Best 5 printers

(Updated February 9, 2012 8:45 AM PST)
Justin Yu
Justin Yu
Associate Editor
More often than anything else, we get the question, "What's the best printer for me?" It's a tough question to answer, because it all depends on what you want to do with your printer. Whether you want a high-quality printer, an all-in-one workhorse, a compact photo printer, or a simple single-function inkjet, we've got you covered. We've picked the five printers, across all categories, with the highest CNET rating from the past calendar year to satisfy your curiosity. If you're interested in specific categories, check out our top products lists on the left.

Epson WorkForce 845 All-in-One Printer

Though it's slightly more expensive than competing inkjet workhorses, we recommend the Epson WorkForce 845 for its refined design and Epson's Connect cloud-printing portfolio.

Price: $179.95 (check prices)

4 stars

Excellent

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Epson WorkForce 845 All-in-One Printer

Lexmark Prevail Pro705

The Prevail Pro705 is Lexmark's all-purpose office machine and we recommend it for home offices or small workgroups; just don't expect it to print out high-quality graphics or high-resolution photos.

Price: $167.85 - $223.01 (check prices)

4 stars

Excellent

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Lexmark Prevail Pro705

Epson Stylus NX430 Small-in-One All-in-One Printer

The Epson NX430 "Small-in-One" printer is a solid investment for students and office jockeys who print high-quality photos and documents but don't have the space for a large format device.

Price: $76.99 - $119.00 (check prices)

4 stars

Excellent

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Epson Stylus NX430 Small-in-One All-in-One Printer

HP LaserJet Pro P1606dn

Fast, cheap, and compact, the HP LaserJet Pro P1606dn offers a winning combination of value and performance for home offices or small businesses in need of a monochrome laser printer.

Price: $159.99 - $252.00 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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HP LaserJet Pro P1606dn

HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP

The HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf is the company's cheapest monochrome multifunction laser printer. For the money, it earns our recommendation for its Smart Install feature and excellent value.

Price: $149.95 - $268.99 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP

Brother HL-2270DW

With improvements to its output speed, the Brother HL-2270DW improves on its legacy model and provides small businesses an efficient output device for high-volume black-and-white prints.

Price: $99.98 - $167.20 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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Brother HL-2270DW