Working out of a virtual office gives you a lot of advantages, including the ability to choose where you work for the day. While we may imagine that will often be a coffee shop or on the pool deck, the truth is, it often means from our house or apartment.
Home office layouts tend to try to minimize the amount of equipment taking up space. And, if we’re being honest, we often try to keep our expenses down too. One piece of office equipment we typically need is a printer. Even if we don’t use it a lot, when you need a printer, you need a printer. Fortunately, most of them now are multifunction machines that also incorporate a scanner as well, another very useful tool. Let’s look at a few different options that have been highly rated.
Epson Expression Home XP-4100
ZDNet recently rated the Epson Expression Home XP-4100 as their best budget printer and when you look at the features, it’s easy to see why. This compact inkjet printer will work with your smartphone, PC, or laptop. It is Wi-Fi compatible and boasts a 100-page tray and the option for two-sided printing. If that wasn’t enough, the XP-4100 even has voice-activated printing. The reviewers did mention 2 possible drawbacks. The machine does not have an automatic document feeder and it uses only Epson ink cartridges. Coming in at a price point of around $100, this budget machine merits some consideration.
Canon Pixma TS6420
When PC Magazine tested budget printers for photo quality, their pick was the Canon Pixma TS6420. This inkjet all-in-one machine does not have an automatic document feeder, so if scanning is one of your big uses, it may not be a great choice. However, if you print photos, this machine does provide good-quality prints. It connects to most smartphones and other mobile devices as well as to PCs via Wi-Fi or USB. The machine can also utilize spoken commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assistant.
HP Envy Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer
Laptop Magazine calls the HP Envy Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer “A fantastic home office tool for the whole family.” While a bit bulkier than some of the other machines on this list, the HP Envy Inspire 7955e won over reviewers with its versatility. They cited the crispness of the text printing and the vividness of the photo printing as both being excellent. This machine, which sells for around the $200 mark, also features a quiet operation mode.
HP ENVY 6055 Wireless All-in-One Printer
Similar to the Inspire above, the HP ENVY 6055 Wireless All-in-One Printer is a full-feature all-in-one machine that can do double duty for family needs as well. Connectivity is via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or USB. You can also do cloud printing with the HP Smart app, a plus for those working in a virtual office environment. It also allows you to integrate other services like Google Drive and Dropbox. Even if you’re on the go, your home office can work for you. The reviewers appreciated the simplicity of the setup. This all-in-one runs around $220.
HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer
Of all the budget printers that ZDNet tested, the HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer was the one they selected as the overall pick. This compact and stylish inkjet is a great choice for virtual office and home office use. It has cloud printing abilities that work with popular services like iCloud, Dropbox, and Google Drive. It also boasts Wi-Fi and AirPrint capabilities. This Energy Star-certified machine is eligible for HP Instant Ink auto-delivery and is compatible with HP High-Yield Cartridges to stretch your dollar. The missing feature that may make a difference to some users is the lack of a flatbed scanner. Still, for $100 or less, this is a budget-friendly option.
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