Printers that are ideal for college students
When I was in college, the dorm rooms were pretty small, space at a premium, and the campus had printers all over the place that you could print to that more or less made having your own in your room unnecessary (and, given the cost of ink for these things, a big hassle). I'm looking for a good printer for college. One that has good ppm, color and black-and-white, not too overpriced (less than $200, preferredly around $100-150), and low ink/maintanance costs.
If you have ever been to college, you know how many papers must be printed for classes. From essays to bibliographies or even handouts, each class requires students to print things out.
Most colleges offer printing services, but more often than not, the printers are slow and there are usually long lines to access them. In addition, there are limits to how much you can print at one time. By having a printer of your own, students can eliminate the headache of having to leave their dorm or house to go print from the school with your own printer, all your assignments can be completed and printed from the ease and comfort of your own home. Let’s take a glance at our list:
5 Best printers for college/university students 2018
Image | Printer | Connectivity | Full Review |
USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, Ethernet | Read me! | ||
Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 | Read me! | ||
USB 2.0, Wi-Fi direct | Read me! | ||
2 x RJ-11 modem ports, USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wireless | Read me! | ||
USB 2.0, WIFI | Read me! |
If you are one of those students who is facing a dilemma about what is the best printer for college students? Below is a list providing the best printers for college students. All our selected printers are geared with wireless tech and are really inexpensive, but best rated printers for college students on the market.
1. CANON MG7720
best printer for college dorm-2018
Canon doesn’t just do cameras, they also offer top of the line printers. This Canon MG7720 Wireless Color Cloud Printer comes equipped with a color scanner and copier.
It’s compact size and durability makes it an ideal option for those looking for the great printers for a college dorm. The unique aspect of this Canon printer is that it can be used wirelessly with all kinds of phones, laptops and tablets.
From Apple to Android, all types of brands are compatible. With cramped living space, wireless printers are a great option for college students.
Key Features
Inkjet printer with All- in one (print, copy, scan) features
Supports wireless direct connection including smartphones & tablets (IOS and Android)
Touch connection for NFC enabled devices
Armed with easy to read 3.5 LCD touch screen display
It has ISO print speed of 15 Image per minute (IPM) for black & white and 10 IPM for color.
Print resolution up to 9600 x 2400 (dots per inch) dpi for colors; 600 x 600 dpi for black
Contact Image Sensor (CIS) Scanner with optical resolution up to 2400 x 4800 dpi
Copy speed as fast as 19 second for color images
Product dimension 14.6 x 17.2 x 5.9 inches
2. HP Envy 4520 Wireless All-in-One Color
best HP printer for college student-2018
The HP Envy name says it all. This printer includes all of the aspects a college student is looking for into one product. The HP Envy can print via any wireless device including cell phones, tablets as well as laptops.
It contains both black and color ink cartridges and the option for borderless printing for the more creative projects that student may encounter. It’s small size of 8.5 x 14 inches makes it a good fit for any dorm or room. The HP Envy comes with a resolution of 1200 ppi.
Features
All in one printer with wireless connectivity for smartphones and tablet
Supports two sided duplex printing
2 inch LCD screen
ISO Print speed up to 9.5 Page Per Minute (PPM) black; 6.8 PPM Color
Print resolution up to 4800 x 1200 dpi
Flatbed scanner with 1200 X 1200 resolution
4 Copies per minutes (CPM) for color
52 x 14.45 x 5.04 inches product dimension
3. Brother HL-L2340DW
best laser printer for college students-2018
If you are looking for top quality laser printer, then the Brother HL-L2340DW boasts a 250 page input paper capacity to make sure that you don’t have to change the paper often.
It offers 3 methods of printing, including wireless, Hi-speed USB as well as Wi-Fi direct printing. This leaves the decision up to the user. This printer includes a 1-line interactive LCD display.
A purchase of the Brother HL-L2340DW also conveniently comes with complimentary phone support for the duration of the product. This printer prints up to 27 pages per minute, which is great when students are in a hurry before class and need to print something at the last minute.
Key Features
Laser printer with multi-connectivity that supports wide range of smartphones like apple, android, kindle fire, windows phone and blackberry
Optimized for AirPrint, Google Cloud print, brother iPrint & more
Print Speed up to 27 PPM
Up to 2400 X 600 dpi print resolution
250 sheets input tray paper capacity
To ensure that you never run out of the ink, the amazon dash replenishment service measure the toner level and automatically orders the toner when low
4. HP OfficeJet Pro 8710
best inkjet printers for college students-2018
The HP Office Jet Pro 8710 is the second HP product on this list and by no mistake. This printer is truly a jack-of-all-trades. It offers standard printing in both color and black and white. This device can also copy, scan, fax as well as two sided duplex printing.
It also includes compatibility with a multitude of paper sizes, including government, legal, legal, letter, statement, executive and more. Whatever area of work or study that a college student finds them in, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 will certainly cover all of their potential printing needs.
This printer also boasts the ability to print professional quality color for up to 50% lower costs per page printed. Compatible software includes Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10, Windows XP and Vista as well as Mac OSX v 10.6, v10.7, v10.8, v10.9.
Key Features
Wireless printing with copy, fax, print and scan
Supports mobile printing via HP ePrint app and AirPrint
ISO print speed up to 22PPM black; 18 PPM color
65 inch LCD touch screen
Built-in duplex printing
Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi printing resolution
Scanner with resolution up to 1200 X 1200; CIS sensor
27 color Copies Per Minute (CPM)
Product dimension 19.7 x 16.5 x 12.4 inches
5. Epson Expression Home XP-430
best inexpensive printer for college student-2018
The Epson Expression Home XP-430 is perhaps the best printer for college students in terms of quality to price ratio. For such a good deal, college students have the opportunity to receive a well-equipped and functioning printer with all of the bells and whistles that the more expensive models have.
This is the real budget printer that students on a tight income may be looking for. The Espons Expresssion Home XP-430 makes it easy to print with its wireless capabilities. Students can print from tablets, phones as well as laptops.
This printer also has separate ink cartridges for each color allowing users the option to only replace colors that they need and use. This can cut down the cost of spending money on ink that is not used as much. Another unique feature of this printer is the ability to scan things on Facebook. A 2.7-inch color LCD display makes the navigation on this printer very easy.
Key Features
Print, Copy and Scan 3-in 1 feature
Connectivity via USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet
Included mobile printing features like Epson email print, Epson iPrint Mobile app, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print
7 inch LCD touchscreen
Maximum printing resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi
Print speed of 9 PPM for black and 4.5 for color
Color CIS sensor with 1200 dpi resolution
4 color copies per minute
8 x 15.4 x 5.7 inches product dimension
Conclusion
Thank you for taking time and reading all the way through. All our selected printers are cheap but best for the price range. Many of our listed printers are under $100. We hope our article was informative and wish you the best of luck for your studies. Good luck! Shop Smart!
For many iMac and MacBook users, having the best printer that is Mac-compatible ensures the ability to print on demand. There was a time when very few manufacturers that produce printers that are compatible with Apple computers. This meant that the purchased printer was unable to understand the commands sent to it by your iMac or MacBook, resulting the printer to be returned in frustration and you starting your search again.
Tips on How to Choose the Best Printer for Mac
Printer manufacturers these days are making sure that their products are able to accommodate one of the most popular brands in the market. However, do keep the tips below in mind when you are shopping for the right printer for Mac.
1. Look for visual cues
Thanks to the popularity of Apple computers these days, no printer manufacturers in their right mind would ignore the printing needs of Apple users. So, the chances that your brand new printer will be compatible with your Mac is very high. Nevertheless, if you are planning to purchase a second hand unit or at a warehouse sale, look for some visual cues that state the compatibility of the printing machine.
To make your life easier, printers that are made for Mac are indicated with a Mac logo. However, do take note that Apple does not certify that a model is compatible with its computers. So, if you are still uncertain, it is best to consult the mother ship.
2. Ensure that the printer is compatible with your OS X version
It is common to hand down computers to younger siblings or parents, so it is good to ensure what versions of OS X are supported by the specific printer model. You can usually check this out on the box. If you intend to buy the printer sans the box, a quick search on the internet will land you its operations manual where you can check the versions supported in the ‘Requirements’ section.
3. When in doubt, consult Apple
For an easier life, you will be happy to know that Apple has an updated list of all printers that are compatible with its computers. If your printer is listed, all you need to do is plug it in and your Mac OS X automatically downloads the software needed and installs the printer. If not, you need to do it manually because it is not bundled with OS X.
4. If still in doubt, consult the manufacturer
Should the printer you are thinking of buying is not listed, check the manufacturer’s support website. The printer may be old, but they might have an updated driver for your version of OS X so that you can use it with your new Mac.
5. Read the reviews!
The Internet is a wonderful place to look for information. With the right keywords, you will be able to find reviews from owners on how the printer actually works on an iMac or MacBook.
Top 5 Best Printer for Mac
Now that you know how to choose the right printer for your Mac, here are some models we think are among the best printers for Macs:
#1. HP Officejet Pro 8600
We think that the HP Officejet Pro 8600 is a great all-in-one printer for home and small offices. With its versatile connectivity options and cloud printing tools, you can definitely use this machine for a very long time. It prints/copies fast and its touch screen control panel is intuitive. If your Apple computer is equipped with at least a Mac OS X v10.5, all you need to do is set up the printer as per the manual and your Mac will automatically detect the printer, download the software and prompt you throughout the installation process.
Pros: Retailing for less than $200 on Amazon, this printer really is a workhorse that is equipped with a 250-sheet paper input capacity, auto-duplexing, cloud printing and a variety of connectivity options. It is also one of the cheapest all-in-one printer to buy and maintain.
Cons: Scanning documents is relatively slower since it cannot scan double-sided originals simultaneously.
#2. Canon PIXMA PRO-10
For graphic designers and photographers, the Canon PIXMA PRO-10 is THE printer that will capture your beautiful work of art. While realistically many of you would go to professional printers that will give you more printing option, having this little gem in the office can be handy. At At $599 on Amazon, the printer is not cheap to buy or run, but the output is amazing – each printed pixel is so fine that you will not be able to see it no matter how big you decide to blow up that gorgeous picture.
Pros: Like many, it has multiple connectivity options including USB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet network. We also love its ability to print black and white prints outstandingly thanks to the 3 monochrome inks that will enhance your grayscale photographs.
Cons: While installing the software was easy, either through the bundled CD or automatically downloaded by your Mac (minimum requirement of Mac OS X v10.5.8), it was too heavy to setup single handed.
Best Printers For Dorm Room
#3. Epson Expression Premium XP-810
We think that the Epson Expression Premium XP-810 is a great printer for college students to have and later on bringing back home as they transition to working life. This Mac OS X supported printer renders one of the best print quality for its price range and has many useful features such as the duplex document feeder and printing capabilities, PictBridge enabled and ability to read memory cards.
Pros: Compact in size – great for small working space and very mobile. Prints fast (for a printer that is meant to be used at home) so you can catch that deadline.
Cons: For $149 at Amazon, we think that the printer should be priced lower seeing that the ink will cost its owner a lot. The paper feeder has low capacity.
Best College Printer 2018
#4. HP Envy 5530
The HP Envy 5530 is your typical home printer: simple to use, not much whistle and bells and low purchase price (($95 on Amazon) balanced out by higher-priced ink cartridges. The quality of its printed output is distinctively better than other models in the same price bracket; texts, even when printed in draft mode, comes out sharp while colour graphics are pretty accurate. Setting up the Envy 5530 on your Mac (minimum Mac OS X v10.6) is easy as the installer will guide you throughout the process.
Pros: It is very easy to use, reliable and produce outstanding output.
Cons: Super slow and the ink are pricey. However, do check out HP’s new Instant Ink program to counter ink cost. There is also no Ethernet port.
#5. Canon Pixma iP8720
Budding photographers that want instant satisfaction over their art should consider getting the Canon Pixma iP8720. While print quality is awesome, they can be uneven at times.
Best Printers Compatible With Mac
Pros: Budget-friendly inkjet printer (selling at around $250 on Amazon) that renders amazing coloured prints of up to 13” x 19”. Fully wireless printer: AirPrint, Cloud Print, Canon Mobile Printing, Wireless PictBridge supported.
Cons: Low capacity paper tray. Printer does not support PictBridge over USB cable.
[polldaddy poll=”8113305″]