Top 5 Colour Inkjet Printers: Your Buying Guide

Imagine bringing your photos to life, printing vibrant school projects, or even designing your own greeting cards. A color inkjet printer can make all of this happen right at your desk! But stepping into the world of printers can feel a little overwhelming. Do you need the cheapest option, or one that prints super fast? What about the cost of ink? These are the big questions that can make choosing a printer feel like a puzzle.

It’s easy to get lost in all the different features and brands. You might worry about spending too much on a printer that doesn’t quite do what you need, or ending up with cartridges that empty your wallet quickly. We understand that finding the perfect color inkjet printer can be a real challenge. That’s why we’ve put together this guide.

By reading on, you’ll discover how to cut through the confusion. We’ll help you understand what really matters, from print quality and speed to ink costs and special features. Get ready to learn what makes a great color inkjet printer and how to pick the one that fits your needs and your budget perfectly. Let’s dive in and find your ideal printing companion!

Top Colour Inkjet Printer Recommendations

SaleNo. 1

Canon PIXMA TS4320 – Wireless Color Inkjet Printer for 2-Sided Printing & Photos, Cost Efficient Multi-Function Printer, Copier, Scanner for Home Use, Compact Design, Easy Setup

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

SaleNo. 2

Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer - Black

INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — No more dealing with lots of tiny ink cartridges; With this wireless document and photo printer each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 90 individual cartridges²
LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; When you choose this combination printer, scanner and copier you can print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color³
COLOR PRINTING — Up to 2 years of ink in the box4 (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations
ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — By using an Epson EcoTank printer you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
HOME PRINTER DESIGNED FOR RELIABILITY — The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 All-in-One Supertank Color Printer creates vivid, detailed prints and documents thanks to Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology; Fire off 10 ISO pages per minute1 to easily finish large jobs

SaleNo. 3

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) .

SaleNo. 4

HP DeskJet 4355 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-Home, 3 Month Trial of Instant Ink Included, AI-Capable (AJ4Y0A)

AFFORDABLE COLOR PRINTING – Print everyday color documents like to-do lists, letters, financial documents and recipes
KEY FEATURES – Color print, copy, scan, a 35-sheet auto document feeder and a 60-sheet input tray, plus mobile and wireless printing
OPTIMIZE PRINT FORMATTING 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
ICON LCD – Print your basic documents with ease from the intuitive control panel
PRINT SPEED – Up to 8.5 ppm black, 5.5 ppm color

SaleNo. 5

Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer Duplex Printing, White – Home Printer with Copier/Scanner, 1.42” OLED Display, Intuitive Control Panel, Compact Design

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

No. 6

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. 7

Brother INKvestment 4355 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with 1.8” Color Display and Manual Feed Slot | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1) (MFC-J4355DW)

BEST FOR HOME OFFICE AND SMALL OFFICE: This multifunction printer makes it easy to print, copy, scan, and fax —all in one compact printer. Includes one 1,800-page yield black cartridge and 750-page yield cartridges each color cyan, yellow, and magenta(2).
WIRELESS, MOBILE, AND USB CONNECTIVITY: Connect your way. Interface with your printer on your wireless network or via USB. Enhance your workflow with Wi-Fi Direct, which allows you to print wirelessly even without an external network connection.
CLOUD APP CONNECTIONS: Print from and scan to popular Cloud apps(3), including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, and more with an impressive 1.8” color display that enhances clarity and ensures effortless operation.
PRODUCTIVITY-FOCUSED FEATURES: Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, 150-sheet paper tray, 20-page single-sided automatic document feeder (ADF), 1-sheet manual feed slot(4). Prints at fast speeds up to 20 pages per minute (ppm) black/19 ppm color(5).
THE BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP: Put the power of printing at your fingertips. Go mobile with the Brother Mobile Connect app(6) that delivers easy onscreen menu navigation for printing, copying, scanning, and device management from your mobile device.

SaleNo. 8

HP OfficeJet Pro 8125 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Print, Scan, Copy, ADF, Duplex Printing Best-for-Home Office, 3 Month Trial of Instant Ink Included, AI-Capable (C2VJ4A)

FROM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – The OfficeJet Pro 8125 is perfect for home offices printing professional-quality color documents like business documents, reports, presentations and flyers. Print speeds up to 20 ppm black, 10 ppm color.
3 MONTH TRIAL OF INSTANT INK INCLUDED – Subscribe to the Instant Ink delivery service to get ink delivered directly to your door before you run out, and you save up to 50% on ink; after 3 months, a monthly fee applies unless cancelled
KEY FEATURES – Fast color printing, scan, copy, auto 2-sided printing, auto document feeder, and a 225-sheet input tray
2.7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN – Quickly navigate your printer with a large color touchscreen and a phone-like user interface
WIRELESS PRINTING – Stay connected with our most reliable dual-band Wi-Fi, which automatically detects and resolves connection issues

Finding Your Perfect Colour Inkjet Printer

Choosing a colour inkjet printer can feel like a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be! This guide will help you understand what to look for so you can print your photos and documents with confidence.

1. Key Features to Look For

When you’re shopping for a colour inkjet printer, keep these important features in mind.

Printing Speed

How fast does it print? This is measured in pages per minute (ppm).
If you print a lot of documents, a faster printer saves you time.
For occasional printing, speed might not be as important.

Print Resolution

This tells you how sharp and detailed your prints will be.
It’s measured in dots per inch (dpi). Higher dpi means clearer images.
If you print photos, look for a high dpi to get vibrant colours.

Ink Cartridge Type

Some printers use two cartridges: one black and one colour.
Others use separate cartridges for each colour (cyan, magenta, yellow, black).
Separate cartridges are often more cost-effective because you only replace the colour that runs out.

Connectivity Options

How will you connect your printer?
USB is a simple wired connection.
Wi-Fi lets you print wirelessly from your computer or phone.
Some printers also connect via Bluetooth or have an Ethernet port.

All-in-One Capabilities

Do you need more than just printing?
Many inkjet printers also scan and copy documents.
Some even have fax capabilities.

2. Important Materials and Ink

The quality of your prints depends on the printer and the ink it uses.

Ink Type

**Dye-based inks:** These create very bright and vibrant colours, perfect for photos.
**Pigment-based inks:** These are more durable and resist fading better. They are good for text and graphics.
Many printers use a combination of both for the best results.

Paper Type

Using the right paper makes a big difference.
Plain paper is fine for everyday documents.
Photo paper is designed to make your pictures look their best.
Specialty papers exist for different projects, like cardstock or glossy finishes.

3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Several things affect how good your prints look.

What Improves Quality:

**High-resolution images:** Start with good quality photos or graphics.
**Printer settings:** Choose the correct paper type and print quality in your printer’s software.
**Clean print heads:** Sometimes, clogged print heads can cause lines or missing colours. Most printers have a cleaning function.
**Genuine ink:** Using ink from the printer manufacturer often gives the best results.

What Reduces Quality:

**Low-resolution images:** Blurry or pixelated pictures won’t print well.
**Incorrect paper settings:** Printing a photo on plain paper might not look as good.
**Low ink levels:** When ink is running low, colours can become faded or streaky.
**Using third-party ink (sometimes):** While cheaper, non-brand ink might not always match the quality of original ink.

4. User Experience and Use Cases

Think about how you plan to use your printer.

For Home Users:

Printing homework assignments and school projects.
Making colourful flyers or invitations.
Printing photos from your phone or camera.
Scanning important documents.

For Small Offices or Students:

Printing reports and presentations.
Making copies of documents.
Scanning and emailing files.
Printing marketing materials for a small business.

A user-friendly interface and easy setup make printing a breeze. Wireless printing is a big plus for convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between dye-based and pigment-based ink?

A: Dye-based inks give bright colours for photos. Pigment-based inks are more durable for documents and resist fading.

Q: How do I know what dpi I need?

A: For everyday documents, 600 dpi is usually fine. For sharp photos, look for 4800 dpi or higher.

Q: Is Wi-Fi printing easy to set up?

A: Yes, most modern printers have simple instructions to connect to your home Wi-Fi network.

Q: Can I use any brand of ink?

A: You can, but using the printer manufacturer’s ink often ensures the best print quality and longevity.

Q: What does “all-in-one” mean for a printer?

A: An all-in-one printer can print, scan, and copy documents. Some also have fax capabilities.

Q: How often should I clean my printer’s print heads?

A: You should clean them if you notice lines or missing colours in your prints. Most printers have a built-in cleaning tool.

Q: Does paper type really matter for photo printing?

A: Yes, photo paper is coated to absorb ink properly, making your pictures look much better than on plain paper.

Q: What is the benefit of separate ink cartridges?

A: You only replace the colour that runs out, which can save you money compared to replacing a single colour cartridge.

Q: How can I make my prints last longer?

A: Use pigment-based inks, print on good quality paper, and store your prints away from direct sunlight.

Q: What if my printer is slow?

A: Check your printer settings for draft mode versus best quality. Draft mode prints faster but with less detail. Also, ensure your printer’s drivers are up to date.