The Best Wireless printers

Cable-Free Printing

Wireless printers and all-in-ones (AIOs) have become commonplace in both homes and small offices, and many larger businesses are adopting them as well. Wi-Fi connectivity provides more flexibility in where you put your printer, lets you easily print from mobile devices, and gives you one fewer unsightly cable to worry about or trip over.

Although wireless printers have been available for more than a decade, it's only in the past five years or so that they've come into their own. Most home printers have Wi-Fi capability, many of them eschewing wired networking for it, though some have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Many business inkjets also come with Wi-Fi enabled, and we're seeing more lasers with either standard or optional Wi-Fi as well.

Connecting to Your Mobile Device

Newer Wi-Fi printers offer mobile printing support. You can print from an iPhone or an iPad via Apple's AirPrint to compatible printers. Mopria-certified printers can print directly from Android devices, and many printer manufacturers and third parties offer apps for printing from iOS, Android, and other devices. Many directly support printing from cloud-based services.

The Best All-in-One Printers of 2016 (September 2016 update, HP OfficeJet 250)

What's Wi-Fi Direct?

A small, but quickly growing, number of printers employ Wi-Fi Direct (or its equivalent), a technology that has the potential to greatly simplify wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi Direct-enabled computers and printers can easily connect with each other over a direct, peer-to-peer connection without requiring a wireless access point. A newer and even more direct wireless printing method is Near Field Communication (NFC), in which one has only to touch a compatible mobile device to an NFC-enabled printer for printing to commence.

No Sacrifice On Speed

One thing that's held people back from buying Wi-Fi printers is the perception that they may take a hit in speed. That's occasionally true—a lot depends on the specifics of your Wi-Fi versus wired networks—but any time lost in data transfer is usually minimal compared with the total print time, particularly if the printer is proximate to your router. If speed is a concern, pick a Wi-Fi printer that also connects via Ethernet, just in case. (All printers offer at least USB 2.0 connectivity.)

Related Story See How We Test Printers

But which model is best for your home or your business? We review hundreds of printers each year and these 10 are among the best we've tested. Once you've made your choice, find out how to connect your PC and devices to your wireless printer. For more tips on choosing the right printer, check out our overall top printer picks, as well as our highest-rated portable printers and our favorite Mac-friendly printers.

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