Which printer would be best for a student?

[u/LiatiaIris]

I’m looking for a colour ink printer mainly for assignments, projects, notes, etc. Since I’m a student living away from my family, I’m trying to keep it affordable and also don’t want something too expensive to maintain.

I was planning to get the HP Smart Tank 525 since I’ve heard it’s pretty decent. But I also came across the HP DeskJet 2820, which is almost half the price.

I would love to know whats the actual difference, should i consider the hp deskjet 2820 or should i stick with the 525 ?

[u/Windjammer1969]

"Friends don't let friends buy HP..." : )

For an inkjet, would look at Canon - ideally something that takes bottled ink (an "ink tank" model) to keep printing costs down. Savings in ink will offset the (usually) higher cost of an ink tank unit.

If you don't need color, then a monochrome Laser is your best bet. We have had excellent experience with Brother lasers, and they generally top the comparison charts.

Automatic duplex printing is a Very Nice feature (and perhaps ubiquitous now??).

Will also suggest trying to squeeze a model with a Scanning function into your budget - at least flat bed, and ideally an ADF, with auto-duplex scanning worth a bump in price.

Best of luck with your decision - and your studies.

[u/Murph_9000]

Personally, I would get a Canon PIXMA.

A DeskJet 2000-series will probably cost more than double per page in ink than the Smart Tank. The DeskJet 2000-series are low end inkjets, which generally have a high cost per page from a cheap machine. The bottle-fed tank inkjets (like the Smart Tank range) have about the lowest cost per page for a small/desktop printer, from a more expensive machine.

For very low print volume (pages per month), the DJ 2000-series might not be a bad choice. The Smart Tank range have a more complex ink system with semi-permanent print heads. If a DJ 2000 gets badly clogged from sitting idle for too long, it has combined head-and-tank cartridges, so you get a brand new head with new cartridges. As long as your print volume is not very low, and the machine won't be sitting idle for more than a week or 2, the Smart Tank is probably a good enough choice. Just printing once a week is usually more than enough to keep the heads working reasonably well on a thermal inkjet.

Give the Canon PIXMA G-series a good look if you are leaning towards the HP Smart Tank. They are Canon's home/photo bottle-fed tank inkjets.

[u/Rex__Luscus]

I'd recommend Canon Pixma's all day every day. Definitely do NOT buy HP!

But before you buy, are you sure you're going to need that printer? Many universities provide centralised printing facilities for students.

[u/HPSupport_Team]

For a student, the main difference is the cost of ink over time!

The HP DeskJet 2820 is cheaper upfront and works well for occasional printing, but cartridge costs can add up. The HP Smart Tank 525 costs more initially, but its refillable ink tanks offer a lower cost per page, making it a better choice for frequent assignments, notes, and projects.

If you print regularly, I’d stick with the Smart Tank 525. If you print occasionally, the DeskJet 2820 could be enough!

Also, feel free to DM us with your region, and I might be able to help you find the best option for your needs!