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For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by M. David Stone
PCMag.com is a prolific reviewer of inkjet printers. The reviews are balanced, comparative and thorough and all are written by the same person. Detailed benchmark results show comparative speeds and all… reviews are organized within an easily navigable comparison chart. M. David Stone thoroughly describes text, graphics and photo quality, and lets readers know how good each printer is in those regards relative to comparably priced printers. Many currently available printers are covered, although few low-cost models are reviewed. Each printer is rated and many models, such as the HP Photosmart Pro B8850 and HP Officejet 6000, receive Editors' Choice designations.
by Editors of CNET
Only a couple of sources are as up-to-date as CNET in inkjet printer reviews, and CNET is also one of the most prolific reviewers. Reviews are written by different editors, though, so quality can vary. In… the best reviews, the printers are evaluated for features, speed, image quality, service, support and more. However, a few reviews are disappointingly superficial, and all reviews would benefit if sample prints were posted. On the plus side, the editors assign ratings making it easy to see how printers compare to others. CNET also identifies the very best inkjet printers with an Editors' Choice award, though only one standalone inkjet printer, the HP Officejet Pro 8500, has qualified in the last year.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
by Editors of Shutterbug
Shutterbug regularly reviews inkjet photo printers, and offers an image-quality-oriented perspective that is missing from many other reviews. Reviews are illustrated with print reproductions and screen… shots of driver controls. The reviews are great in those regards, but insufficient in others. Products aren't rated or ranked, and all reviews are favorable. Text quality isn't addressed. Reviews don't include meaningful comparisons. Only high-end models, like the Epson Stylus Photo R2880 and HP Photosmart Pro B8850, are reviewed. Yet, if photo printing is your sole buying consideration, Shutterbug is an exceptional source for reviews.
by Editors of PrinterInfo.com
PrinterInfo.com has some of the best printer reviews we find. Reviews are comprehensive and balanced and are neatly arranged in multiple sections. The reports are more technical in places than some people… might want, but section conclusions are in plain English. Each review also contains a comparison section. Printers are sub-rated within each section, and PrinterInfo.com provides overall rankings. Photos are helpful and standardized print samples are shown. The biggest negatives are that PrinterInfo.com reports on fewer photo or general inkjet printers than many other reviewers and the site design makes some reviews difficult to access.
by Vincent Oliver
This British site is one of the better resources for those looking for a photo inkjet printer. Most of the printers reviewed are higher-end models that emphasize image quality over text and speed. Reviews… are extremely detailed, with tons of photo samples so users can judge print quality for themselves. Testing is conducted over the course of a week or more, and follows an interactive model that expands the process to accommodate specific questions from readers. Ratings are provided, and the best printers are honored with a Golden-i award, though no printers from the last year or so have received that award. Many, but not all, of the printers are available in the U.S.
by Rick LePage, Brian Chen
Coverage is somewhat sporadic, but Macworld describes a very respectable testing process. Prints are evaluated by a panel rather than an individual reviewer but are not published. It would be helpful to… include prints with the reviews so readers can form their own opinions. Only the occasional review is comparative, but ratings are satisfactorily varied, except that some explanation is needed as to why a $50 Canon printer earns the same rating as an $850 Canon printer. Reviews include handy charts to illustrate time and quality findings. Consideration of the Mac interface and how the printers work with Mac-specific software make this one of the better resources for users of that operating system, however, all of the reviewed printers also work with Windows.
by Editors of PopPhoto.com
This website is the online home of sister magazines American Photo and Popular Photography & Imaging. Reviews are geared to serious amateur photographers and are highly technical. The focus is on high-end… photo printers and even some professional models. Printers aren't compared much with each other, even in head-to-head reviews, but the discussion includes ample descriptions of both strengths and weaknesses, and some reviews include small reproduced photos. Actual measurements of printer performance provide a strong means of comparison, though testing processes aren't revealed. Moreover, the most recent reviews are over a year old.
by Editors of PC World
by Mike Pasini
Imaging-Resource.com, a website devoted to digital photography, reviews inkjet printers on occasion. The site mostly covers multifunction and photo printers, but a few current models are reviewed from… Canon, Epson and HP. The printers are evaluated in detail. Reviews are comparative and lushly illustrated. Photos of prints are occasionally shown but only to illustrate Pasini's points rather than for comparative purposes. Printers are not rated or ranked. Some of the reviews seem too enthusiastic and unbalanced. The latest inkjet reviewed, Canon's Pixma Pro9000 Mark II, is highly praised.
by Editors of Which?
English magazine Which? names seven printers as Best Buys, two of which are standalone inkjets and a few of which are inkjet all-in-ones. Although Which? covers many current printers, a number of the models… reviewed are not sold in the U.S. Each short printer review is enhanced by a chart that rates black-and-white quality, black-and-white speed, photographic quality and speed, ease of use, versatility and quietness. Each product also gets a total rating. The reviews are well-balanced and testing methodology is described. An independent laboratory measures cost of use.
by Editors of What Digital Camera
What Digital Camera is a U.K. digital-photography magazine. Its companion website is simple to navigate and reviews are easy to find. Editors review inkjet printers, but the site doesn't publish the full… content of those reviews online. What is available online is very brief with little description beyond basic values such as "good," "fair" and "poor". The best reviews are directly comparative and conclude with scores. Unfortunately, there is minimal online content (and limited newsstand availability of the magazine in the U.S.), and printer manufacturers sell different models in the U.S. and Europe. While What Digital Camera has reviews of current models like the Epson Stylus Photo R2880, there have been no standalone inkjet printer reviews in many months.
by Simon Williams
TrustedReviews.com is a U.K. website that regularly reviews inkjet printers, but many are not sold in the U.S. Testing is average, and better documentation is needed. All-in-one printers receive more… coverage than single-purpose inkjets. Speed and cost of use are measured. The reviews are balanced, occasionally comparative, objective and performance-oriented. Several models are recommended, the most recent being HP's Deskjet D1660 and Officejet Pro 8000. Overall ratings and subcategory ratings for features, print quality, print speed and value provide the primary basis for comparison.
by Henry Wilhelm
Wilhelm Imaging Research does not review products; it tests prints from inkjet printers. The lab "conducts accelerated light exposure and dark aging tests to determine the comparative life expectancy of… inkjet and other digitally printed photographs." Results for individual printers are published on the website. Inks from the three major brands are now capable of lasting 100 years or more, providing true archival quality. If permanence is important to you, this site is worth checking for the endurance ratings of individual models. Wilhelm also tests third-party (after-market, off-brand and store brand) inks and finds most begin fading within months.
by Peter Piazza
Most of the single-product reviews here are for all-in-one multifunction machines rather than regular inkjet printers. The Canon Pixma iP3600, iP4600 and Epson Workforce 30 look like the most recent reviews… posted, though it's hard to tell since the reviews themselves are not dated. All three get short write-ups that focus on warm-up time and comments about output quality. They are given the same rating, and printers are not compared to each other. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Editors of PCMag.com
PCMag.com conducts yearly service-and-support surveys of its subscribers. Computer product owners report on their ownership experiences, plus satisfaction and customer service. Editors then compile and… report the data. A chart shows how owners fared with reliability and tech support, as well as what percentage of printers from each brand needed repair, and the owners' likelihood of recommending the brand. Canon is the top scorer again this year, while Brother (not known for inkjets) finishes second. HP comes in third thanks to a large response, though the company's tech support keeps its rating down.
by Editors of Personal Computer World
British sister publications Personal Computer World and Computeractive review some inkjet printers, though not all are available in the U.S. The most recent standalone inkjet to be recommended is the HP… Photosmart Pro B9180. Reviews are extremely brief but include handy ratings for overall performance, features, ease of use and value. Meaningful comparison requires reading the full reviews because all products are highly rated. Comparisons are good but not detailed and not always direct. Prints are not reproduced.
by Editors of ComputerShopper.com
by Editors of PC Pro
British magazines PC Pro, Computer Buyer and Computer Shopper review a modest selection of inkjet printers that are available in the U.S. The reviews are short, but succinctly cover most of the major buying… considerations. Few reviews are directly comparative, but all products are rated one to six stars with reasonable variation. PC Pro editor David Bayon writes that Canon's Pixma iP4700 is "the best home inkjet around."
by Editors of PC Advisor
PC Advisor regularly reviews inkjet printers, but many are not sold in the U.S. The reviews are uneven because the English magazine uses multiple reviewers (many of whom also write for U.S. magazines such… as PC World or Macworld). Subcategory ratings for build quality, features and value are usually the only tools reviewers offer for comparison. Most printers earn four-star overall ratings, which makes identifying the best models nearly impossible. The site grants Gold awards in recognition of outstanding products, but they are stingy with the awards and no currently available single-purpose inkjet printers are recipients.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to Newegg.com
Many of Newegg.com's customers are sophisticated and opinionated computer users. Few printers have significant quantities of user reviews. Epson printers have far more user reviews than Canon or HP… printers. Canon's Pixma iP4600 and Epson's Stylus Photo R1900 both earn the highest overall ratings. Other currently available single-purpose inkjet printers fare well, with all but one earning an average rating of four out of a possible five.
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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Canon PIXMA iP4700 Premium Inkjet Photo Printer (3742B002)
 from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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HP Photosmart D7560 Printer
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Photo Printer
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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HP Officejet 6000 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer (C9295A#B1H)
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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