Whether you want to print pictures or documents, you need a good printer that can get the job done. From the many printers out there, which one deserves to be the best printer for Mac? Honestly, this will depend on what you intend to do with the printer. This will determine the features that you will require in the printing machine and the ones that you will not. A printer that may suit one person may not suit another. Whether you are looking for a printer for personal user or business, you will find this guide useful. Read on.
Some Considerations to Bear in Mind
Duplex Printing
This is the ability of the printer to print on both sides of a paper fed into it. This capability is very important as it saves paper and time. Instead of having to manually flip the paper, the best printer for Mac will have automatic duplexing. In this process the printer prints on one side and the pulls the page back through the printer and flips it over then prints on the other side. When looking for a printer, consider one that has duplexing capabilities.
Duplex Copying in ADF (automatic)
For convenience always choose a printer that is all in one. It should be able to print, scan, fax and so on with documents. When scanning is an important feature for you, ensure that the printer can do RADF scanning. This is a kind of scanning in which the machine will scan both sides of a document without having to manually flip the document over. It is the opposite of ADF scanning in which the machine is able to scan one side of the document. The latter is cumbersome to use and not convenient. In order for a printer to have RADF scanning, it needs to have an automatic document feeder.
Paper Size You Can Print
What paper size does the printer allow you to print on? This is very important because it will determine what you can print. You need to get a printer that is as versatile as possible. All printers will allow you to print the normal 8.5 x 11 inch paper but what about other sizes? Does the printer allow you to print indexing cards, envelopes and other different paper sizes and weights? Get a printer that allows you to print anything on the MacBook on any paper size you wish. Other than the feed tray’s versatility, also consider the size of the input tray. A small one will mean that you have to keep adding paper every other day. Some of the best printers for Macs have 250-page hoppers that in most cases only require a monthly refill. Some printers even have optional second trays that provide convenient storage of different paper stock increasing the period between one refilling of the paper supply and the next.
Color Printing
Are you interested in printing documents that are perfect in black and white or do you want to print pie charts or photos that rely on color to make sense? For the prior all you need is a mono printer while for the latter a color printer will be the perfect choice. If you want to print out family photos, consider buying a single function photo printer instead of a multitask printer. The quality you get will be much better than paying for the printing services at a kiosk or mail order service. It is also very convenient.
Print Speed
The speed at which you will want to print will depend on the volume of papers that you need to print. If you are in printing business and need to print many things at a go, then you should get a printer with high printing speed. For people who only need a printer for home use, they can overlook the printing speed. Look at the manufacturer’s speed rating to determine what the print speed of the printer is. However, note that the indicated print speed reduces considerably when printing formatted, colored and documents containing graphics and images.
Laser vs Inkjet
Laser printers use toner cartridges that are filled with fine powder and a heated fuser to write on paper whereas inkjet printers use liquid ink sprayed through microscopic nozzles. Color inkjet printers can print anything from photos to documents to pie charts and so on. The current ones can actually print as fast as laser printers which were preferred previously due to their speed. Inkjet printers are ideal for home use.
On the other hand, laser printers are the best choice for business and office use. However, the affordable laser printers are monochrome and will not be useful in printing colored documents. Color laser jet printers are more expensive.
On the other hand, laser printers are the best choice for business and office use. However, the affordable laser printers are monochrome and will not be useful in printing colored documents. Color laser jet printers are more expensive.
Ink Budget
The initial cost is not all that you will spend on when it comes to having a printer. You will still need to set aside money to buy paper and ink or powder. Many companies are very cunning. They sell the printers at a very affordable initial cost only to make the maintenance very expensive. The ink cartridges of such companies tend to be expensive.
Before buying a printer do a research about the cost of replacing supplies. Specifically, consider how the cartridges are to be replaced. Can the cartridges be refilled or must one replace them with new ones? Refilling with ink is much cheaper but some printer makers have chips that track the ink and toner life making it difficult to refill the cartridges. When the cartridge replacement is expensive, consider getting a printer that will cost a lot in the initial cost but will be cheap in supply costs.
Look at the ink plans on offer by different printer makers. For instance, Brother printers come with several cartridges reducing the time from purchase to buying new cartridges while Canon and Epson have ink tank models with bottles that can be refilled with ink. HP on the other hand has an Instant Ink program where users are sent ink as soon as the cartridges run dry. This comes with a promise of printing a certain number of pages at a set monthly fee.
Wireless Printer
Mac users often find it hard to get a wireless printer that has high-quality output. This is majorly due to compatibility. But wireless printers provide professionals with the option of printing from anywhere and that is why many people prefer them.
Best Printer for Mac 2019
1. Best Laser Printer
Laser printers are the best choice for bulk printing and when you want the final product to have crisp text and images. These kind of printers may cost more upfront and take longer to heat up than inkjet printers but they are the best in quality printing. Laser printers make printing per sheet cheaper than inkjet. What is the best laser printer for Mac?
| Best Laser Printer in 2019 | Canon imageCLAS MF269dw |
Brother MFC-L3770CDW | Pantum P2502W | HP Laserjet Pro M426fdn | Brother DCP-L2550DW |
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| Duplex Printing | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Scan | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Duplex Copying in ADF |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Paper Size | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) |
| Mono or Color | Monochrome | Color & Mono | Mono | Mono | Mono |
| Print Speed | 30 ppm (BK) | 25 ppm (BK) | 22 ppm (BK) | 40 ppm (BK) | 36 ppm (BK) |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (Ethernet) | Yes |
| Ink Costs | $72/1700 (Pages BK) | 73$/3000 (Pages BK) | $49/1600 (Pages BK) | $216/9000 (Pages BK) | 41$/1200 (Pages BK) |
| Price | $229.89 | $333.96 | $64.99 | from $269.99 | $139.99 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
There are many to choose from but those that stand out include the Canon imageCLAS MF269dw and Brother MFC-L3770CDW. These are perfect for both home and office use thanks to the fast print speeds and heat up time.
2. Best Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are more cost-saving than laser printers. They may not be the best for handling high volume printing but inkjet printers get the job done even if it is high impact printing you want. With an inkjet printer, you will be able to print more pages for less and conveniently. What are the best inkjet printers for Mac? Our top picks are the HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 and Brother MFC-J6930DW Duplex.
| Best Inkjet Printer in 2019 | HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 | Brother MFC-J6930DW | HP Envy 5055 Wireless | Epson XP-7100 |
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| Duplex Printing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duplex Copying in ADF |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Paper Size | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 11” x 17” (A3, A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) |
| Mono or Color | Mono & Color | Mono & Color | Mono & Color | Mono & Color |
| Print Speed | BK: 24 ppm (up to 36 ppm, draft) | BK: 35 ppm; CL: 27 ppm | BK: 10 ppm; CL: 7 ppm | BK: 16 ppm; CL: 11 ppm |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ink Costs | $45/2000 Pages (BK) | $47/3000 Pages (BK) | $28/300 Pages (BK) | $19/500 Page (BK) |
| Price | from $279.99 | from $264.32 | from $59.89 | $129.99 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
3. Best All In One Printers
This is a printer that has more than printing capabilities. It is able to copy, scan and at times fax documents. All in one printers are also called Multifunction printers (MFP).
| All In One Printers in 2019 | Brother MFC-J6930DW | Canon Office and Business MX922 | Canon PIXMA TS9520 |
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| Duplex Printing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duplex Copying in ADF |
Yes | Yes | No |
| Paper Size | Up to 11” x 17” (A3, A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 11” x 17” (A3, A4) |
| Mono or Color | Mono & Color | Mono & Color | Mono & Color |
| Print Speed | BK: 35 ppm; CL: 27 ppm | BK: 9.7 ipm; CL 5.5 ipm | BK: 15 ipm; CL 10 ipm |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ink Costs | $47/3000 Pages (BK) | $24/250 Pages (BK) | $16/280 Pages (BK) |
| Price | from $264.32 | from $129.88 | $199.99 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
When choosing the right MFP, consider what the printer’s intended use is. Office users will be interested in printing text more than images. For home printing, photo quality is your main concern. Inkjets print photos best but you need to get a printer that can print from multiple sources including memory cards, cameras, slides, USB drives, film strips and photographic prints.
4. Wireless Printers for Mac
Wireless printers for Mac provide convenience and the chance to print without having to handle too many cables. The accidents caused by tripping on the cable will be a thing of the past. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, these printers make it easy to print from iPhones, iPads and other Mac devices. Wireless printers can be ideal for both home and office use. Some of the best options are the Canon imageCLASS MF264dw and the HP OfficeJet Pro 8740
| Best Wireless Printers in 2019 | Canon imageCLASS MF264dw | HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 | HP Envy 5055 Wireless |
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| Duplex Printing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duplex Copying in ADF |
No | Yes | No |
| Paper Size | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) | Up to 8.50" x 11.00" (A4) |
| Mono or Color | Monochrome | Mono & Color | Mono & Color |
| Print Speed | 30 ppm (BK) | BK: 24 ppm | BK: 10 ppm; CL: 7 ppm |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ink Costs | $72/1700 Pages | $32/1000 Pages (BK) | $28/300 Pages (BK) |
| Price | $155.00 | from $279.99 | $47.03 |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
There are many printers out there that claim to be the best for Mac. When choosing be clear about what you want. Only choose a printer that will allow you do all the printing that you need. Remember that what is perfect for home is not perfect for business and vice versa. Be very critical of a machine before you buy it. We hope this guide was helpful to you.