Do laser printers use ink or toner?
Laser printers, unlike inkjet printers, do not use ink cartridges. Instead laser printers use toner cartridges, so be sure to purchase accordingly depending on your printer.
Toner can hold a static charge, which allows it to be transferred to paper by an electrostatically charged drum unit. From there, the substance is fused to the surface of the paper with heated rollers. This printing process was initially used in photocopiers, but the technology was modified to create the first laser printer in the late 1960s. Though things have advanced, modern laser printers essentially use the same method.
Benefits of using toner and laser printers
For a fast-moving home or small office, laser printers are a great option due to the speed at which they can print documents when compared to inkjet printers. Another great benefit of laser printers is the long lifespan of toner cartridges, due to the volume of toner you get compared to inks, making them the perfect option for someone that gets through plenty of printing. Furthermore, toner does not dry up in the same way that printer inks do if you don't print so often, saving time and money.
In addition to the aforementioned benefits of speed and longevity, there are a number of other benefits to using laser printers and toner cartridges:
• Smooth printing: because toner is a consistent powder that’s fused to the page with laser precision, pages printed by a laser printer typically look considerably smoother than ink.
• Smudge resistant: unlike inks, which can come out of a printer still wet and prone to smudging, toner powder is heat fused to the paper. As a solid material that’s bonded strongly to the paper, toner is considerably more resistant to moisture and smudging.
• Long lasting: toner cartridges not only provide more prints per cartridge – because toner cartridges aren’t liquid, there’s no risk of them drying out over time. So even cartridges that you’ve owned for a long time will still deliver quality prints, even if you haven’t used them for a while.
While toner cartridges can be more expensive, high yield cartridges will ensure your money goes even further, making them well worth the investment.
Is a laser printer right for me?
Laser printers have a reputation for excelling with text-based documents and high-volume printing, compared with inkjet printers which are typically thought of as better with images and smaller batches. Ink can also smudge and may fade over time, while you won’t have this problem with toner from a laser printer. That’s why, if you’re a business or organisation, you may well have the perception that a laser printer is the best choice for you.In reality, manufacturers like Brother stock a range of both laser and inkjet printers that are tailored to all kinds of uses and budgets. With that in mind, it’s probably best to find a printer that can keep up with your demands and run economically for you, rather than focusing on laser vs inkjet so much. Use our product selector to find the right printer for you.
Brother laser printers
Brother has a range of laser printers perfect for use at home or in the office, with plenty of 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 options available depending on your needs. There are robust options for larger offices that require features such as high paper capacity, and all of our laser printers benefit from a high print speed.The perfect companion for your Brother laser printer is a Brother Genuine toner cartridge. This sound investment will ensure your laser printer lasts for longer, printing up to 3000 pages per cartridge at a reasonable price per cartridge.
Get the most out of printing with the perfect combination of a Brother laser printer and our Brother Genuine high yield toner cartridges. With high-speed printing, automatic double-sided printing and plenty of resource saving features, keep Brother Laser Printers ‘At your side’ for cost-efficient, high quality, reliable printing.