Printers: Go Back a Season for a Good Deal

Like at the start of every year, the big manufacturers are all updating their collections and bringing out new models.  That doesn't always mean you can expect big changes, though.

With printers, for example, Canon has only really added major improvements to the very top of its range.  Amongst the more affordable models, the changes are largely cosmetic, with the exteriors moving from white to black.  On the left, you have two of the brand's flagship models from 2010, and on the right, the printers that are supposed to replace them in 2011:

Canon MP270	Canon MP280
Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Canon Pixma MG5350 Touchscreen, Connected Inkjet HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-In-One Affordable Photo Printer Epson Stylus Photo PX730WD	MARCHANDS €     Amazon.co.uk  29.00  Misco  40.79  Amazon mark...  65.99  Amazon mark...  73.54  Compare prices

In this case, the printing speeds are absolutely identical (8.4 ppm in black and white and 4.8 ppm in colour), use the same cartridges and have exactly the same limitations.  By that we mean that neither model has WiFi or double-sided printing and that their colour cartridges use one unit for three colours of ink.  They print at the same speed, and in the same quality, then-but the prices are different.  While there's still enough in the shops, last season's MP270 is a very good deal.

Canon MP560	Canon MG5250
	Prices unavailable Recommended alternatives Editor's Choice Canon Pixma MG5350 Touchscreen, Connected Inkjet HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-In-One Affordable Photo Printer Epson Stylus Photo PX730WD

It's the same higher up the range, but this time with more options: you get WiFi, separate colour cartridges and double sided printing on both of these printers.

The print speeds, however, are slightly different.  The MG5250 goes from 6 to 9.3 ppm in colour, and from the visuals, we'd say the screen looks larger.  That's still not enough to justify the price difference between the two models though ...


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