CISS System Vs Toner: Which Is Best?

Our Inkjet CISS (continuous ink supply system) and toner cartridges for laser printers are two of our most popular products. While each has its own individual benefits – which we will discuss – people often ask us which is best; in order to try and find an answer to this riddle, let’s take a look at how each performs in several critical area of printing. 

Cost

As with all electronic products, you can pay as much or as little as you choose to depending on the specifications you want. Generally an inkjet printer with a CISS system will cost you less than a laser printer upfront, especially if you need to purchase the toner on top of the cost of the printer itself. As far as everyday running costs go your CISS system will be cheaper to run too - though it is worth mentioning that toner does last a lot longer than conventional inkjet cartridges, so it’s still a sensible purchase.

Print Quality

Both printers are more than capable of producing high quality prints, but there are some differences. Laser printers fuelled by toner are able to print faster and sharper than inkjets. If you wish to print for photography purposes however, an inkjet CISS produces superior high-resolution photographs.

Longevity

Because toner cartridges do not have heads which burn out or clog up, they will last a lot longer than conventional inkjet printers, though the addition of one of our CISSs will help this. Another advantage of toner is that because it is dry it won’t dry up if you should not use your printer for long periods of time. Our Inkjet CISS printers do however have a smaller carbon footprint as they have a lesser heat output and lower electricity costs than laser printers.

As you can probably tell by now, there is no straightforward to this question. What we have ciphered though is where each printer is advantageous - all you need to do is assess what exactly you want from your printer, and make your choice accordingly.