Imagine needing to print a colorful drawing for a school project or scan an important document for a club application. Suddenly, you realize your old printer is black and white, or your scanner is nowhere to be found! That’s where a color printer scanner, also known as an all-in-one printer, becomes a real lifesaver.
But let’s be honest, picking the perfect one can feel like navigating a maze. You’re bombarded with words like “dpi,” “inkjet,” and “laser,” and it’s tough to know what actually matters for your needs. You want something that prints your vibrant artwork clearly and scans your papers without a hitch, without breaking the bank or taking up too much space.
This post is here to clear up the confusion. We’ll break down the important features and help you understand what to look for. By the end, you’ll feel much more confident about choosing a color printer scanner that fits your life, whether you’re a student, a creative artist, or just need a reliable machine for your home. Let’s dive in and find your perfect printing and scanning companion!
Top Color Printer Scanner Recommendations
No. 1
Brother Work Smart 1360 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Automatic Duplex Printing and 1.8” Color Display | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1) (MFC-J1360DW) (Uses LC501 Series Inks)
- BEST FOR HOME AND HOME OFFICE: Get all your work done with an all-in-one multifunction printer. Print, copy, and scan on one compact printer for home use and home offices. Brother inkjet printers 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.
- PRODUCTIVITY-FOCUSED PRINTING FEATURES: 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.
- THE BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP: 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) .
No. 2
HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, scan, Copy, ADF, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home Office, 3 Month Instant Ink Trial Included, AI-Enabled (405T6A)
- The OfficeJet Pro 8125e is perfect for home offices printing professional-quality color documents like business documents, reports, presentations and flyers. Print speeds up to 10 ppm color, 20 ppm black
- PERFECTLY FORMATTED PRINTS WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 225-sheet input tra
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues
- 3 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK WITH HP+ ACTIVATION – Subscribe to Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out. After 3 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled.
No. 3
HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. (588S5A)
- The DeskJet 2855e is perfect for homes printing to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes. Print speeds up to 5.5 ppm color, 7.5 ppm black
- PERFECTLY FORMATTED PRINTS WITH HP AI – Print web pages and emails with precision—no wasted pages or awkward layouts; HP AI easily removes unwanted content, so your prints are just the way you want
- KEY FEATURES – Color printing, copy, scan, and a 60-sheet input tray
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable Wii-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable.
- 3 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK WITH HP+ ACTIVATION – Subscribe to Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out. After 3 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled
No. 4
Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax | Auto Duplex and 250-Sheet Capacity | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1). Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready
- Professional Performance: Dominate your business printing with this Brother Genuine color laser printer delivering exceptional print speeds up to 19 ppm and stunning laser-quality output that makes your documents stand out from the competition
- Advanced Connectivity: Take command of your workflow with dual-band wireless networking (2.4GHz/5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, and USB 2.0 interface, enabling multiple users to connect and print seamlessly from any device in your office
- Productivity Powerhouse: Maximize efficiency with the 50-sheet auto document feeder, 250-sheet adjustable paper tray, and automatic duplex printing, ensuring uninterrupted performance for your demanding business needs
- Smart Integration: Transform your workflow with the intuitive 3.5" color touchscreen featuring 48 customizable shortcuts and direct access to popular cloud services including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneNote for seamless document management
- Mobile Command Center: Leverage the power of mobile printing with remote access capabilities, toner level monitoring, and complete printer management directly from your mobile device through the exclusive companion app
No. 5
HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, scan, copy, fax, ADF, Duplex printing best-for-office, 3 month Instant Ink trial included, AI-enabled (404M0A)
- The OfficeJet Pro 9135e is perfect for offices printing professional-quality color documents like presentations, brochures and flyers. Print speeds up to 20 ppm color, 25 ppm black.
- UPGRADED FEATURES – Fast color printing, copy, fax, auto 2-sided printing and scanning, auto document feeder, and two 250-sheet input trays.
- WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues.
- HP APP – Print, scan, copy, or fax right from your smartphone with the easiest-to-use print app.
- 3 MONTHS OF INSTANT INK WITH HP+ ACTIVATION – Subscribe to Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out. After 3 months, monthly fee applies unless cancelled.
No. 6
HP Smart Tank 5000 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer, Scanner, Copier with 2 Years of Ink Included, Best-for-Home, Cartridge-Free, Refillable, AI-Enabled, an EcoTank Alternative (5D1B6A)
- SET IT UP ONCE AND PRINT WITH CONFIDENCE. No complicated maintenance. Just easy, reliable printing you can count on.
- INK FOR YEARS. NOT MONTHS. Up to 2 years of ink included. Get thousands of pages of cartridge-free printing. More pages, less hassle
- KEEPS PRINTING WELL AFTER COMPETITORS HAVE QUIT. No complex maintenance. Sharper text, richer colors.[2] Only with HP Smart Tank
- PREMIUM SUPPORT - Strong technical expertise to solve issues faster
- THE LAST PRINTER YOU'LL EVER NEED. Enjoy years of refillable, cartridge-free printing.
No. 7
Canon PIXMA TR7120 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer for Duplex Printing, White – Home Printer with Copier/Scanner, Auto Document Feeder, Compact Design, Intuitive Control Panel
- 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
No. 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank with Scan and Copy, The Ideal Basic Home Printer - Black
- Keep your office running smoothly with the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 All-in-One Supertank Color Printer. Expect vivid, detailed prints and documents thanks to Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology. Quickly fire off up to 10 pages per minute to accomplish large jobs with ease.
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ? No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (2)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ? Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) - that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color (3)
- Stress-Free Printing - Up to 2 years of ink in the box - and with every replacement ink set - for fewer out of ink frustrations
- Zero Cartridge Waste - By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
Your Guide to Picking the Perfect Color Printer Scanner
Are you looking to buy a color printer scanner? These amazing devices can do it all! They print your colorful photos and documents, and they can also copy and scan them. This guide will help you find the best one for your needs.
What to Look For: Key Features
When you shop for a color printer scanner, keep these important features in mind:
Print Quality
- Resolution: This tells you how sharp your prints will be. Higher numbers mean clearer pictures and text. Look for at least 600 x 600 dots per inch (dpi) for good quality.
- Color Depth: This affects how many colors your printer can show. More colors mean more vibrant and realistic images.
Scanner Quality
- Optical Resolution: Like print resolution, this affects how clear your scanned images are. A higher optical resolution means you capture more detail.
- Scan Speed: How fast can it scan? If you have a lot to scan, a faster scanner saves you time.
- Color Depth (Scanning): This determines how accurately the scanner captures colors from your original documents.
Connectivity
- USB: This is the most common way to connect your printer scanner to a computer.
- Wi-Fi: This lets you print and scan wirelessly from your computer or even your phone. It’s super convenient!
- Ethernet: This is a wired connection for networks, good for offices.
Paper Handling
- Paper Size: Most printers handle standard letter and legal sizes. Some can also print and scan photos in different sizes.
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF): This is a tray that holds multiple pages. The scanner can then scan them one by one automatically. This saves a lot of time if you have big reports to scan.
Ink/Toner Type
- Inkjet: These printers use liquid ink. They are great for printing colorful photos. The ink cartridges can be replaced.
- Laser: These printers use toner powder. They are usually faster and cheaper for printing text documents.
Materials that Matter
The materials used in a printer scanner affect how sturdy and long-lasting it is.
- Plastic Casing: Most printers have plastic bodies. Look for sturdy plastic that doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy.
- Internal Components: The quality of the print heads, scanner sensors, and motors inside are important. While you can’t see these, reading reviews can tell you about their durability.
Making Quality Better or Worse
Several things can make your printer scanner’s output look great or not so great.
Factors that Improve Quality:
- High-Quality Paper: Using good paper makes a big difference. Smooth, thicker paper absorbs ink better and shows off colors more.
- Original Image Quality: If you scan a blurry or faded picture, the scan will also be blurry or faded. Start with the best original you can.
- Proper Settings: Using the right settings on your printer and scanner software (like choosing photo paper for photos) helps.
Factors that Reduce Quality:
- Low-Resolution Originals: Scanning a low-quality image will result in a low-quality scan.
- Low-Quality Paper: Cheap, thin paper can cause ink to bleed or show through.
- Dirty Scanner Glass: Smudges or dust on the scanner glass will show up on your scans.
- Low Ink/Toner: When your ink or toner is running low, your prints might look faded or have streaks.
Your Experience and How to Use It
A good printer scanner makes your life easier.
User Experience
- Easy Setup: Does it connect to your computer without a lot of fuss?
- Simple Controls: Are the buttons and menus on the device easy to understand?
- Software: Does the included software help you scan and print easily?
Use Cases
- Home Office: Print documents, scan important papers, and make copies.
- Students: Print essays, scan notes, and copy homework.
- Hobbyists: Print photos, scan artwork, and create crafts.
- Small Businesses: Handle daily printing and scanning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the main difference between an inkjet and a laser printer scanner?
A: Inkjet printers use liquid ink and are great for colorful photos. Laser printers use toner powder and are usually faster and better for printing lots of text.
Q: Do I really need an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)?
A: An ADF is very helpful if you scan many pages at once, like for reports or school papers. If you only scan a few pages now and then, you might not need it.
Q: How important is the resolution for scanning photos?
A: Resolution is very important for photos. Higher resolution means your scanned photos will look sharper and have more detail.
Q: Can I print and scan from my phone?
A: Many modern printer scanners have Wi-Fi. This lets you print and scan right from your smartphone or tablet.
Q: What if my prints come out streaky?
A: Streaky prints often mean the print heads need cleaning. Check your printer’s manual for instructions on how to do this. Also, make sure your ink or toner isn’t low.
Q: How do I ensure my scanned documents are clear?
A: Make sure the scanner glass is clean. Place your document face down squarely on the glass. Choose a good scanning resolution in your software.
Q: Is it better to buy a multi-function printer or separate devices?
A: A multi-function printer scanner saves space and is often more affordable than buying a printer and a scanner separately.
Q: What does “all-in-one” mean for a printer scanner?
A: “All-in-one” means the device can print, scan, and copy. Some also have faxing capabilities.
Q: How often should I clean my scanner glass?
A: You should clean your scanner glass whenever you notice smudges or dust that might affect your scans. A soft, lint-free cloth usually works well.
Q: Can I print photos directly from a memory card?
A: Some printer scanners have slots for memory cards. This allows you to print photos directly without needing a computer.