What is the difference between a photocopier and a printer? Which one should you get? Why?
Today we’ll help you make the right choice for your household and finish the printer vs copier discussion once for all times.
Is a copier the same as a printer? Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to the differences between printers vs copiers.
Printer Vs Copier
The Cost
Why is printing more expensive than photocopying? If we’re discussing prices in different shops, printing is more costly due to different ink, the electricity that a computer might consume, as well as the cost of the device itself.
However, the price difference for a home, if we discuss copier vs printer cost for personal use, entirely depends on the devices that you compare.
Some printers are cheaper than copiers, and vice versa. If a device is eco-friendly and has refillable ink, using it will turn out to be cheaper over time.
So, if you’re looking to buy a printer or a copier and you’re worried about price, this has to be discussed for each product individually.
The Speed
Generally, copiers are faster than printers. They have fewer functionalities, which means that the ones they have are optimized, and there is less logical troubleshooting.
This can depend on the product as well, but overall, copiers are a better choice for speed.
Keep in mind that printers do not have a large memory, and their circuit board is smaller than the one copiers have. This is why copiers, devices with CPU and memory, usually do things faster as well.
The Lifetime
A multifunction printer often lasts shorter than a copier. Why? Because the higher number of features the higher chance something might go wrong.
Copiers are made for professional use, and they are usually made of more durable materials, which is why they can be costly as well.
The Goal
If you’re someone who is looking to print under 1000 pages per month, a multifunction printer is a better choice. Anything above that may require a copier for better, faster use.
Also, keep in mind that copiers do not have all the options you may need, ones that a multifunction printer could easily provide you with.
Naturally, think about whether you need to copy, print, fax, or scan. If you need anything more than copying, the choice becomes quite easy.
We advise you to check the specifications for each product you’re comparing, as it is possible that a copier also has the scanning function or a colour-printing one, depending on the advanced technology.
The Build
Multifunctional printers, when compared to copiers of similar specifications and prices, are usually heavier because they have more hardware. They have to do different things, and that is why they can be bulkier.
Copiers also typically have better build quality, as most of them are made for professional use.
The Use
Copiers are usually far less complicated to use, so keep this in mind if you’re someone who isn’t best with gadgets.
How To Choose The Right One?
Step 1 – Your Needs
When choosing between a printer vs copier machine, you should answer some of these questions first. Do I need to copy or also print, scan, or fax? What is my budget? How familiar am I with tech gadgets? How durable does this gadget need to be?
Step 2 – The Features
What features are essential for you? Duplex printing? Automatic document feeder? Bigger queue? A simple touchscreen interface? Do you need advanced options?
Try to make a list of all the important things that a device has to have, and this will make it much easier to eliminate products that aren’t practical.
Step 3 – Comparisons
Pick an online shop and start your investigation. Both a printer and copier are easy to find and try to eliminate products with bad reviews as well.
In the end, you should have 3 or 4 devices, and then you can easily compare them and see which one is best for the price tag.
Final Thoughts
We hope that we helped with your printer vs photocopier discussion and that you will have an easier time finding the right product for your own needs.
