How we test
We asked manufacturers to give us two types of printer: high-quality colour inkjets aimed at the more advanced home user, and professional laser or inkjet models designed for small-business or workgroup use. We configured each printer to work on an 802.11n or Gigabit Ethernet network, connected to a Windows 10 laptop in the same room. We used 80gsm office paper for general testing purposes and 150gsm glossy photo paper for photo prints.
We ran each printer through a barrage of timed tests, including a five-page colour report, a 20-page monochrome text document, and a full-colour A4 photomontage. We also timed office printers for their speed when printing duplex, and recorded the time taken for a single-page office document to emerge. For printers with a scanner attached, we timed the speed at which it could scan a full-colour A4 page.
With the tests completed, we painstakingly compared the output from each printer to assess quality, looking at the clarity and definition of black text, its ability to deliver smooth colour blocks, subtle tints and graduations in business graphics, as well as its ability to produce convincing photo prints without also compromising colour, dynamic range and detail, both on plain paper and glossy media. Finally, we spent time trying out specific features and seeing how the printers worked with cloud services and the manufacturer’s mobile apps.