However compact a printer is, it remains a relatively large device. Especially when it comes to an all-in-one printer. It is therefore nice if you can place the device where you want, so that it is out of sight, for example, or in a place where everyone can reach it undisturbed. We test ten all-in-one printers that you can connect to the network thanks to Wi-Fi and place anywhere in the house.
The top 3 best all-in-one printers of the moment
Placing a printer where you want sounds nice, but in practice you have to connect the printer to your computer(s). Printers that only have a USB connection will have to be placed close to a PC, or everyone will have to go to the printer very clumsily with their notebook to print. With a network printer you are already a lot more flexible, although you will have to get a network cable to the printer. A powerline adapter may be a solution if you already have a great printer. However, the most convenient solution if you want to buy a new printer is one that is equipped with a WiFi module. You register the printer on your wireless network just like a notebook, and the printer can then be used by all computers connected to the network. Of course, you can now place the printer anywhere your wireless network has range.
Selection
We have made a selection of ten models. The similarity is that they are all all-in-one printers with a WiFi module. However, there are important differences, because the test field contains both inkjet and laser printers. One model can even print in A3. Six models feature a sheet feeder, so you can automatically scan or copy a stack of paper. Because the tested products are very diverse, this also applies to the street prices. The cheapest printer costs about 125 euros, while the most expensive one has to pay 452 euros. When handing out the quality marks, we therefore paid little attention to the purchase price, especially in view of print quality and striking options. The street prices mentioned in the article are based on average prices of various stores at the time of writing this article. In addition to the purchase price, the printing costs are of course also important. We calculated the cost per page for each printer based on the manufacturer's stated capacity of the toner or ink cartridges at five percent coverage. When calculating the price for a color print, we only assumed the basic colors cyan, magenta and yellow. We have included any additional photo colors separately in the cost price calculation. We also included the costs of the paper itself in the printing costs and charged one cent per print for this.
Test procedure
The ten printers have undergone the same test procedure. We have all included the printers in the same wireless network and we have not encountered any problems. Connecting a wireless printer is therefore no problem. Of course we have paid attention to the appearance and ease of use (such as the layout of the buttons on the control panel) of the printers. We measured the print speed for one page as well as for a document consisting of ten pages. We also measured how much time it takes to print an A4 photo. Other speeds we are interested in are the scan speeds and copy speeds. We used various documents and images to assess print quality, paying attention to colour, sharpness and text rendering. Finally, we measured the power consumption during use and at rest.
What is WPS?
Before you can print with a wireless printer, you must first connect it to your wireless network. If you are not able to complete the configuration wired first, you will immediately have to create a link with the WiFi network. Entering a long (and secure) password isn't always fun, even on a touchscreen. Fortunately, there is WPS, which is supported on most wireless printers. WPS is an abbreviation for Wi-Fi Protected Setup. In short, all devices that bear the WPS logo must meet a number of requirements to easily secure a wireless connection with encryption. Routers with WPS are usually equipped with a button for this, which we also find on some printers. Otherwise you will have to search for WPS in the menu. By pressing the buttons on both the router and the printer or activating WPS, the devices exchange an encryption key and secure the wireless connection without further intervention. Handy, then, only your router must support WPS, and in practice WPS does not always work smoothly. All tested printers can handle WPS.
