Is it fair to say that printers are a necessary evil? Wirecutter and Reddit agree that printers just…kind of suck. Many of them are slow, loud and bulky, and if you’re not a business owner or student who’s constantly printing, you may not think you need to own one…until that one extremely important document or photo needs to be printed and you’re left scrambling to find the closest FedEx or library that will let you use their printer. As someone who dealt with that just a few months ago, hear me out: Even printer haters should have one in their home offices.
It’s a purchase that can prevent major logistical headaches, whether you use it daily or only on occasion. Though it’s true that the market for good printers is pretty limited on a budget, some are worth your money according to reviewers and reputable product testers. Don’t worry; you don’t have to fork over more than $200 for any of the ones we found.