Quick Picks: Best Color Printers 2026
Best Color Inkjet
Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Vibrant colors, ultra-low ink costs
Best Color Laser
Brother MFC-L8905CDW
33 ppm, enterprise features
Best for Speed
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw
35 ppm, 9-second first page
Best for Photos
Canon PIXMA G620
6-color system, lab-quality prints
Inkjet vs Laser: Which is Better for Color Printing?
Color Inkjet Printers
- + Superior photo quality with smooth gradients
- + Wider color gamut for vibrant prints
- + Better for creative projects & photos
- + Prints on more paper types
- - Slower print speeds
- - Ink can dry out if unused
Best for: Home users, photographers, crafters
Color Laser Printers
- + Much faster print speeds (30+ ppm)
- + Lower cost per page for documents
- + Toner never dries out
- + Sharp text with color graphics
- - Less accurate color reproduction
- - Not ideal for photo printing
Best for: Offices, high-volume printing, business graphics
Epson EcoTank ET-4850
Color Features
- OK 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution
- OK Vibrant dye-based colors
- OK 7,500 color pages included
- OK Borderless photo printing
- OK Print/Scan/Copy/Fax
- OK 30-sheet ADF
Key Specs
- 15.5 ppm black, 8.5 ppm color
- WiFi, Ethernet, USB
- 2.4" color touchscreen
- 250-sheet paper tray
- Auto duplex printing
- Voice assistant compatible
Vibrant Colors with Unbeatable Running Costs
The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 delivers the perfect balance of vibrant color output and incredibly low running costs. The dye-based ink produces rich, saturated colors that pop on both photos and documents, making it ideal for mixed home and office use.
The included ink bottles print up to 7,500 color pages - equivalent to about 80 traditional cartridges. For families printing homework, photos, and craft projects, the savings are substantial. Color cost per page is just 1.6 cents.
With print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities plus a 30-sheet ADF, it handles everything from borderless 4x6 photos to multi-page business documents with ease.
Brother MFC-L8905CDW
Color Features
- OK 33 ppm color printing
- OK 2400 x 600 dpi
- OK Vivid color graphics
- OK Super high-yield toner
- OK Print/Scan/Copy/Fax
- OK 80-sheet duplex ADF
Key Specs
- WiFi 6, Gigabit Ethernet
- NFC tap-to-print
- 7" color touchscreen
- 520-sheet paper capacity
- Enterprise security
- Single-pass duplex scan
Professional Color at Laser Speed
The Brother MFC-L8905CDW is the fastest color all-in-one in our guide, printing 33 pages per minute in both color and black. For offices that print marketing materials, reports with charts, and color documents daily, this speed is transformative.
Color output is impressively vivid for a laser printer. Graphics, charts, and presentations look professional with crisp lines and accurate colors. While not photo-quality, it excels at business graphics.
The 80-sheet single-pass duplex ADF handles bulk scanning efficiently, and enterprise security features make it suitable for businesses with compliance requirements.
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw
Color Features
- OK 35 ppm color printing
- OK 9-second first page
- OK HP TerraJet vivid toner
- OK 600 x 600 dpi
- OK Print only (no scanner)
- OK Auto duplex printing
Key Specs
- WiFi, Ethernet, USB
- 2.7" color touchscreen
- 250-sheet paper tray
- Up to 4,500-page toner
- HP Smart App
- Dynamic security enabled
HP TerraJet Technology
HP's new TerraJet toner renders crisp, dark text and particularly vivid colors. Graphics and photos look noticeably better than previous HP laser generations.
The Fastest Color Printer for Small Business
The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw is the speed champion, printing the first page in just 9 seconds and sustaining 35 pages per minute. For busy offices where time is money, this responsiveness makes a real difference.
HP's TerraJet toner produces impressively vivid colors for a laser printer. Marketing flyers, presentations, and color documents look professional with sharp fine print and great-looking graphics.
Note this is a print-only device without scanning capabilities - perfect for offices that already have a scanner or primarily need high-volume color printing.
Canon PIXMA G620
Color Features
- OK 6-color ink system
- OK 4800 x 1200 dpi
- OK Lab-quality photo prints
- OK Borderless 4x6 to 8.5x11
- OK MegaTank refillable
- OK 3,800 4x6 photos per fill
Key Specs
- Print/Scan/Copy all-in-one
- WiFi & USB connectivity
- 3.5" color touchscreen
- 100-sheet rear tray
- Canon PRINT app
- SD card slot
Lab-Quality Color Photos at Home
The Canon PIXMA G620 is designed specifically for photo enthusiasts who demand the best color accuracy. Its 6-color ink system (adding gray and photo black) produces smoother gradients and more accurate skin tones than standard 4-color printers.
The MegaTank system prints up to 3,800 4x6 photos per ink fill - equivalent to about 120 traditional cartridge sets. For photographers and families who print lots of photos, the savings are enormous.
Color and black-and-white photos alike look stunning, with rich shadows and smooth highlights that rival professional photo lab output. The 3.5" touchscreen makes it easy to print directly from SD cards.
Color Printer Comparison 2026
| Printer | Price | Type | Speed | Resolution | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson ET-4850 | $399 | Ink Tank | 8.5 ppm | 4800 x 1200 | Home office |
| Brother MFC-L8905CDW | $699 | Color Laser | 33 ppm | 2400 x 600 | Enterprise |
| HP LaserJet 4201dw | $449 | Color Laser | 35 ppm | 600 x 600 | Speed |
| Canon PIXMA G620 | $299 | 6-Color Ink | 3.9 ppm | 4800 x 1200 | Photos |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is inkjet or laser better for color printing? v
Inkjet printers are better for photos and creative projects with a wider color gamut and smoother gradients. Color laser printers are better for high-volume document printing with graphics, offering faster speeds and lower per-page costs for business use. Choose inkjet for photos, laser for documents.
What is the best color printer for home use in 2026? v
The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 is the best color printer for home use in 2026. It produces vibrant colors for both photos and documents with extremely low ink costs. The included ink prints 7,500 color pages, making it ideal for families who print homework, photos, and crafts.
Are color laser printers good for photos? v
Color laser printers are not ideal for photos. While they can print photos, they lack the color gamut and gradient smoothness of inkjet printers. Laser printers excel at business graphics, charts, and documents with color elements, but for lab-quality photos, choose an inkjet like the Canon G620.
What is a 6-color printer and is it worth it? v
A 6-color printer uses additional inks beyond standard CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) - typically adding gray and photo black. This produces smoother gradients, more accurate skin tones, and better black-and-white photos. It's worth it if you print lots of photos or need professional-quality color output.
Our Final Recommendation
For most homes and home offices in 2026, the Epson EcoTank ET-4850 delivers the best balance of vibrant color output, versatility, and incredibly low running costs. It handles everything from photos to documents beautifully.
For offices needing speed and volume, the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw at 35 ppm is unmatched. Photo enthusiasts should consider the Canon PIXMA G620 for its 6-color lab-quality prints.
View Epson ET-4850 on Amazon