Printers at Currys: How to Compare the Right Model
Compare printers at Currys or another retailer by print volume, ink cost, duplex, ADF, connectivity, support and the total job you need to complete.
Searching for printers at Currys usually starts as a retailer query, but the useful decision is about the machine you will live with after checkout. A low shelf price can be poor value if ink is hard to find, automatic double-sided printing is absent, the scanner cannot handle a document stack or the printer does not support the devices used at home.
This independent guide is not affiliated with Currys and does not reproduce a live product list. Stock, prices, promotions and policies change. Use the current retailer page for the offer, then use the checklist below to compare the complete printing job.
The short answer
Before choosing a model, write down four numbers: pages per month, the percentage in colour, the largest scan batch and the number of people or devices that will print. Then compare:
- printer type and duty pattern;
- replacement ink or toner availability;
- declared page yield and likely cost per page;
- automatic duplex printing;
- scanner and automatic document feeder requirements;
- Wi-Fi, wired and mobile-platform compatibility;
- paper sizes and tray capacity;
- warranty, returns and technical support.
Choose from the shortlist that meets those needs. Do not start with a badge, discount or bundled subscription.
Inkjet, ink tank or laser?
An inkjet is often flexible for mixed home documents and colour images. It can suit households that print regularly enough to keep the ink system in use. Check the number of cartridges, whether colours are replaced separately and how the manufacturer recommends maintaining the print head during quiet periods.
An ink-tank printer has a higher initial price in many comparisons but is designed around refill bottles and higher-volume printing. Compare bottle yields, maintenance parts, spill control and warranty terms rather than assuming every tank model has the same running cost.
A mono laser printer can suit frequent black-text work, while a colour laser may suit colour business documents where photo-style output is not the priority. Toner can have a high purchase price, so compare yield and the cost of drums or other separate consumables.
Our best inkjet printer guide explains the questions specific to inkjets. For a printer-scanner-copier, use the all-in-one printer checklist.
Estimate the real running cost
Retail prices are visible; consumable costs require a little work. For each candidate, record the exact cartridge, bottle or toner codes, standard and high-yield options, declared yields and whether a multipack forces you to replace colours together.
Use this simple comparison:
| Input | What to record |
|---|---|
| Monthly pages | Separate black text, mixed colour and photos |
| Consumable price | Use the current price for the exact code |
| Declared yield | Note the test standard and whether it is black or colour |
| Extra parts | Drum, maintenance box, waste toner or print-head service |
| Subscription | Monthly allowance, rollover, cancellation and overage terms |
Declared yield is a comparison measure, not a promise for your documents. Coverage, cleaning cycles, photo printing and long idle periods can change real consumption. Keep the calculation dated because prices change.
Duplex and paper handling
Automatic duplex means the printer can turn the sheet and print both sides without manual reinsertion. It can save time for reports and school work, but confirm whether duplex applies to the paper size and media you use. Manual duplex in a product description is a different workflow.
Check the main tray capacity, rear feed, supported weights, envelope handling and borderless sizes. A compact printer with a tiny tray may be frustrating in a shared home office. An A3-capable model can also occupy much more desk and output space than its product image suggests.
Scanner and ADF questions
An automatic document feeder is valuable when scanning contracts, forms or coursework. Confirm its capacity, supported paper sizes and whether it scans both sides automatically. An ADF that scans one side only may still require manual work for double-sided documents.
Flatbed size and optical scan resolution matter for photos or fragile originals, but workflow matters too. Check whether the software can combine multiple pages into one PDF, whether scan-to-email relies on a cloud service and whether the app supports the computers and phones you own.
Do not confuse an ADF with a paper input tray. They perform different jobs.
Connectivity: verify the exact devices
Wi-Fi on the box does not guarantee a painless setup. List the operating systems, phone platforms and network type in the household. Check the manufacturer’s current support page for drivers, mobile apps, AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet and USB as required.
If the printer will be installed for a relative or remote worker, plan how it reconnects after a router change. A screen that shows network status and a documented reset procedure may be more valuable than an extra headline feature.
Avoid buying a printer whose essential setup or scanning feature depends on an app that is not supported by your device. Where cloud printing is important, check account requirements and data handling before purchase.
Comparing a retailer with a specialist seller
Currys publishes a printer buying guide that covers printer types, page yield, duplex, ADF and connectivity. Use it as a starting taxonomy, then verify each specification on the exact model page and the manufacturer’s documentation.
A large retailer may offer convenient collection and broad category choice. A specialist seller may offer deeper pre-sale help on consumables or workflow. Neither channel is automatically cheaper or more suitable. Compare the same exact model, included consumables, delivery date, return route and support responsibility.
If considering a specific Epson all-in-one, our Epson WF-2850 review and product information page show how to separate a model’s declared features from a retailer-wide conclusion. Recheck all current specifications before purchase.
Returns, warranty and faulty goods
Read the current returns page before opening ink or completing setup. A change-of-mind return can have different conditions from a faulty-goods claim. Keep the order confirmation, serial number, packaging and a record of troubleshooting steps.
Check who provides first-line support, how a return is started, whether collection is offered and what happens to installed consumables. A retailer policy does not remove statutory rights, but the practical route and evidence still matter.
Do not rely on an old article for a current return period or promotion. Currys’ own returns and refund page should be checked at the time of purchase.
A ten-minute comparison card
For each shortlisted printer, complete this card:
- Exact model and revision.
- Typical monthly black and colour pages.
- Exact consumable codes and current replacement cost.
- Standard and high-yield page figures with test basis.
- Automatic duplex: yes, no or manual only.
- ADF capacity and simplex or duplex scanning.
- Supported devices and connection methods.
- Paper sizes, tray capacity and physical dimensions.
- Warranty provider and support route.
- Current delivered price and return conditions.
If a field cannot be verified, mark it unknown rather than filling it from a similar model.
Final decision
The best printer at Currys is not a universal model. It is the one that completes your regular print and scan jobs at an acceptable total cost, works with your devices and has consumables and support you can actually obtain.
Use retailer filters to create a shortlist, manufacturer documentation to verify specifications and a dated cost calculation to compare ownership. That approach remains useful after a sale ends or the product range changes.