These days, although most printers have wireless capabilities, there can be various connectivity options to choose from. Depending on the purpose for which you are using the printer, you may prefer one option over the other.
For example, it is very common for printers to connect wirelessly to devices that use Wi-Fi, and they can be a good choice for your laptop or desktop setup. However, it may not be the most convenient way to print something from your smartphone.
Conversely, printers with companion apps can make it easier to print from your mobile devices, but they may not work with computers.
Here are our recommendations for the best wireless printers you can buy. You can also check out our recommendations for the best printers for students and the best printers for home.
1. Best wireless printer for family use: Brother MFC-J995DW
The best wireless home use printer we tested is the Brother MFC-J995DW. It's an all-in-one, versatile inkjet model that works well for any application. It has great scanner features, including a flatbed with high resolution, color depth and a paper-fed scanner that can automatically process multi-page documents. You can print via Ethernet, USB cable, or Wi-Fi, and it also supports mobile printing via Apple AirPrint.
It has a great design, providing easy access to the ink cartridges from the front, and overall it looks well built. With an exceptional INKvestment Tank ink system that produces many pages, you won't need to replace cartridges often, helping to keep your printing cost incredibly low.
Although there are some fine ranges in the images, the images appear to be detailed and of high quality. The two input trays can print a variety of paper sizes, with the rear feeder best for smaller photo papers.
Unfortunately, while the first page comes out fairly quickly, the print speed does not get faster for subsequent pages. Also, color accuracy is okay, and while it should be good enough for casual printing, it's not recommended if you need accurate color reproduction.
It does not support Bluetooth printing, and during testing we were unable to print via Mopria Print Service. Overall, this is a great and versatile family printer, and one of the best wireless printers for home use.
Best Photo Print Alternative: CANON PIXMA TR8620
If you need something that prints better photos, check out the Canon PIXMA TR8620. Page yield and cost of printing aren't nearly as good as the Brother MFC-J995DW, and it prints slower, but it produces better-looking photos and can print via Bluetooth.
Images have good detail and vibrant colors, with virtually no difference, and while Brother reproduces colors more accurately, you may not see the difference in everyday use. Canon also has an amazing variety of connectivity options, including Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, and Wi-Fi Direct.
If you need an excellent family printer at a very low cost per print, go with Brother. If you value great-looking photo printing, go with Canon.
2. Best Wireless Printer for Small/Home Office: Canon MAXIFY GX7020
The best wireless home or small office printer we tested is the Canon MAXIFY GX7020. This color inkjet printer uses a giant ink system to achieve extremely high page yield rates, reducing refills and resulting in an extremely low printing cost. It also heats up very quickly for first page printing, and produces decent-looking images with satisfactory color accuracy.
The display is very good and allows you to easily navigate through tasks, it can send a fax. Its scanning features are great, the flatbed scanner hinges are raised to scan thicker items, and it has an automatic document feeder that can scan on both sides.
Its wireless and wired connectivity options are great and include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service. It can also print directly from USB flash drives.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to print via Bluetooth, which may be inconvenient for some. Also, while it prints documents at a satisfying speed, it's not quite as fast as some of the other options. All in all, it is a great printer for small or home offices, and as such it is one of the best printers for small businesses.
Cheaper laser alternative: CANON IMAGECLASS MF743CDW
If you prefer getting a laser printer for your small or home office and want to save some money, consider the Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw Printer. Page yield is not as good as the Canon MAXIFY GX7020, the cost of printing is much higher, but the printer itself is cheaper and uses laser printing technology.
It prints color documents faster and produces more accurate colors, and since replacement cartridges have built-in drum units, you don't have to purchase them separately when replacing toner. However, it produces images that look worse and prints black text documents slower, and the scanning resolution is not as high as MAXIFY.
If you prioritize increased page yield and lower printing cost, go with the GX7020. However, if you want a cheaper laser option as well, go with imageCLASS.
3. Best Economical Wireless Printer: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820
The best wireless printer we tested in the budget class is the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820. Connectivity options are great, with support for Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi via a router, as well as Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service كترونيك
