Inkjet vs laser — which one suits you
An honest comparison of speed, quality, cost per page and maintenance — no marketing spin.
We get this question every day. The short answer: laser for text and volume, inkjet for colour and photos. But the details are where the money is, so let's get into them.
How each type works
Inkjet sprays liquid ink through microscopic nozzles onto the paper. Laser uses toner powder that is electrically charged and fused onto the page with heat. That mechanical difference explains everything that follows.
Speed
Laser wins clearly on text documents — 38 to 61 pages per minute is normal on i-SENSYS models, versus 8 to 24 on inkjet. If you print in batches, that gap saves real time every day.
Quality
On text, laser is sharper, cleaner and doesn't fade over time. On photos and colour gradients, inkjet wins by a wide margin — laser was never designed for photography.
Cost per page
This is where it matters. Cartridge-based inkjet is the most expensive to run. Laser is far cheaper in mono. But ink-tank MegaTank inkjet is the cheapest of all — one ink bottle prints thousands of pages at a fraction of cartridge cost.
Maintenance
- Inkjet: leave it unused for weeks and the nozzles can clog, needing a print head cleaning. Laser: toner is a powder that doesn't dry, so the device handles long idle periods far better. Laser lasts longer — 5 to 7 years versus 3 to 5 for inkjet.
More guides
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