Best all-in-one printers that are compact and space-saving

All-in-one printers are a must-have in any home or small office setting. While most can get by with a basic printer, having the ability to print, scan, and copy at your convenience can be much more efficient when you regularly deal with a lot of documents.

Features to look out for include mobile printing support for added convenience, a simple interface for scanning and copying documents, and wireless printing support. More advanced users should also look for automatic document feeders that can handle multiple pages as well as auto duplex for automatically printing on both sides of a document. Here are some of the top options to consider.

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1. HP DeskJet 2820 all-in-one inkjet printer

Inkjets are great when you don’t print that often but need high-quality prints. The HP DeskJet 2820, which you can get for Rs 5,399 on Croma, has a monthly duty cycle of 1000 pages and can print at a rate of seven and a half pages per minute in black and white. It’s a great entry-level option with all the features that a home office needs, including a scanner, mobile printing support, wireless printing, and more. However, do bear in mind that the ink cartridges are expensive, and running costs will add up if you start printing a lot.

2. Canon Pixma E4570 all-in-one inkjet printer

For something more advanced, consider the Pixma E4570 from Canon. It’s also an inkjet printer, but it’s designed to be more efficient and has a higher duty cycle of 1200 pages per month. Cost per page for black and white prints can drop to as low as Rs 1.8 per page with the right settings.

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The main reason you’ll want to spend Rs 8,779 on this printer is to take advantage of its auto-duplex printing function and an automatic document feeder for scanning documents in bulk.

3. HP Smart Tank 585 all-in-one ink tank printer

A step up from inkjets is the ink tank printer. These printers also spray ink on paper when printing, but instead of a cartridge, they rely on cheaper liquid ink refills. Ink tank printers like the HP Smart Tank 585 handle a much higher volume of printing — 3000 pages per month in this case — at a much lower cost. The initial investment is high; the HP 585 costs Rs 13,499, but running costs are lower in the long run, especially if your requirements for printing are higher. The 585 can also print at a faster 12 pages per minute.

4. Epson EcoTank L4260 all-in-one ink tank printer

The L4260 is quite expensive at Rs 20,899, but it’s easily one of the best all-in-one printers for a small office setup. It uses ink tank technology that reduces cost in the long run, which comes down to Rs 0.07 per page cost per print. Even colour pages are dirt cheap, costing just Rs 0.18 per page to print.

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The printer is fast, managing 33 pages per minute in black and white, and includes advanced features like auto duplex, WiFi connectivity, and more.

5. HP Laser MFP 1188FNW all-in-one laser printer

If you’re looking at the lowest cost per page and the highest duty cycle (i.e. you need to print thousands of pages a month), your best bet is a good all-in-one laser printer like the HP LaserMFP 1188FNW. This printer is very compact for its capabilities, offering 10,000 pages per month at 20 pages per minute. The output tray is suitably large at 100 pages, there’s a 40-page automatic document feeder for hands-free scanning and copying, and performance is best in class. For Rs 20,999, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more useful printer for a small or medium-sized office.

Investing in a good, hassle-free all-in-one printer is quite important for a home or small office setup. Despite extensive digitisation, printing and scanning documents is still a requirement in many businesses, and a fast, reliable printer and scanner combo will make your life much easier. If the above selection doesn’t meet your requirements, head to croma.com and talk to our experts to get advice on a printer that’s more suited to your needs.