Buyer's Guide: 11 Color Inkjet Printers

Meet The Color Inkjets: A Features Table

In this section, we introduce the 11 printers we chose for coverage in this guide, and include a handy features matrix to help you compare and contrast these units across a wide range of capabilities. We begin with a brief listing of these items, and follow it with the features matrix. After that, you'll find a brief section devoted to each of these 11 units that describes its capabilities in more detail, along with a photo of the printer and links to additional information. In the conclusion, we'll point out some particularly compelling items.

  • Canon Pixma iP1800
  • Canon Pixma iP4300
  • Canon Pixma iP6310D
  • Epson Picturemate Pal PM200
  • Epson Stylus Photo R260
  • Epson Stylus Photo R380
  • HP Business Inkjet 1200
  • HP Deskjet 4160
  • HP Deskjet 9800
  • Lexmark Z1300
  • Lexmark Z1420

Inkjet Printer Features Table Part 1

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 Canon Pixma iP1800Canon Pixma iP4300Canon Pixma iP6310DEpson Stylus Photo RX260Epson Stylus Photo R380Epson Picturemate Pal PM200
B/W ppm20303030301
Color ppm16242430301
Color ScanningNANA192001200NANA
DPI Color4800x12009600x24004800x120096005760x14405760x1440
DPI Black600600120060057605760x720
Max Paper Size8.5x148.5x148.5x148.5x148.5x144x6
Envelope Size#10#10#10C6#10N/A
InterfacesUSB 2.0USB 2.0, Direct Print PortUSB 2.0, Direct Print Port, BluetoothUSB 2.0, Pictbridge PortUSB 2.0, Pictbridge PortUSB 2.0, Bluetooth
Tray capacity15015010012012020
Print 2-SidedYYNNNN
Media CardsNNYNYN
Ink Cartridges441661
Ink ColorsCMYbCMYbCMYbCMYblclmCMYblclmCMYb
Ink Drop Size (picoliters)2121.51.53

* Italics indicate an interface is an added-cost option (all HP printers also work with USB-attached external JetDirect devices).** Color abbreviations: C=Cyan, lc=Light Cyan, M=Magenta, lm=Light Magenta, Y=yellow, b = black

Inkjet Printer Features Table Part 2

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 HP Business Inkjet 1200HP Deskjet D4160HP Deskjet 9800Lexmark Z1300Lexmark Z1420
B/W ppm2830302228
Color ppm2423201614
Color ScanningNANANANANA
DPI Color4800x12004800x12004800x12004800x12004800x1200
DPI Black12001200120012001200
Max Paper Size8.5x148.5x1416x208.5x148.5x14
Envelope Size#10#10#10#10#10
Interfaces *USB 2.0, Parallel, 802.11b/gUSB 2.0USB 2.0, ParallelUSB 2.0, NoneUSB 2.0, 802.11b/g, Fast Ethernet, GbE
Tray capacity400100150100100
Print 2-SidedYNNNN
Media CardsNNNNN
Ink Cartridges22222
Ink Colors **CMYbCMYbCMYbCMYbCMYb
Ink Drop Size (picoliters)44444
Row 14 - Cell 0 HP Business Inkjet 1200HP Deskjet D4160HP Deskjet 9800Lexmark Z1300Lexmark Z1420
B/W ppm2830302228
Color ppm2423201614
Color ScanningNANANANANA
DPI Color4800x12004800x12004800x12004800x12004800x1200
DPI Black12001200120012001200
Max Paper Size8.5x148.5x1416x208.5x148.5x14
Envelope Size#10#10#10#10#10
Interfaces *USB 2.0, Parallel, 802.11b/gUSB 2.0USB 2.0, ParallelUSB 2.0, NoneUSB 2.0, 802.11b/g, Fast Ethernet, GbE
Tray capacity400100150100100
Print 2-SidedYNNNN
Media CardsNNNNN
Ink Cartridges22222
Ink Colors **CMYbCMYbCMYbCMYbCMYb
Ink Drop Size (picoliters)44444

* Italics indicate an interface is an added-cost option (all HP printers also work with USB-attached external JetDirect devices).** Color abbreviations: C=Cyan,M=Magenta, Y=yellow, b = black

  • lucyrssll
    Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the HP Deskjet 9800 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!
    Reply
  • Hi Tom,

    Do you think you will do an updated review for printer of 2011?

    Thanks, Pete @ Canon Ink Cartridges
    Reply