Over the past few years, both Chromebooks and printers have become ubiquitous tech products in the world of remote work and education. That’s also despite Google removing its Cloud Print service in December 2020, which until then had been the only way to print to any Chromebook. Fortunately, nowadays users can easily connect to these printers via Wi-Fi, USB, or wired LAN (ChromeOS cannot print via Bluetooth, however).
So what is best for you? We’ve picked our favorite Chromebook printers, ranging from budget home models to more premium all-in-ones for your home, dorm, or office. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
Brother HL-L2350DW
Table of Contents
The best monochrome laser printer
Advantages
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Economic
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Good print speed
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Automatic two-sided printing in a small profile
The inconvenients
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Lack of all-in-one features
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The included toner cartridge is only suitable for approximately 500 pages
If a printer was a tank, the Brother HL-L2350DW would be it. Designed to produce pages quickly and reliably, this monochrome laser printer is a frequent top seller.
The surprisingly affordable price hides a robust set of features usually found on more expensive models. Ultra-fast 32 pages per minute (ppm) output, 250-paper capacity, and automatic two-sided printing are among the reasons this should be on your shopping list. There is also a manual feed slot that handles a variety of papers and sizes, such as card stock, envelopes, and more.
You might want to skip this step if your home or small business needs to scan, make copies or fax – this printer is specifically designed to print and handle documents beautifully.
Brother HL-L2350DW
The best monochrome laser printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e
best color inkjet printer
Advantages
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Excellent print quality
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Fast print speeds
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Tilting touch screen
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All-in-one functions
The inconvenients
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HP Instant Ink not practical for low print volumes
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Small ADF tray for the class
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer is ideal for small to medium-sized offices, but it can also easily meet the needs of a home office, thanks in part to its performance , its capacity and its competitive prices. .
Packed with a host of modern printer features, the 9025e offers a 500-sheet capacity (split into two trays), borderless printing, high-resolution copy-scan-fax capabilities, extensive connectivity and security options, a top-loading automatic document feeder (ADF) — among others. The printer can produce good quality prints at up to 4800 x 1200 color resolution and can scan documents at 1200 dpi. Print speeds are average for this class at 25ppm for monochrome pages and 20ppm for color.
The 9025e comes with six months of HP Instant Ink subscription service, which automatically sends you new cartridges when the printer detects that your ink levels are low. The price per page of this subscription service can be attractive if you print a lot, so if your weekly or monthly output is low, you may be better off buying replacement cartridges only when needed.
HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e
best color inkjet printer
Brother HL-L3270CDW
The best color laser printer
Advantages
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Excellent print quality
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Extra sheet feeder
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Automatic two-sided printing
The inconvenients
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Costs per page can be high
The Brother HL-L3270CDW is essentially an entry-level color laser-class LED version of the L2350DW mentioned above.
Brother laser printers are renowned for their letterpress-quality text, and the L3270CDW is no different. It produces good detail and vivid color at a fast 25ppm for color pages. These qualities make this printer an ideal candidate for small businesses or workgroups that need to print a lot of documents (up to 1,500 pages recommended per month). The only downside to consider is the potentially high running costs common to entry-level printers.
If you don’t need the built-in cloud apps, NFC connectivity, touchscreen, and prefer a smaller, lighter printer, there’s the HL-L3230CDW that offers Wi-Fi Direct printing. in place.
Brother HL-L3270CDW
The best color laser printer
HP DeskJet 3755
The best budget color inkjet printer
Advantages
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Compact
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Attractive design
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Low cost
A sleek replacement for the HP Tango X line of printers, the DeskJet 3755 is a great addition for college dorms or even home offices where a compact, affordable printer is a must.
We think the Seaglass colorway and unique curves of the 3755 will suit the young student over the bland white or black boxes that seem to be de rigueur in this class of printers. Other than that, the 3755 delivers up to 15ppm color and 19ppm monochrome, which is pretty decent for this category and size. Print quality is very solid, whether it’s documents or photographs (the printer can produce an interpolated resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi), although ink capacity can run out quickly, especially when printing photos. Yet unlike the other printers listed here, the two built-in ink cartridges are easier and cheaper to replace.
Other features of the HP 3755 include the ability to scan, copy and print wirelessly, and a free 4 month supply of ink when you join the HP Instant Ink program.
HP DeskJet 3755
The best budget color inkjet printer
Epson EcoTank ET-3760
The best eco-friendly color inkjet printer
Advantages
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No wasted cartridge
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Refill ink as needed
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Good print quality
The inconvenients
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Relatively small ADF tray
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Slow print speeds
Don’t want the hassle and waste of replacing ink cartridges? The Epson EcoTank ET-3760 inkjet might be right up your alley, letting you fill empty ink chambers with ink bottles instead. This solution is ideal in a world where black and color ink are sealed in a single cartridge, requiring costly replacement when one of the chambers runs out. With the ET-3760, you recharge when needed!
The ET-3760 is ideal for a small business setup where print volumes and frequency are relatively medium. It’s not the fastest, delivering up to 15ppm in black and white and 8ppm in colour. The ADF tray holds 30 pages for scanning and copying. Note: Although the ET-3760 is listed as an all-in-one printer, it does not have fax functions. Duplex printing is also available, along with a respectable 250-sheet storage tray.
Epson EcoTank ET-3760
The best eco-friendly color inkjet printer
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any printer be used with ChromeOS?
Ever since Google’s Cloud Print service was retired in late 2020, there’s been confusion about which printers ChromeOS supports. The general rule is that most printers on sale today are compatible with Chromebooks by simply connecting via Wi-Fi, USB or LAN. Some vendors have also been quick to roll out their own apps for ChromeOS to provide the same functionality Windows and Mac users expect. Bluetooth printing is still not supported by Chromebooks and ChromeOS, so be aware of that.
When researching or buying a printer, keep an eye out for devices labeled “Works with Chromebook.” This means the printer is certified to work seamlessly with your Chromebook. Nevertheless, it is still prudent to check the manufacturer’s website to make sure that the printer you are planning to buy is really compatible with the operating system.
Which brand of printer is the best?
Each brand has its strength and renowned characteristics. For example, Brother prides itself on its letterpress-quality prints, while Epson makes excellent photo printers. Whichever brand you choose, especially stalwarts like Canon, Kyocera, HP, etc., you can be sure they produce a wide variety of solid machines that meet all printing needs.
While choosing one over the other might seem daunting, in recent years features and technology have reached a level of parity, which means it’s pretty hard to go wrong with almost any brand of laptop. printers.
Is cloud printing possible on a Chromebook compatible printer?
Absolutely, but with a caveat. The printer itself can be accessed from anywhere if you are on a mobile device with the vendor’s app installed. Since Google Cloud Print Service has been taken offline, the only way to print to the cloud through a Chromebook device would be to install third-party apps. These usually have limited printing functions and require a paid subscription to access all features.
Which type of printer is better: laser or inkjet?
Both have their pros and cons. Laser has a higher outright cost, both in the cost of the machine and the toner cartridge, but they also generally have a much higher monthly output capacity than other types of printers. If your print volume is high, laser printers are cheaper to run in the long run.
Conversely, inkjet printers are cheaper to buy, so they’re ideal if you’re on a tighter budget or don’t print a lot of documents. One area where inkjet printers generally excel over laser printers is photo print quality, unless you’re willing to spend a lot on a high-end color laser model.
For more information, we suggest you consult also our printer buying guide.
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