First there was the inkjet, fast and efficient.  Then came the laser printer, even faster and with better quality.  For the longest time, the laser printer held sway over the inkjet in terms of speed and clarity.  Except recently, the tables have turned again.  Each printer type continues to improve as companies strive for our business but only one thing remains the same.

Ink vs. Toner – The Simple Explanation

The true difference between an inkjet printer and a laser printer is their printing methods.  Though people often group the two based upon their speed, clarity, size, and other capabilities, the real separating factor is the way they print.  After all, some inkjet printers these days can be just as big as a laser printer.

Inkjet printers use ink cartridges.  The ink in the cartridge will either be black or colored, depending upon your printing needs.  If the ink is color, three compartments within the cartridge keep cyan, magenta, and yellow ink apart.  The bottom of the cartridge has a set number of tiny nozzles.  When the printer is given a print job, the ink cartridge receives its orders and sprays out the ink in whatever pattern it is told to in order to give the desired results.  Ink cartridges are generally cheaper than toner cartridges, and now companies have split up the colors so you no longer have to throw out a color cartridge just because it ran out of a single color.  Now you can buy cyan, magenta, and yellow all separate, replacing only the color you need at an even cheaper price.  Black is still sold on its own.

Toner is a different creature altogether.  If you have ever used a laser printer, you may have noticed a small period of time in which the printer seems to be “starting up.”  In some ways, it is.  The printer warms up the toner cartridge, which contains carbon particles mixed with a polymer.  The heat melts the mixture and then transfers it onto the paper, where it immediately dries.  This is why when papers roll out of a laser printer, they are warm.

Typically, inkjet printers are slower than laser printers.  In many cases of more expensive products, this is still true.  However, companies are now coming up with ways to reinvent the inkjet printer, making it faster and more competitive with laser printers.  Because inkjets do not have to warm up any toner, they can simply print right away, and other innovations have stopped ink from smearing, even when highlighters are applied.

Laser printers still tend to win with the clarity of their printing, though.  They are still very fast and strongly preferred by the majority of businesses.  However, they tend to be more expensive, and if you want to print out high-quality color images, an inkjet is the better choice.

When deciding on a printer for your home, inkjet and laser are pretty close overall.  You need to consider what you will be printing and which type will best suit your needs.