Here at the Strategist UK, we like to think of ourselves as obsessive (in the best way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing ones. (You can learn more about our rating system and how we pick each item here.)
While we’ve written about all kinds of home office essentials before — including the best coffee makers and the best pens — here, we’ve rounded up the best printers, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.co.uk.
Best-rated overall printer
This LaserJet printer by HP has 71 percent five-star reviews, and though it has less technical features than others, many customers liked how simple and easy to use it was. Due to its neat size, 20 customers recommended it for a home office, including someone who had to hastily assemble a home office after being stuck at home during lockdown. One customer said they’d never go back to an inkjet printer after using this LaserJet model, citing the ink printer’s tendency to dry out if used infrequently. Eighty-eight reviewers said it was easy to set up and install (but many noted that this model doesn’t come with a USB cable), and though the print quality was mentioned in 47 reviewers, many pointed out that this simpler model is best for black and white only, not colour. One reviewer even said that it’s best for casual use, as it can tend to get overwhelmed printing more than 20 pages at a time. Twenty-three customers also said it offered excellent value for money.
Best-rated inkjet printer
One hundred and twenty-seven reviews said this printer was simple to set up — the digital screen offers prompts and guides, which several people said couldn’t have been any simpler. One hundred and two customers said it offered good quality, from a small-business owner who printed up to 500 documents a month, to a student who only needed to use it once a week. Forty-nine reviewers also mentioned the scanner functionality, which was described as quick and seamless — one customer noted it wasn’t photocopier-fast, but still managed to scan in under 30 seconds. Using the Epson iPrint app allows printing for mobile, which 20 customers spoke of positively in reviews. The biggest criticism of this printer, however, came from the cost of the cartridges; 166 negative reviews mentioned this as the reason they weren’t happy with it.
Best-rated all-in-one LaserJet printer
This printer has 71 percent five-star reviews and, according to one customer, it was the first printer they have set up without swearing profusely. Others agreed; a total of 104 reviewers noted the effortless setup with this model. This laserjet printer can also scan and fax, and is compatible with mobiles and tablets — one happy couple said they could send documents to print from their iPad and MacBook respectively, and there was no lag time whatsoever. This printer’s touchscreen capabilities were also mentioned by one customer, who said installing it, setting up wireless printing, and even replacing the paper in the in-tray was really easy. One customer did say the touchscreen, while helpful, could be bigger, especially to make it easy to use for the elderly. Twnety-five reviewers also mentioned how fast and efficient the double-sided scanning was, with one teacher saying lesson prep took half the time it usually did.
Best-rated portable printer
With 80 percent five-star reviews, this HP OfficeJet printer is the best-rated portable option. Twenty-five reviewers loved how easy it was to take on the go, including a manager who kept it in his car, but a lot of people chose this option because of its neat size. One reviewer, who was looking for a printer for his home office that wouldn’t take over his desk, said it was quiet when printing, and perfectly compact when not in use, and, due to the portability, it was easy to take to another room to print something out. Another reviewer, giving it five stars, called it a powerful little workhorse. The printer also includes a flatbed scanner, and has smartphone connectivity. Twenty-three reviewers mentioned how good the print quality was, including a mechanic who used it to print diagnostic reports and an amateur photographer who framed their photos after printing them from this device.
Best-rated photo printer
HP’s photo printer, which also features scanner and copier capabilities, has 72 percent five-star reviews. One hundred and thirty-three customers spoke highly of the printing capabilities, calling it fast, quiet, and quick, while an additional 85 customers were impressed by the photo quality, too. These included one man who said the photos were good enough quality to put straight into a frame. Seventy-five customers also liked the smartphone connectivity, which allows for items to be printed via the HP app.
Best-rated stylish printer
While most printers aren’t designed with aesthetics in mind, this HP printer, with 64 percent five-star reviews, was highly rated by customers looking for something more stylish. According to one five-star review, this was hands-down the most elegant-looking printer out there, while another said they couldn’t believe how excited they got whenever they saw it in their office. The clean lines and minimalist look was highlighted by several reviewers, with the LED lights and white glow causing one customer to call it the perfect companion to their MacBook. The printer made mass-printing Christmas cards very easy, as the Alexa-enabled voice activation meant one customer could issue commands while wrapping presents. Twenty-two customers commented on the excellent print quality — one even said their photos are as good as if they’d been done professionally.
Another printer we like
This photo printer first came on our radar when Strategist writer Karen Iorio Adelson wrote about it on our U.S. sister site. The USB-rechargeable printer (which is about the size of a stout iPhone) connects to your phone via an app, and lets you add borders, text, or other graphic embellishments before letting you print it out on a credit-card-size sticky-backed piece of photo paper. “Now my phone isn’t where my photos go to die; it’s the print-worthy camera I always have on me,” she writes.
The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.