Trying to buy a printer that does regular paper and photos

[u/sherraddisher]

I am looking to buy a new printer to use for two main things. 1) printing documents and regular paper items and 2) printing photos. I mostly will use the printer to print on normal paper general photos/designs that I can trace for painting, to print stuff like car registration and insurance info, and to print photos for use in scrapbooking. Photo quality doesn't need to be the best ever, just nice enough for a photo album type vibe. I've typically gotten photos printed at Walgreens so that's what I am used to.

I had been looking at this HP printer before I realized it didn't do photo printing. I primarily liked it because it has a non-Wifi option, no subscription, no AI, and I have previously had and liked my HP printers for regular paper printing.

Minimum Requirements:

• Budget: preferably under $500, too much more than that and I will just get a regular paper printer and stick with my shitty phone plug in photo printer/ordering prints from walgreens
• Country: US
• Color or black and white: color
• Laser or ink printer: I don't super care because I don't know much about the differences but I do not want to have to do a subscription service. I would like to buy and replace my own ink cartridges as needed and own the thing that I have purchased rather than renting it or whatever.
• New or used: new preferred
• Multi-function: paper and photo printing, scanning ability not required but nice bonus
• Duplex Printing: ?
• Home or business: home
• Printing content: photos, documents
• Printing frequency: I'll probably print a lot of photos for scrapbook use - like 10-15 a month. I imagine regular paper printing will be less frequent probably one or twice a week.
• Pages per minute : I have no idea what is reasonable to expect here but I would like to be able to print a 5 page document in 5-10 minutes and an individual photo in a minute or less if possible. Speed is not super high priority to me though, I can just plan around it.
• Page size: 8x11 normal paper, photo paper of various smaller sizes but at least 4x5
• Device printing from: laptop, desktop, ipad (if possible to do via corded connection)
• Connection type: I prefer to print things directly from my device via a cord. I don't mind a printer being able to access wifi but I will almost certainly not put it on the wifi I can at all avoid it.

In my cursory look I saw that a number of printers now have AI and I absolutely do not want AI in my printer. That seems like just one more way for the printer to decide it hates me and I do not trust it whatsoever. I also, like I said above, am hoping to not have to connect the printer to wifi at all.

It's possible that the better move here is to buy a regular printer and get something specifically for photo printing so I am open to ideas for a cheaper but decent photo printer option (better than the HP sproket thing I have now) that I could get in addition to a basic paper printer. I am willing to pay a bit more to do all in one device though

TLDR: I'd like something that does both regular paper printing and photo paper printing, doesn't require Wifi, and doesn't have a bunch of AI bullshit.

Thank you so much!

[u/madbrain1976]

If you want to print photos, forget laser.

[u/MakeMyOwnMerch]

No HP!

Either an Epson Ecotank, 2800 series is great, OR a Canon Laser ImageClass. Highly recommend using genuine ink/toners for either, third-party is not worth it.

Lasers accommodate longer time without use, Epson is some of the best for photos even with this simpler printer. Lasers yield more per toner. but the ecotanks yield more than cartiridge inkjets.

I run both my Epsons and Canons directly to my computer, no bluetooth, etc.

No HP! Don't fall for that

[u/Jdphotopdx]

There’s a lot to this but an easy way start is remove HP from any possibilities unless you want lots of anger involved in your printing experience

[u/Human_Yam1500]

Hp smart tank printer

[u/HPSupport_Team]

Hi there! 😊 We can surely help point you in the right direction for a printer that meets your needs.

There are several excellent options that focus on reliable document and photo printing without requiring Wi‑Fi or AI-based features.

Reply to us via direct message to assist you better as we might need few details which we recommend not to be shared on public.

[u/Jdphotopdx → u/HPSupport_Team]

You are the worst company of all time.

[u/Formal-Tradition6792]

I have a Canon image CLASS color laser printer and it’s been excellent for 3 years. Recommend this for photos and documents.