Printer buying guide

Page yield

Page yield is a way to measure the cost of printing each page. This is calculated using industry standard testing guidelines.

While the approximate page yield can be a good guideline for determining general usage allowance, it’s important to be aware that page yield can vary depending on the types of pages you choose to print. For example, printing high definition photos will use more ink than basic text documents.

Print quality (DPI)

DPI stands for dots per inch and is a basic measure of print quality. A printer with a higher DPI delivers clear, detailed pictures although other factors such as ink play a part in overall print quality.

If you’re looking for vibrant, lifelike photographs, a good quality inkjet printer provides enhanced colour reproduction and the glossy, developed-photo look that makes for a fantastic printed image.

Print speed

We highlight print rate on all of our printers. Measured in pages per minute (PPM) for text and images per minute (IPM) for photographs, you should consider print speed if you regularly print in large amounts.

Monochrome printers

Monochrome printers exclusively print black and white documents. Monochrome laser printers feature higher print speeds over everyday inkjet printers.

Paper size

The most commonly printed page size is A4 and the vast majority of our printers print in this format. Many printers also print smaller, so whether you want the familiar 6 x 4 developed-photo size or specialist envelope sizes, most accept a wide range of photo and document paper.

For larger prints, we stock a range of A3 printers that print in various sizes up to A3. Some are no bigger than A4 printers, making them ideal for small offices or homes where space is at a premium.

Double sided print

Auto duplex is a handy feature that gives you the choice to automatically print on both sides of the paper, helping you look after the environment while saving money in the process.

Automatic document feeder (ADF)

An automatic document feeder (ADF) allows you to scan or copy multiple documents simultaneously, without having to manually insert individual pages.

They can be found on scanners and all-in-one printers and are usually located on top of the scanner or within the main paper tray.

OCR

OCR stands for optical character recognition and is a feature found on a number of scanners and all-in-one printers. OCR allows a scanned document to be converted into a word processing document that can be edited on a PC or tablet. While this usually only applies to printed text documents, some models feature handwriting recognition too.

Printing from your laptop or desktop

Wireless printing enables you to print documents from your computer, without the need to connect your PC and printer with a cable. As a result, you'll be able to print from anywhere in your home, allowing the entire family to share a single printer, so you’ll save money and reduce clutter.

Printing from your mobile or tablet

Google Cloud Print allows you to print from any compatible Android device. This means you can print from devices such as smartphones, tablets, or from any computer without the need to download additional software or drivers. You can send a document or photo to print from wherever you are; whether you’re at home or on the other side of the world.

AirPrint is exclusive to Apple devices and allows you to print directly from your iPhone, iPad, Mac or iPod Touch to a printer connected to your Wi-Fi network. Just tap the print button on your device to print completely wirelessly.

Wi-Fi Direct/Wireless Direct

Wi-Fi Direct provides a wireless connection between a printer and device, even if no Wi-Fi signal is present - perfect for homes and offices without a wireless network or in an office as a backup should the network go down.

Printing from email

Email printing is a feature available on selected HP printers and provides wireless printing from any email capable device. Each printer has a unique, customisable email address and once connected to your home Wi-Fi, prints any images or text documents it receives.

Most manufacturers have their own version of email printing. Look out for ‘email printing’ as a highlighted feature within our printing range.

Printing from your camera

PictBridge makes printing from your digital camera easy. Simply connect your camera via USB cable to print photos directly, without having to remove your SD card or connect to a computer.

Printing from a memory card

Many printers feature a memory card slot. This makes is possible to print directly from an SD or memory card without the need to connect to a PC. Simply pop the card in and use the printer’s screen to select the documents you need.