We know that everything is digital these days, but there is still the need for a reliable printer in your home office.

This might sound totally ridiculous, but some people still prefer to get their hands on a physical copy of something. Yep, not content with access to a digital version of a photo, document, or whatever else, these people will pursue something they can actually touch.

In defence of this old school approach, there are occasions when only a physical copy will do. For example, it's bad form to turn up to an interview and show your prospective employer a copy of your CV on your phone. Contracts and other important documents also tend to be printed out, as there is still something more official about paper.

Physical copies of your favourite photos and posters are also superior to digital versions. That slideshow on your laptop or desktop might have hundreds of your best snaps on a never-ending loop, but it can't possibly compare to that massive poster hung up behind your bed. There are times when you simply must have a physical copy, and this is when you'll need a printer.

Fortunately, there are absolutely loads of impressive devices on the market from top brands like Canon, Epson, HP, and Samsung. You really are spoilt for choice, but there are a few things you need to consider before taking the plunge on a printer.

What should you look for in a printer?

Printers generally don't come cheap, so it pays to properly do your research on what device is going to suit you best. Not everyone is going to require a huge device with all the bells and whistles. You might be better off with a smaller printer that can only handle a lighter workload. We're here to help you figure all this out.

The first and most obvious things to consider are the dimensions and weight of a printer. You need to select a device with your home in mind. Even though that powerful printer with a lengthy list of features is attracting you, the fact that it wouldn't fit through your front door cannot be ignored. Make sure you measure up before adding a printer to your home office.

You also need to consider the type of ink a printer uses. There are three common ink cartridge configurations: two ink cartridges, four ink cartridges, and inkwells. And then there are laser printers. These devices use toner instead of ink to produce sharper edges and crisper images. If you’re going to print lots of text documents with few colours, a two-cartridge printer will do the job just fine. Anyone who needs professional-grade printouts should consider a laser printer.

The last thing to think about is your budget, but that should be obvious. Don't spend beyond your means but don't go for the cheapest option just to save a few pennies. Spend some time researching your options and find the best deal on the best printer within your budget.

What is the best brand to buy?

Most of the names that you'll come across when searching for a printer are pretty established. The likes of Canon, Epson, and Samsung will be well known to basically everyone, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't look elsewhere.

Smaller brands like Kyocera are also really popular with consumers, and even though you might not be that familiar with the name, the fact that these guys specialise in printers should be something to consider. The good thing is that you've got options. There is nothing worse that one brand having a monopoly on a certain type of product.

We're not going to tell you which way to go, but we recommend giving all the names on this list a chance. We've lined up some of the very best examples of compact, portable, and desktop printers to suit everyone, so that you can find something that works for you.

These are the best home printers in 2020.

Best for low-cost printing Image: amazon The Good Next generation ink filling system • Print from mobile devices • Three-in-one with LCD screen Next generation ink filling system • Print from mobile devices • Three-in-one with LCD screen The Bad One of the pricier printers One of the pricier printers The Bottom Line This is an expensive purchase but you could make back that money thanks to the low-cost printing potential. This is an expensive purchase but you could make back that money thanks to the low-cost printing potential. Weight: 5.5 kg

5.5 kg Dimensions: 55.9 x 37.5 x 26.7 cm

55.9 x 37.5 x 26.7 cm Printer technology: Inkjet £299.95 from Amazon Epson EcoTank ET-2750 Epson’s EcoTank printer has a high-capacity ink tank system that completely removes the need for cartridges.

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It's not a particularly bulky device, so it should fit into most home offices without any problems. It's also versatile, and can print, copy, and scan, with the option to print double-sided.

Epson is one of the biggest names in printing, and the EcoTank ET-2750 is not the only Epson printer to make this list. It might be the best though.The Epson EcoTank ET-2750 is one of the pricier printers on the market, but that's because it combines a bunch of impressive features to save you time and money in the long run. It has a high-capacity ink tank system that completely removes the need for cartridges, and can print up to 14,000 pages in black and 5,200 pages in colour. Epson claims this could save you up to 90% on ink costs.It's not a particularly bulky device, so it should fit into most home offices without any problems. It's also versatile, and can print, copy, and scan, with the option to print double-sided.

Best for tight budgets Image: amazon The Good Simple WiFi setup • Connect and print from your smartphone • Instant Ink trial included • Value for money Simple WiFi setup • Connect and print from your smartphone • Instant Ink trial included • Value for money The Bad Connection reported to be hit and miss Connection reported to be hit and miss The Bottom Line A versatile option from a leading brand that won't break the bank. A versatile option from a leading brand that won't break the bank. Weight: 5.41 kg

5.41 kg Dimensions: 36.7 x 44.5 x 12.8 cm

36.7 x 44.5 x 12.8 cm Printer technology: Inkjet £69.99 from Amazon HP Envy 5030 The HP Envy 5030 can handle a lot of work but won't cost you hundreds of pounds.

This three-in-one printer lets you set up, connect, and print from your smartphone, and produce high-quality photos and documents. You can speed through multipage print jobs with automatic two-sided printing, and even create timesaving shortcuts.

As a bonus, you could save up to 70% on ink with HP Instant Ink. Your printer makes the order and it's delivered to your door. A three-month trial of the service is included with your purchase.

HP is another brand that makes this list more than once, and that's because it has absolutely loads of different printers to suit everyone. The HP Envy 5030 printer is a low budget option that offers many of the same features as more expensive models.This three-in-one printer lets you set up, connect, and print from your smartphone, and produce high-quality photos and documents. You can speed through multipage print jobs with automatic two-sided printing, and even create timesaving shortcuts.As a bonus, you could save up to 70% on ink with HP Instant Ink. Your printer makes the order and it's delivered to your door. A three-month trial of the service is included with your purchase.

Best for versatility Image: amazon The Good Compact • Versatile • Affordable • Simple interface with adjustable panel • Supports lots of apps Compact • Versatile • Affordable • Simple interface with adjustable panel • Supports lots of apps The Bad Installation can be tricky Installation can be tricky The Bottom Line A versatile printer that offers good value for money, once it's installed. A versatile printer that offers good value for money, once it's installed. Weight: 5.5 kg

5.5 kg Dimensions: 31.5 x 37.2 x 12.6 cm

31.5 x 37.2 x 12.6 cm Printer technology: Inkjet colour £119.99 from Amazon Canon PIXMA TS5050 This all-in-one home printer, copier, and scanner is versatile and affordable.

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The PIXMA Cloud Link can be accessed through the Canon Print app on your smartphone or tablet, meaning you can even print from social network and cloud services including Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and many more. You can also upload scanned documents and photos to Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. It's all about staying connected.

Canon has a great reputation for manufacturing top quality cameras, but its printers are pretty great, too.The Canon PIXMA TS5050 offers high-quality colour printing from the comfort of your own home, with scan and copy functions, WiFi connectivity, cloud connectivity, and an attractive LCD display. All of that is housed in a compact design that shouldn't take up too much valuable space.The PIXMA Cloud Link can be accessed through the Canon Print app on your smartphone or tablet, meaning you can even print from social network and cloud services including Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and many more. You can also upload scanned documents and photos to Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. It's all about staying connected.

Best for speed Image: amazon The Good Fast print speeds • Print wirelessly from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone • Compact • Automatic two-sided printing Fast print speeds • Print wirelessly from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone • Compact • Automatic two-sided printing The Bad Expensive Expensive The Bottom Line One of the most expensive printers on this list is pricey because it's great. One of the most expensive printers on this list is pricey because it's great. Weight: 18 kg

18 kg Dimensions: 41 x 46.1 x 25.2 cm

41 x 46.1 x 25.2 cm Printer technology: Laser £240 from Amazon Brother HL-L3230CDW This printer offers fast speeds so you can print your essential documents in a rush.

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This robust device is easy to use and simple to set up, with massive toners giving you up to 1,000 pages straight from the box. You can also print your essential documents quickly with print speeds of up to 18 pages per minute. This is vital if you're trying to meet a deadline.

Running a business is not easy, so do yourself a favour and invest in a printet that makes your life easier.The Brother HL-L3230CDW saves you time and money thanks to the automatic two-sided printing, large capacity, wired and wireless connectivity, and the ability to print on the go from your mobile or tablet device. It's a great option for your home or business.This robust device is easy to use and simple to set up, with massive toners giving you up to 1,000 pages straight from the box. You can also print your essential documents quickly with print speeds of up to 18 pages per minute. This is vital if you're trying to meet a deadline.

Best for noise Image: amazon The Good Very cheap • Quiet printing • Lightweight • Speedy worker Very cheap • Quiet printing • Lightweight • Speedy worker The Bad Difficult to set up Difficult to set up The Bottom Line It's difficult to beat this Samsung printer when you consider the range of features and the price. It's difficult to beat this Samsung printer when you consider the range of features and the price. Weight: 3.95 kg

3.95 kg Dimensions: 35 x 33.1 x 17.8 cm

35 x 33.1 x 17.8 cm Printer technology: Laser £54.95 from Amazon Samsung Xpress M2026 Very affordable printer manages to do the job without making loads of noise.

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It's difficult to find many other printers at this price point with so many features. The M2026 is equipped with a 400 MHz processor and 8MB memory to print up to 20 pages per minute, and the advanced rendering technology improves image quality for more detailed and sharper prints.

Samsung makes just about everything, so it should come as no surprise that it makes some popular printers.The Samsung Xpress M2026 gets some great reviews, and most of the comments refer to how quiet it runs, its lightweight build, and how fast it can print. Some reviewers do complain that it can be a little difficult to set up, but this is the case with a lot of printers, unfortunately.It's difficult to find many other printers at this price point with so many features. The M2026 is equipped with a 400 MHz processor and 8MB memory to print up to 20 pages per minute, and the advanced rendering technology improves image quality for more detailed and sharper prints.

Best for reliability Image: amazon The Good Durable components • Reduced waste and printing costs • Quiet printing • Only item that needs replacing is the toner Durable components • Reduced waste and printing costs • Quiet printing • Only item that needs replacing is the toner The Bad Compatibility issues with Mac Compatibility issues with Mac The Bottom Line A fast, reliable, and versatile printer that reduces waste due to durable components. A fast, reliable, and versatile printer that reduces waste due to durable components. Weight: 14 kg

14 kg Dimensions: 39.3 x 37.5 x 27.2 cm

39.3 x 37.5 x 27.2 cm Printer technology: Laser £196 from Amazon Kyocera Ecosys P2040dn This popular printer is reliable, durable, and only the toner container needs to be replaced.

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It's a great option for your home or business, and is made from long-life components. The only item that needs replacing is the toner, reducing your running costs and waste.

Kyocera is probably the brand that the fewest people will recognise on this list, but that's not a bad thing. Most of the other names produce loads of different products, and whilst that is also true for Kyocera, it specialises in printers.The Kyocera Ecosys P2040dn printer isn't the cheapest option, but it does offer a lot for your money. It combines quality and reliability to provide convincing results. With a print speed of 40 pages per minute and a print resolution of 1,200 dpi, this model produces sharp texts and rich blacks in a timely manner.It's a great option for your home or business, and is made from long-life components. The only item that needs replacing is the toner, reducing your running costs and waste.

Best for portability Image: amazon The Good Portable • Seamless Bluetooth connectivity • Super compact (size of phone) • HP Sprocket app can customise photos Portable • Seamless Bluetooth connectivity • Super compact (size of phone) • HP Sprocket app can customise photos The Bad Print quality could be better Print quality could be better The Bottom Line Quickly print your smartphone and social media photos on the go with this portable printer. Quickly print your smartphone and social media photos on the go with this portable printer. Weight: 0.17 kg

0.17 kg Dimensions: 11.7 x 8 x 2.5 cm

11.7 x 8 x 2.5 cm Printer technology: Inkjet £119.99 from Amazon HP Sprocket 200 This portable photo printer can go everywhere you do.

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The HP Sprocket app can be used to customise your photos before you print them, and you can even scan your Sprocket and Sprocket photos to view your queue in augmented reality and unlock content. The print quality is not the best, but that's the price you pay for portability.

The second HP printer on this list is absolutely nothing like the first, and that's because this one is about the size of a phone.The HP Sprocket 200 is a super portable printer that can quickly print your smartphone and social media photos through the free HP Sprocket app with Bluetooth. Everyone can connect to print and view shared photos, so this model is great for an event like a wedding.The HP Sprocket app can be used to customise your photos before you print them, and you can even scan your Sprocket and Sprocket photos to view your queue in augmented reality and unlock content. The print quality is not the best, but that's the price you pay for portability.

Source: Mashable

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