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Best Ink-Saving Printers - 2012

by Sabina Cao

April 27, 2012

Cheap printers may seem like a good idea, but they aren’t always the cheapest option in the long run.

If you go to Walmart or Best Buy, you’ll see shelves lined with $20 printers that are easy to install and seemingly perfect for your budget – and it will be for some time. But when the ink finally runs out, the costs of replacing printer ink cartridges might have you running back to the store for a brand-new printer with half-filled cartridges.

The printers highlighted in dark blue are our top of the top picks. Read more about the Top 4 Printers of 2012.

Avoid the waste and buy one of these ink-saving printers:

Printer Model Cartridge Model Cost of OEM ink per page (black) Cost of OEM ink per page (color) Cost of 3rd party ink per page (black) Cost of 3rd party ink per page (color) Price Of Printer Features

For Occasional Users (<10 pages per week):

Lexmark Pinnacle Pro 901	105XL / 100XL	$0.0098	$0.035	$0.02	$0.017	$299.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax. $4.99 for blk XL cartridge.
Lexmark Pro 715	155XL / 150XL	$0.024	$0.043	N/A	N/A	$119.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax. 2.4” color LCD display.
Kodak Hero 9.1	10 Series	$0.026	$0.047	$0.012	$0.029	$179.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax

For Heavy Users (100+ pages per week):

Kodak Hero 6.1	10 Series	$0.026	$0.047	$0.012	$0.029	$129.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax. 200-sheet capacity.
Kodak Hero 7.1	10 Series	$0.026	$0.047	$0.012	$0.029	$149.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax. 3.5” color LCD touchscreen.
Epson Workforce 845	#126	$0.049	$0.036	$0.031	$0.023	$199.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax. 500-sheet capacity.

For Heavy Users (100+ pages a week):

Epson Workforce Pro WP-4020	676XL	$0.016	$0.02	N/A	N/A	$99.99	Wireless duplex* printer/scanner/copier/fax. Built-in ADF** and networking.
Epson Workforce Pro WP-4540	676XL	$0.016	$0.02	N/A	N/A	$279.99	Wireless printer/scanner/copier/fax with dual 500-sheet capacity paper trays.
HP OfficeJet Pro 8600	HP 950 / HP 951	$0.016	$0.019	N/A	N/A	$149.99	Wireless duplex* printer/copier/scanner/fax. Up to 18 ppm^ (black)/13 ppm^ (color).

For Printing Photos:

HP Photosmart 7510	HP 564XL	$0.024	$0.024	N/A	N/A	$149.99	Home photo printer.
Canon Pixma iP4920	PGI-225 / CLI-226	$0.047	$0.028	$0.023	$0.016	$89.99	Small wireless photo printer with built-in ADP** and 2-way paper feeding.
Canon Pixma MG8220	PCI-225 / CLI-226	$0.047	$0.028	$0.023	$0.016	$299.99	Wireless premier photo printer with 9600 x 2400 maximum color dpi and borderless printing.

*Duplex- Functions with duplex can utilize both sides of the page.

**ADF or Automatic Document Feeder- Multiple pages can be scanned or copied without having to manually enter them into the machine.

^ppm or Pages per Minute-Measurement of printing speed.