Australian prices checked . Costs use genuine ink or toner at the manufacturer rated yield.
Short answer
- Canon PIXMA G3670 MegaTank: lowest five-year ownership expense for black or colour documents.
- Brother DCP-T580DW: cheapest ink per page, plus automatic double-sided printing.
- Brother HL-L2460DW: saves A$120 upfront; running expenses erase that advantage after roughly 2,000 pages (20 months at 100 monthly).
- Colour laser: consumables approach 20 times the tank alternatives per colour page.
Cost per A4 page
| Printer | Price A$ | Black | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA G3670 MegaTank | 330 | 0.42 | 1.20 |
| Brother DCP-T580DW | 380 | 0.34 | 1.10 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2810 | 400 | 0.46 | 1.30 |
| HP Smart Tank 7005 | 480 | 0.52 | 1.56 |
| Brother MFC-L8690CDW colour laser | 560 | 4.18 | 26.63 |
| Brother HL-L2460DW mono laser | 210 | 6.46 | No colour |
Colour figures include black. Mono laser includes drum replacement (1.11 cents per page); the colour laser estimate covers toner only.
5-year cost including printer price
| Printer | 100 black pages a month | 100 pages a month, 30 in colour | 300 black pages a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA G3670 | 355 | 369 | 405 |
| Brother DCP-T580DW | 400 | 414 | 441 |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2810 | 428 | 443 | 484 |
| HP Smart Tank 7005 | 511 | 530 | 573 |
| Brother HL-L2460DW | 597 | Black only | 1,372 |
| Brother MFC-L8690CDW | 811 | 1,215 | 1,313 |
Tank refills contribute just A$20 to A$95 here; laser consumables exceed the initial purchase.
Calculation method
- Unit expense: bottle or cartridge price divided by rated yield. Canon GI-61 black: A$25 / 6,000 pages = 0.42 cents each.
- Full-colour output: black component plus (cyan, magenta and yellow set price divided by colour yield).
- Five-year total: hardware purchase plus printing volume multiplied by unit expense.
- Bundled supplies are not deducted, making actual expenditure lower, particularly with tanks. Paper, electricity and repairs are excluded.
Choosing for your workload
Regular mixed documents favour refillable tanks. Occasional monochrome text suits a laser because toner withstands idle periods. Busy offices needing speed and multiple trays may accept premium colour consumables.
Cartridges and subscriptions
An A$150 inkjet charging 10 cents per sheet overtakes the G3670 after approximately 1,900 pages. HP Instant Ink instead bills a monthly allowance: A$14.99 for 100 pages, for example. Underusing that quota increases the effective rate.
Photos and labels
Specialty media changes the calculation. Compare finished prints, including compatible stock: a Canon SELPHY CP1500 ink and paper pack supplies 108 postcards for A$54, approximately 50 cents each.
Common printer problems
| Problem | Inkjet / ink tank | Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Clogged printhead | Common after long periods without printing | Not applicable |
| Dried or leaking ink | Possible, especially with infrequent use | Not applicable |
| Paper jams and feeding problems | Worn or dirty rollers, unsuitable paper | Similar problems |
| Poor print quality | Missing colours, streaks, blocked nozzles | Faded output, repeating marks, toner defects |
| Connectivity problems | Wi-Fi, USB, drivers, print queue | Same |
| Mechanical or electronic faults | Printhead, carriage, waste-ink system, power supply | Fuser, rollers, laser unit, power supply |
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Frequently asked questions
Does duplex halve ink consumption?
No. Both sides require ink; only paper usage falls.
Can tanks dry out?
Yes. Extended inactivity risks blocked nozzles, while cleaning cycles consume reserves. For gaps exceeding several weeks, consider a laser.