Jun 27, 2020 Finding a Mac Compatible Printer. For a lot of Apple desktop and laptop users, having the best printer for Mac ensures the ability to print on demand. It is important to check the product beforehand to see if it is compatible with the operating system that is on your computer. Oct 18, 2016 Top 5 Best Printer for Mac Now that you know how to choose the right printer for your Mac, here are some models we think are among the best printers for Macs: #1. HP Officejet Pro 8600. We think that the HP Officejet Pro 8600 is a great all-in-one printer for home and small offices. With its versatile connectivity options and cloud printing.
Wouldn’t it be great if every device played nice with your MacBook? From mice to mics, there’s definitely a niche for products that will run nicely on your Mac while matching its speed, power, and overall performance.
So whether you’re making last-minute copies of a flyer, need a hardcopy of your midterm paper, or require pages of typed briefs, it’s time to find a printer that works with you rather than against you.
Instead of taking a trip to a local print shop saying: “Hey, I want to print something” and paying for the ridiculous fee, why not just buy a printer home or to your workplace? It saves you time and money in the long run.
In this buying guide, we’ll point out some of the printers that work best with MacBook Pro, and help you figure out which one is right for you.
Quick Summary
Need a brief overview of where to look? Here are a few quick recommendations:
- Want to print hundreds of pages and not slowing down anytime? Epson Expression ET-2650 EcoTank will last you for thousands and offers tank refills that will save you money while allowing you to print on a variety of page types and sizes.
- If you need something semi-portable but don’t plan to use it for anything beyond simply printing pages, the CANON PIXMA iP110 is a great bet because it’s small, light, and simple.
- Perfect if you just need a standard home printer, HP OfficeJet 5255 Wireless All-in-One Printer can print cleanly whether its a family photo or a multi-page report. It’s a great desktop companion and will work flawlessly with all your devices.
- Prefer a laser printer (for clarity and volume) over an inkjet one? You won’t go wrong with Brother Compact Monochrome Laser Printer, which has a built-in wireless and ethernet network and allows you to print up to 27 pages per minute.
Who Should Get This?
If you’re considering buying a printer, the most important thing to keep in mind is the necessity factor. If you work from home, in a coworking space, or otherwise unaffiliated location, having your own printer is clearly a must since you don’t have regular access to more traditional sources. However, if your workplace already offers plenty of printing options, a personal printer becomes a matter of convenience.
For example, if you tend to take work home, you may appreciate having the option to print away from the office. You might not be the only benefactor either if you have family members that would also appreciate the convenience of a home printer. However, if you’re a college student on a budget, it might be smarter to simply take the time to walk to the library when it’s time to submit papers each semester.
Buying a Printer for Your Mac: What to Consider in 2020?
Footprint
Desk space is a valuable commodity these days, so if yours is especially sparse it’s a good idea to make sure the printer you’re considering doesn’t take up too much. Many models are extremely compact, but always check dimensions to make sure it will fit in the space you have.
Connection
It’s the age of innovation, which means most printers won’t require a wired connection to print from your Mac. However, there’s more than one way to go wireless, so whether you’re a fan of Bluetooth or prefer WiFi you should keep in mind what options your printer of choice offers.
Capabilities
You’re cheating yourself if your printer can only print. And while fax may be a thing of the past, copying, scanning, and double-sided printing certainly isn’t. Don’t settle for a printer that doesn’t offer these capabilities, as you’ll find yourself frustrated in no time at all unless you’re sure you only need it to print and never anything more.
Inkjet or Laser
There are several different varieties of printers on the market that are primarily differentiated by the type of ink process they use. Inkjets are the most versatile, while lasers are a bit more expensive but better suited to high-volume workloads and the needs for greater clarity. It’s advised that you research beforehand which will work best for you, especially if you plan on printing photos. Learn more from this post by The Guardian for which one is more cost-effective.
The Best Printers for MacBook Pro in 2020: Our Picks
Please note: all the printers below are chosen based on the factors listed above, plus our own personal take. They are by no means intended to rank in this order.
1. Epson Expression Wireless Color All-in-One Printer with Scanner and Copier
With a seemingly endless ink supply, this all-in-one from Epson is sure to get the job done- no discoloration from lack of toner or inadequate ink is anywhere in the near future. With support for printing, scanning, and copying you’ll be more than prepared to take on any office task.
Pros:
- Can produce several thousand pages before every needing an ink refill, photo printing capabilities, wireless printing, and high-quality color prints.
Cons:
- Larger footprint at about 20 by 17 inches.
2. CANON PIXMA iP110 Wireless Mobile Printer With Ink and Battery Bundle
If you need something that takes up as little space as possible while still delivering high-quality color prints, you’ve found it. This printer from Canon supports AirPrint and can even go cordless with an optional battery!
Pros:
- Supports wireless printing and AirPrint, as portable as a printer can be, and has a 12.7 by 7.3-inch footprint.
Cons:
- This is only a printer — you won’t be able to make copies or scan documents and is known to have a difficult installation process.
3. HP OfficeJet 5255 Wireless All-in-One Printer
Offering doubled-sided printing, all-in-one features, and the ever-important wireless printing capability, this HP workhorse will be able to hack it at home, work, or anywhere in between. It’s a sturdy design that won’t gobble up too much space.
Pros:
- Able to complete any task you would ever expect or need in regards to printing, supports an array of paper sizes, ships with a 1-year warranty from HP covering most damages.
Cons:
- The performance for business applications tends to be slow, and low-quality text, according to PCMag’s tests.
4. Brother Compact Monochrome Laser Printer
Featured with flexible connectivity and high-quality output, this monochrome laser printer offered by The Brother is extremely easy to set up and allows you to print two-sided documents easily and super fact — up to 27 PPM (pages per minute) which is hard to reach for traditional inkjet printers.
Pros:
- Fast and high-quality output. It’s stylish, and compact — saving you valuable workspace.
- Outstanding support by offering a one-year limited warranty with free phone support lifelong.
Cons:
- The price tag is slightly on the higher side (but you get what you pay for).
Useful Tips
Do you already have a printer or want to know the best way to make use of the one you’re going to get? TechRadar has a great write-up on how to make the most of your printer and will show you exactly what you’ve been missing out on. There you’ll find a collection of hacks on how to printer sharper photos, keep your printer nozzles clear, and more.
First time setting up the printer and connecting with your MacBook Pro? On your Mac, open System Settings > Printers and Scanners, there you can add or remove any printers you’d like. Apple has a detailed guide on how to do this step by step, in case anything goes wrong.
Whether you’ve decided to shop a laser printer or inkjet printer, be sure to take a glance at these essential maintenance tips contributed by Hugh Wilson from The Telegraph. For example, put it in the right location, read the manual before use, keep the software up to date, etc.
Mac Compatible Printer Scanner Copier
Final Words
Whether you’re printing for work, school, or leisure, you deserve a printer that doesn’t force you to the brink of frustration every time you want to print from your laptop. The best printer will reduce inconvenience in your work rather than add to it, and there are certainly plenty available. We’ve shown you a few of our favorites, now tell us yours! Leave a comment below and share what printer has worked best with your Mac.
For many iMac and MacBook users, having the best printer that is Mac-compatible ensures the ability to print on demand. There was a time when very few manufacturers that produce printers that are compatible with Apple computers. This meant that the purchased printer was unable to understand the commands sent to it by your iMac or MacBook, resulting the printer to be returned in frustration and you starting your search again.
Tips on How to Choose the Best Printer for Mac
Printer manufacturers these days are making sure that their products are able to accommodate one of the most popular brands in the market. However, do keep the tips below in mind when you are shopping for the right printer for Mac.
1. Look for visual cues
Thanks to the popularity of Apple computers these days, no printer manufacturers in their right mind would ignore the printing needs of Apple users. So, the chances that your brand new printer will be compatible with your Mac is very high. Nevertheless, if you are planning to purchase a second hand unit or at a warehouse sale, look for some visual cues that state the compatibility of the printing machine.
To make your life easier, printers that are made for Mac are indicated with a Mac logo. However, do take note that Apple does not certify that a model is compatible with its computers. So, if you are still uncertain, it is best to consult the mother ship.
2. Ensure that the printer is compatible with your OS X version
It is common to hand down computers to younger siblings or parents, so it is good to ensure what versions of OS X are supported by the specific printer model. You can usually check this out on the box. If you intend to buy the printer sans the box, a quick search on the internet will land you its operations manual where you can check the versions supported in the ‘Requirements’ section.
3. When in doubt, consult Apple
For an easier life, you will be happy to know that Apple has an updated list of all printers that are compatible with its computers. If your printer is listed, all you need to do is plug it in and your Mac OS X automatically downloads the software needed and installs the printer. If not, you need to do it manually because it is not bundled with OS X.
4. If still in doubt, consult the manufacturer
Should the printer you are thinking of buying is not listed, check the manufacturer’s support website. The printer may be old, but they might have an updated driver for your version of OS X so that you can use it with your new Mac.
5. Read the reviews!
The Internet is a wonderful place to look for information. With the right keywords, you will be able to find reviews from owners on how the printer actually works on an iMac or MacBook.
Top 5 Best Printer for Mac
Now that you know how to choose the right printer for your Mac, here are some models we think are among the best printers for Macs:
#1. HP Officejet Pro 8600
We think that the HP Officejet Pro 8600 is a great all-in-one printer for home and small offices. With its versatile connectivity options and cloud printing tools, you can definitely use this machine for a very long time. It prints/copies fast and its touch screen control panel is intuitive. If your Apple computer is equipped with at least a Mac OS X v10.5, all you need to do is set up the printer as per the manual and your Mac will automatically detect the printer, download the software and prompt you throughout the installation process.
Pros: Retailing for less than $200 on Amazon, this printer really is a workhorse that is equipped with a 250-sheet paper input capacity, auto-duplexing, cloud printing and a variety of connectivity options. It is also one of the cheapest all-in-one printer to buy and maintain.
Cons: Scanning documents is relatively slower since it cannot scan double-sided originals simultaneously.
#2. Canon PIXMA PRO-10
For graphic designers and photographers, the Canon PIXMA PRO-10 is THE printer that will capture your beautiful work of art. While realistically many of you would go to professional printers that will give you more printing option, having this little gem in the office can be handy. At At $599 on Amazon, the printer is not cheap to buy or run, but the output is amazing – each printed pixel is so fine that you will not be able to see it no matter how big you decide to blow up that gorgeous picture.
Pros: Like many, it has multiple connectivity options including USB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet network. We also love its ability to print black and white prints outstandingly thanks to the 3 monochrome inks that will enhance your grayscale photographs.
Cons: While installing the software was easy, either through the bundled CD or automatically downloaded by your Mac (minimum requirement of Mac OS X v10.5.8), it was too heavy to setup single handed.
#3. Epson Expression Premium XP-810
We think that the Epson Expression Premium XP-810 is a great printer for college students to have and later on bringing back home as they transition to working life. This Mac OS X supported printer renders one of the best print quality for its price range and has many useful features such as the duplex document feeder and printing capabilities, PictBridge enabled and ability to read memory cards.
Pros: Compact in size – great for small working space and very mobile. Prints fast (for a printer that is meant to be used at home) so you can catch that deadline.
Cons: For $149 at Amazon, we think that the printer should be priced lower seeing that the ink will cost its owner a lot. The paper feeder has low capacity.
#4. HP Envy 5530
The HP Envy 5530 is your typical home printer: simple to use, not much whistle and bells and low purchase price (($95 on Amazon) balanced out by higher-priced ink cartridges. The quality of its printed output is distinctively better than other models in the same price bracket; texts, even when printed in draft mode, comes out sharp while colour graphics are pretty accurate. Setting up the Envy 5530 on your Mac (minimum Mac OS X v10.6) is easy as the installer will guide you throughout the process.
Pros: It is very easy to use, reliable and produce outstanding output.
Cons: Super slow and the ink are pricey. However, do check out HP’s new Instant Ink program to counter ink cost. There is also no Ethernet port.
#5. Canon Pixma iP8720
Budding photographers that want instant satisfaction over their art should consider getting the Canon Pixma iP8720. While print quality is awesome, they can be uneven at times.
Scanner For Printer Software
Pros: Budget-friendly inkjet printer (selling at around $250 on Amazon) that renders amazing coloured prints of up to 13” x 19”. Fully wireless printer: AirPrint, Cloud Print, Canon Mobile Printing, Wireless PictBridge supported.
Cons: Low capacity paper tray. Printer does not support PictBridge over USB cable.
Best Printer Scanner For Mac Yosemite Download
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