If you’re only just getting a printer for your home, it’s about darn time!
Updated note: This list of printers under $50 used to be a “Top-5 Best Cheap Printers Under $50,” however, due to some rising costs in manufacturing, this list has now been trimmed to just ONE, as in just 1 printer available that’s under $50. We strive to be accurate, so without further ado…
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HP Photosmart 1115 Inkjet Printer | 712 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
Best Cheap Printer Choice: 2023
HP Photosmart 1115 Inkjet Printer
FIRST off, the printer displayed here via Amazon is listed as a HP Photosmart 1115 Inkjet Printer. It IS NOT the HP Photosmart 1115 Inkjet printer, however (which is a discontinued model that would be difficult to find for purchase).
The actual model being displayed is the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 1115, which is a cost-effective with low-cost ink printer that is sold and marketed primarily in parts of Asia.
It comes with an ink starter pack (1 black and 1 tri-color) with a Print Speed of up to 20 ppm.
According to HP, what you'll get with this HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 1115:
- HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 1115 All-in-One Printer
- HP 680 Setup Black Ink Cartridge (~260 pages)
- HP 680 Setup Tri-color Ink Cartridge (~100 pages)
- No CD Flyer
- Setup Poster
- Power cord
- USB cable
Keep in mind, there are reports of some instances of customers not receiving the USB cable in order to complete set-up, so you may have purchase one, which can costs anywhere from $7-$15 USD, if you don't have one lying around. Also note, this printer does not support wireless printing, which is fine if it's not a necessity to you.
All in all, you should expect no-frills simple printing, decent quality, slowish speeds, but the ink will be cheap, as in somewhere around $10 for a black ink cartridge and also around $10 for the tri-color ink cartridge.
Tips for Buying a Budget Printer
Here are several useful tips you should keep in mind when shopping around for the best budget printer:
Consider your printing needs. The cheapest printers that cost up to about $50 are best suited for home use.
If you want a printer for regular use at a home office or a small business, you will have to spend between $50 and $110 for a good one.
For really heavy printing needs, you are better off buying a bigger printer that costs well over a $100.
Compare prices across many models before you make a final decision.
You don’t have to pay premium prices for trusted brands like HP, Canon, and Epson. Look around online to find the best deal because there are plenty available.
Do not buy used printers.
You can get a brand new budget printer for about $50 with the same functionality as a more expensive used one. You may need to spend more money later to repair used printers.
Look for features like wireless and PC-free printing. Some printers can create their own network so there’s no need to access a Wi-Fi connection.
If you need a printer for several computers at home, you are better off with a wireless printer. Ideally, you should buy a printer that can work both wired and wirelessly.
The most money you spend will not be on the printer, but the ink cartridges. Check the type of ink cartridges that are compatible with the printer you choose and check their price.
Also consider the number of pages each cartridge can print. If you plan on printing regularly, you will need a printer with high capacity and affordable ink cartridges.