A printer’s purchase price is only the first cost. Ink or toner, specialty paper, replacement printheads, electricity, and unused features can matter more over several years.
For many homes and small offices, the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 is a balanced inkjet choice with low tested running costs and useful duplex features. It is not automatically cheapest for every household: occasional users may be better served by a lower-priced cartridge model, while high-volume document users may prefer a laser printer or faster office inkjet.
Our picks at a glance
| Best for | Printer | Why it stands out | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall inkjet and home office | Epson EcoTank ET-3950 | Low running costs, duplex printing and scanning, 250-sheet capacity | No fax, memory-card slot, or USB-thumb-drive printing |
| Cheapest tank all-in-one | Canon Pixma G3270 MegaTank | Very low ink costs and low purchase price | Slow, 100-sheet tray, no ADF or automatic duplex printing |
| Heavy-duty inkjet office | Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 | Fast, large paper capacity, duplex ADF, about 2 cents per page | Higher upfront price |
| Wide-format office printing | Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650 | Handles media up to 17 by 22 inches and has a duplexing ADF | Large and expensive for ordinary home use |
| Best color laser all-in-one | Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Fast operation, good output, relatively low toner costs, 50-page single-pass duplex ADF | Not a photo-focused printer |
| Best home monochrome laser | HP LaserJet M209d | Simple black-and-white document printing | Does not print color and is not a family all-in-one |
| Best home photo all-in-one | Epson Expression Photo XP-8800 | Six-ink system produces strong photo output | High document-printing costs |
| Best portable all-in-one | HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One | Battery-powered printing, scanning, and copying | No automatic duplex printing or scanning |
| Best portable document printer | Brother PocketJet PJ883 | Compact monochrome thermal printing at about 13.5 pages per minute in PCMag testing | Prints only monochrome documents |
| Best portable 4-by-6 photo printer | Canon Selphy CP1500 | Water-resistant dye-sublimation photo prints in about 41 seconds | Cannot print letter-size documents |
| Best portable square-photo printer | Canon Selphy QX20 | Wireless dye-sublimation printing in square and card-size formats | Small-format photos only |
These are category picks, not interchangeable winners. A portable photo printer should not be compared with a color laser on office output, and a home monochrome laser is not a complete family printer. PCMag evaluates image quality, design, usability, ink or toner cost, value, and repeatable speed tests. PCMag’s 2026 printer methodology and picks
Best overall: Epson EcoTank ET-3950
The ET-3950 is a balanced choice for a household or small home office that prints regularly. It prints, scans, and copies; accepts up to 250 sheets; supports legal-size paper; and automatically prints on both sides. Its 30-sheet reversing ADF can duplex-scan documents, useful for tax records, signed forms, and multi-page paperwork.
#1 Best Overall
- SUPERIOR PRINT QUALITY - Experience crisp, vibrant documents and photos with 4800 x 1200 maximum print resolution, ensuring every detail is captured with exceptional clarity and precision.
- SEAMLESS WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY - Effortlessly print from anywhere in your home or office using Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi Direct, supporting various operating systems for ultimate convenience.
- EFFICIENT SCAN & COPY FUNCTION - Enhance productivity with the integrated color flatbed/ADF scanner, offering 1-sided to 2-sided scanning and versatile copy modes for all your document needs.
- MAXIMIZE INK EFFICIENCY - Utilize four individual ink bottles (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) with impressive yields of 8,500 pages (black) and 6,500 pages (color) for significant cost savings.
- RAPID PRINT SPEED - Achieve professional results quickly with print speeds of 18 ISO ppm (black) and 9 ISO ppm (color), ensuring your tasks are completed efficiently without compromising quality.
PCMag rated it at 18 pages per minute in monochrome and 9 pages per minute in color. Tested running costs were about 0.29 cents per black page and 1.1 cents per color page. These figures make it attractive for recurring documents compared with cartridge models that can become expensive after replacement cycles.
Connectivity includes Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, and Wi-Fi Direct. The printer has no fax, memory-card slot, or USB-thumb-drive printing. Mobile setup can also be troublesome if the phone and printer are on different Wi-Fi bands; put both on the same band before pairing if the printer is not discovered.
Best budget tank printer: Canon Pixma G3270
The Canon Pixma G3270 is a value choice when cheap ink matters and a more capable office machine is unnecessary. Canon rates a full bottle set for about 6,000 black pages and 7,700 color pages, although the first included set yields somewhat less. PCMag’s tested costs were about 0.3 cents per black page and 0.8 cents per color page.
That low operating cost comes with limitations. The G3270 has a 100-sheet tray, no automatic document feeder, and no automatic duplex printing. PCMag measured about 11 pages per minute in black and 6 in color. Its single tray also means manually replacing plain paper when you want to print photos or other specialty media.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesChoose it for modest, predictable home printing—not for a busy home office that scans multi-page documents or frequently switches paper types. Its low purchase price makes the tank economics easier to justify than with a more expensive tank printer, because fewer pages may be needed before ink savings offset the initial cost.
Best for a busy office: Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850
The ET-5850 is designed for sustained office work rather than occasional homework or recipes. It has two 250-sheet drawers, a 50-sheet rear tray, a 50-sheet duplexing ADF, automatic duplex printing, and fax capability. PCMag lists a rated speed of 25 pages per minute in both black and color and tested running costs of about 2 cents per page.
Its recommended monthly duty cycle is 3,300 pages, while the maximum is 66,000 pages. Treat the recommended figure as the meaningful planning number. A maximum duty cycle is a limit, not a sensible target for routine monthly use.
Rank #2
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― High-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
- Zero Cartridge Waste – By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Built-in Scanner & Copier ― High-resolution flatbed scanner and a color display for easy document copying and navigation
The ET-5850 costs more upfront than a basic all-in-one. It makes financial sense when it replaces a large volume of work at home or in a small business, particularly where fast duplex scanning and multiple paper drawers save staff time.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBest wide-format office printer: Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16650
The ET-16650 is an office inkjet for users who need wide-format output. It supports media up to 17 by 22 inches and has a duplexing ADF, along with low running costs. The model includes two years of unlimited ink only when the applicable registration requirement is met; check current retailer terms before relying on that offer.
Its size and cost make it excessive for ordinary home printing. Consider it when wide-format documents and office scanning are recurring needs. PCMag’s 2026 inkjet picks
Best color laser all-in-one: Brother MFC-L3780CDW
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW fits users who want fast, consistent office documents and do not need inkjet photo specialization. It prints, scans, copies, and faxes, and includes Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, and NFC. PCMag gave it a 4.5 score and highlighted its output, speed, and relatively low toner costs.
The important feature for paperwork-heavy households and offices is its 50-page single-pass duplex ADF. It scans both sides of a sheet in one pass, rather than repeatedly feeding a double-sided original. PCMag’s all-in-one printer guide
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Do not assume “laser” means automatically cheaper. A color laser can have a higher purchase price and replacement toner costs, while tank inkjets such as the ET-3950 and ET-5850 have very low tested running costs. Compare expected pages per month and output type before choosing.
Best monochrome laser for home use: HP LaserJet M209d
PCMag’s 2026 roundup names the HP LaserJet M209d as its home laser pick. It is a focused black-and-white document printer, not a general-purpose color machine. It suits users who mostly print forms, invoices, return labels, and text-heavy paperwork and do not need scanning, copying, or color graphics from the same device.
Rank #3
- Epson EcoTank Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer – Cartridge-Free System, High-Capacity Ink Bottles, Mobile Printing, Auto Duplex
- WORRY-FREE PRINTING — Epson EcoTank comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages black/5,500 color⁹ for fewer out-of-ink frustrations. Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 cartridges¹⁰
- SIMPLE INK REFILLING — Supersized ink tanks and uniquely keyed EcoFit bottles make refilling ink simple—no mess, no stress and no ink bottle mix-ups
- THE WORLD’S #1 SELLING SUPERTANK PRINTER² — Epson invented EcoTank to revolutionize the way people print; we’ve sold 100 million EcoTanks worldwide⁷ and this is our 7th generation of cartridge-free printers
- ADVANCED PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES — Fast 18 black/9 color ISO ppm print speeds with zero warmup time, an Auto Document Feeder, fax, a high-capacity 250-sheet paper tray, auto duplex printing, copying and scanning, and a 2.4" color display for easy navigation
It is a poor choice if several people need color school projects, photos, or an all-in-one workflow. In that situation, compare it with the Brother color laser or an Epson tank model. PCMag’s 2026 home laser pick
Best photo printers
Best home photo all-in-one: Epson Expression Photo XP-8800
The six-ink Epson Expression Photo XP-8800 is the home photo choice. It supports USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and automatic duplex printing. It does not have an ADF or duplex scanning, so it is not a good paperwork machine for multi-page jobs.
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Photo quality is its purpose, but the economics are poor for routine documents. PCMag lists tested costs of about 4.6 cents per black page and 17.8 cents per color page. Use it for photos and occasional documents rather than as the cheapest home-office printer.
Best professional photo printer: Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 is PCMag’s professional photo pick, a dedicated large-format printer for photographers who value high-end output. It is not an office all-in-one and should not be purchased for ordinary letters, schoolwork, or bills.
Buyers printing black-and-white photography should inspect grayscale samples before committing. Photo printers can introduce visible color casts into monochrome images, even when their color output is excellent. PCMag’s photo-printer guide
Best portable printers
Portable printers are specialized tools, not necessarily smaller versions of a desktop printer.
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- HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One: The most versatile portable choice, with a rechargeable battery, 50-sheet input, 10-sheet ADF, scanning, copying, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB. It has a 300-page recommended monthly duty cycle and 500-page maximum, but no duplex printing or scanning.
- Brother PocketJet PJ883: A monochrome thermal printer for forms, receipts, agreements, and field documents. It supports USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and NFC, and PCMag measured about 13.5 pages per minute. It cannot print color or photos.
- Canon Selphy CP1500: A dye-sublimation printer for 4-by-6-inch photos. PCMag measured roughly 41 seconds per print and describes finished photos as waterproof after the protective overcoat. It cannot print ordinary letter-size documents.
- Canon Selphy QX20: A wireless, app-driven dye-sublimation printer for square prints around 2.7 by 2.7 inches and card-size prints around 2.1 by 3.3 inches. PCMag’s portable-printer guide
Best label printer: Epson LabelWorks LW-PX300
The Epson LabelWorks LW-PX300 is a standalone QWERTY label maker rather than a computer printer. It supports tapes up to 18 millimeters wide, including plastic, vinyl, magnetic, and fluorescent media; stores up to 50 labels; and runs on six AA batteries or an AC adapter. It has no network connection.
Rank #4
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Each replacement ink bottle set for this Epson color printer is equivalent to about 90 individual cartridges
- UP TO 3 YEARS OF INK INCLUDED IN THE BOX - Cartridge-free printer comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages black/5,500 color for worry-free printing and fewer out-of-ink frustrations
- SIMPLE INK REFILLING — Supersized ink tanks and unique EcoFit bottles make refilling your printer's ink simple without the worry of drying out
- WIRELESS PRINTER — Home printer allows you to print and scan from the convenience of your smart phone or device with enhanced mobile printing from the Epson Smart Panel app
- PLEASE NOTE — Epson strongly recommends the use of genuine ink to support optimal print quality and performance; Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the printer’s limited warranty
It is a sensible purchase for organizing cables, storage bins, tools, and household files. It is not a substitute for a printer that produces documents or shipping pages.
How to choose based on total cost
- Estimate your monthly pages. Separate black text, color documents, and photos. A printer that is cheap per page is not necessarily cheap if you print only a few pages each month.
- Calculate the break-even point. Subtract the tank printer’s expected ink cost from the cartridge printer’s cost, then divide the price premium by the per-page savings. This estimates how many pages you need to print before the more expensive machine pays for itself.
- Pay for time-saving features only when you will use them. An ADF matters for multi-page scanning. Duplex scanning matters for two-sided originals. Extra trays matter if you alternate between letter paper, envelopes, and photo paper.
- Check the actual paper workflow. A 100-sheet single tray can be frustrating even when ink is cheap. A 250-sheet tray or multiple drawers can reduce interruptions in a busy office.
- Compare tested speed with the manufacturer’s rating. PCMag uses repeatable testing. Manufacturer pages-per-minute figures may use different conditions. Confirm whether a speed is monochrome or color, simplex or duplex, and based on a standardized document or a manufacturer-selected test.
- Budget for the right paper. Inkjet color quality changes substantially with paper and quality mode. Better photo paper and higher-quality settings improve output but increase material cost and print time.
- Check account requirements before buying. Some HP connected features require a free HP Smart account. Decide whether cloud features are useful and whether you are comfortable creating an account before selecting the printer.
FAQ
Is an EcoTank or MegaTank printer cheaper than a laser printer?
Not automatically. Tank printers usually cost more upfront but can have very low ink costs. The Epson ET-3950 tested at about 0.29 cents per black page and 1.1 cents per color page, while the Canon G3270 tested at about 0.3 and 0.8 cents. Compare the purchase-price difference with your expected page volume. A laser printer may still be preferable for fast, text-heavy work.
Which printer is best for occasional home use?
There is no universal winner. If you print only a small number of pages, a lower-priced cartridge printer may recover its cost more easily than an expensive tank model. If you print regularly enough to use several cartridges, the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 offers a stronger balance of features and running cost.
Is the Epson ET-3950 good for a home office?
Yes, for many home offices. It has a 250-sheet input, legal-size support, automatic duplex printing, duplex scanning through a 30-sheet reversing ADF, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, and Wi-Fi Direct. It lacks fax, memory-card, and USB-thumb-drive printing, so confirm those omissions do not affect your workflow.
What is the best portable printer for documents?
The HP OfficeJet 250 Mobile All-in-One is the most versatile portable option because it prints, scans, and copies and has a rechargeable battery. For monochrome documents only, the Brother PocketJet PJ883 is more specialized and measured about 13.5 pages per minute in PCMag’s testing.
For most households and small home offices, the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 is a strong overall financial compromise: it combines useful duplex and ADF features with very low tested ink costs. Choose the Canon Pixma G3270 when the purchase price matters most and your workload is light. Move up to the Epson ET-5850 for sustained office volume, or choose the Brother MFC-L3780CDW when fast color laser documents and duplex scanning matter more than photo quality.
The cheapest printer to own depends on your actual pages, not the lowest shelf price or a generic “laser versus inkjet” rule. PCMag’s testing considers image quality, design, usability, ink or toner cost, value, and repeatable speed tests—more useful measures than a manufacturer’s headline speed or yield claim alone.
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