Buying a printer for your home or office can be a struggle, especially a cheap one. The market provides you with a lot of options, and this can be a problem if you don’t know the exact printer you want. All printers come in different designs and have different features. However, you will find that most of them perform the same, and the quality of work produced is not different although they don’t look the same.
Some printers are multipurpose, while others are not. As such, it is a wise decision to research and check out reviews to understand how a printer work before purchasing it. Sometimes all you need is a cheap printer for your basic everyday printing needs. To help you with information, below is a list of the best printers under $150. Our focus is their functionality, key features, the pros, and cons. If you are in want of a printer that will print documents and photos at an affordable price, this article will be a perfect guide for you.
Brother HL-L2340DW Compact Laser Printer
The Brother HL-L2340DW offers a host of features that allow you to enjoy quick and simple printing services with minimal complications. It’s a fast, reliable monochrome laser printer with a square design easy to fit on your small office or home desk. It’s ideal for small spaces making it suitable for even students who operate from small rooms. It allows wireless and USB interface connections giving you options of working with what suits you best.
Also, the product allows connection to Android, Apple, or Windows Phone mobile devices, enabling printing via AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Brother iPrint & amp, and more. The inclusion of an LCD display is a plus as it enables easy navigation and menu selection. Aside from that, this printer prints sharp, professional black and white pages at up to 2400 x 600 dpi resolution. The printing speed of up to 27ppm is ideal for printing multi-page reports, spreadsheets, invoices, and other documents.
The product permits automatic duplex printing, which reduces paper usage lowering the printing cost. On the technical side, the product offers a 250-sheet capacity paper tray that handles legal and letter size paper. A manual feed slot with a straight-through paper path is included to ensure jobs printed on the envelopes and letterheads look their best.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Automatic duplex printing
- Mobile device printing
- Wireless and USB connectivity
- 250-sheet paper capacity
- A compact squarely design
- Fast, high-quality printing at up to 27ppm
Cons
- It’s not a color printer
- Troublesome Wi-Fi connection
Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer
If you like the idea of simplicity and convenience when it comes to printing, then the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is your choice. It is designed to cater to your basic printing needs and has a compact design that saves space in your home or office. It is equipped with great features that save you money and time. The product enables wireless connectivity, giving you many ways of printing. Connect all your favorite devices and easily print while working on other tasks.
Aside from that, it features duplex printing cutting down your paper usage by up to 50%. With PIXMA MG3620, you will print documents and web pages at a speed of 5.7 images per minute for color and 9.8 images per minute for black. The printer has a simple Wi-Fi setup connection enabling you to connect with your mobile devices.
Wi-Fi allows you to use a variety of applications. The Canon Print app (2) will enable you to print and scan documents straight from your mobile devices. Print from your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad with AirPrint (3), and android devices with Mopria (4) and Google Cloud Print (5).
Pros
- Wireless connectivity
- Compact design saving space
- Auto duplex printing
- Offers printing, copying, and scanning services
- Mobile device printing
- Printing resolution of 4800 x 1200
- Scanning resolution of 1200 x 2400
Cons
- No USB connections
Epson Expression Home XP-330 Wireless Printer
If you are in search for an all-in-one printer that will make printing easy, go for the Expression Home XP-330. Enjoy a 1.44-inch color LCD that enables you a quick and easy setup. The LCD allows you to preview, edit, and print photos without turning on your computer. It supports wireless connection that allows you to print from virtually anywhere, with or without a network. Connect your iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, or smartphone to print even when doing other things.
Since it supports a 100-sheet paper capacity, you will reload paper less often. The product comes with individual ink meaning you will only refill the color that runs out. The printer utilizes instant-dry ink that delivers smudge, fade, and water-resistant prints. The result is touchable photos and documents that are high-quality and professional.
A built-in memory card slot is included to ensure simple PC-free photo printing. It offers one-sided ISO print speeds of 9.0 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color).
Pros
- A complete wireless solution
- Affordable individual ink cartridges
- 100-sheet paper capacity
- A 1.44-inch color LCD
- Prints touchable photos and documents
Cons
- Does not use third-party cartridges or ink
- No USB connectivity
Canon ImageCLASS MF236n All-in-One Printer
If you’re searching for a printer that balances speedy performance and minimal maintenance, choose the Canon imageCLASS MF236n. It is equipped with a tilt-able touchscreen LCD panel that allows you to control the selection menu. The compact design fits your office or home perfectly without occupying much space. It’s a low energy consuming product that uses approximately 1.3 watts of energy.
The printers manage paper handling well with a 250-sheet cassette, 35-sheet automatic document feeder, and 1-sheet multipurpose tray. It supports printing of up to 15,000 pages per month. The MF236n uses Canon Cartridge 137 that improves image processing and precise character printing.
The product supports mobile device printing through Canon Print Business, Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and Google Cloud Print. You will enjoy the fast printing speed of up to 24 pages per minute.
Pros
- Duplex printing lowering costs
- It’s a multipurpose printer
- A fast printing speed of 24 pages per minute
- Low energy consumption
- Has great customer service team
Cons
- Does not have a wireless connection
Final Thoughts
Don’t wait in long queues for printing in a copy shop anymore. You can own a printer that is affordable and perfect for your basic printing needs. The printer market has provided you with versatile choices to ensure you get what you want. If you work from home, or part of a small-office workgroup, the above list of printers under $150 are the best choices for you. One thing to note is that most of them can’t handle heavy-duty printing. Below are things you should consider when buying a printer;
- Printing quality and speed. Consider the quality of work required so that you only buy what suits your needs. If you want high quality buy a printer that will produce that. If your work is not bulk, you don’t have to invest in a high-speed printer and vice-versa.
- Connectivity options. A wireless printer is convenient for busy people who may require to print from their mobile devices, while printers that support USB connections are suitable for permanent settings. Choose what works best for you.
- Cost of operation. Some printers consume a lot of ink and may require a regular refill, which can be expensive. Refillable cartridges are economical, and it is wise to buy a printer that supports third party ink cartridges to lower the cost of replacement, especially if the brand one is expensive.
- Duplex printing and automatic duplex feeder (ADF). Printing on both side of the paper reduces paper usage while ADF ensures the printer continue printing while you busy with other tasks.
- Space and design. Buy a printer that doesn’t occupy a large space, especially for homes or small offices. Choose a design that will work well with your home or office décor.