Imagine this: your kid needs a last-minute school report printed, but the printer cable is lost somewhere in the abyss of cords under your desk. Or maybe you’re trying to print a recipe from your tablet while cooking, but have to walk all the way to your computer first. Sound familiar? These little frustrations are a thing of the past with a wireless printer for your home.
Choosing the perfect wireless printer can feel like navigating a maze. There are so many types, features, and price points! You want something that’s easy to use, prints well, and doesn’t break the bank. But with all the jargon and endless choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to even start.
This guide is here to clear the confusion. We’ll break down what makes a wireless printer great for your home and help you understand the important features. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for to find a printer that makes your life easier, not harder. Let’s dive in and find your perfect printing partner!
Our Top 5 Wireless Printer Home Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Wireless Printer Home Detailed Reviews
1. HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Rating: 9.2/10
The HP DeskJet 2855e is a wireless all-in-one printer that handles color printing, scanning, and copying. It’s built for home use, perfect for printing lists, letters, and recipes. You get 3 months of HP Instant Ink included, which saves you money and hassle. This printer connects easily with reliable Wi-Fi. You can even print and scan from your smartphone using the HP app.
What We Like:
- It’s from America’s most trusted printer brand, so you know it’s reliable.
- Printing speeds are decent for home use, up to 5.5 pages per minute in color and 7.5 in black.
- It has a handy 60-sheet input tray for your printing needs.
- The Wi-Fi connection is very dependable and fixes itself if there are problems.
- The HP app makes it super easy to print, scan, and copy right from your phone.
- You get 3 months of HP Instant Ink, which means you won’t run out of ink quickly.
What Could Be Improved:
- Print speeds are not the fastest compared to more expensive printers.
- It only has single-band Wi-Fi connectivity.
For everyday home printing needs, the HP DeskJet 2855e is a solid and convenient choice. It makes printing and managing documents from your phone a breeze.
2. Brother Work Smart 1360 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Automatic Duplex Printing and 1.8” Color Display
Rating: 8.9/10
The Brother Work Smart 1360 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer is a fantastic choice for anyone needing a reliable printer for their home or small home office. It handles all your printing, copying, and scanning needs in one neat package, producing sharp, colorful prints that make your documents and photos pop.
What We Like:
- It’s super easy to use, even for beginners.
- You can print straight from your favorite cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox using the simple color screen.
- Automatic two-sided printing saves paper and time.
- The 20-sheet automatic document feeder makes scanning and copying long documents a breeze.
- It prints pretty fast, up to 16 pages per minute in black and 9 in color.
- You have lots of ways to connect: wirelessly or with a USB cable.
- The Brother Mobile Connect app lets you control everything from your phone, including checking your ink levels so you don’t run out unexpectedly.
What Could Be Improved:
- The 1.8-inch color display is functional but could be larger for easier navigation.
- While it includes a Refresh Subscription Trial, the long-term cost of LC501 series inks might be a consideration for heavy users.
This printer is built to make your work life simpler and more productive. It’s a solid all-in-one solution that keeps up with your busy schedule.
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
Rating: 8.7/10
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer is a fantastic choice for your home or small office. It handles all your printing, scanning, and copying needs with ease. This printer is from a trusted brand and is built for quality color documents like reports and flyers.
What We Like:
- It prints quickly, up to 20 pages per minute in black and 10 pages per minute in color.
- You get upgraded features like automatic two-sided printing and a handy auto document feeder.
- Wireless printing is super reliable with dual-band Wi-Fi that fixes connection problems.
- The HP app lets you print, scan, copy, or fax right from your smartphone.
- You get 6 months of free ink with HP+ (after that, a subscription fee applies unless you cancel).
- A big 2.7-inch touchscreen makes it easy to navigate.
- HP Wolf Essential Security helps protect your data and network from online threats.
- It’s made with over 45% recycled plastic, which is good for the environment.
What Could Be Improved:
- The printer is designed to only work with HP cartridges, so you can’t use other brands.
This printer is a solid all-around performer for anyone needing a reliable and feature-rich printing solution. It’s a smart investment for your home office.
4. Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer (6671C022)
Rating: 8.8/10
The Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer (6671C022) is a handy little machine that can do a lot. It helps you print, copy, and scan. It’s great for home or a small office.
What We Like:
- It’s an all-in-one printer: You can print, copy, and scan all from one device.
- Fast printing speeds: It prints about 7.7 black pages or 4 color pages every minute.
- Easy to set up: You can get it working in just a few minutes.
- Simple ink installation: It uses only two ink cartridges that are easy to swap out.
- Clear LCD screen: A 1.5-inch screen helps you control it easily.
- Strong Wi-Fi connection: It connects reliably using Dual Band Wi-Fi.
- Wireless printing is simple: You can set up Wi-Fi without a computer.
- Print from your phone: Use the Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint, or Mopria to print from your phone or tablet. It also works with Chromebooks.
- Prints on different paper types: You can print photos, envelopes, and even banners. It prints square photos and borderless photos up to 5×7 inches.
- One-year warranty: You get a year of peace of mind with the warranty.
What Could Be Improved:
- Only single-sided printing: This printer can only print on one side of the paper at a time.
The Canon PIXMA TS3720 is a good choice for most home printing needs. It offers good features for its price.
5. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
Rating: 9.5/10
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is a versatile wireless printer designed for busy homes. It handles all your printing, copying, scanning, and faxing needs with ease. This black all-in-one printer is compact and packed with features that make everyday tasks simpler.
What We Like:
- It’s a true 4-in-1: print, copy, scan, and fax all from one device.
- The Auto Document Feeder (ADF) lets you scan or copy multiple pages quickly.
- You can print from your phone or tablet using mobile printing.
- The printer automatically prints on both sides of the paper, saving you time and paper.
- It produces nice-looking documents and photos, even borderless prints.
- Setting up and changing ink cartridges is super easy.
- It’s ENERGY STAR certified, which means it uses less energy.
- Smart reordering with Alexa means you’ll never run out of ink. Alexa can even reorder it for you from Amazon.
- It comes with a 1-year limited warranty for peace of mind.
What Could Be Improved:
- The print speed is a bit slow compared to some other printers.
- It only has a 100-sheet paper capacity, which might require frequent refilling for heavy use.
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is a solid choice for home use, especially if you value convenience and smart features. Its ability to connect with Alexa for ink management is a standout benefit.
Your Guide to a Wireless Printer for Home
Getting a printer for your home can make life easier. You can print homework, photos, or important documents right from your computer or phone. Wireless printers are super convenient because you don’t need messy cords. This guide will help you pick the best one.
Why Go Wireless?
Wireless printers connect to your home’s Wi-Fi. This means you can print from almost anywhere in your house. You can print from your laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone. It’s like magic for your paperwork!
Key Features to Look For
Print Quality
The most important thing is how good the printed pages look. For text, you want crisp, clear letters. For photos, you want bright colors and sharp details. Look for printers that mention high resolution (measured in DPI – dots per inch). A higher DPI means a sharper picture.
Speed
How fast does the printer print? This is measured in pages per minute (PPM). If you print a lot, a faster printer saves you time. For occasional printing, speed might not be as important.
Connectivity Options
Wi-Fi is a must for wireless. But some printers also have Bluetooth, which lets you connect directly from your device without Wi-Fi. Some even have USB ports if you ever need to connect with a cord.
Ink or Toner
Printers use either ink cartridges or toner. Inkjet printers use liquid ink and are good for photos. Laser printers use toner powder and are great for lots of text documents. Think about what you print most.
All-in-One Capabilities
Many wireless printers can also scan and copy. This is really handy! An all-in-one printer saves space and money compared to buying separate machines.
Materials and What They Mean
Most printers are made of strong plastic. This keeps them light and affordable. The important parts inside, like the print heads or laser drums, are made of metal and special plastics. These parts are designed to last a long time.
What Makes a Printer Great (or Not So Great)?
Factors That Improve Quality:
- High Resolution (DPI): Sharper images and text.
- Good Ink/Toner: Quality ink or toner makes colors pop and text bold.
- Reliable Wi-Fi Connection: A strong signal means fewer printing errors.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- Low Resolution: Blurry or pixelated prints.
- Cheap Ink/Toner: Faded colors or smudged text.
- Weak Wi-Fi: Frequent connection drops and print failures.
- Plastic Parts That Wear Out Quickly: This can affect print quality over time.
User Experience and Use Cases
A good wireless printer is easy to set up. You should be able to connect it to your Wi-Fi network in just a few minutes. The software should be simple to use for printing and scanning.
Who Needs a Wireless Printer?
- Students: Print homework, research papers, and study guides.
- Families: Print school projects, recipes, and vacation photos.
- Home Offices: Print reports, invoices, and important documents.
- Hobbyists: Print craft patterns, art projects, and scrapbooking pages.
Imagine printing a recipe from your tablet while you’re in the kitchen, or printing a boarding pass from your phone as you get ready to leave for a trip. Wireless printers make these everyday tasks simple and quick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the easiest way to set up a wireless printer?
A: Most printers come with clear instructions. Usually, you plug it in, download an app or software on your device, and follow the on-screen steps to connect to your Wi-Fi.
Q: How much does ink or toner cost?
A: This changes a lot! Some printers have cheaper cartridges but use them faster. Others have more expensive cartridges that last longer. Check the estimated page yield for each cartridge.
Q: Can I print from my phone without an app?
A: Some phones and printers support direct printing through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without needing a special app.
Q: How do I know if a printer is good for photos?
A: Look for printers that mention photo printing or have multiple ink colors (like photo black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and sometimes light cyan and light magenta). Higher DPI is also important for photos.
Q: What is DPI?
A: DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It tells you how many tiny dots of ink the printer can put on one inch of paper. More dots mean a sharper, clearer picture.
Q: Do I need a special router for a wireless printer?
A: No, most home Wi-Fi routers will work fine. Just make sure your printer and your devices are on the same network.
Q: How often should I clean my printer?
A: Most printers have a cleaning cycle you can run through their settings or software. Do this if prints start looking faded or have lines.
Q: What if my printer isn’t printing?
A: First, check if it’s turned on and connected to Wi-Fi. Then, check your computer or phone to see if the document is stuck in the print queue. Restarting the printer and your device often helps.
Q: Can I print in black and white only?
A: Yes, almost all printers let you choose to print in black and white, even if they have color ink.
Q: Are wireless printers safe?
A: Yes, they use your home’s Wi-Fi network, which is usually protected by a password. Just like your other devices, it’s good to keep your Wi-Fi password strong.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.