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Purchasing a new printer: read this first

See features that add convenience, savings, and fun to printing.
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HP LaserJet MFP in office

Introduction

With so many features to choose from, it’s hard to know what’s most important when purchasing a new printer or All-in-One. Get the lowdown on where to start, and then find out about HP’s latest printer innovations.

Consider these four features first

HP Toner cartridge
Toner cartridges typically have higher yields than ink cartridges and need less frequent changing.
HP individual colour ink cartridges
Several HP original ink cartridges come in an XL size, which offers a lower per-page cost.
HP LaserJet P3005 printer
The HP LaserJet P3005 Printer has a duty cycle of up to 100,000 pages per month; its recommended monthly page volume is between 1,500 and 5000 pages.
1. Toner vs inkjet
HP LaserJet printers use toner rather than ink, and are the go-to option for high-volume printing (more than 2000 pages/month) or for those who always print in black and white. There are also high-quality colour models available.
HP inkjet printers and All-in-Ones are often the printer of choice for those who want to print their own photos, print shop-quality documents and marketing materials, and those who want to print larger formats.
Get more information about the differences between laser and inkjet in the article, Get the best printer for your business needs (which offers plenty of advice that will work for home printers, too).
2. Multifunction vs. printer only
Even if it’s rare that you need anything other than straight-up printing, consider the convenience and potential savings of owning three or four machines in one. An HP inkjet All-in-One or an HP LaserJet MFP lets you print, scan, copy and, on some models, fax. Discover why an HP All-in-One is right for you.
However, if you already have a dedicated scanner, fax, and/or copier, or you’re looking for a printer with certain attributes (lab-quality, large format prints, for example), a single-function printer might make sense.
3. Networking
The primary options to Share a printer on a network are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet. Wi-Fi offers the greatest mobility, but there are advantages to the other technologies as well. Printers that connect solely by USB are usually not networkable without an accessory.
4. Duty cycle
Duty cycle is a printer spec that measures the maximum number of pages a printer can handle per month.
It’s useful to consider duty cycle (or RMPV—recommended monthly page volume) to select a printer that can meet your volume needs. Typically, HP LaserJets offer the highest duty cycles, along with HP Officejet Pros.
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Select photo-friendly features

HP printer with memory card slots
Insert memory cards directly into these slots, and print photos without a PC.
HP iPrint on an iPhone
HP iPrint is remarkably easy to install and use.
Look at the comparison charts available on the HP Photosmart printer buying guide to see which printers have these features (Some are also available on certain HP Officejets and HP LaserJets):
Memory card slots for photo printing without a PC
The HP Photosmart line of printers, several HP Deskjets, and some HP Officejets have slots for memory cards. Just insert your digital camera’s memory card and print right away – no PC required.
Photo paper tray
Many HP Photosmart printers and All-in-Ones have a dedicated photo paper tray, eliminating the need to switch out papers when you switch tasks.
Interactive touchscreen
Some HP Photosmart and HP Officejet Pro printers have interactive touchscreens that allow you to edit photos and much more.
35mm slide and negative scanning
If you’re a longtime photo fan or the family historian, seek out a printer or All-in-One with a TMA (transparent materials adapter)—essential for preserving 35mm memories.
HP iPrint
Check out HP iPrint, a fun and useful feature for Apple iPhone and iPod touch owners to print photos directly from their devices—no PC or cables required.
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Opt for work-friendly features

HP Officejet Pro printing double-sided colour
Printing double-sided looks good in more ways than one.
Legal-sized marketing
Make large copies of delicate collages or high-impact marketing materials with legal-sized scan glass.
HP Officejet Pro 8500 Premier All-in-One
The HP Officejet Pro 8500 Premier can support a print volume comparable with some laser printers.
Automatic two-sided printing
Save space, money, and paper by duplexing (printing documents double-sided). Devices that duplex automatically can also save you time. Available on select HP Officejet, HP Officejet Pro, HP Photosmart, and HP LaserJet printers.
An automatic double-sided printing accessory can add the capability to many printers that don’t have it built-in. See paper handling accessories.
High capacity ADF
Some printers allow you to leave up to 50 pages unattended in an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) so that they can get copied, faxed, or scanned, while you get more done.
Legal-sized scanning glass
If you’re working with fragile legal-sized documents or those that have staples, clips, tears, tape, or excessive folds, manually scanning them on a legal-sized glass is the safest option.
Learn how to Handle legal-sized documents easily with this feature, available on some HP Officejet, HP Officejet Pro, and HP LaserJet All-in-Ones.
Embedded Gigabit networking
A few HP LaserJets feature embedded Gigabit networking, offering incredibly fast connections between a group of computers and a single printer.
High volume inkjets
While laser printers are normally the default for high-volume printing, the latest HP Officejet Pros offer a duty cycle of up to 15,000 pages per month, along with the stellar, vivid color of inkjet printing. The best of both worlds!
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Check out more fun and useful HP innovations

HP Photosmart compact photo printer
Take photo fun on the road with HP Photosmart compact printers.
Printable School papers
The Printable School papers function can generate notebook paper, graph paper, and mazes directly from certain HP Photosmart models without a PC.
Print a DVD or CD Labels
Many HP Photosmart printers feature the ability to print straight onto a CD or DVD, making personalized gift-giving or careful archiving a cinch.
Portablity
Take your printer on the road. HP Officejet mobile printers weigh in at less than five pounds and can come with long-lasting batteries and wireless capabilities, leaving you free to get work done.
HP Photosmart compact printers fit into stylish cases and enable your snapshots to be the life of any reunion, party, or gathering.
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Find these features on HP printers and All-in-Ones

To compare HP printers and All-in-Ones side-by-side and see which have the features discussed above, visit the comparison charts in the HP Printer and All-in-One Buying Guides.
To find a printer that best meets your needs you have several options.
  1. Visit the comparison charts in the HP Printer and All-in-One Buying Guides to compare HP printers and All-in-Ones side-by-side and see which have the features discussed above.
  2. Buy now from HP online.

Learn more