Toner vs. Ink Cartridges: Which One is Right for You? There are many different kinds of printers available on the market today, from inkjet to laser and everything in between. As you may know, each printer has its own particularities. When choosing which printer to buy, it’s important to consider what kind of toner or ink cartridge will be used in the machine and whether you’ll need to replace that part of the printer on a regular basis as well.