Last Updated on January 1, 2023
DIY enthusiasts and individuals who love creating projects will find a printer with Explore Air 2 to be an excellent combination. A card, gift, or art project can be easily created with the Explore Air printer, making it a perfect choice for beginners.
As we all know, the world of Cricut printing is evolving quickly, and you need a printer that matches your crafting needs. To get the best possible quality prints, you need to choose a fast, efficient, reliable, and user-friendly printer.
The modern craft room is not complete without a printer. It offers a convenient way to store, print, and share designs and SVGs from various mobile devices.
But not all printers are created equal. Some are unreliable, some are expensive, and others are incompatible with a Cricut machine. So, which is the best printer for you? That’s why we’ve experienced and compiled a list to help you choose the best printer for Cricut to explore air 2, complete with an informational buying guide that will help you pick the right one for your needs.
Best Printers Compatible with Explore Air 2 (Our Top 3 Picks)
- Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
- Smartphones, PC, Laptops
- Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
- Smartphones, PC, Laptops
- Envelopes, Paper (plain), Labels, Glossy photo paper
5 Best Printers for Cricut Explore Air 2
1. The HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer
I observed that the Manufacturers of the Envy 5055 have built the printer with a low-profile design. Due to its modest size, it will not take up much room on your desk. The HP ENVY 5055 is a fantastic all-in-one printer, scanner, and copier that’s perfect for small businesses and households.
It did not take me any special effort to set up this printer. You can connect it to your Wi-Fi network using the built-in wireless technology through HP smart app, or if you want to hardwire it, it has a USB port for direct connection. It’s also compatible with Microsoft Office and cloud printing, so you can print from any computer on your network or even from Google drive.
Instant ink and menu control on the touchscreen are the two features I find most impressive in this printer. HP ENVY-5055 has a touchscreen, so you can easily navigate the menus and use the device’s advanced features. It also comes with HP Instant Ink, which means you can print up to 20 pages per cartridge without worrying about running out of ink.
The ENVY 5055 also has a range of features that make it an ideal all-purpose printer that can print, scan, and copy. For example, it offers automatic duplexing, which lets you print multiple copies on both sides of the paper. It saves paper and money and is especially helpful if you want to share photos or documents with friends and family.
2. The Canon Pixma TS6320 Printer
The TS6320 is a sleek, stylish printer, and it has a 1.44” OLED display which can show you everything about your print job including printable colors.
My favorite feature was that I did not have to replace the entire set of cartridges. Since it utilizes a 5-color system, the Canon Pixma TS6320 allows you to replace just a single ink tank rather than a tri-color cartridge when any color runs out.
Moreover, the auto-expandable output tray allows you to print even from across the room. It means that you can start printing even if your printer is not directly in front of you.
The Pixma TS6320 supports smart home device connection and Wifi printing, so you can connect to it from your smartphone and print from anywhere in your house.
It comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, and SD card slots to easily connect and share photos and designs with your friends and family.
This printer is compatible with all Canon ink cartridges. If you’re looking for a compact, but the powerful all-in-one printer, then this Canon Pixma TS6320 could be your top pick.
3. The HP ENVY Photo 7855 Printer
The HP Envy Photo 7855 is among the most affordable photo printers for the Explore Air 2. It is an improved model of the HP-5055, which I reviewed above. Compared to this printer, the previous model was a low-profile basic printer without features such as a dedicated photo tray and borderless printing.
It also includes a USB port to print directly from your computer. The USB port also supports high-speed printing so that you can print 4×6 or larger photos at up to 24 pages per minute.
The HP Envy 7855 includes an automatic document feeder. Additionally, it scans documents up to 14 x 18 inches and automatically generates an email version of each scanned page. The HP ENVY Photo-7855 printer features the HP Print app, which allows you to print directly from social media, and it is compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud.
4. The Canon Wireless Pixma TR4520 Printer
The Canon Wireless Pixma TR4520 is a great option if you are looking for an all-in-one printer, scanner, copier, fax, and Google Cloud Print. It is an ideal choice to save on space and have the convenience of printing needs in one location.
While testing, I printed up to 20 A4 size pages per minute. It’s great for printing documents, and photos and even scanning large volumes of data. You can use it with the Cricut Explore machine for business or personal use, and you’ll enjoy the fact that you don’t need to worry about ink, toner, paper, or cartridges.
It uses the latest Canon Wi-Fi Direct technology, allowing you to connect to your wireless network and print documents easily The Canon Pixma TR4520 can print from a variety of platforms, including Android, Windows, Mac OS, and iOS. It even supports Google Cloud Print to easily send documents to the cloud and access them from any device.
I observed that TR4520 is equipped with an automatic document feeder and a USB port that allows you to print directly from your mobile device. It’s compatible with various paper types and can print on glossy, matte, and even photo paper. Envelopes, labels, cards, and other materials can also be printed with TR4520.
5. Epson EcoTank ET-2720 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
What I like more about Eco Tanks printers than cartridge printers is that they involve minimum hassle. The Eco Tank ET-2720 is a high-performance all-in-one Super tank printer with a ton of features including a built-in scanner, copier, and fax machine.
The scanner lets you scan your documents, and it even has a touch screen so you can make adjustments to the scanning settings. The copier lets you copy and print up to 5 pages at once.
It also has a 2.3-inch touchscreen display, which makes it easy to navigate and use You can use Wi-Fi to link it to your phone or tablet, and you can print from most apps on your phone or tablet.
It also comes with a rechargeable battery that can last up to 600 prints. The battery is charged using a micro USB cable and takes approximately 3 hours to fully charge.
The printer is also easy to use, and it has a lot of helpful features, including auto duplex printing and an automatic document feeder. You can also adjust the paper size, print speed, and resolution. You can even control the power and other settings with your phone or tablet.
I assure you that Eco-Tank-2720 is energy-efficient, and it saves up to 80 percent of the power used by similar printers.
Best Printer for Cricut explore air 2 Buying Guide
Online shopping and finding anything has revolutionized how we live and shop. You might also come across challenges if you have bought a printer without going deep into technical aspects.
What if your printer is having issues printing certain files? Thankfully, there are some things you can do to ensure you have a printer that works as well as it should.
Paper Compatibility
The first thing you’ll want to consider when buying a printer is paper compatibility. If you buy a printer that doesn’t work with the paper you most often use, it may not be worth the money to purchase the printer. It may be more convenient to buy a different model or get a new printer altogether.
Your printer’s ink or cartridge needs to be compatible with the paper that you frequently use. The same goes for your printer’s media tray, which holds the paper you use.
Number of Cartridges
Most inkjet printers come with a built-in memory card that holds an amount of ink, but you’ll want to check the label on the printer to see how many cartridges it needs to operate. This is usually listed as either standard or high-capacity.
It’s a good idea to purchase a larger-capacity cartridge when you buy the printer, so you don’t have to buy another one down the road.
Print Media
It’s also important to note that inkjet printers tend to use a different type of paper than laser printers. Laser printers tend to use laser toner, while inkjet printers use dye-based ink. If you plan to print both laser and inkjet print jobs, make sure the laser printer has enough toner for the laser print jobs and a separate cartridge for the inkjet print jobs.
Does it have Wireless Connectivity?
It’s important to know what kind of wireless connection your device will need. In general, most printers will work with any type of Wi-Fi connection, so you won’t have to worry about whether or not you have a compatible network. The only time you’ll have to pay attention to this is if you want to connect to an existing wireless network. You will need to make sure the network is compatible with your device in this case.
Duty Cycle
Your printer’s duty cycle is the number of pages your printer can print in a set amount of time, usually expressed as pages per minute (ppm).
A printer’s duty cycle is directly tied to the type of paper it prints and how often it’s fed through the machine. Make sure you know if you plan to use it with a Cricut or for normal printing. You need a printer with a large duty cycle if used for multipurpose.
Software
Printers come with pre-installed software. Most of the installed soft wares are compatible with Cricut air 2. There is already a built-in stock of designs and images in that software. You can use or customize those designs according to your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Conclusion
HP-7855 is an ideal printer for basic projects with explore air 2. It is the least-priced printer amongst its contemporaries. If you are looking for a low-budget printer with all the basic facilities, this printer should be your choice.
However, a medium-budget printer with all features of a good Cricut printer is Pixma TR-4520. It works without any delays. You can save time with its uninterrupted instant functionality.TR-4520 comes with added features of scan and copy as well.
The overall best printer that stands out in our analysis is Epson Eco-Tank 2720. It is the best printer for Cricut air 2 owing to reasons like Climate support, ink tanks, versatility, screen display, and budget.
For the past five years, I have been working as a printer service supervisor in a printing press that serves customers with tailor-made designs and prints. My job involved dealing with printers five days a week, so I decided to take up printing as a hobby.