Roundup: Budget all-in-one printers
Clockwise (from top): The Epson ME Office 535, HP Deskjet 3070A and Canon PIXMA MG2170.
We've rounded up three models that were recently launched--the Epson ME Office 535, Canon Pixma MG2170 and HP Deskjet 3070A--for a quick comparison. We also highlight the specs that really matter when shopping for an AIO.
If you like small packages, these AIOs can print, scan and copy--while taking up less space on your table. If you live in a city--where space is generally limited--a more compact printer may be ideal for households and small office/home office (SOHO) users.
Here are five things to look out for when buying an AIO:
Long term costs: AIOs may be relatively affordable now, but there are extra costs to consider. You'll definitely be spending on ink cartridges and photo paper in the long run, and some of these expendables don't come cheap.
Power consumption: If you are using the printer in a SOHO setting, it is likely to be left on for longer periods, compared with a household scenario. Hence, it may be a good idea to look at how much electricity it consumes, even in standby mode.
Ink cartridge: It may be more economical (and environmentally-friendly) to have three single-color ink cartridges rather than one, as you can simply replace the empty cartridge.
Special features: Additional features such as Wi-Fi capability and dedicated apps may give you more bang for your buck. For example, some of HP's printers come with features such as ePrint, which allow users to print a document simply by sending an email to an AIO's designated address.
Warranty: As you are likely to be using the device for at least two years, do make sure that you check the warranty. An on-site warranty saves you the hassle of having to bring the printer to a service center should it require repairs.
A final note: You may have realized that printing speeds are measured differently across brands. Some use the pages per minute (ppm) standard of measurement, while others use images per minute (ipm). Additionally manufacturers such as Epson use the draft quality setting when measuring printing speeds. Whatever the case, do use these specs as a guide; performance will depend on what you use your AIO for. Printing speeds and maximum print resolution are two specs that are comparable across models in a price range.
| Key specs | Epson ME Office 535 | Canon Pixma MG2170 | HP Deskjet 3070A |
| Card slot | SD/MMC | No | No |
| Display | 1.44-inch | No | 2-inch |
| Special features | Optical character recognition software | Full-HD Movie Print | ePrint; AirPrint; Connect to Wi-Fi automatically |
| A4 plain paper handling capacity (sheets) | 100 | 100 | 80 |
| Number of ink cartridges | 4 (1 black, 1 cyan, 1 magenta, 1 yellow) | 2 (1 color, 1 tri-color) | 4 (1 black, 1 cyan, 1 magenta, 1 yellow) |
| Price per cartridge (S$) | 11.50 (black)
14.00 (color) |
23 (black)
34.50 (color) |
17.00 (black)
14.00 (color) |
| Page yield per black cartridge | 235 | 300 | 250 |
| Energy Star qualification | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power consumption | 13W (Active)
5.5W (Standby) |
11W (Active)
0.7W (Standby) |
14.9W (Active)
2.6W (Standby) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 390 x 300 x 145 | 449 x 304 x 152 | 436 x 301 x 146 |
| Warranty | One year (carry-in) | Two years (first year on-site, second year carry-in) | One year (on-site exchange) |
| Price | S$148 | S$139 | S$149 |
In conclusion, while the HP AIO may have features typically found on more expensive models, the Epson could be more economical in the long run--especially if you do a lot of monochrome printing and don't mind the draft quality option.
About the author
Jacqueline Seng is a presenter/writer for CNET Asia, focusing on mobile phones. Her induction into the world of IT involved typing out stories on a computer in kindergarten--not that much has changed. The only girl on the editorial team (for now), she is also an avid potato chip connoisseur, heist movie enthusiast and indie/hiphop music aficionado.
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