An inkjet printer forms images by firing microscopic droplets of liquid ink from nozzles onto paper, while a laser printer uses a laser to draw a charge pattern on a drum, attracts powdered toner to it, and melts the toner onto the page with a heated fuser.
Why it matters
The two technologies suit different jobs. Inkjets handle photos and colour well, work with many paper types, and cost less to buy. Laser printers are faster for text, produce sharp, smudge-resistant pages, and the toner does not dry out, so they cope better with occasional use. Running costs depend on consumables: ink cartridges, tank refills, or toner cartridges plus drum units.
Example
An office printing 2,000 black-and-white pages a month will usually do better with a monochrome laser. A home user who prints a few photos and a school form each week is a better fit for an inkjet, ideally a refillable-tank model, because cartridges are often the largest cost over the printer's life.
Common mistakes
- Judging cost only by purchase price. Compare cost per page using the manufacturer's stated page yield for each cartridge.
- Leaving an inkjet unused for weeks, which can dry ink and clog the print head.
- Assuming a colour laser matches an inkjet for photos. Glossy photo paper generally favours inkjet.
- Buying third-party cartridges without checking whether the printer rejects them through firmware.
Related
Get notified when this term updates
Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
यह पेज सामान्य जानकारी है, जिसे हमारी संपादकीय टीम ने लिखा है और दस्तावेज़ीकरण बदलने पर अपडेट किया जाता है। सर्वर और प्रदाता अलग-अलग होते हैं, इसलिए बदलाव पहले सुरक्षित तरीके से जाँचें। देखें: संपादकीय नीति और अस्वीकरण.