Best Printers 2026: Five Use-Case Picks
Quick answer
There is no single best printer for every desk. For a small office needing color documents and two-sided scanning, start with the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125. For regular refillable-tank printing, compare the Epson EcoTank ET-3950. Choose the Brother HL-L2460DW for black text without scanning, Canon PIXMA TS8820 for home photo projects, or HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw for a shared color-document workload. These are specification-based shortlists, not lab-test winners.
We selected these five models for distinct home and office workloads. Match your printing volume, scanning needs and replacement supplies before comparing advertised speed or purchase price.
Compare the jobs before the printers
| Pick | Best starting use | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 | Home-office all-in-one | HP describes dynamic security that may block cartridges without a new or reused HP chip; check supply policy before choosing third-party ink. |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3950 | Refillable-tank color printing | Epson lists print, copy and scan for this exact configuration, not fax; buyers needing fax should select a different variant. |
| Brother HL-L2460DW | Black-and-white documents | It has no scanner, copier, fax or color engine, so it cannot replace an all-in-one for mixed household tasks. |
| Canon PIXMA TS8820 | Home photo and craft printing | This exact TS8820 is print, copy and scan, with no fax in Canon’s listed functions. |
| HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw | Shared color-laser office | Four toner colors and a larger printer make supply cost and physical footprint material parts of the decision. |
None of these rows is a measured print-quality or running-cost ranking. Print speed claims use each maker’s conditions. Local supply prices, coverage, paper type and usage determine your actual cost.
HP OfficeJet Pro 9125: Home-office all-in-one
This is the current HP model to compare for a small office that needs color documents, copying, scanning and faxing. The older 9125e in the original guide is marked discontinued by HP; the 9125 is a separately identified current product, not a renamed listing to buy blindly.
Pros
- HP lists print, scan, copy and fax, two-sided printing and two-sided scanning, so routine document jobs do not require a separate scanner.
- A 250-sheet input tray, Wi-Fi and Ethernet make it better suited to a shared home-office workflow than a tiny single-user printer.
Cons and trade-offs
- HP describes dynamic security that may block cartridges without a new or reused HP chip; check supply policy before choosing third-party ink.
- Cartridge costs depend on the exact HP 936 cartridge, yield and local offer. A low printer price alone cannot establish a low running cost.
Best for: a small office needing color documents and two-sided scanning.
Choose another if: you mainly print black text, or want refillable ink tanks.
Our recommendation
Choose this if the ADF and scan/fax workflow earn their space. Price a realistic year of HP 936 ink before comparing it with a tank or laser alternative.
Epson EcoTank ET-3950: Refillable-tank color printing
Epson names the ET-3950 as the replacement for the discontinued ET-3850 in the old guide. Its refillable bottles shift the cost decision from cartridges toward purchase price and the amount you actually print. Epson lists print, copy and scan functions, an ADF, automatic duplex printing and a 250-sheet tray.
Pros
- Refillable EcoFit bottles avoid small replacement cartridges; Epson states that the included ink lasts up to three years at about 150 pages per month under its assumptions.
- The ADF and 250-sheet tray support longer document runs, while automatic duplex printing reduces paper handling.
Cons and trade-offs
- Epson lists print, copy and scan for this exact configuration, not fax; buyers needing fax should select a different variant.
- The upfront hardware cost and infrequent printing can offset tank-ink savings; calculate cost from your own page volume and local bottle prices.
Best for: regular color document printing where refillable ink has time to pay off.
Choose another if: you print only occasionally or need fax in the same unit.
Our recommendation
Use the ET-3950 as the tank comparison, then verify the exact color and retailer stock; availability and included ink can differ by seller.
Brother HL-L2460DW: Black-and-white documents
This monochrome laser printer remains a focused choice if the job is black text, not family photos or scanning. Brother specifies up to 36 pages per minute, automatic duplex printing, a 250-sheet tray and Ethernet or dual-band wireless networking.
Pros
- Fast rated black-text printing and a 250-sheet tray suit batches of forms, labels and reports.
- Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi and USB give more placement options than a Wi-Fi-only desktop model.
Cons and trade-offs
- It has no scanner, copier, fax or color engine, so it cannot replace an all-in-one for mixed household tasks.
- The starter toner is rated for fewer pages than some replacement cartridges; compare TN830 cartridge and DR830 drum costs as separate supplies.
Best for: mostly black documents and no need for a scanner.
Choose another if: you need color or an all-in-one.
Our recommendation
Choose it for its clear job fit, then cost the correct toner and drum for your expected volume. Do not infer a universal cents-per-page figure from the printer alone.
Canon PIXMA TS8820: Home photo and craft printing
Canon’s discontinued PIXMA TR8620a occupied the original family-photo slot. The TS8820 is a current photo-focused alternative with a six-color hybrid ink system, borderless output up to letter size, front and rear paper paths and a 4.3-inch touchscreen. It is not a like-for-like fax replacement.
Pros
- The photo-focused six-color system and borderless letter-size support make it a more relevant short list for prints and craft projects than a document-only laser.
- Separate front cassette and rear feed let a household keep plain paper loaded while switching to photo media.
Cons and trade-offs
- This exact TS8820 is print, copy and scan, with no fax in Canon’s listed functions.
- A photo project uses ink and specialty paper; compare the correct PGI-230/CLI-231 supplies and paper rather than a black-document page estimate.
Best for: families that print photos as well as school documents.
Choose another if: you need fax, an ADF or low-cost bulk text output.
Our recommendation
Choose it for the photo workflow, not as a general office winner. Confirm the media sizes and cartridge bundle in the exact offer.
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw: Shared color-laser office
This is the heavier-duty color-document option from the old list. HP specifies a 50-sheet ADF with duplex scanning, automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet main tray plus 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and wireless or Ethernet networking. It is a different buying decision from a home photo inkjet.
Pros
- The 50-sheet duplex-scanning ADF and multiple paper inputs fit a small team handling recurring document packets.
- HP lists both color and monochrome ISO print speeds up to 35 ppm on letter paper for this configuration, subject to its test conditions.
Cons and trade-offs
- Four toner colors and a larger printer make supply cost and physical footprint material parts of the decision.
- HP lists dynamic security that can restrict cartridges without an HP chip; check procurement policy and replacement toner before purchase.
Best for: a small team with frequent color documents and two-sided scanning.
Choose another if: you mainly print photos or have low monthly volume.
Our recommendation
Compare the exact 4301fdw region and toner family. An occasional home user should not pay for team-oriented capacity they will not use.
Printer buying guide: calculate the whole workflow
Write down the job mix first. Count black documents, color documents and photo prints separately for a typical month. A monochrome laser solves a different job from a six-color photo inkjet. If you scan forms, decide whether a flatbed is enough or whether an ADF and two-sided scanning save recurring work. Fax only matters if your actual workflow requires it.
Price supplies by exact model. Find the cartridge or bottle family in the manufacturer’s manual. For Brother, include the separate drum when planning long-term ownership. For an ink-tank printer, compare higher initial hardware cost with your realistic print volume. Do not use a generic cents-per-page number without supply price, declared yield and page coverage assumptions.
Check paper and network setup. Confirm letter/legal/photo media, tray size and duplex support for the exact paper you use. Ethernet is useful for a shared fixed location; Wi-Fi convenience still depends on router, operating system and installation. Check current driver compatibility and the return policy before you open ink or toner.
Inspect the full offer. Product names with one-letter or suffix differences can use different cartridges or features. Verify the region, included starter supplies, seller, warranty and current availability. Labeled searches may show other models; price cards appear only for an eligible exact-model offer and must be checked at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy inkjet or laser?
Start with output: the Brother model is a focused black-document printer; the HP 4301fdw is for shared color office documents. The HP 9125 and Epson ET-3950 offer broader home-office color and scanning tasks, while Canon TS8820 targets photos. Neither technology wins every job.
Is refillable ink automatically cheaper?
No. A tank can lower refill frequency and may reduce supply cost at sufficient volume, but initial printer price, actual monthly pages and local bottle costs decide the outcome.
Do all five scan and fax?
No. The Brother HL-L2460DW is print-only. Epson ET-3950 and Canon TS8820 print, scan and copy, without fax in these exact configurations. Confirm the HP model suffix when fax or duplex scanning is required.
Sources and method
We checked current manufacturer pages for the exact models and predecessor status. This is editorial matching of documented functions to use cases, not hands-on testing or a price survey. See our research methodology.
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 manufacturer product specifications
- Epson EcoTank ET-3950 manufacturer product specifications
- Brother HL-L2460DW manufacturer product specifications
- Canon PIXMA TS8820 manufacturer product specifications
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw manufacturer product specifications
- HP 9125e discontinuation notice; Epson ET-3850 replacement notice; Canon TR8620a discontinuation notice
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