Comparing thermal printer and inkjet printer based on the features of each will help you to buy Portable Printer and Scanner and prepare the best and most effective model according to your needs. These devices may be used anywhere and have different efficiency and type of printing; Therefore, you should be aware of the characteristics of each of them.
An Overview of All Types of Printers
Printers are classified into two general categories: thermal and inkjet. At first glance, the main difference between these two models is felt in the type and quality of their printing; But in other fields, you can find differences between them, knowing about these fields will help you to get the most suitable type to do your work and meet your needs.
Printers are known as very functional and useful devices and they provide their services in very wide areas, from offices and schools to large stores, in many homes, some small centers, etc., they can be seen prominently. To get to know more about these small machines, we will try to introduce you to them more in the form of comparing thermal printers and inkjet printers. First, let’s get some information about each model.
1. Thermal Printers
The name of this type of device clearly represents the type of their printing technology. Thermal printers work based on heat to transfer text and images onto paper; So there is no ink and toner in them and instead you can see thermal papers or solid inks in them.
Types of Thermal Printers
🔰 Thermal printers can be broadly categorized into direct thermal, thermal transfer, and dye-sublimation types. Direct thermal printers work by applying heat directly to heat-sensitive paper, making them ideal for temporary prints like receipts or shipping labels, although the prints can fade over time when exposed to light or heat.
🔰 Thermal transfer printers, on the other hand, use a heated ribbon to transfer ink onto various materials such as paper, plastic, or fabric, creating durable and long-lasting prints that are suitable for barcode labels and asset tags.
🔰 Dye-sublimation thermal printers are used for high-quality photo printing, employing a process that layers dye from a ribbon to create smooth, continuous-tone images, making them ideal for detailed color work. Each type serves specific printing needs, from basic and short-term labeling to producing durable or high-resolution outputs.
Advantage of Thermal Printer
Thermal printers are fast and efficient, printing without the need for ink or toner, which reduces operating costs. They require minimal maintenance due to having fewer moving parts and no consumables like ribbons. These printers produce sharp, clear images and text, making them ideal for barcodes and receipts. Their compact and durable design suits various environments, including retail and industrial settings, offering a cost-effective solution for high-volume printing needs.
Also read: Thermal Printer Complete Overview
2. Inkjet Printers
Inkjets are a type of very widely used printers that are also known as digital printers. As you can tell from their name, the work axis of this class of machines is based on the use of ink, which is used to print labels, images, photos and graphics on paper. The work output of these devices is of high quality and resolution, and for this reason, they are very popular among their customers and users. The above devices with their light weight have appreciable print quality and it can be said that considering that these printers do not need to establish a connection between the device and the printed materials to fulfill their role, it is possible to use them for printing on any surface. which is a big advantage for inkjet printers.
Also Read : portable printer Shopping Guide in Dubai
Types of Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers come in several types, including standard desktop models for home use, which are versatile and affordable. There are also photo inkjet printers designed for high-quality photo printing with advanced color accuracy. For professional applications, wide-format inkjet printers offer larger print sizes and enhanced detail, while multifunction inkjet printers combine printing with scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing capabilities.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Thermal and Inkjet Printers
Every industrial device of any size and function has some special features that can be classified as advantages or weaknesses and defects. Thermal and inkjet printers can also be evaluated and compared from this point of view. You can see the advantages and disadvantages of each of them by comparing the thermal printer and the inkjet printer in the table below.
| Feature | Thermal Printer | Inkjet Printer |
|---|---|---|
| Printing Technology | Uses heat to print images or text on paper | Uses ink to print labels, images, and graphics |
| Print Quality | Low | High |
| Range of Colors Used | Can print fewer colors | Capable of a wide range of colors |
| Image Durability | Low | High |
| Printing Cost | Low | High |
| Type of Paper Used | Regular paper | Thick and glossy paper |
| Printing Speed | High | Low |
| Device Sensitivity | Low | High |
| Quality and Sensitivity of Equipment | Low | High |
| Printing Capabilities | Text and images | Text and images |
| Color Cartridge | Ink cartridge | Toner cartridge |
| Device Lifespan | Long and durable | Short |
| Application Fields | Offices, government and private institutions, companies, various stores, pharmacies, various medical centers, etc. | Home use, retail, companies, and advertising agencies |
Which is Better Inkjet or Thermal Printer?
Choosing between an inkjet and a thermal printer depends on your specific needs:
- Inkjet Printers: Best for versatile printing needs including high-quality photos and documents. They work by spraying tiny droplets of ink onto paper. They are better for environments where print quality is more important than speed or cost-effectiveness.
- Thermal Printers: They work by directly heating the thermal paper which reacts by changing color to form the printed image or text. They are generally faster and more cost-effective in the long run, without the need for ink or toner. Ideal for high-volume environments like shipping labels, receipts, or ticket printing.
- Thermal printing is ideal for fast, cost-effective monochrome prints, like receipts and labels. It uses heat instead of ink, lowering operating costs and maintenance but requires special thermal paper and offers limited color options.
- Inkjet printing excels in high-quality color prints and versatility with different media. It’s cheaper initially but has higher running costs due to expensive ink and more frequent maintenance. Inkjet prints are also slower and less durable compared to thermal prints.
Printer Technology: Thermal vs Inkjet
Explores the fundamental differences in technology between thermal and inkjet printers, detailing how thermal printers use heat to transfer images, while inkjet printers spray ink droplets.
Also read: Best Multi-Task Printer for Home
Can Inkjet Print on Thermal Paper?
NO, Inkjet printers generally aren’t well-suited for thermal paper, which is designed to react to heat rather than ink. Thermal paper has a special coating that changes color when exposed to heat, which is what makes it work with thermal printers.
If you try to use inkjet printers with thermal paper, the ink might not adhere properly or might smear, as the paper isn’t designed for ink-based printing. For best results, it’s better to use thermal paper with thermal printers and inkjet paper with inkjet printers.
How to Print on Thermal Paper with Inkjet?
Inkjet printers are generally not designed to print on thermal paper. Thermal paper is specifically made to be sensitive to heat, which is how thermal printers create images. When used in an inkjet printer, the heat from the printer’s printhead may cause unintended marks or blackening of the thermal paper, and the ink may not adhere properly. If you need to print on thermal paper, it’s recommended to use a thermal printer designed for that purpose.
Application Difference Between Thermal Printer and Inkjet Printer
In general, the application fields of printers are very similar and in most cases they are used in the same fields. However, we mention the uses of each separately:
A. Application of Thermal Printer
The main field of activity of this type of device is the printing of many and various cards, inserting barcodes, printing all kinds of labels and tags, especially for inserting on various products. Fish printer models can be used to print various and very different types of labels; Such as shipping labels, inserting signs and identification marks, printing receipts and store invoices, all kinds of labels and similar things.
Looking at the comparison of thermal printer and inkjet printer, it can be said that these devices are used in many industries due to their low consumption, high speed and portability, including the following:
- Logistics and transportation affairs
- Construction industry: In this field, they are used to print compliance labels and maintain parts.
- In medical and health matters: printing of patients’ wristbands, labels of laboratory samples, drug prescriptions in the pharmacy and their classification are used.
- Small shops and retail stores
b. Inkjet Printer Applications
The mentioned printers, which have high-quality printing capabilities, are used in many fields such as home operations, offices and small companies, commercial printing and publishing institutions and centers, preparation and printing of various advertising brochures, information and many other cases.
The fields of use of inkjet devices include interior design, tailoring and similar products, floor covering printing, fabric production, all types of wall paper, in transportation, and furniture making.
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Mechanism Difference Between Thermal Printer and Inkjet Printer
Another thing that helps to compare the thermal printer and the inkjet printer and forms the basis of their difference is the way they work. In the following, we will try to explain the function of each of them with a short explanation in simple language:
A. Performance of Thermal Printers
- These devices use a thermal head to print texts, photos, and black images, which can be identified as a thermal printer head and is pressed onto a medium.
- The function of this part is that the printer head, which is heated by heat, gets the ability to do two things. It activates the head or special chemical papers that are in the machine, and their name is thermal paper, or it takes the help of solid ink and transfers it from a ribbon to stick to the environment; Of course, this part depends on the type of printer.
- Thermal papers become sensitive to the heat of the head and start turning black in response to it, while producing or printing the desired image or text.
b. The Performance of Inkjet Printers
In explaining how these printers work, it can be said that they spray ink (about a thousand drops) on paper. After that, they create a combination of colors, images and texts. In both mentioned stages, it is possible to change the amount of ink or mixed colors so that the user can maneuver to reach the level of quality, clarity, and realism expected.
Thermal Printer vs Inkjet Cost
Thermal printers have a higher upfront cost but lower long-term expenses since they don’t require ink or toner, just heat-sensitive paper. Inkjet printers are cheaper to buy but have higher ongoing costs due to frequent ink cartridge replacements and potential maintenance issues, making them more suited for lower-volume, high-quality color prints.
Why Printer Ink Is So Expensive?
Do Thermal Printers Need Special Paper?
As explained in the thermal device performance section, these printers need a special type of chemical paper called thermal paper to do their work.
Is the Thermal Printer Able to Print in Color?
These types of printers can print in color; But in general, by comparing thermal printer and inkjet printer, it can be pointed out that thermal devices have less color printing and their quality is not so significant.
FAQ – Thermal Printer vs Inkjet Printer
Considering the features of these two devices, it must be said that their most obvious and main difference is their way of functioning.
The comparison of thermal printer and inkjet printer shows that the printing speed is higher in all types of thermal printers than inkjet printers; But this comparison in the print quality section shows a completely opposite and different result.
Thermal printers use thermal power and heat to print; But the performance of inkjet devices is based on their use of standard ink cartridges.
Despite the differences between these two types of printers, they have similar applications and are used in printing all kinds of labels and tags, printing invoices and receipts, sorting parts, supplies, and medicines.
The price comparison of these devices shows that the type of thermal printers have a higher price due to the use of some special and expensive equipment such as: ribbons.
