This lets it remain dry through the printing process and prevents clogs. Laser printers, on the other hand, use toner in their cartridges, which is a powder-like material that gets applied to paper via electromagnetic charge. Inkjet models can develop ink clogs, which reduce an ink cartridge’s efficiency and prevent you from getting the most prints per cartridge possible. Compared to an inkjet printer, which can print up to 400 pages with each high-yield color cartridge, a laser model can easily produce up to 6,000 pages. While the fastest desktop inkjet models can print around 30 pages per minute, laser printers are easily capable of up to 50 pages per minute.Īnother difference between inkjet and laser printers is their print yield. One key difference between laser and inkjet printers is printing speed.
While inkjet printers have gradually begun to close this cost gap thanks to marginally cheaper ink prices, there are still legitimate reasons for choosing a laser printer over an inkjet model. Their upfront costs were - and still are - higher than comparable ink printers, but the printing efficiency of laser printers made up for the difference over time.
When desktop laser printers first appeared on the consumer market over 40 years ago, they promised (and delivered) lower overall costs compared to ink-based printers. Like any monochrome printer, it prints only in black and white - not color.Ī good laser printer will be able to quickly handle all the printing needs in your home or office - and provide significant savings over the long haul.