Printers and Scanners from $90 to $500: Which One Fits Your Workflow?

Quick Take

Choosing between a color inkjet and a mono laser printer scanner comes down to one question: what does your daily output actually look like? The four models here span $90.20 to $499.99 and split into three mono laser models and one color inkjet. If your work is mostly black-and-white and high-volume, the Lexmark MX611dhe is built for that. If you want faster mono output with more connection options, the Xerox VersaLink B405 covers it. If color is essential, the HP Smart Tank 7603 is the only color model in the set. And if you need a new mono print/copy/scan machine at the lowest listed price, the Canon imageCLASS MF273dw is the one.

Listed Price Comparison

Decision Matrix

Product Notes

Lexmark MX611dhe Mono Laser Printer Copy Scan Fax Duplex Network | 35S6702

Start with the Lexmark MX611dhe if your workspace lives on monochrome output. At the top of the listed price range, it is the joint most expensive option here, but it is the only model with a stated 150,000-page monthly duty cycle and paper capacity that can grow from 650 sheets to 2,300 sheets. The feature set covers print, copy, scan, fax, duplexing, and network use, plus a 50-sheet automatic document feeder. The limitation is the condition: it is marked Excellent - Refurbished rather than New, and connectivity is Ethernet rather than wireless. That makes it a strong pick for a wired office with heavy print volume.

Xerox VersaLink B405 A4 Mono Laser Printer With Toner B405DN Low Meter

The Xerox VersaLink B405 is the fastest mono laser in this group, with a listed 47 ppm black print speed at the same listed price as the Lexmark. It also comes with toner included, and connectivity spreads across wireless, Ethernet (RJ-45), and USB 3.0, so it is easier to move around or share without running a cable to every desk. It covers print, copy, scan, fax, and duplex functions. The limitation is the condition: it is marked Excellent - Refurbished, just like the Lexmark. Choose it when the extra pages per minute and wireless flexibility are worth the identical dollar amount.

HP Smart Tank 7603 All-in-One Inkjet Printer, Color Mobile Print, Copy, Scan

The HP Smart Tank 7603 is the only color printer in this comparison, and it carries a listed price of $349.99 as a New unit. It is designed around color mobile printing, copying, scanning, faxing, automatic document feeding, and wireless operation, so it covers a wider range of office tasks in one device. The limitation is price: at $349.99 it is the second most expensive option in this set, so you are paying for color and fax/ADF convenience rather than the lowest mono cost. If your jobs include color documents, the HP is the model that keeps everything in one device.

Canon - imageCLASS MF273dw Wireless Black-and-White All-In-One Laser Printer

The Canon imageCLASS MF273dw sits at the opposite price point from the Lexmark and Xerox: it is the least expensive model here and is listed as New. It is a wireless black-and-white all-in-one laser with a listed print speed of up to 30 ppm, a 35-sheet automatic document feeder, and a 150-sheet paper tray. Its feature set centers on copier and scanner duties, so treat it as a streamlined print/copy/scan hub rather than a fax machine. For a small desk or a secondary printer scanner, the Canon keeps the listed price low while still giving you a wireless connection.

Final Recommendation by Use Case

• Choose the Lexmark MX611dhe when your priority is high-volume mono printing with an expandable paper system and a full fax/copy/scan workstation.
• Choose the Xerox VersaLink B405 when you want 47 ppm mono output plus a richer connection set at the same listed price.
• Choose the HP Smart Tank 7603 when color output and fax/ADF matter more than the lowest price.
• Choose the Canon imageCLASS MF273dw when you need a new mono print/copy/scan machine at the lowest listed price.