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Best Printer for 2023

Whether you’re producing documents, photos or both, we’ve got the perfect printer for you.

Now that so much work can be done online without the need for a hard copy, many people have begun to wonder in recent years if they really need a printer at home.

However, with tons of people now working from home, we’ve seen a renaissance for home printers. If you’re one of the many who find yourself in need of your own printer, CNET is here to help you find the right one. We’ve combed through the changing landscape of printers to bring you the best models available in 2023 so you can print photos, documents, college essays and more whenever you need.

Every printer profiled below can manage basic printing needs. For example, they can handle mobile printing and wireless printing from a phone or any PC, Mac or Chromebook, which is a must when it comes to office printers. They can also print over a cabled connection and via wireless printer connectivity. (Note that some — but not all — printers support Apple’s AirPrint and Google’s Cloud Print protocols, which are usually less onerous than the printer vendors’ proprietary systems.)

But what you intend to print will determine which is the best printer for you. If you’re mostly working with shopping lists, concert tickets or travel itineraries, having excellent print quality is arguably less important than print speed and price. If you’re using your printer for professional materials or photo printing, then color accuracy, printing quality and the inclusion of features like borderless printing will be primary considerations when you’re looking for the right printer.

Another factor to consider is the cost of ink and making sure that you have enough ink to print everything you need. (There’s nothing more frustrating than having a printer but no ink in the ink tank.) Inkjet printers use liquid ink to print, whereas laser printers use toner cartridges containing powder. So even if you’re getting a great printer deal, just be sure to do some research into how you’ll refill the ink, so you can choose the best printer for your overall budget. Some new printers include an ink subscription in their original price tag, so that may be something to consider as well.

We’ve tested and reviewed the top models for home and small office use from many of the major printer manufacturers including Brother, Canon, Epson and HP. Whether you print for business or personal use, we’ve got the best printer for you.

How we test

For a long time, CNETs methodology for testing printers didn’t change. Our original testing was designed in the days when Wi-Fi printers were rare, and faxing was an important consideration when choosing a device. These days, Wi-Fi is standard, app-controlled printers are everywhere and what and how we print have changed considerably. I designed a new set of printing parameters in 2022 that I hope will mesh with how we use printers nowadays.

Print and copy speed

The speed at which things print and copy is important in our daily lives. Printing a quick theater ticket, or copying a document needs to be done quickly and accurately. Testing this is easy; I simply used a stopwatch and printed 10 pages of text of varying sizes and typefaces. I used Fillerama to generate random text from Star Wars and Monty Python and changed the font size randomly across the page. I also used different fonts like Arial and Times New Roman to see how they would print. I even added Comic Sans into the mix, as people still think it’s a good idea to use it. Middle managers mostly.

Brochure and web page test

When asked, people told me that they use their home printer for printing online tickets from webpages as well as their resumes for job interviews. With that in mind I used the standard brochure template from Google Docs that I changed a little — I made the font size smaller and larger and changed the font too — to give that modern resume look. I also saved my article about becoming a Star Wars action figure into a PDF — I needed to keep the ads the same on every test so the live article wouldn’t do. Sometimes we are in too much of a rush to select just the ticket, so printing the entire webpage is easier. This test simulates that.

Receipt test

When you work from home you often have to submit your receipts for traveling and incidentals. One of the most common ways to do that, if you aren’t lucky enough to have an app, is to tape receipts to a piece of paper and scan them into your computer. That way you can email to where they need to go quickly and easily. To recreate that, I taped my receipts from my food shopping to create a scan. I used a mixture of new receipts and ones that had faded in my wallet, then I checked the scan for legibility. Most scanners will enhance the image you are scanning and that certainly helps with receipts.

Picture quality test

Like the previous CNET photo tests, I use the PhotoDisc Target file for my image tests. I print them on the same Canon glossy paper and study them according to the guidelines associated with this industry standard. I take special note of the skin tones at the bottom to make sure they’re replicated correctly and I also check for chromatic abrasion. Chromatic abrasion is a purple hue that often surrounds images and can make even the best picture look cheap and tacky. I also check for stippling; an image error that occurs on poorly calibrated inkjet printers.

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Technologies

Drag x Drive Proves the Switch 2’s Mouse Mode Controls Are Fantastic

Nintendo has done it again with a great new way to play games on its just-launched console.

Nintendo’s next summer title — and one of the few new games for the Switch 2 soon after its June launch — is the multiplayer wheelchair basketball game, Drag x Drive. It uses the console’s new Joy-Con mouse controls to simulate moving the wheels of your chair (or vehicle, as it’s referred to in-game) while playing short three-on-three matches. While it does take some getting used to, it shows off how well this new input mode works and harkens back to an era of motion-controlled gaming made popular on Nintendo’s Wii. 

Playing Drag x Drive is unique, reflecting the Switch 2 new tech. You detach each Joy-Con 2 controller from the system, place the sensors face down on a surface (which can range from a table to even your legs), and slide the controllers forward and backward to move the wheels respectively. I actually found it more comfortable on my wrists to use the controllers positioned a little wider on my thighs instead of straight up and down on a table. 

Learning to play has a steep curve, and I found my shoulders getting tired quickly as the game kept reminding me that longer strokes would move my character faster on the court. For anyone who experienced Tennis Elbow back when WiiSports came out, Drag x Drive’s bodily wear-and-tear will be familiar. 

The mouse’s controls are good — better than I expected, in fact. They feel snappy, and I was able to pull off some higher-level maneuvers when I got used to it. And as you move, you can feel a subtle vibration in each hand to help you dial in how much force you’re inputting. Moving the controllers at different speeds will adjust the turning radius. Braking (by pressing the R or L buttons) can be done independently of each wheel to further your control. There are even tricks you can pull off by using breaking and lifting the controllers in specific combinations, which the game points out will help you perform more advanced blocks and interceptions. 

Controls are the big novelty of Drag x Drive and take time to get used to, though the court and game modes offer their own unique challenges. 

Read more: I Played Donkey Kong Bananza. It’s the Switch 2’s Killer Ape

Moderately deep mechanics for a $20 game

The primary mode is a 3-minute three-on-three game that’s reminiscent of Rocket League (without the jetpacks). There’s an indicator always pointing toward the oversized ball. Rolling into it will pick it up. If you’re going fast enough (represented by a flashing light on your back) and crashing into someone head-on will knock it loose. And if you raise one of the joy-cons off the surface, you will lift the ball, flicking your wrist will make a shot. 

Since the court is kind of a skateboard-style bowl, you can even roll up into the air from the sides and shoot or dunk from above. These trick shots will award players with more granular points, for example, an aerial shot might award you 2.3 instead of the standard two you’d see in typical basketball. But you can still land a three-pointer from outside the boundary, but you’ll have to be lined up real well while the other five players aren’t slamming into you.

Defense also works just like you’d expect, with positioning playing the most important role. Pressing the R and L buttons together will pass the ball to a teammate. If an opponent is in the way, they can intercept. This is key since I witnessed many teams pass a ball way down the court to an isolated player while we tried to race after them to stop the shot. Like every sport, you’ll want to spread out and cover someone instead of clumping all together around the ball, like most new players often do.

While Drag x Drive curiously doesn’t refer to anything as a wheelchair (or even highlight the awesome and inclusive sport of wheelchair basketball), it’s really wonderful to see this representation. The characters can also be swapped out for one of three unit types: defense, forward or guard, all with different speed and power stats. From there, you can customise your character’s outfit and gear, with more to unlock as you play. 

Outside of the online play, there are also nine different bot difficulties you can take on, so the game is playable in single player. There are also several minigames stationed around the hub area. These include a timed race and a rebound mode where you need to chase after a bouncing ball in the hub before time runs out. They’re pretty short and not all that interesting, but they will reward you with medals to unlock gear. There are also some obstacles positioned around to play with. One example is a giant jump rope that you can bunny hop over. 

There isn’t a typical career or story campaign to work through — the main draw is the one core multiplayer mode. Considering the low $20 entry price, I wouldn’t expect anything super in-depth, making this more of a unique application of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons’ mouse mode than a long-lasting play experience. 

Drag x Drive is a shallow experience, but the skill ceiling has a lot of potential. Its low entry price makes it an easy recommendation, even if you’re just interested in trying out the new mouse controls that the Switch 2 offers. If Nintendo chooses to support the game with more content in the future, I would love to see limited-time events and more game modes get added, building on the bones of one of the most unique sports games to come out in years. 

Drag x Drive comes out on Switch 2 on Thursday. 

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Technologies

Bag the Premium Sonos Ace ANC Headphones for Just $299 in Your Choice of Color

Save $100 on a new pair of high-end ANC headphones while you still can.

It might have taken longer than anyone expected, but Sonos’ entry into the premium ANC headphone market soon made waves. The Sonos Ace headphones come with everything that we expect in 2025, including a hefty price tag.

But, thankfully, most retailers are now offering a solid discount that slashes the price to just $399. That price means that you’re saving $100 off the usual asking price without the need to do anything special — no coupons and no codes are needed. You can also choose between the black and white models when ordering, but we don’t know how long this new price will last. Consider placing your order soon, before it’s too late.

CNET’s headphones expert David Carnoy liked the Sonos Ace a lot, remarking that «overall, they deliver a more premium listening experience, as well as better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance» than many other options at this premium price range, but did state that the price tag itself was an issue. They’re comfortable, have strong spatial audio and they look good to boot. 

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

These headphones boast support for lossless audio via Bluetooth and their USB-C port, while plush memory foam ear pads ensure a comfortable fit all day long. You’ll also get up to 30 hours of battery life even with ANC enabled, while just three minutes on the charger gets you up to three hours of playback.

The newness of the Sonos Ace headphones and the rarity of Sonos deals make this one of the best headphone deals right now, especially if you like having the latest devices. 

HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

The Sonos Ace headphones are currently available at a significant discount. You can save $100 on these if you’re quick. This is very nearly the lowest price we’ve seen, so we recommend ordering your new headphones sooner rather than later.

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Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Aug. 13, #1516: Did You Know This Word?

Here are hints and the answer for today’s super-difficult Wordle for Aug. 13, No. 1,516

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a pretty tough one. It describes a drink that most Americans have probably never tried before, and the letters aren’t super common, either. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has two vowels.

Wordle hint No. 3: Start letter.

Today’s Wordle answer begins with K.

Wordle hint No. 4:Drink up

Today’s Wordle refers to a beverage.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer refers to a fermented milk drink with a sour taste, which originates from the Caucasus Mountains.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is KEFIR.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Aug. 12, No. 1515 was NOMAD.

Recent Wordle answers

Aug. 8, No. 1511: IMBUE

Aug. 9, No. 1512: NASAL

Aug. 10, No. 1513: MINTY

Aug. 11, No. 1514: SOUTH

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q. 

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

CLOSE

STARE

NOISE

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