There are many criteria customers look at when it comes to purchasing one of the best budget printers in 2020. Some look at just the initial cost for purchasing the printer, whilst others look for the cost of running the printer as a light user at home or a moderate user in a small business.
In this article I take a look at the best budget printers available for sale in the UK during 2020; using an initial price point of under £199 whether it be an inkjet or laser model. I also then look at the cost for each of the ink or toner cartridges required for the printer and how many pages the manufacturer claims the unit can print.
Best Printers 2020
** Update Summer 2020 **
See the Top 50 UK Best Selling Printers
| Manufacturer | Model Name | Printer Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson | Expression Home XP 245 | Inkjet | Check Price Best Seller! |
| HP | Deskjet 3720 | Inkjet | Check Price |
| Canon | Pixma TS8150 | Inkjet | Check Price |
| HP | Envy Photo 6230 | Inkjet | Check Price |
| Samsung | Xpress M2026W | Laser | Check Price |
| Brother | HL-3140CW | Laser | Check Price |
PLEASE NOTE:
– The following list is in no particular order or preference.
– The following list contains only A4 printers
– That all prices were current for 2020!
– That a “printed page” is the industry standard 5% coverage (actual yield will vary depending on images printed and usage conditions).
Epson Expression Home XP-245 Inkjet Printer
The Epson Expression Home XP-245 is Epson’s entry level inkjet printer designed for the home user who only requires occasional printing. It has a small and lightweight design that means it doesn’t take up much desk space.
Even at the low price point of RRP 59.99 inc.VAT (You can find it at £32.99 online). Epson has crammed in all the usual All-in-One Functions: print/scan/copy along with remote printing using Epson Email print and Epson Remote print services. This budget inkjet printer comes with both Wireless and USB connectivity. It uses Epson Original T29/T29XL Inks (Strawberry Range) although you could also benefit from lower cost printing using compatible T29 inks!
Pros: Economical and compact. Comes with Epson Easy Photo Print software.
Cons: Not designed for heavy usage. No Apple or Google printer services
Cost Per Page: For more information on printing costs and ink options visit – Epson XP-245 ink cartridges
Price Check: Check the current price on Amazon
HP DeskJet 3720 Inkjet Printer
A new printer to the market in 2018. HP has packed this entry level inject printer with all the usual features you would hope to see on a modern inkjet. Being a modern wireless printer it covers all the Wi-Fi types a home user would require: 802.11b/g/n as well as having a USB 2.0 connection. In addition it is really easy to print documents, photos, and more from your Apple, Android, and Windows devices. Connect your smartphone or tablet directly to your printer, and easily print without a network!
A truly great feature that may surprise you during the first print, is the automatic paper tray which effortlessly unfolds as soon as the first page is on its way. There is also a built in flatbed scanner for when you need to copy a document. The size is: 17.7 x 40.3 x 14.1 cm. Print resolution : Up to 1200 x 1200 rendered dpi black; Up to 4800 x 1200 optimised dpi colour.
This unit is aesthetically pleasing and the small footprint means you should find a ready home anywhere. HP has an RRP of 51.99 for this printer but you can pick up at Amazon UK for a lot less. This printer requires the HP 304 range of inks.
Pros: Lots of wireless printing options. Decent photo printing.
Cons: Can’t find any for a printer at this price point
Cost Per Page: For more information on printing costs and ink options visit – HP Deskjet 3720 ink cartridges
Price Check: Check the current price on Amazon
Canon Pixma TS8150 Inkjet Printer
The Canon PIXMA TS8150 wireless inkjet printer has been designed for those that take their photo printing a bit more seriously. This mid-range printer boasts all the usual Print, Copy, Scan functions but takes the user experience up a notch. For instance print resolution is up to 9600 x 2400 dpi and scanning resolution comes in at an impressive 2400 x 4800 dpi.
For those requiring wireless connectivity they can take their choice of: PIXMA Cloud Link, PIXMA Touch & Print (NFC), Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app, Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, Wireless Direct, PictBridge and Mopria (Android).
As this printer is aimed at those who like to print photos it comes with SD Card and SDHC Card slots and uses Canon’s 6 ink system 580/581 series of PIXMA inks. This is a great printer with a heavy focus on high-quality photo printing. The Canon RRP is £199.99 BUT you can find it online for £129.99
Pros: Lots of wireless printing options. Impressive photo quality printing. Print beautifully rich borderless photos with the 6- single ink system
Cons: Slower print speeds for full colour pages. Not for the average home user.
Cost Per Page: For more information on printing costs and ink options visit – Canon Pixma TS8150 ink cartridges
Price Check: Check the current price on Amazon
HP Envy Photo 6230 All-in-One Photo Printer
The HP Envy Photo 6230 is HP’s flagship family A4 colour inkjet printer printer for. It really is an impressive all rounder with great colour document and photo printing. It comes with all the usual Print, Copy, Scan functions. Connect a smartphone or tablet directly to the printer, and easily print without a network (Wireless 802.11b/g/n). This printer also provides a USB connection too. You can easily manage printing tasks and scan on the go with the HP All-in-One Printer Remote mobile app and it comes with HP ePrint and Apple iPrint. For your wireless networks you have dual band Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5Ghz options.
This inkjet printer is aimed at the more demanding homes user and small business owner. Print speeds are not the fastest but this printer does produce high quality printed documents and has a monthly recommended duty cycle of up to 1,000 pages. It weighs 6.7 kg but is still a compact 50.3 x 45.3 x 15.5 cm.
This multi-function printer uses the HP 303 range of inks which comes as single colours so saving you money on your print costs.
HP’s RRP is 79.00 inc VAT but online deals can be found for as little as 67.99 inc VAT.
Pros: Impressive document printing. A great family printer. HP ePrint, Apple AirPrint, Mopria certified.
Cons: Slower print speeds for full colour pages. Up to 8 ppm ISO colour (A4).
Cost Per Page: For more information on printing costs and ink options visit – HP Envy Photo 6230 ink cartridges
Price Check: Check the current price on Amazon
Samsung Xpress M2026W A4 Mono Laser
The Samsung Xpress M2026W A4 mono wireless laser printer is one of the most popular budget laser printers on the market today. It is loved by both home users and small business owners alike for its ability to provide fast and economic printing! Print in less than 8.5 seconds with Ready Mode
The Samsung M2026W is equipped with a 400 MHz processor and 64 MB memory to print up to 20 pages per minute.
This budget mono laser printer is also wireless enabled (802.11b/g/n) and also provides access to Google Cloud or Apple AirPrint. You can even use your mobile device to print a variety of content through the Samsung Mobile Print App or NFC.
The paper tray can take 150 sheets of A4 paper and prints up to 1200 x 1200 dpi. It fits into any small office space with a foot print of only H17.8 x W33.1 x D21.5cm and comes in at a very light 4 kg.
This budget laser printer uses the Samsung MLT-D111S toner.
SAMSUNG’S RRP is 90.00 inc VAT but online deals can be found for as little as 69.99 inc VAT.
Pros: A robust small business a4 laser printer
Cons: Mono only
Cost Per Page: For more information on printing costs and toner options visit – Samsung SL-ML2026 toner cartridges
Price Check: Check the current price on Amazon
Brother HL-3140CW A4 Colour LED Printer
The HL-3140CW is Brother’s smallest ever colour LED printer but don’t be fooled this is a fantastic budget colour laser for the home or small business office. It first appeard in 2013 and has remained a firm favourite ever since! You can print directly from your mobile device with Apple AirPrint or Google Cloud Print services or use your own wireless network and connect via the inbuilt secure 802.11n wireless card.
This Brother Colour LED printer incorporate separate toners and drums and also complies with the Energy Star environmental standard, ensuring low noise levels, low energy consumption and a recycle-friendly design. Small office friendly dimensions: 410 (W) X 465 (D) X 240 (H) mm and a weight of 17.4 kg mean this colour A4 led printer will be right at home in your office environment.
This budget led printer uses the Brother TN241 and TN245 ranges of toners and prints 2400 x 600 dpi.
BROTHER’S RRP is 199.00 inc VAT but online deals can be found for as little as 149.99 inc VAT.
Pros: A solid performing A4 colour led printer
Cons: You have to reinstall drivers if upgrading to Windows 10. No automatic duplex.
Cost Per Page: For more information on printing costs and toner options visit – Brother HL-3140CW toner cartridges
Price Check: Check the current price on Amazon