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The best inkjet printer depends less on the word “inkjet” than on how you print. Refillable-tank models are economical for frequent printing, cartridge models cost less upfront, and specialist photo printers prioritize image quality over speed and convenience.
For most homes and small offices, the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is the strongest all-round choice. The Epson EcoTank ET-3950 is a more affordable option with duplex scanning, while the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 is the right tool for serious photo and fine-art printing. This list reflects the current 2026 lineup, including the Brother MFC-J1360DW replacing the discontinued MFC-J1205W and the Epson ET-2980 replacing the discontinued Brother MFC-J4335DW.
Quick comparison
| Printer | Best for | Ink system | Automatic document feeder | Notable limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 | Best overall | Refillable tank | Yes; duplex processing | Expensive upfront and grainy photos |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3950 | Upper-mid-range office use | Refillable tank | Yes; duplex scanning | Color printing is slower than the ET-5850 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2980 | Low running costs without an ADF | Refillable tank | No | Not suitable for frequent multi-page scanning |
| Brother MFC-J1360DW | Budget all-in-one | Cartridge | Yes | Higher ongoing ink costs than tank printers |
| Canon PIXMA MG3620 | Occasional low-volume printing | Cartridge | No | Low cartridge yields |
| Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 | Photo and fine-art printing | 10-tank pigment system | No | Very slow for ordinary documents |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e | Wide-format office printing | Cartridge | Yes; duplex scanning | HP+ imposes account, internet, and ink restrictions |
1. Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850: Best overall
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is the most complete choice here for a home office or small business that prints regularly. Its refillable ink tanks keep page costs low, and the printer is substantially faster than most consumer inkjets. Epson rates it for up to 25 ISO pages per minute in both black and color.
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#1 Best Overall
- UPC: 198828789662
- Weight: 10.450 lbs
Documents are sharp and print quickly. The compromise is photo output: images are detailed and colorful but can look noticeably grainy compared with a dedicated photo printer. The ET-5850 also costs considerably more initially than a basic cartridge-based model.
- Choose it for: frequent mixed document printing, low running costs, and duplex office workflows.
- Avoid it for: occasional printing or professional-quality photographs.
The less expensive Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 has the same basic features and print quality, but it is slower for color printing and does not support borderless printing.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-3950: Best upper-mid-range inkjet
The Epson EcoTank ET-3950 is aimed at users who want tank-printer running costs without moving up to the price and speed of the ET-5850. It replaces the ET-3850 and adds one particularly useful feature: an automatic document feeder with duplex scanning.
Its black text is crisp, color documents are detailed, and photos are generally good. Colors can look somewhat muted, and scans may be overexposed in some situations. In testing, it reaches approximately 17 black pages per minute and 7 color pages per minute.
Connectivity is flexible. You can print through USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Apple AirPrint, or Mopria Print Service. That makes it a sensible shared printer for a household or small office where computers and mobile devices use different platforms.
- Choose it for: regular home-office printing and multi-page scanning at a lower cost than the ET-5850.
- Avoid it for: high-volume color work where the ET-5850’s speed matters.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2980: Best mid-range inkjet
The Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is the best fit for buyers who want inexpensive bottled ink but do not need to scan stacks of paper. Its supertank system can print thousands of pages before requiring more ink, so it is better suited to regular printing than a cheap cartridge printer.
Rank #2
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
It produces detailed documents and strong photo output with a broad color gamut. The defining omission is an automatic document feeder. Scanning a multi-page document means placing each sheet on the flatbed manually, which becomes tedious quickly.
That limitation is more important than small differences in print quality. If you mostly print schoolwork, forms, recipes, and photos—and scan only an occasional page—the ET-2980 is a good middle ground. If you regularly scan invoices or contracts, consider an ADF-equipped model such as the ET-3950 or Brother MFC-J1360DW instead.
- Choose it for: low-cost printing with occasional scanning.
- Avoid it for: duplex scanning or recurring multi-page document work.
4. Brother MFC-J1360DW: Best budget all-in-one
The Brother MFC-J1360DW keeps the initial purchase cost down while still providing printing, scanning, copying, and an automatic document feeder. Its scanner can process approximately 7 pages per minute, which is useful for basic home-office tasks.
Standard cartridges yield about 400 black-and-white pages and 300 color pages. High-yield cartridges roughly double those figures. That is considerably less economical than an EcoTank for heavy printing, but it can be reasonable when your monthly volume is modest and you do not want to pay the higher upfront cost of a tank printer.
Document quality is strong and the scanner is capable. Photos look good for casual use, although the color gamut is narrower than that of the Epson tank models. Brother also sells the related MFC-J1365DW, which uses LC504 cartridges rated for up to 1,200 black pages and 500 color pages and up to 500 color pages, depending on cartridge type and testing conditions.
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- Choose it for: a low-cost all-in-one with an ADF.
- Avoid it for: large print volumes where cartridge replacement costs will dominate.
5. Canon PIXMA MG3620: Best cheap inkjet printer
The Canon PIXMA MG3620 is a basic print, scan, and copy machine for occasional use. It can produce good documents and attractive photos when its cartridges and printhead are in good condition, and its low purchase price makes it easy to consider for a dorm room or light-use home setup.
Rank #3
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Scan & Copy Handling - Utilize the device’s integrated scanner for efficient scanning and copying operations
Its weakness is ownership cost. Cartridge yields are low, so frequent printing can quickly cost more than expected. High-volume users may also encounter incomplete or faded output as ink runs low or the nozzles begin to clog. The scanner is a simple flatbed rather than an ADF-equipped document system.
This is not a good choice for a printer that may sit unused for months. Liquid ink can dry in the nozzles, producing missing lines, banding, or incorrect colors. For sporadic document printing, a low-cost monochrome laser printer is often a safer long-term choice.
- Choose it for: occasional schoolwork, forms, and casual photographs.
- Avoid it for: high-volume work or long periods of inactivity.
6. Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310: Best photo printer
The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 is a specialist printer for photographers, artists, and anyone who needs highly detailed, color-accurate prints. It is print-only: there is no scanner, copier, or automatic duplex printing.
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Canon describes its ink setup as a nine-pigment-ink system plus Chroma Optimizer. In practice, that means the printer uses 10 ink tanks. Chroma Optimizer improves gloss uniformity, surface appearance, and longevity on compatible photo papers. The result is rich, detailed, and accurate photographic output that is in a different class from the general-purpose printers above.
The PRO-310 is a poor office printer. Ordinary documents print at roughly one page per minute in testing, and the recurring cost of replacing its 10 ink tanks is substantial. It does, however, support long media—up to about 70 inches—for suitable poster and sign projects.
- Choose it for: high-quality photo, gallery, and fine-art prints.
- Avoid it for: fast documents, scanning, copying, or low-cost everyday printing.
7. HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e: Best wide-format inkjet
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e is the most useful pick when standard letter- or A4-size paper is not large enough. It supports media up to 11 × 17 inches, making it suitable for posters, charts, office diagrams, spreadsheets, and some blueprint-style documents.
Rank #4
- AFFORDABLE ALL-IN-ONE FOR HOME AND HOME OFFICE: Print, copy, and scan on one compact wireless printer designed for everyday home office printing, schoolwork, documents, and reports. Produce beautiful prints for results that stand out.
- EASY TO USE WITH CLOUD APP CONNECTIONS: Print from and scan to popular Cloud apps(2), including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and more from the simple-to-use 1.8” color display on your printer.
- FULL-SIZE FEATURES IN A COMPACT DESIGN: This printer includes automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, a 20-sheet single-sided Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)(3), and a 150-sheet paper tray(3). Engineered to print at fast speeds of up to 16 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 9 ppm in color(4).
- MULTIPLE CONNECTION OPTIONS: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB.
- MOBILE PRINTING MADE EASY: Go mobile with the Brother Mobile Connect app(5) that delivers easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device. Monitor your ink usage with Page Gauge to help ensure you don’t run out(6).
The flatbed scanner accepts 11 × 17-inch originals, and the ADF supports automatic duplex scanning. Documents are sharp and relatively fast, but photos can look grainy and overly warm. Scanner processing can also remove fine detail from some originals.
Ink yields depend on the cartridge type. Testing reports approximately 1,400 black pages and 600 color pages from standard cartridges, while HP’s EvoMore XL specifications list approximately 2,500 black pages and 1,650 color pages.
Pay attention during setup to the HP+ option. Activating HP+ requires an HP account, a continuing internet connection, and exclusive use of Original HP ink for the life of the printer. Those conditions may be acceptable in a managed office, but they are an important restriction for anyone who wants to use third-party cartridges or operate the printer offline.
- Choose it for: wide-format office printing and scanning.
- Avoid it for: professional photos or a setup where HP+ restrictions are unacceptable.
Inkjet, ink-tank, and cartridge printers are not the same thing
“Inkjet” describes the printing technology: the printer sprays liquid ink onto paper. Both cartridge printers and refillable-tank printers are inkjets.
A cartridge printer stores ink in replaceable cartridges. It generally costs less to buy, but cartridges hold comparatively little ink. A tank printer stores ink in larger reservoirs that you refill from bottles. It usually costs more initially but offers far lower costs per page when you print regularly.
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|---|---|---|
| Cartridge inkjet | Light or moderate printing with a lower upfront budget | Replacement ink can become expensive |
| Refillable ink tank | Regular printing and high page volumes | Higher initial cost and messy refilling if handled carelessly |
| Pigment photo inkjet | Color-critical photo and fine-art work | Slow, specialized, and expensive to run |
How to choose the right inkjet printer
- Estimate your monthly pages. If you print only a few pages every month, do not assume a tank printer will save money. Its higher purchase price may not be recovered. For regular or high-volume printing, a tank model is usually the better financial choice.
- Decide whether you need an ADF. An automatic document feeder matters if you scan or copy multi-page documents. The ET-2980 and Canon MG3620 lack one; the ET-3950, ET-5850, MFC-J1360DW, and OfficeJet Pro 9730e include one.
- Separate photo requirements from office requirements. A general-purpose printer can make good photos, but the PRO-310 is designed for color accuracy, pigment longevity, and fine detail. Conversely, the PRO-310 is unnecessarily slow and expensive for routine documents.
- Check paper size. Most home and office printers target standard paper sizes. Choose the OfficeJet Pro 9730e if you need 11 × 17-inch output, or the PRO-310 if long photographic or poster media is important.
- Read setup and consumable restrictions. HP+ is not simply a driver feature: it requires an HP account, an internet connection, and Original HP ink. Also check the exact cartridge or bottle model before buying, since related printer variants can use different supplies.
Inkjet maintenance and common failure modes
The main weakness of liquid-ink printers is that their nozzles can dry when the printer is left unused. Symptoms include horizontal lines, banding, missing colors, incomplete pages, and faded text or images. Automatic cleaning cycles can help, but they consume ink.
Best Value
- Affordable Versatility - A budget-friendly all-in-one printer perfect for both home users and hybrid workers, offering exceptional value
- Crisp, Vibrant Prints - Experience impressive print quality for both documents and photos, thanks to its 2-cartridge hybrid ink system that delivers sharp text and vivid colors
- Effortless Setup & Use - Get started quickly with easy setup for your smartphone or computer, so you can print, scan, and copy without delay
- Reliable Wireless Connectivity - Enjoy stable and consistent connections with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), ensuring smooth printing from anywhere in your home or office
- Seamless Multi-Page Handling - Tackle multi-page documents with ease using the Auto Document Feeder (ADF) for quick scanning and copying
To reduce problems, keep the printer away from direct sunlight, heat, dust, and large temperature swings. Very dry conditions can increase the risk of dried ink. If you own an inkjet, printing a small color and black page periodically is generally safer than leaving it idle for months.
If your normal pattern is printing one or two documents every few weeks, compare a low-cost laser printer before buying an inexpensive inkjet. The Canon MG3620, in particular, is cheap to purchase but can become expensive through low-yield cartridges and maintenance waste.
FAQ
Which inkjet printer is best for most people in 2026?
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is the best general-purpose choice for regular home and small-office printing. It is fast, economical to refill, and includes an ADF with double-sided document processing. It is not the best choice for professional photos or very occasional printing.
Is an ink-tank printer better than a cartridge printer?
An ink-tank printer is usually better for regular or high-volume printing because bottled ink costs less per page. A cartridge printer can make more sense when the purchase budget is tight or monthly print volume is low. Neither option eliminates the risk of inkjet nozzles drying during long periods of inactivity.
Which printer should I buy for photos?
Buy the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 if photo or fine-art quality is the priority. Its nine pigment inks plus Chroma Optimizer—10 tanks total—produce highly detailed and color-accurate prints. It is slow for documents and has high ongoing ink costs.
What is the best wide-format inkjet printer?
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e is the wide-format pick because it prints and scans originals up to 11 × 17 inches and includes duplex scanning through its ADF. Check the HP+ terms before activation because HP+ requires an account, an internet connection, and exclusive use of Original HP ink.
The Bottom Line
For a dependable all-round office printer, choose the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850. The ET-3950 provides a more affordable tank-printer route with duplex scanning, while the ET-2980 is the better value if you do not need an ADF. Choose the Brother MFC-J1360DW or Canon PIXMA MG3620 when the initial price matters more than long-term ink costs. For specialist work, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 is the photo choice and the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e is the wide-format choice. If you print only rarely, compare a laser printer before committing to any inkjet.
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