Categories: Technology

Printer Ink Or Laser Toner – What Are The Advantages Of Each?

When purchasing a new printer, a common decision is whether to choose an inkjet or laser printer. The most significant difference between these two printer models is the type of material in the cartridge they use. An inkjet printer uses a cartridge within and a laser printer uses a cartridge with toner powder. These two types of printers differ massively in their technology and how the ink or toner is applied to the page.

Naturally, both printer ink and printer toner have their advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the advantages of both printer ink and toner will give you the full picture and help you to make a better decision.

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What Are The Advantages Of Toner For Your Laser Printer?

1. Toner Generally Last Longer Than Ink Cartridges

Although toner cartridges cost more individually than ink carriages, they don’t need to be replaced as frequently as ink cartridges. Overall, toner lastslongerthanink. You can print more pages without having to replace the toner cartridges. The high yield makes them ideal for office settings with multiple users.

Toner also lasts longer on the shelf, as opposed to ink, which can dry out quickly. This means you can stock up in bulk with your toner without having to be as cautious about it running out of date as you would with ink cartridges.

You can also take advantage of compatible brands like 123ink.ie which offer cheaper alternatives to popular laser toners (and ink cartridges), with higher capacities and a cheaper cost per print. For example, if we take the popular Brother toner cartridge. The Brother TN-3480 high capacity black toner, with a 123ink compatible version of the toner, you can print a massive 1,000 more pages for a fraction of the price.

2. Laser Printers With Toner Are More Precise For Crisp Text

The advanced technology that a laser printer and toner use makes the final prints incredibly precise. This is because a laser printer uses laser beam technology. The laser travels across a piece of paper and creates a pattern that appears in the final print. An inkjet printer, on the other hand, uses an inkjet that moves across the piece of paper and applies ink. These microscopic droplets of ink can never fully match the precision and accuracy that a laser beam can provide. This makes laser partners ideal for printing precise, crisp black text.

3. Laser Printers With Toner Have Faster Print Speeds

As mentioned above, because of the way the laser technology applies toner to an entire page all at once, it’s much faster than the way inkjets apply ink to paper. An inkjet printer has a printhead with nozzles that moves back and forth spraying the ink. This process is inherently slower than the speed of a laser beam.

Laser printers can typically print 20 to 40 pages per minute, even low-end laser printers. The print speed of inkjet printers is usually between 10 and 33 pages per minute, with some low-end inkjet models starting at 8 pages per minute.

What Are The Advantages Of Ink Cartridges For Your Inkjet Printer?

1. Printer Ink Is Great For Printing Vivid Photos

Ink for printers comes in two varieties, pigment-based ink, and dye-based ink cartridges. Most inkjet printers use dye-based ink. Dye-based ink is far more economical than pigment-based ink. The major disadvantage when it comes to dye-based ink is that it is not waterproof and is prone to smudging.

Dye ink printers, however, can produce some of the best photo quality prints and have a lower cost than inkjets that use pigment cartridges, or color laser printers. Dye-based ink for inkjet printers can produce vivid color photographs that are perfect if you mainly print holiday photos or photos of friends and family. This way, you can enjoy the savings of a lower-cost inkjet printer. A great combination for printing photos with dye ink is to use gloss paper as it will bring out the best in the colors and produce a lifelike photograph.

Pigment ink is found in top-end inkjet photo printers as they are capable of producing high-quality professional photos. The photos will be more durable also as pigment inks don’t smudge and are lightfast- making them the ideal choice for professional photographers whose work will be on display.

2. Ink Cartridges For Inkjet Printers Are Generally Cheaper Than Lasers

Inkjet printers are cheaper than laser printers to buy upfront. Ink cartridges for inkjet printers also come with a cheaper price tag than buying a laser toner upfront. You can usually take advantage of a multipack with all four colors: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, which will save you money.

That being said, laser toners do tend to come with higher capacities so if you are printing high volumes with your inkjet printer, you may find the cost of replacement cartridges can be high. If you don’t go too hard on your printer, and it’s just needed for occasional printing then you can benefit from lower costs overall.

3. Ink Cartridges Are Easier To Replace Than Toner Cartridges

Ink cartridges are smaller and have fewer pieces involved. This is why they are ideal for home use. When replacing toner cartridges, you’re dealing with microscopic powder. It can get quite messy if you don’t know how to handle it properly.

Toner powder is also toxic and so when replacing a toner cartridge, it is advised that your skin does not come into contact with the toner powder. It is best to wear disposable gloves. This is why it is better suited to business settings where professionals handle the replacement. Ink cartridges, on the other hand, are more straightforward to handle and replace.

As you can see, there are many advantages for both printer ink cartridges and laser toner cartridges. The best one for you will depend on what you intend to use the printer for, your budget, and the speed required, and the print quality you require.