COMPUTING · BUYING GUIDE
Best home printers of 2026: ink tank, laser or budget inkjet?
By S. Dahani and the RealDigitalTech editorial team
Epson's EcoTank ET-4950 leads TechRadar's tested picks for 2026. Here are the six recommended printers by use, and why ink costs matter more than the purchase price.
Quick Take
Key figures
The six picks at a glance
| Use | Model | US price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Epson EcoTank ET-4950 | $469.99–$499.99 | Well equipped, with a large amount of ink included. |
| Budget | HP Envy 6555e | $179.99 | Low price, but slower; a fair trade-off. |
| Budget ink tank | Canon Pixma G3270 | $159–$248.99 | Low running costs at a low entry price. |
| Laser | Xerox C325 | $262.99–$649.99 | Colour laser at up to 33 pages per minute. |
| Photos | Epson EcoTank ET-8550 | $674–$749.99 | High-quality photo prints up to A3+. |
| Home office | Canon MAXIFY GX4020 | $449.99–$539.99 | Built for regular office printing. |
Ink tank, cartridge or laser?
- Ink tank: higher purchase price, very low cost per page. Best if you print every week.
- Cartridge inkjet: cheap to buy, expensive to run. Some models use ink subscriptions; read the terms before signing up.
- Laser: fast and reliable for text; toner keeps well if you print rarely.
What to check before buying
- Cost per page for black and colour, using official ink or toner prices in your country.
- Automatic two-sided printing and a document feeder if you scan often.
- Wi-Fi, mobile app and whether an account is required to use the printer.
- Availability of ink and spare parts where you live.
Verdict
If you print regularly, an ink tank such as the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 quickly pays for itself. If you print only a few pages a month, the HP Envy 6555e or a small laser will be more sensible. Choose on total cost over three years, not on the price tag.
This article analyses a buying guide published by another outlet, in our own words. RealDigitalTech did not test these printers itself.
Sources
How this article was made: our editorial team selected and read the reviews listed above, compared their results and wrote this synthesis, with AI tools assisting the research and drafting. Every figure was checked against the sources, and the article was approved by the publication director. Our AI Disclosure · Our methodology · Report an error: editorial@realdigitaltech.com