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If you are tired of fighting with finicky desktop software every time you need a document, the move to AirPrint is the one sanity-saving change you can make today. This guide walks through six AirPrint-compatible printers that actually talk to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac without a single driver install — so you tap Print and walk away.
I’m Rikta — the founder and writer behind FitlyFast. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
You need an AirPrint printer that matches how you actually work — whether that means fast color laser output for a home office or a compact portable that fits in your bag. The six models below each serve a very different purpose, so the right one depends on your specific setup.
Quick Picks
- Canon Color imageCLASS LBP646Cdw Wireless Laser Single-Function Printer — Best Overall
- Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer — Lowest Running Cost
- Xerox C235dni Wireless Color Laser All-in-One Printer — Best All-in-One Laser
- Canon PIXMA TR7120 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer — Best Mid-Range Inkjet
- Canon PIXMA TR160 Wireless Portable Lightweight Compact Printer — Best Portable
- Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer — Budget Champion
How To Choose The Best AirPrint Printer
Choosing the right AirPrint model depends on three factors: your print volume, your speed needs, and whether you prefer refilling ink bottles or swapping toner cartridges. AirPrint (Apple’s wireless printing standard that lets you print from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac without installing drivers) works on every model here — so the real differences come down to speed, running costs, and physical size.
Print speed that matches your rhythm
Pages per minute (ppm) is the number that tells you how long a 10-page document will take. If you print a few school forms or recipes each week, a 7.7 ppm black-and-white speed is fine. If you run a small office churning out 20-page reports, look for 24 ppm or higher — laser printers live in that fast lane.
Ink vs. toner: the long-term math
Inkjet printers use liquid ink in cartridges or bottles. The initial purchase is lower, but you replace consumables more often. Laser printers use toner powder; the printer itself costs more upfront, but a single high-yield toner cartridge typically prints many more pages before it runs out. Buyers report that some inkjet models drain cartridges after just a handful of pages — worth checking the reviews on consumable life before you buy.
Single-function vs. all-in-one
A single-function printer only prints. An all-in-one adds scan and copy, and some models also add fax. If you never scan or copy, a single-function model saves space and complexity. If you need to digitize receipts or copy a page, an all-in-one keeps you from reaching for your phone camera.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | B&W Speed | Color Speed | Duplex | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon LBP646Cdw | Fast laser for home office | 26 ppm | 26 ppm | Yes | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2850 | Low-cost color inkjet | 10.5 ppm | 5 ppm | Yes | Amazon |
| Xerox C235dni | Color laser all-in-one | 24 ppm | 24 ppm | Yes | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR7120 | Compact all-in-one with ADF | 14 ppm | 9 ppm | Yes | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR160 | Portable travel printer | 9 ppm | 5.5 ppm | No | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TS3720 | Basic occasional home use | 7.7 ppm | 4 ppm | No | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Canon Color imageCLASS LBP646Cdw Wireless Laser Single-Function Printer
The laser that outruns every inkjet in this lineup by miles per minute.
If speed is your priority, this single-function printer pulls away from the pack. It prints both black-and-white and color at 26 ppm — that is more than six times faster than a basic inkjet like the Canon PIXMA TS3720 (4 ppm color). The first page lands in about 10.3 seconds, so you are not staring at a progress bar waiting for a one-page letter. Owners mention an easy 30-minute setup for non-tech users, and the 250-sheet cassette plus a 1-sheet multipurpose tray keeps you reloading less often.
There is no scanner or copier here — print only. That keeps the machine dedicated and the footprint smaller than a full all-in-one, but you need a separate device if you ever need to scan. The 5-inch LCD screen makes navigating settings straightforward, and automatic 2-sided printing saves paper without you flipping sheets by hand. It uses Canon Genuine Toner 075 cartridges; customers note toner is expensive but compatible alternatives are available.
Blazing fast verdict: This is the pick for anyone who prints 20+ pages per week and wants them done in under a minute — just know you are trading scanning for speed.
Who should look elsewhere: If you need an all-in-one or print only a few pages a month, a slower and cheaper inkjet will still feel quick enough.
Reach for this if: you value speed above all else and already own a scanner — 26 ppm (pages per minute, meaning it prints 26 letter-size pages in one minute) color laser output is tough to top in this price range.
skip it if: you need scan, copy, or fax built in, or you prefer a lower upfront cost with slower but adequate output.
2. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
The no-cartridge system that crams thousands of pages into every bottle of ink.
Instead of swapping cartridges every few weeks, this all-in-one uses large refillable ink tanks. The printer ships with a bottle of 502 Black (127 mL) and one bottle each of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow (70 mL) — enough ink to see most light users through a year or more. It prints 10.5 ppm in black and 5 ppm in color, which is not the fastest here but plenty for home use. Reviewers point out setup is easy and the ink lasts so long that the savings add up fast.
Printing at 4800 x 1200 resolution gives you sharp text and solid photo quality, though some buyers mention photos come out a bit washed out compared to a dedicated photo printer. Auto 2-sided printing is built in, and the wireless connection is reliable on 2.4GHz networks; some shoppers say the small LCD screen and top paper feed can feel a little awkward. It supports Apple AirPrint, the Epson Smart Panel App, and Mopria Print Service.
What the ink savings mean
- Refillable tanks instead of cartridges — buyers report the ink lasts through hundreds of pages
- Auto duplex saves paper and time on multi-page documents
- 4800 x 1200 dpi produces crisp text and decent photos for everyday use
Things to weigh up
- Print speed is modest — 10.5 ppm black and 5 ppm color is fine for low volume but slow for a busy office
- Some owners mention the top paper feed feels less sturdy than a standard cassette
- Wireless can be finicky if your network forces 5GHz — it prefers 2.4GHz
Perfect match: Home users who print a moderate number of color pages monthly and want to stop buying cartridges every few weeks.
Not for: High-volume offices needing fast output — the 10.5 ppm black speed will feel slow when you are against a deadline.
3. Xerox C235dni Wireless Color Laser All-in-One Printer
The color laser that scans and copies without slowing down.
At 24 ppm in both black and color, this Xerox nearly matches the speed of the Canon LBP646Cdw above — and adds a full scanner and copier. That makes it a strong all-in-one option for a small office. The printer includes starter toners with a 500-page yield, and it supports high-yield cartridges to keep running costs manageable for operations printing up to 1,500 pages per month. Customers note that once you get through a potentially quirky setup — some needed to use the front panel instead of the app — the machine prints, copies, and scans reliably.
One trade-off is that the scanner is single-sided only, despite the printer itself handling automatic 2-sided printing. Buyers also note that the app-based setup can hang, and the driver downloads on the Lexmark website (Xerox was acquired by Lexmark) are not always easy to find. But for the price of a color laser all-in-one with this speed, experienced reviewers point out it is a great investment for a home office. It supports Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and the Xerox Easy Assist App.
Fast all-rounder: 24 ppm color laser speed plus scan and copy in one machine — rare at this price point.
The catch: Setup can frustrate less tech-savvy users, and the single-sided scanner is a let-down for duplex document digitization.
Grab this if: you want near-laser speed for color prints plus all-in-one functions without jumping to a higher price tier.
Pass if: you need a simple plug-and-play setup or scan both sides of a document automatically — this one demands a bit of patience upfront.
4. Canon PIXMA TR7120 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
The compact all-in-one that adds an Auto Document Feeder without asking much desk space.
For a mid-range inkjet, the TR7120 packs a lot of useful hardware into a small footprint. It prints 14 ppm in black and 9 ppm in color — faster than the basic TS3720 (7.7/4 ppm) but not as quick as the laser printers above. The real winner here is the Auto Document Feeder (ADF), which lets you load a stack of pages for scanning or copying without standing over the machine feeding one sheet at a time. Shoppers say replacing an old HP and printing 500 pages without a single jam — a strong reliability signal.
Automatic 2-sided printing is included, and the 1.42-inch monochrome OLED screen shows ink levels and status at a glance. The printer uses a 2-cartridge hybrid ink system (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black), which keeps replacement simple. Some buyers warn that the included starter ink runs out quickly and that the single color cartridge can be expensive to replace. It supports Apple AirPrint, the Canon PRINT App, and Mopria Print Service.
Why the ADF matters
- Auto Document Feeder handles multi-page scanning without babysitting
- 14 ppm black speed is a noticeable step up from basic home printers
- Compact footprint fits tight desks — buyers praise the small size
What to watch for
- Some buyers report starter ink runs out quickly after setup
- Third-party ink options are limited for this model
- Single color cartridge means replacing all colors at once when one runs out
Ideal buyer: A home or hybrid worker who regularly scans multi-page documents and wants a reliable, compact all-in-one with duplex.
Not for: Heavy color printing — the expensive single color cartridge makes high-volume color use costly over time.
5. Canon PIXMA TR160 Wireless Portable Lightweight Compact Printer
The 4.5-pound printer that slides into your bag and prints from your phone anywhere.
This is the one you carry. At 4.5 pounds and measuring 12.7 inches deep by 7.3 inches wide by 2.6 inches tall, the TR160 is about the size of a ream of paper — it fits into a backpack with room to spare. It uses a 5-color hybrid ink system for vibrant photos and sharp text, printing up to 8.5 x 11 inches with or without borders. It prints 9 ppm in black and 5.5 ppm in color, which is perfectly fine for on-the-go documents. Owners mention replacing a Canon PIXMA iP110 and confirming it uses the same cartridges — handy if you already own those.
This is a print-only device — no scanner, no copier. Connectivity is through Bluetooth, USB-C, or Wireless Direct mode (which lets you connect even without a Wi-Fi router). The 1.44-inch monochrome OLED display shows ink levels and status. An optional battery pack is available if you want to print truly away from a wall outlet. Customers note that the tiny ink packs run out relatively fast but that the print quality is excellent for a portable.
Mobile-first design: Prints from phone, tablet, or laptop via Bluetooth or USB-C — no network required.
Honest limit: No scanner, small ink cartridges that need frequent replacement, and the optional battery is sold separately — plan for those extras.
Grab this if: you travel frequently and need to print contracts, forms, or photos from a phone or laptop without a hotel network.
Look elsewhere if: you need scanning or print more than a few pages a week — the cartridge life is better suited for occasional mobile use.
6. Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer
The entry-level all-in-one that keeps the price low but the ink cost high.
At 7.7 ppm black and 4 ppm color, the TS3720 is the slowest printer in this lineup — but it is also the most affordable upfront. It prints, copies, and scans, and the 1.5-inch segment LCD screen makes basic navigation simple. Setup is fast via the Canon PRINT app or Dual Band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz), and it supports Apple AirPrint, Mopria Print Service, and Chromebook. Many buyers call it a great value for occasional home use — easy to set up, reliable, and decent quality for both documents and photos.
The catch is the running cost. Reviewers point out that the cartridges drain fast, with one noting the ink dropped by 75% after just four sparse pages. It also does not print on both sides (simplex only), so double-sided documents require manual page flipping. It uses Canon CL-276 and PG-275 cartridges.
What works for the price
- Very low upfront cost — one of the cheapest AirPrint-compatible all-in-ones available
- Simple setup via app — shoppers say getting it running in minutes
- Compact and reliable for occasional printing, with decent quality for text and photos
The hard trade-off
- Cartridges drain fast — some buyers report 75% ink gone after only four sparse pages
- No automatic duplex — you flip paper yourself for two-sided printing
- Slow speed: 4 ppm color means a 10-page document takes over two minutes
Best for: A student or occasional home user who prints a few pages a month and wants the lowest possible purchase price.
Not for: Anyone who prints weekly or in volume — the fast-draining cartridges will quickly cost more than the printer itself.
Understanding the Specs
Pages Per Minute (ppm)
This is the number of pages the printer can produce in one minute. It is measured separately for black-and-white and color because color printing is typically slower. A 7 ppm printer takes about 9 seconds per page; a 26 ppm printer does a page every 2.3 seconds. For home use, 8–15 ppm is comfortable. For a busy office, you want 22+ ppm so you are not waiting on a 20-page document.
Duplex (2-sided printing)
Automatic duplex means the printer flips the page and prints on the other side without you touching it. Simplex means you have to manually flip the stack. If you print multi-page reports or handouts, auto duplex saves paper and time. It is a feature you notice immediately the first time you do not have to stand next to the printer re-feeding pages.
Cartridge vs Tank vs Toner
Inkjet printers use liquid ink in cartridges (small, replaceable) or tanks (large, refillable bottles). Laser printers use toner powder in cartridges. Cartridges are the most common but can run out fast. Tank systems like the Epson EcoTank have a higher upfront cost but much lower cost per page. Laser toner costs more per cartridge but typically yields hundreds to thousands of pages before replacement.
FAQ
What exactly does AirPrint do for me?
Will an AirPrint printer work with a Windows laptop or Android phone?
How does laser printing compare to inkjet for a home office?
Can I print photos with an AirPrint laser printer?
How many pages can I expect from a single set of cartridges or toner?
Do I need a Wi-Fi router to use AirPrint?
What does duplex printing mean and why does it matter?
How do I set up an AirPrint printer for the first time?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For the majority of shoppers, the airprint printer winner is the Canon Color imageCLASS LBP646Cdw because 26 ppm color laser speed in a compact print-only machine is the fastest path from your phone to finished paper, with no ink-drying headaches. If you want the lowest running cost and print a steady volume of color pages, grab the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 and its refillable ink tanks. And for a portable that prints from your backpack anywhere, the Canon PIXMA TR160 is the lightest AirPrint companion you can carry at 4.5 pounds.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, FitlyFast earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.