Best Scanners For College Students : Review And Buying Guide
Brandon Forder Apr 24, 2024 8:50 PM
Every student, from elementary school children to graduate students, needs access to a high-quality scanner, and they come in handy for anything from printing term papers to obtaining registration documentation. A scanner is a need in today's classrooms, whether you're looking for an excellent laser printer for students or the best inexpensive inkjet printer for color documents and images. These days, no student can do without a printer, whether for printing the current homework or printing out a copy of the professor's presentation to annotate.
Invest in a high-quality printer instead of making frequent trips to Kinko's or using the library's expensive per-page printing service. Having your own printer makes it much easier to meet deadlines when you need to turn in a paper, print a report, put together a project, or prepare a presentation.
Compare Products
- SCORE8.8
- BrandEpson
- Prime
- SCORE8.8
- BrandBrother
- Prime
- SCORE7.4
- BrandScanmarker
- Prime
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
Price
Most people will be concerned first and foremost with how much they can afford to spend on back-to-school supplies. Whether you're a student looking for a new printer for the dorm or a parent buying one for your child, you want a machine that can get the job done without breaking the bank.
There are several temptingly inexpensive inkjet printers out there (we include several under $100 on our top printer deals page), but we've found that those priced between $200 and $300 offer the best value for the money. If you settle for less, print quality could suffer, and you might end up spending more money in the long run on ink refills than you would have the first time around. In addition, even the cheapest laser printers can cost upwards of $250.
Laser vs. Inkjet
Even among the best multifunction printers, the upfront cost of a laser printer is less than that of an inkjet printer, but inkjet printers often have a lower cost per page. Text printed using a laser printer is of greater quality than that printed from an inkjet printer, with crisper lettering and fewer typos. One of the top laser printers may be worth the price if you plan on printing in bulk or if you simply want a more professional appearance for your printed materials. In contrast, inkjet printers excel in printing in color, making them ideal for printing photographs and other images. (See our piece "Inkjet vs. Laser: Which Printer Is Right for You?" to learn more about print technologies.)
Dimensions
For college students who may be adjusting to dorm life or who may be moving with each semester change, size is a major consideration. Even though some inkjet printers have scanning and copying capabilities built in, laser printers are typically much larger than inkjet printers. The finest portable printers include various small inkjet models, so you may buy something compact if that's what you're after; however, you'll have to sacrifice functionality and print quality to get that smaller size.
Costs per page
The next step is to figure out whether or not your printing needs are predominantly textual or visual. Printing crisp, detailed photos requires a high-resolution color printer that doesn't break the bank on ink. If you only need to print black and white text, you can save a lot of money on maintenance.
Extra Functions
It's impossible to predict what you'll need for your next college course. While campus computer centers are convenient, having the ability to print, scan, copy, and fax without leaving your room is ideal.
Space Considerations
You should consider how much area your printer will take up in your dorm. Also, keep in mind that printers have trays that protrude from the top, bottom, and sometimes even the sides. Space awareness is as crucial as practicality.
Use case
Consider your unique printing requirements and select a device accordingly. A laser printer is a great choice if you print a lot of papers and essays for school because of its speed and affordable printing costs. If you're in school for art or photography, you should look at getting one of the top photo printers, which offer more sophisticated printing options like a larger number of inks, broader symbol support for different sorts of paper, and high quality picture printing.
Wireless Connectivity and Versatility
When it comes to printing, flexibility is crucial for students in terms of both convenience and productivity. When looking for a printer, it's important to get one that works well with your current setup so you don't have to make any major adjustments. Seek out a well-connected printer if you consider yourself a well-connected person. To print swiftly and efficiently, you should look for a printer that fits in with your current printing habits.
Ink Replacement
All the major printer manufacturers now offer tools that let customers know exactly when ink is low and make it simple to order new cartridges. Try different approaches until you find one that fits your needs. If you don't, you can end up with an inconvenient printer that you never want to use again due of the ink cartridges. Find a printer that allows you to set it and forget it with an automated ink replenishment subscription. Know what needs to be replaced, too. To print in such incredible detail, some models require as many as six separate ink cartridges. When deciding on a printer, it's crucial to think about both the upfront cost and the ongoing expense of buying replacement ink.
What is DPI?
Dots per inch (DPI) is a common measurement of print resolution. The higher the dpi, the more closely spaced the dots are and the greater the clarity of your printing. The greater the number, the better.
What are the advantages of laser printers versus inkjets?
Instead of using liquid ink, laser printers employ a powdery substance called toner. While compared to ink, toner typically results in a lower cost per page when printing. As a result, you can go longer between buying new toner cartridges. However, color laser printers are far more expensive than their black and white counterparts, which are priced comparably to inkjets.
Does a college student need a printer?
College students still require access to a printer in order to satisfy the responsibilities of modern student life, despite the prevalence of digital media. Printed assignments, like term papers, are required to be turned in to professors. Aside from the necessity to use student services and participate in extracurricular activities, many students find themselves scanning and printing various forms of documentation.
Which printer has the cheapest ink?
All of the models we considered for this roundup of the Best Printer for Students have reasonable prices for additional ink cartridges. All of the above printers have readily available replacement parts that can be obtained from major retailers both in-store and online. Depending on your print volume, several also provide ink replacement subscription plans.
Photo printers can be as little as a smartphone and as large as a desktop computer. We evaluate the type and quantity of dye/pigment inks to ensure they are suitable for a wide variety of activities, from printing office documents to high-end photographic output. A card reader slot, Wi-Fi, direct faxing, and a built-in scanner are all useful extras.
These guidelines will help you select the finest scanners available to students today.
Happy shopping!
