Canon and HP are among the most popular printer brands today. You’ll find these two titans in offices, homes, photography studios, and everywhere in between. But which printer is better, HP or Canon?
There is a lot to like about both brands. HP is consistent, dependable, and jam-packed with advanced features. Canon emphasizes quality, vibrant colors, and long-term value. There is even some overlap between the two brands, as HP uses Canon print engines in many of their laserjet products.
We’ll explore the deeper details of the Canon vs HP printer debate in this guide. You’ll learn all the criteria we use to differentiate HP vs Canon printers, including ink type, use cases, speed, value, and more.
Our team at SellToner.com has decades of combined expertise in the ink and toner industry. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about HP, Canon, or any other printer brand!
Overview of HP Printers
Let’s begin with the first half of the HP vs Canon printer debate. Hewlett-Packard, also known as HP, is a well-established brand that dates back to the 1930s. HP was at the forefront of the printer revolution, offering inkjet and laserjet models as early as 1984.
Printers are not the only product HP sells. HP also produces personal computers, copiers, scanners, and other office supplies. Business owners appreciate the seamless integration of HP products, which includes features such as HP’s Instant Ink program.
Benefits of HP Printers
It’s essential to consider unique benefits when weighing the Canon vs HP printer debate. What sets HP apart from other brands?
HP printers are very consistent products. They offer dependable performance and a smooth print quality. HP is a top choice for home offices, large enterprises, and everyone in between.
The popularity of HP is a benefit in its own right. HP printers have seamless integration with other HP products. For example, you can connect a wireless HP printer to an HP laptop in just a few clicks, eliminating the cumbersome setup process. It’s also easy to find customer support for HP.
HP’s Instant Ink subscription service detects low ink and automatically orders new cartridges. This ensures you avoid downtime and provides some cost savings. However, the program has some drawbacks. The most notorious drawback is losing access to ink after cancelling your subscription.
Thankfully, HP Instant Ink is optional, giving you the flexibility to make the right choice for your needs.
Cost Considerations
We must consider pricing when exploring the Canon vs HP printer debate. HP offers a diverse range of products from budget-friendly models to high-end premium machines. Entry-level models for HP start around $60 to $80.
However, the initial sticker price isn’t the only thing to consider in the HP vs Canon printer debate. We must also consider the long-term cost of ink.
HP’s genuine ink tends to have higher prices than other brands. The Instant Ink program is cheaper by up to 50%, but you lose access to the ink after cancelling the subscription.
We find that the most effective way to reduce ink costs with HP printers is to select a model that accepts third-party inks. Otherwise, you’ll be between the restrictive subscription program and the costly à la carte cartridges.
Overview of Canon Printers
The other side of the HP vs Canon printer debate also has a storied history. Canon is a Japanese conglomerate founded in 1933. The brand initially focused on shutter cameras before branching out into other imaging products, including photocopiers, scanners, and, of course, printers.
Canon created a print engine in the early 1980s. This engine is a popular staple in the industry, and even brands like HP still use Canon components in their production process. Canon printers have a reputation for emphasizing print quality and color vibrancy, which is a direct connection to the brand’s photography roots.
Benefits of Canon Printers
It’s crucial to consider the intended use cases when comparing Canon vs HP printers. Canon is the go-to option for photography printing, vibrant colors, and rich, detail-heavy results. Canon sells pigment ink for professional prints.
Canon’s Pixma line uses a hybrid of black pigment ink and standard color ink. The imagePROGRAF line goes a step further to deliver painting-quality printing results.
Canon’s MegaTank is the brand’s latest innovation, similar to Epson’s EcoTank and HP’s Smart Tank. It offers support for high-volume printing and can help you save on ink costs.
Cost Considerations
Canon’s printers range from affordable entry-level options at $50 to high-end professional models priced over $1,200. In the Canon vs HP printer debate, we find that each brand is priced pretty similarly at face value.
However, you must weigh ink costs. Most Canon models utilize black pigment ink to produce high-quality photographic results. This includes the popular Pixma line. Canon ink tends to cost more than the average brand as a result.
Conversely, the presence of the Canon MegaTank offers potential cost savings. You can typically fill the super tank with third-party ink to save money in the long run.
Canon vs HP Printer: Which is Better?
We’ve examined each side of the HP vs Canon printer debate individually. But which printer is better, HP or Canon?
These two brands are remarkably similar to one another and even share some internal components. We’ll need to compare Canon vs HP printers across several categories to provide a specific answer.
Print Quality
Print results are one of the most critical factors on this list. You don’t want a machine spitting out spotty pages that require constant reprints. For print quality, which printer is better, HP or Canon?
The answer depends on your use case. Canon’s high-end models are the best choice for photo-quality results. Canon particularly excels in terms of color vibrancy and sharp details.
Conversely, HP is an excellent choice for consistent, clear text and reliable output. We like both brands for everyday printing. Canon has a slight edge for professional photographers.
Ease of Use and Setup
Printers are in your home or office to make your life easier. You don’t want to fuss around with a complex device that requires plenty of steps just to produce a single page.
Each side of the Canon vs HP printer debate offers a user-friendly experience. HP printers integrate with existing HP products, including laptops and desktops. You can connect them to your devices in just a few simple steps, rather than wading through a burdensome installation process.
However, you might experience some minor difficulties figuring out how to put ink in an HP printer. HP printers without a Smart tank will typically require HP cartridges to function. This means you will have to choose between HP’s subscription service or paying higher costs compared to third-party inks.
Canon ink is easier to use than HP. Canon’s MegaTank design is more common than HP’s equivalent, allowing you more flexibility in ink choices. However, Canon’s installation and setup process is slightly more complex compared to HP’s.
Upfront and Operating Cost
You also must consider pricing. For both short-term and long-term value, which printer is better: HP or Canon?
Each brand has similar price tags upfront. You’ll find entry-level printers at $60 or premium, enterprise-quality models at $ 1,000 or more. The real difference in each brand lies in ink costs.
HP’s branded ink cartridges are typically more expensive than those of Canon. However, HP Instant Ink can lower these costs by up to 50% if you’re willing to deal with the extra hassle. Canon uses pigment ink in many of their models, which also raises the price a fair amount.
We give a slight win to HP here for price, but paying a small premium for Canon’s flexibility might be worth it.
Speed and Duty Cycle
Duty cycle refers to the maximum number of pages a printer can handle per month. Which printer is better, HP or Canon?
HP models tend to be faster and more capable of handling large print volumes. HP’s enterprise models can sustain the printing needs of a busy office. Canon focuses more on print quality, resulting in slightly slower output.
Much of this depends on the printer model quality, though. A high-end Canon printer will easily out-speed and out-volume an entry-level HP, and vice versa.
Product Variety
HP and Canon have each built their printer lines over the decades. Today, they both have several options that work for various use cases.
HP has both inkjet and laser printers. OfficeJet is an excellent line for commercial businesses, while DeskJet is for at-home use. HP even has a photo-quality line, known as ENVY. A few of these models come with HP’s refillable Smart Tank, though most still use standard cartridges.
Canon’s product variety leans more towards photo quality. Pixma offers photo-quality printing at reasonable prices, while imagePROGRAF is ideal for professional artists.
We think HP has slightly more versatility overall, but Canon is a better choice for creatives.
Durability and Support
You want a printer that can handle large printing volumes over the long term. So, which printer is better, HP or Canon?
Each brand has built a reputation for reliable manufacturing quality. HP is slightly better for busy office environments, especially their LaserJet line. However, Canon is often more reliable when working with pigment inks.
HP’s customer support is industry-leading. They have a global network of vendors and suppliers that can help with issues. Canon’s customer support is solid, but slightly lags behind HP’s.
More Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between an HP Printer vs Canon Printer
Canon and HP are relatively similar. The differences between the two are pretty slight, all things considered. However, there are a few more questions you need to ask before you make a purchase that can tip your decision in either direction.
How often will you print?
Are you managing a large enterprise that produces tens of thousands of pages a month? Or do you only print a few times a month?
HP’s LaserJet enterprise models are a great fit for heavy volumes. Conversely, Canon offers slightly better value per page for at-home printing.
What type of documents/photos do you print most?
You must consider the type of pages you plan to print. HP is a good choice for text and standard office printing, especially for documents that are primarily black and white. Canon’s wheelhouse is color vibrancy, especially for professional-quality photos and artwork.
How important is long-term ink cost?
Canon and HP printers have nearly identical upfront price tags. Ink costs are what distinguish them over time.
HP Instant Ink is a cost-effective option for HP models, but it requires a subscription program. Individual HP cartridges are significantly more expensive. Additionally, HP printers typically use only genuine cartridges, which can limit your options.
Canon is a better middle ground. The pigment inks in Canon models are slightly more expensive, but offer extra flexibility.
Are you comfortable managing subscriptions (HP Instant Ink) or prefer refillable tanks (Canon MegaTank)?
Each brand offers different types of printer ink and systems. HP Instant Ink is a well-intentioned idea, but many users hate the hassle of managing subscriptions. You don’t have the flexibility of using different ink, and can no longer use Instant Ink after canceling the program.
Learning how to put ink in a Canon printer is much simpler. Canon’s MegaTank lines allow you to use various inks. HP does have an equivalent in Smart Tank, but it’s less common.
The downside of MegaTank is that you could experience downtime compared to Instant Ink’s straight-to-your-door program. However, many retailers are adopting versions of subscription-based delivery, making the difference negligible.
Closing Thoughts on HP vs Canon Printer
Overall, HP and Canon are two titans of the printing industry. HP is a consistent and reliable brand for both home and office use, delivering stable results every time. Canon’s photography roots deliver high-quality, vibrant prints at reasonable prices.
After you choose a brand, there’s only one thing left to do: figure out what to do with your old ink and toner cartridges!
Did you know you can sell toner cartridges for cash? Our ink and toner reverse logistics company will buy your unused and unwanted products! SellToner.com will help you whether you’re switching off of HP’s Instant Ink program, moving to a Canon MegaTank model, or relocating to a new office.
We purchase all new, unused cartridges from major brands, including Epson, Brother, Dell, IBM, Canon, HP, and more. You can get an instant offer and speedy payment. Talk to our team to sell your unwanted ink and toner today!
