Inkjet Printers vs Laserjet Printers: Which Are Better?

When shopping for printers, you’re liable to come across two main types: inkjet and laserjet.

While both print files, they differ in performance, print quality, costs, and more—which one is right for you will likely boil down to your needs.

Keep reading for a detailed inkjet vs. laser printer comparison!

How They Work

This laserjet vs. inkjet discussion starts with their technology. Laserjet uses toner powders to colour texts and images on paper, while inkjet models use liquid ink.

Inkjet PrintersLaserjet Printers

➡️ Print heads have tiny nozzles or jets that spray fine ink droplets onto paper

➡️ Print heads repetitively move from side to side while releasing the ink; can use dye-based or pigment-based ink.

➡️ Inkjet printing has two processes: thermal and piezoelectric

• The thermal process uses heat to create air bubbles that push the ink out of the nozzles
• The piezoelectric process uses voltage to change the cartridge’s shape and eject the ink

➡️ Uses a non-impact photocopier technology where no keys strike the paper

➡️ During a print job, the laser beam uses electrical charges to draw or trace a document’s image and text on a selenium-coated drum

➡️ When the drum rolls in the toner, the dry toner powder sticks to the traced document due to the electrical charge

As paper passes through the printer, the image & text transfer and fuse onto its surface with heat and pressure.

Print Speed & Volume

When it comes to speed, laserjet printers have the upper hand. Most laser printers have a print speed of 20 to 50 pages per minute. Meanwhile, a basic inkjet printer is slower and can only produce five to 20 pages per minute.

When it comes to print volume, laserjet printers can produce 2,500 to 3,000 pages on average with one toner cartridge. Some higher-end units can print up to 30,000 pages! Meanwhile, inkjet printers can usually only produce 250 to 300 pages with one ink cartridge.

🖨️ Read more: Industries That Can Benefit From Speedy Printing

Image source: Canva

Print Resolution

Dots per inch (DPI) is a measurement of print quality, with higher values being indicative of a print with more sharpness and detail.

For inkjet printers vs. laserjet printers in this category, the former has the advantage because their print resolution is often around 1,200 DPI and can go as high as 5,000 DPI. The resolution of laserjets more commonly ranges from 600 to 1,200 DPI.

HP Color LaserJet Enterprise Flow MFP M578cHP Officejet Pro 8210 Color Inkjet PrinterBlack (normal): Up to 600 x 600 DPI
Black (fine lines): Up to 1200 x 1200 DPI

Black (best): Up to 1200 x 1200 optimized DPI
on plain paper

Colour (normal): Up to 600 x 600 DPI
Colour (fine lines): Up to 1200 x 1200 DPI

Colour (best): Up to 2400 x 1200 optimized
DPI on HP Advanced Photo paper

Colour Vibrancy & Print Quality

Printing photos requires a printer that adds lustre and tonal depth to images. Here’s where inkjet printers come out on top. Unlike toner cartridges, its liquid inks can mix, producing vivid, higher-quality photos with richer colours and deeper blacks.

On the other hand, a monochrome laser printer is best suited for printing text. Colour laser printers produce medium-quality prints, but are even more expensive than their regular counterparts. See the table below for a comparison:

Inkjet PrintersLaserjet PrintersSmudge-proof❌✅Dries instantly❌✅Sharp and bold text lettering❌✅Bright and sharp images✅❌Compatible with various paper types and substrates✅❌

Image source: Canva

Upfront and Long Term Costs

Many homes and small businesses prefer purchasing inkjet printers because of their affordable price tags. However, their long-term costs rise due to the constant need for ink cartridge replacements—this can be a problem if you do a lot of printing.  

Laserjet printers are more expensive to buy, but toner cartridges last longer than ink cartridges and reduce the need for pricey refills. This makes them a great option if you have some extra money to spend right now and want to maximize your ROI.

Settle the Inkjet vs. Laser Printer Debate Your Way

Both inkjet and laser printers have their pros and cons. Consider all we’ve discussed carefully, then head over to Integr8 to buy whichever you prefer!

We don’t take sides in the inkjet printers vs. laserjet printers debate; we stock the best of both worlds to deliver whatever you need. Whether you want the speedy performance offered by laser or the print quality of inkjet, we’ve got you covered.

Still can’t decide between inkjet vs. laser printers? Chat with us today and let us help!