Instead of expensive features like a touchscreen interface, it has only the essentials, such as an auto duplex mode and Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct and AirPrint. There’s also a fax facility and 30-sheet ADF (automatic document feed) for business users. The flatbed scanner is a useful feature for those who need to scan and copy texts, but the printing speed is a bit slow. The unit is compact for a wide-format inkjet printer, and there is a 2.4-inch LCD panel with a set of buttons for navigation.
For businesses with limited space, the ET-4550 should fit right in. Monochrome info screen, and can connect via a USB cable to your computer, or via wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, it has neither a USB slot for quickly printing the contents of a mobile drive nor a Near Field Communications (NFC) spot for touching a phone to print. Beneath a hinged cover on its right side, the ET4550 has four ink tanks, each of which has a plastic window so you can see the ink level. The printer initially comes with two bottles each of black, cyan, magenta and yellow ink; each bottle of black ink holds 4.7 oz., while each bottle of colored ink holds 2.35 oz. One bottle just fills each individual reservoir, which is then closed with a rubber stopper.
It’s also at the top of the pack of the thermal printers I’ve tested. The app-controlled Bluetooth connection makes it even easier to print shipping labels. Simply purchase them through Etsy on your phone and print them using the app. Since our most recent update, epson photo printer HP has released the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdn. It costs $100 less than our upgrade pick, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw, and is also cheaper to operate on a per-page basis while claiming to offer quick print speeds and sharp image quality.
Ink-tank printers usually come with bottles that you must inject into reservoirs inside of the machine. These printers tend to cost $50 to $100 more than non-ink-tank models, and they also provide fewer features. Priced at $180 at this writing, the MFC-J4335DW is one of the cheapest all-in-one models we’ve tested, and it doesn’t ratchet epson inkjet printers up the printing costs in exchange. This model comes with 1,080 pages’ worth of black ink and 720 pages’ worth of color in the box, which should last you about a year by Brother’s estimates. No need to finagle the main paper tray to size—this model features a bypass slot for printing labels, envelopes, postcards, and glossy prints.
It’s designed for small and home offices that print lots of documents and don’t need color. The models in this category range from a single-function printer to a four-function AIO with an ADF that supports manual duplexing. All come with two years of unlimited ink, with no subscription needed and no fee. Multifunction printers such as the Canon PIXMA and Brother Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer (Model MFC-J775DW) provide the same speed and print quality as single-function devices, helping to increase productivity. These all-in-one printers are typically Wi-Fi enabled, allowing multiple devices to connect without relying on cords throughout the home or office. There are also apps available on some models that let users print from mobile devices, even when they’re not nearby.