Evaluating Mac Printer Options

Choosing the Right Printer for Mac: A Comprehensive Review

Whether you’re a creative based in Berlin or managing a startup in São Paulo, one challenge remains consistent—getting reliable, high-quality prints from macOS. A printer that doesn’t align with your workflow can delay client projects, waste ink, and increase costs. So before making a purchase, it’s worth examining not just the price tag, but also speed, software compatibility, and long-term expenses.

Quick Glance

This guide answers three main questions:
1) What factors should be evaluated when selecting a printer for Mac?
2) How do inkjet, laser, and multifunction units compare in terms of speed, color quality, and overall cost?
3) Which models are in demand globally—and why?

By the end, you’ll have a clear sense of which printer fits your workflow, no matter where you’re located.

Why Smart Selection Matters

Getting the wrong printer can lead to ongoing headaches. Based on a 2024 report from Keypoint Intelligence, more than 38% of small offices in Europe replaced their printers within the first two years due to maintenance costs being higher than expected. If your primary platform is macOS, the risk increases if you don’t confirm driver support and firmware update schedules. Once support stops, print delays may arise—or worse, features like AirPrint may no longer function.

Some printers appear budget-friendly at first but come with hidden issues—poor compatibility, outdated drivers, or missing features. If you’re working with time-sensitive deliverables, any delay can quickly escalate into missed opportunities. That’s why assessing not just initial features but also the long-term reliability of updates and ecosystem support is vital.

Key Factors to Evaluate

Print Speed (PPM)

If you’re assembling marketing materials for global use, every minute counts. Home office inkjet printers average around 10–15 ppm for black and white. Laser units typically reach 30–40 ppm, ideal for heavier workloads and larger print batches.

Also consider warm-up time. Some laser printers require 15–30 seconds to initiate printing, which can matter in a high-demand environment. Models with instant-on technology help reduce lag and improve productivity.

Clarity and Color Saturation

Speed means little to a photographer in Melbourne if colors come out dull. Look for DPI ratings—the standard for sharpness. The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-16680, for instance, offers 4800×1200 DPI, known for consistent tone and gradient output.

When working with branding materials, color fidelity is crucial. Skin tones, logo hues, and gradient transitions must remain consistent. High DPI combined with pigment-based inks ensures the kind of output designers can trust.

Connectivity Options

Check for USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. As hybrid work becomes more common, your printer should handle tasks from a Mac mini at home or a MacBook Air at a café in Amsterdam with equal ease.

Some printers now support direct cloud access, allowing you to print from Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud without needing to transfer files to a local machine first. This flexibility is especially helpful for distributed teams or freelancers constantly moving between devices.

Device Lifespan and Ownership Cost

A low upfront price can be misleading. Include expenses for ink or toner, drum units, and power consumption. IDC reports that up to 65% of a printer’s five-year cost comes from consumables.

Printers with larger ink reservoirs or toner capacities can significantly reduce per-page costs. It’s also helpful to choose models with replaceable components, so you’re not forced to discard the whole unit when one part wears out.

Printer Categories and Their Strengths

Inkjet Printers – Affordable and good with color, but slower and have higher ink costs per page.
Laser Printers – Often favored by accounting departments in Zürich for bulk printing due to their fast speeds and low per-page cost.
Multifunction Units – Include a scanner and copier. Perfect for coworking spaces in Toronto with limited desk space.

If you need to send signed documents or scan IDs, the multifunction unit becomes especially useful. It reduces reliance on third-party scanners or phone apps and ensures higher-quality digital captures.

How macOS Communicates with Printers

The latest macOS releases, including Sonoma, offer driverless printing via AirPrint and Mopria. Still, not all printers qualify. Check Apple Support’s compatibility list before you commit. Firmware patches typically arrive during Q1 and Q3—apply them regularly to avoid vulnerabilities.

For office setups, consider using IPP over USB. This helps route print jobs directly to network printers, minimizing job delays and reducing errors. Some enterprise environments even segment printers by VLAN to prioritize traffic for high-volume departments.

Efficiency and Environmental Focus

Sustainability is now a major concern. New laser printers often use low-melting-point toner to lower energy consumption. For example, HP’s LaserJet Enterprise M555dn uses just 0.3 kWh per day in sleep mode, based on Energy Star 8.0 benchmarks.

Ink options also matter. Refillable tank systems reduce waste and lower the need for constant cartridge replacements. While initial costs can be higher, total operating expenses decrease significantly over time. For small businesses or studios printing several hundred pages a month, the savings add up.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Leading Models

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e

Delivers 22 ppm in color and integrates seamlessly with the HP Smart app. In a 2024 PCMag survey, it earned 9.2/10 for reliability with macOS. Features include auto-duplex printing, remote mobile print support, and strong wireless stability. Ideal for teams with moderate print volume and color demands.

Canon imageCLASS MF645Cx

A laser-based model that excels in speed and efficiency. Its built-in AirPrint and Secure Print PIN features make it well-suited for health-tech startups handling confidential data. With a 250-sheet paper tray and multi-format output capability, it suits diverse workflows and mid-sized teams.

Brother HL-L2370DW

Though monochrome only, it handles daily document printing well. Equipped with Wi-Fi Direct, it allows MacBooks to print without a router. It received Buyers Lab’s “Winter Pick” in 2025 for small office use. It’s also remarkably quiet for a laser printer, making it ideal for shared workspaces.

Epson EcoTank ET-3850

This refillable tank printer produces up to 15,000 pages before needing a refill. A smart pick for design studios in Copenhagen that print multiple proof copies. It supports Apple Silicon Macs without driver installation and includes a flatbed scanner with 1200 DPI resolution—useful for design drafts.

Setup and Maintenance Tips

Before unboxing your new unit, make sure macOS is fully updated. The latest patch addresses USB over IP issues that affected some Big Sur and Monterey versions. If you’re using a laser printer, run a calibration cycle every three months. Inkjet users should avoid letting ink levels fall below 20% to prevent air bubbles that cause banding.

For distributed teams, a cloud print queue like PaperCut Mobility simplifies things. It eliminates the need for driver installs and tracks page counts per user—useful for cost-sharing across coworking locations from Nairobi to Toronto. This also enhances audit control and streamlines device management.

Staying Ready for What’s Next

The shift toward edge printing via ARM-based platforms is gaining pace. This might soon allow printers to act as USB-C hosts for iPhones. When thinking about future needs, consider models that can support upcoming protocols such as Wi-Fi 7 and the Matter standard.

Some units are already being developed with modular slots for connectivity add-ons. Selecting printers with such expandable architecture ensures that you won’t need to replace them entirely once new standards emerge.

Final Notes Before You Decide

Buying a printer isn’t just adding another piece of equipment to your workspace. It becomes a long-term partner in producing contracts, artboards, or school papers. If you take time to assess the types of documents you print, your required speed, and projected costs, the right model will match your rhythm.

Before clicking “buy” or heading to a store, revisit these factors and align them with your daily needs—whether you’re using a Mac Studio at a corporate desk or a MacBook Air across shifting time zones. That way, you’re not just printing sheets, but creating results you can be proud of.

Alex Carter
May, Thu, 2025

Customization & Personalization

Personalizing Menu Bar on Mac

Personalizing Your Mac’s Menu Bar: A Step Towards Customizing Your Workflow

For many Mac users, the menu bar is more than just a visual element—it’s the command center for their daily tasks. Whether you’re a professional content creator, a social media enthusiast, or someone who simply values efficiency, personalizing your menu bar can make a significant difference in how you interact with your Mac. From the ability to add shortcuts for your most-used apps to adjusting system settings at your fingertips, a customized menu bar can streamline your workflow and improve your overall Mac experience.

Quick Overview of Personalizing the Menu Bar

When you start adjusting your menu bar, the options are extensive. You can:

Rearrange your menu items to prioritize your most-used tools.
Add or remove apps from the menu bar for quick access.
Modify icons for better clarity and personalization.
Enable system preferences for a more personalized experience.

This article will walk you through the steps to personalize the menu bar, explore the benefits of doing so, and provide examples of useful menu bar tweaks.

Why Personalizing Your Menu Bar is Worth Your Time

The menu bar serves as a hub for numerous functions on your Mac. Personalizing it ensures that you don’t have to dig through menus or launch apps from the Dock repeatedly. Instead, you can focus on tasks that matter most. Here’s a closer look at why these customizations are not just a cosmetic upgrade but a productivity booster.

Prioritize What Matters Most

One of the first steps in personalizing your menu bar is deciding what apps and tools you need immediate access to. By arranging these elements, you ensure that everything you require is always just a click away. For instance, if you frequently use apps like Mail or Calendar, placing them in the menu bar will reduce the time spent navigating through the MacOS interface.

A good rule of thumb is to place the tools that you access throughout the day in the top row of your menu bar, where they’re easy to reach. This arrangement is perfect for users who want to minimize distractions while maximizing efficiency.

Add Custom Icons for Clarity

Another fantastic way to personalize your menu bar is by changing or adding custom icons. The default icons for system functions like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth can sometimes get lost in the shuffle, especially if you have many apps in your menu bar. By choosing icons that are more meaningful or visually distinct, you make it easier to identify what each button does, saving precious time when you need to access a specific function.

You can also tweak the appearance of app icons with third-party applications. Some tools allow you to create icons with your own branding, adding an additional level of personalization to your Mac setup.

Clean Up by Removing Unused Items

Just as adding useful tools to the menu bar can improve your workflow, removing unnecessary ones can create a cleaner, less cluttered workspace. Over time, your menu bar may accumulate icons from apps that you no longer use. Fortunately, you can remove these items in just a few steps. This not only clears up space but also declutters the interface, allowing you to focus on what’s truly important.

Using Third-Party Tools for Advanced Customizations

For users who want even more control over their menu bar, third-party apps are a great option. Tools like Bartender allow you to hide, rearrange, and organize your menu bar items in ways that go beyond the default MacOS options. With such apps, you can group similar tools together, make certain items hidden until needed, and tweak the way icons behave when clicked.

Accessibility and Quick Adjustments

Personalizing the menu bar also has the added benefit of improving accessibility. By adding the tools you use most, you reduce the need to navigate to different sections of your system, making it faster and easier to access various functions. For people with disabilities or those who require extra assistance, these small adjustments can make a significant difference in everyday interactions with a Mac.

Step-by-Step Guide to Personalizing the Menu Bar

If you’re ready to dive into customizing your Mac’s menu bar, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Rearrange Menu Bar Items

Rearranging the items in your menu bar is simple. Just hold down the Command key and drag the icons to the desired location. This works for most apps and system functions. You can place the most important items closer to the center for easy access.

2. Add or Remove Items

To add new items to the menu bar, go to the System Preferences section on your Mac. Under the Menu Bar settings, you can enable or disable various icons like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Time Machine. Apps like Dropbox or Google Drive can also add their icons to the menu bar automatically when they’re installed.

If you want to remove an item, hold the Command key and click the icon. This will reveal the option to remove or hide the item.

3. Use Third-Party Apps

As mentioned earlier, there are several third-party applications that can extend your menu bar’s functionality. Bartender, for example, offers a powerful set of tools for managing your icons. You can hide items you rarely use, organize them into groups, or make them visible only when clicked.

4. Customize Icons

Some apps allow you to change their icons directly within the app’s settings. For others, you may need to use a third-party tool to replace default icons with custom ones. Apps like LiteIcon let you replace system icons with your own.

5. Adjust System Preferences

For more advanced customizations, you can access System Preferences and make additional tweaks under the Dock & Menu Bar settings. This will let you adjust the appearance of certain icons and enable features like Do Not Disturb or Battery status.

Tools to Help You Personalize the Menu Bar

While many MacOS settings can help you adjust the menu bar to your liking, the addition of third-party tools can unlock even more possibilities. Below are some apps that can assist you in making your menu bar truly yours.

Bartender

Bartender is one of the most popular tools for organizing menu bar items. With Bartender, you can hide, rearrange, or manage your icons in more ways than MacOS allows by default. The app allows you to keep your menu bar neat and organized without losing access to essential tools.

iStat Menus

For users who need detailed system information at their fingertips, iStat Menus is a perfect addition. It provides real-time data about your CPU usage, memory, network activity, and more—right in your menu bar.

ToothFairy

ToothFairy is another app that simplifies your Bluetooth connections. It allows you to quickly toggle Bluetooth devices like headphones or speakers from the menu bar, making it easier to switch between devices without navigating through settings.

Vanilla

If you’re looking for a lightweight tool to hide unnecessary icons, Vanilla might be just what you need. It’s an easy-to-use app that gives you the ability to group and hide menu bar icons, helping you declutter without making any major changes to your setup.

A Seamless Mac Experience Awaits

By personalizing your menu bar, you can transform how you interact with your Mac every day. These small tweaks not only make your workspace cleaner but also provide a more streamlined, efficient experience. Whether you’re looking to improve productivity, enhance accessibility, or just enjoy a more personalized environment, customizing your menu bar is a step in the right direction. Take the time to adjust your settings, remove unnecessary icons, and experiment with third-party apps. In the end, these adjustments can make a big impact on your overall Mac experience.

Macfriendly.org