern, not by price.
Running cost dominates total cost of ownership
A $200 inkjet that costs $0.20 per color page is more expensive over 3 years than a $400 inkjet with refillable ink tanks (EcoTank, MegaTank) at $0.01 per page. Always compute cost per page across the expected ownership window before deciding.
Subscription ink: read the fine print
HP Instant Ink and similar programs lock cartridges to active subscriptions; cancelling can disable cartridges you already paid for. Read the cancellation terms before opting in.
ADF and duplex
A duplex ADF (automatic document feeder with two-sided scanning) is the difference between a printer that handles real office work and one that does not. Look for "duplex ADF" or "single-pass duplex," not just "ADF."
Wireless and AirPrint / Mopria
Wi-Fi, AirPrint (Apple), and Mopria (Android, Windows) cover modern device-to-printer pairing without driver pain. Ethernet still matters for shared office printers — Wi-Fi alone can be unreliable on busy networks.
Firmware behavior
Some manufacturers ship firmware updates that disable third-party cartridges. Check our Field Reports for the current state of cartridge lock-in by brand before buying.
How vsMars scores printers
Each score combines speed (PPM), resolution (DPI), duplex/ADF presence, connectivity, and ink cost estimates per the methodology. See Buyer's Guides for use-case shortlists.
Frequently asked
How many printers are catalogued on vsMars?+
17 printers from 8 brands are catalogued in this category, each with a complete spec sheet and a transparent Mars Score.
How are printers ranked?+
Each printer is scored by the category-specific Mars Score formula — a weighted average of normalized specs with the weights published on the methodology page. No editorial hand-tuning.
Which printer has the highest Mars Score right now?+
LaserJet Pro MFP 4101fdw leads the printers category with a Mars Score of 83.9.
Can I compare two printers side by side?+
Yes — pick any two printers from the category list and the comparison page renders side-by-side specs, advantages on each side, and a Mars Score verdict.