[dangus]

They aren’t. If you buy a cheap one, it will suck.

If you buy a color inkjet printer and you didn’t spend at least $200, you messed up.

I have the HP OfficeJet 9015, Wirecutter’s pick. It is far and away the best printer I’ve ever owned.

Also, if you want to print stuff, it doesn’t hurt to use Apple devices. AirPrint is dreamy.

Also, don’t forget how lousy printers used to be, especially in relation to drivers and software. Now it’s just join the printer to the WiFi and it’s there, ready to both print and scan wirelessly.

[bzzzt]

I recently bought an OfficeJet 9020. Can't say anything about reliability yet, but at least the ink is not outrageously expensive (just normal expensive...).

Installing the thing requires you to connect with an app that (thanks iOS 14) asks for much more permissions than it should (especially GPS location). It transmits your wifi password to the printer even if you've got a network cable plugged in! (it even has the nerve to ask you to remove the cable). Printer will not boot before completing this process, just hang on a 'connect with app' display. I'm not sure it even is legal to sell such a product here (Europe), but it sure is annoying they ship a product that requires an IT degree to use without giving up your privacy.

[dangus]

I didn’t give the app any location permissions during setup, IIRC.

I was setting up the printer over WiFi, so that WiFi setup functionality didn’t bother me.

I assume you could avoid the app by plugging the printer with a USB cable, though I didn’t try.

[cyberdrunk]

> Now it’s just join the printer to the WiFi and it’s there, ready to both print and scan wirelessly.

Or, alternatively, spend a frustrating afternoon trying to set it up, give up and buy very long USB cable...