Group Test - Colour Laser Printers

UPDATE: This group test has been updated. See Budget colour laser printers

Not so long ago, it would have been almost impossible to perform a budget colour laser group test. With astronomical prices for not only the printers themselves, but also their consumables, only large corporations would consider investing in one.

Recently, however, the price of colour lasers have started to plummet, bringing them to the attention of small businesses and home users who are looking for savings in the long term, as well as speed and good-quality prints.

If there's one lesson to be learnt from this group test, it's that you should never automatically consider a printer with a low price tag a bargain. The cost of consumables is everything when it comes to laser printers. This, unfortunately, is where the problem starts.

When determining the actual cost of ownership for each of the models in this group test we found it particularly hard to get manufacturers to own up to every single cost involved. What's more, not every printer has the same type of consumables.

It's worth noting that the prices we quote for each model are the manufacturers' SRPs. By going to www.pcw.co.uk/bestprices, you'll soon find that you can make massive savings on each of the models we've reviewed.

This group test consists of 6 colour laser printers. Read on and decide which is the best for you.

Epson Aculaser C900
HP Colour Laserjet 1500L
Konica Minolta Magicolour 2300W
Lexmark C720
Oki 5100n
Tally T8006e

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