Group test: what's the best printer?

5. Xerox ColorQube 8700

• Reviewed on: 23 July 13
• RRP: £2,028 inc VAT
• Rating:

Running costs are competitive with some laser printers. If environmental concerns, bulk printing and good quality documents that can be accessed from multiple locations are your priorities, then the Xerox ColorQube 8700 is a worthwhile purchase.

4. Lomond EvoJet 2 Office

• Reviewed on: 11 December 12
• RRP: £659 inc VAT
• Rating:

The Lomond seems expensive to buy, but it’ll cost next to nothing to run. The monthly payment plans might also be a good way to use the EvoJet without having to stump up a large amount upfront. We’d like to see automatic duplexing as standard, and the output tray will ideally need to be better at containing paper if you’re looking to use the EvoJet’s fastest mode. If it’s sheer speed – and text quality, along with decent graphics – that you want, though, the Lomond is a revelation.

3. Canon i-SENSYS LBP7780Cx

• Reviewed on: 26 February 13
• RRP: £450 inc VAT
• Rating:

We were slightly underwhelmed by the LBP7680Cx, but its bigger brother the Canon i-SENSYS LBP7780Cx is a very different proposition. Large and very powerful, it has good performance and a slew of modern features that puts it amongst the top business models. Throw in high-quality colour printing and the stunningly fast auto-duplexing and this is a heavyweight contender that puts much of the opposition on the canvas.

2. HP OfficeJet Pro X551dw

• Reviewed on: 15 May 13
• RRP: £480 (inc VAT)
• Rating:

The HP makes some proud claims, and it more than satisfies the majority of them. Very cheap to run, and with a string of strong features and good paper handling, it works exceedingly well. Speed is searing too, outpacing many a laser printer. The text quality isn't quite as dark as we'd like it in order to place it on a par with good laser models. We don't like the tacky installation routine, which (provided you pick the default option) loads your machine with uninvited visitors like the Bing Toolbar. In most respects, though, this is a sensational printer.

1. Kyocera Mita FS-1320D

• Reviewed on: 18 January 11
• RRP: £177.6 inc VAT
• Rating:

With low running costs, high performance and strong paper handling, the Kyocera Mita FS-1320D could be a brilliant acquisition for businesses seeking fast text output. The lack of network facilities is the only significant flaw, and even this can be fixed by paying a little more for the FS-1370DN.