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Wi-Fi printers need to be linked to whatever computer is sending the print job on the same Wi-Fi network. Your wireless printer may be able to connect to devices like a cell phone without being connected to a Wi-Fi network, depending on its settings. Wireless connections don’t have to be Wi-Fi (they can be Bluetooth, radio, or personal area networks). Yes, Wi-Fi is a type of wireless connection! However, just because they’re related doesn’t mean they’re the same.
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Bluetooth is wireless technology, as is Wi-Fi. ‘Wireless’ is a broad term for any information transmitted through the air instead of through a cable. So, what’s the difference between a Wi-Fi printer and a wireless printer? The answer is both complicated and straightforward. Over time, home and office printers transitioned away from a messy network of wires and into wireless technology. The more affordable wireless tech became, the more popular it was. As technology overall advanced, fancy methods of communicating between devices like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi became more affordable. This term means that every computer that transmitted data to a printer had to be physically wired to it (and many other things, but we won’t get into those for this blog). Read on to learn more about the difference between wireless and Wifi printers! A Brief Explanation: How Did We Get Wireless Printers?Įarly printers were all wired, or ‘network’ printers. Two of the terms we see so often associated with printers are ‘wireless’ and ‘Wi-Fi.’ Contrary to popular belief, these two ways for your printer to receive information are not the same! Both may be able to receive data and spit out a printed copy, but both may not necessarily work for your needs. In a sea of technology marketing tactics, some words stand out more than others.