There are many different types of printers for home and business use. There are all-in-one printers that copy, scan, fax and email, and there are simple budget printers that only print. Some print in color and others only in black ink.
Apple AirPrint is Apple’s wireless printing technology. It allows you to print without needing to download or install drivers, which can be a real headache when setting up a new printer. The best printer for printing with an iPad is HP’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479. This multifunction laser printer does it all quickly, efficiently and in high quality.
What to know before you buy a printer for your iPad
Compatibility
Most major manufacturers’ wireless printers are AirPrint-enabled but always double-check to make sure. When you buy an AirPrint printer, all you have to do is tap “Printer” on your iPad and your new printer should show up automatically.
Types of desktop printers
Inkjet: When it comes to desktop printers, the most basic type is the inkjet. Because it’s inexpensive to buy, it’s the most common type of printer in homes and small offices. Virtually every manufacturer makes inkjet printers.
Solid-ink: With wax-like ink made from non-toxic vegetable oils, solid-ink printers are the choice of environmentalists. Solid-ink printers are slow but produce crisp documents and bright colors.
LED: Light Emitting Diode technology is efficient and cheap to operate. Because the technology is new, they cost more than any other type.
Laser: Lasers are the best choice for those who want to produce high-quality images in large volumes quickly. They’re the choice of offices and people who do a lot of printing because they’re sturdy and reliable workhorses. Laser printers are more expensive to buy but cost less to operate because they use powdered toner instead of liquid ink.
Should I buy a multifunction printer?
Also called all-in-one printers, multifunction printers are popular for small businesses and home offices. In addition to printing, they can also copy, scan, fax and email. The more things you want your printer to do, the more it will cost, but a multifunction printer will always be cheaper than buying a separate printer, copier, scanner and fax machine. All-in-one printers take up less room, too, a big plus for smaller home offices. If you only plan to use a printer casually and infrequently and want to save money, consider an inexpensive standalone printer.
What if I want to print high-resolution art and photographs?
Photo printers are special-purpose printers that produce the ultra-high-definition prints that photographers and artists want. Photo printers come in laser, solid ink and LED versions. Because they use a lot of ink, they print very slowly as compared to documents. The size of the printer is determined by the size of the prints you want.
Printer for iPad features
Built-in AirPrint
AirPrint technology comes already built into a wide variety of printers. It allows users of iPads, iPhones and iPods to print directly from their devices over WiFi without needing to install any additional software or drivers.
Print speed
Measured in pages per minute, desktop printers produce 1-50 ppm. Inkjet printers range from 1-50 ppm while laser printers print from 4 ppm to more than 50 ppm. If you’re printing lots of pages often, you want faster speeds. As higher speeds cost more, if you print only a few things infrequently, speed is not an important consideration.
Print quality
Measured in dots per inch, DPI is used to measure the resolution of a print image. Much the same as the resolution of a screen image, prints with higher DPI produce clearer images with more detail. Typical inkjet printers have three standard output settings: 300 x 300, 600 x 600 and 720 x 720, while typical laser printer resolutions are 1,200-2,400 DPI.
Duplex printing
Some printers are only able to print on one side of the page. Duplex printers print on both sides automatically without you having to turn pages over and reload them.
Printer for iPad cost
AirPrint-enabled printers range in price from less than $100 for a basic inkjet printer to $500 or more for a multifunction, all-in-one laser printer. The greater the print quality and the print speeds, the higher the cost.
Printer for iPad FAQ
What type of printer should I buy?
A. If you want the latest technology, consider an LED printer. If you want to use nontoxic vegetable-based inks that are easier on the environment, check out solid-ink printers. Most people who want an affordable printer choose inkjet printers. People who need high print quality at high speeds prefer laser printers.
Should I buy a multifunction printer?
A. While they used to cost more than single-function printers, prices have come down enough that printers with scan and copy capabilities are a good choice.
Which printer for iPad should I get?
Best of the best printer for iPad
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479: available at HP
Our take: It copies, scans, faxes, emails and prints up to 28 pages per minute.
What we like: Its intuitive touchscreen makes it easy to set up and simple to use. Automatic document feeder make two-sided scanning easy.
What we dislike: It’s as pricey as you’d expect from a multifunction color laser printer.
Best bang for your buck printer for iPad
Canon PIXMA MG3620: available at Amazon
Our take: This wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer produces 4800 x 1200 DPI.
What we like: High-quality graphic and photo printing at better-than-average speed. Excellent photo-scan quality. XXL ink cartridge option.
What we dislike: Printing speed is relatively slow, but sufficient for casual use.
Honorable mention printer for iPad
Epson SureColor P700: available at Amazon
Our take: It prints outstanding quality high-resolution photos and artwork at 5760 x 1440 dpi on paper up to 13 inches wide.
What we like: Professional print quality for photographers and artists who draw on their iPad Pros. Its 10-color ink cartridges print deeper, purer colors. Paper roll feeder is standard equipment.
What we dislike: No automatic document feeder.
David Van is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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