There was a time when few printers offered compatibility with Apple computers, but now we live in a happier age. Most new printers and all-in-one printers (AIOs) ship with OS X drivers, and many that don't will allow you to download Mac drivers during the installation process. Mac-connected printers support the vast majority of printing and AIO features you can access on a Windows machine. (Any features not usable with Macs are usually detailed on the printer manufacturer's website.)
Printing to the same printer from similarly configured Mac and Windows computers tends to yield very similar print speeds. Nearly all printer manufacturers provide support for Mac users. Thus, a list of the best models for Macs largely mirrors an overall list of the best printers out there.
One item worth mentioning is the Bonjour protocol, Apple's implementation of zero-configuration networking, which is built into macOS Sierra (and can be installed on other operating systems as well). Bonjour allows Mac users to quickly discover devices, including printers, on their networks. (It is also what lets AirPrint identify compatible printers on a LAN.) You can set up a printer without Bonjour, but it simplifies the task. Nearly all new network printers are Bonjour compatible, though older routers may not support it.
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Macs are widely used by publishing professionals and graphic artists who rely on Adobe programs, such as Illustrator, to ensure the best output quality. Illustrator, as well as Photoshop and Acrobat, are optimized for Adobe's own PostScript printing language. You can print graphical material with text made in these programs from non-PostScript printers, but at a potential loss of quality (including occasional dropped elements). For any business that prints a lot of graphics, a printer with a PostScript driver (or at least PostScript emulation) is a big plus. PostScript has been a staple of the graphic arts since its inclusion with the Apple LaserWriter launched the desktop publishing revolution in the mid 1980s.
Many specialty printers are Windows-only. This is especially true of label printers (those that are able to connect to a computer at all). A couple of good exceptions are the Editors' Choice Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo and the Epson LabelWorks LW-600P Portable Label Printer. Some recent 3D printers, such as the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, are compatible with OS X as well as Windows; check the manufacturer's specs for Mac support when shopping for a 3D printer.
Below are our top-rated Mac-friendly printer picks. This roundup includes a generous selection of PostScript printers, as well as some non-PostScript models capable of high-quality graphics and/or photo output. But because many Mac users use their computers for tasks unrelated to graphic arts, we also present some top-notch general-purpose printers here. By and large, the qualities that make a Mac-compatible printer great are the same things that let any printer stand out from the crowd: a winning combination of features, speed, and print quality at a competitive price. For more, check out our top overall printer picks, as well as our favorite wireless and portable printers, top inkjet printers, and best-reviewed laser printers.