14 best laser printers for the home: color and black and white models

We've rounded up the best color and black & white laser printers for home and small office. The purpose of the rating is to collect the most profitable, high-quality and inexpensive models that have cheap consumables and good print quality. In addition, information was collected on the complexity of refilling cartridges and replacing chips for printers from popular manufacturers. Prices for color and black-and-white printers differ at times, so think a few times before buying, do you really need color printing? In any case, both options are selected in the rating. Many models are equipped with Wi-Fi modules.

Laser printers deliver crisp, vibrant images that don't need to dry, are resistant to moisture and smudges. And although the competing inkjet technology better displays halftones and shades (this is especially noticeable when printing photographs), it lags far behind in such parameters as speed, economy and cost (cost of consumables and the number of printed pages). Laser printers are better, more reliable, they have no equal when printing text and simple graphic data. They are capable of delivering up to 40 sheets per minute, and one charge is enough for an average printer for 1500-2500 sheets.

In a period of self-isolation, when more and more people are moving to remote work, a home printer becomes a necessary tool for many. Therefore, when deciding the question "which printer to choose?" you cannot rely on chance, you should carefully study the characteristics, capabilities and special attention should be paid to the cost of printing.

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How Do I Pick a Good Laser Printer?

To find a good printer for home use, you need to familiarize yourself with all the relevant criteria and select those that matter most to you.

Print quality. Print quality is characterized by resolution, measured in dpi - the number of dots that the machine can print on a one-inch line. For text information in black and white, a budget printer for 300 dpi... If pictures or graphics are used, but there are no special requirements for their quality, then it is necessary 600 dpi... To create photos, use printers with a resolution greater than 1200 dpi.

Connection interface. There are two main types of connection: wired (LPT, USB, Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi). USB used on most devices. Ethernet makes it possible to use the printer by connecting to it via the Internet or LAN. Wi-Fi eliminates the need for wires and lets you easily move your device wherever you want. If a manufacturer has a specially developed application for a smartphone, then documents and pictures can be printed directly from it. And with the help of a smartphone camera, you can scan documents, and now you already have an MFP. Before purchasing, check your printer's connectivity and compatibility with your PC.

Cost of printing one page. When buying a laser printer, one of the main selection criteria is cost price... Cost per page is subject to refill availability and availability of inexpensive consumables. Also, the cost of printing depends on the resource of the cartridge - the larger it is, the cheaper, with the same refueling price, it costs to create one page.

Refilling of cartridges. Branded printer cartridges are usually expensive. Refueling is a good alternative to buying. It costs much less than purchasing new consumables. On average, a laser printer cartridge can withstand 4 to 7 refills. Another way to save money is to purchase a non-original model. On Aliexpress, you can easily find all the necessary consumables - there is a large selection of different types of cartridges, as well as chips for them.

How to choose a printer for cartridges? When looking for the best laser printer, be sure to find out the cost of consumables. It is necessary to find out in advance the price of cartridges, the possibility of refilling them and the permissible number of refills. These characteristics directly affect the cost of printing. You should also pay attention to the presence of a chip that may interfere with normal operation after refueling.

Possibilities of refilling cartridges from different manufacturers

Consumables produced by various companies can differ significantly not only in the quality of work and resource, but also in the availability of refueling. Some manufacturers want to get more value by installing chips that deactivate the cartridge when the toner is used up.

Brother laser cartridges. This manufacturer is loyal to the consumer and allows refilling almost all types of cartridges it produces. They are durable, reliable and can withstand up to ten refills. On Aliexpress, you can cheaply buy both the cartridges themselves, and spare parts for them, and toner. Detailed instructions on how to work with Brother products are plentiful on YouTube.

HP toner cartridges. Refilling HP cartridges is not difficult at all, and inexpensive supplies are easy to find. It has been company policy for several years now that refills have not been impeded, and even the chips installed on many Hewlett Packard cartridges have not prevented reuse. This approach contributes to the growing popularity of the company's products and allows it to occupy one of the leading positions in the laser printer market.

Canon laser cartridges. Canon consumables will have to tinker with more than HP products. The chips installed on the cartridges prevent them from being reused and need to be replaced or reprogrammed. The design of the cassettes is not simple enough and refilling requires additional efforts. Therefore, the cost of replacing consumables on Canon printers is higher, which also increases the cost of printing.

Samsung laser cartridges. The design of the cartridges is simple, so the refilling itself does not require excessive efforts. However, the use of special equipment is necessary to thoroughly clean a number of parts. Otherwise, "dirt" will appear on the paper. Samsung printers are among the cheapest, but the high cost of refueling makes them not profitable enough for long-term use.

Xerox laser cartridges. It is not recommended to refill Xerox cartridges on your own, as it requires not only knowledge of the device design and proven skills, but equipment that will allow you to reprogram the chips. The cartridges will not work again without replacing or resetting information from the microcircuit. Refueling consumables from this manufacturer is one of the most expensive.

Epson laser cartridges. Refilling Epson is only available on a tenth of all manufactured models. The complex design, high prices for consumables, the difficulty of purchasing them, and a small number of specialists capable of competently refilling, make refilling cartridges unprofitable, even in cases where it is possible.

Printers differ in print quality, speed, functionality. An important characteristic is the cost of printing one sheet. Each manufacturer focuses on a limited set of parameters and in a wide range of devices, each customer will find the printer that best suits him.

Best Color Laser Printer

Powerful high-performance color printer is perfect for creating illustrations, promotional materials, presentation brochures. Flexible adjustment of parameters will allow you to achieve excellent image quality. Wi-Fi support will allow you to print files sent directly from your phone or tablet. Several people can simultaneously access the printer. At the same time, built-in security options, implemented on the basis of HP Print Security technology, will not allow unauthorized access to confidential information.

• Printing from a flash drive is available;
• Simple operation with color touch screen;
• There is two-sided printing in automatic mode;
• Supports the function of wireless connection to the device;
• Pre-installed 1200-page trial cartridges;
• Refueling requires zeroing or replacing the chip.

A reliable and durable device that works perfectly in intensive use in a large office environment. With high print quality, high yield of consumables and the ability to refill cartridges at affordable prices, this device can be used at home if you need to print large amounts of data. Brother HL-L8260CDW is highly energy efficient and meets Nordic Swan and Blue Angel environmental standards. A three-year warranty is provided when you register your printer on the manufacturer's website.

• Excellent print speed - 31 pages per minute;
• Increased capacity of trays - 300 sheets;
• Support for mobile applications;
• Security features: IP address filter, blocking, secure printing;
• Automatic double-sided printing.

A good laser printer for the office, which can also be successfully used at home. Prints high-quality color images - they are not smudged, they are clear and bright. The printer can be directly connected to a smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi. Remote control of the device is also available using gadgets if it is connected to the Internet. The device has a large memory capacity, 1 GB, which allows you to easily print the most complex graphic documents. The printer uses refillable color cartridges with a yield of 5,900 pages, which can significantly reduce the cost of printing.

• There are two-sided automatic printing;
• Restricting access to the printer using a PIN code;
• Convenient printer setup using a keypad;
• There is an LCD screen;
• The set includes a detailed instruction manual;
• The high cost of cartridges.

A convenient machine with high speed color printing. The principle of its operation is the same as that of conventional laser printers, however, not a laser is used for magnetization, but special LEDs. The technology improves reliability, productivity and printing accuracy. The printer is equipped with 1 GB of memory, which is necessary for successful and fast processing of graphic documents. Resource of cartridges 1500 and 3000 pages. They can be refilled with chip replacement.

• 3-year warranty;
• Easy management and configuration;
• Easy to maintain;
• Built-in module for wireless connection;
• Ethernet and USB connectivity;
• Two-line LCD display;
• Possibility of simultaneous work with several users;
• The use of non-original consumables will void the warranty.

The P C300W color printer is a reliable and durable machine that will delight its owner with print quality for many years. It provides high performance, wakes up quickly, and works well with wired and wireless connections.

The device can be controlled using a smartphone or tablet through Ricoh Smart Device Print & Scan, Mopria, Cloud Print, AirPrint applications. The NFC fast connection option works well.

The cartridge has a fairly large resource - 2300 sheets. Although the cost of replacing it is too high, many companies offer refueling services for relatively little money.

• Excellent quality;
• Decent print speed;
• Quickly exits standby mode;
• Easy customization;
• Wi-Fi support;
• 3-year warranty;
• The high cost of the original cartridge.

Hewlett Packard has developed the world's smallest color printer, attracting customers with its low cost. The device uses connection interfaces: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi. There is support for Wi-Fi Direct - the ability to directly connect, without a router, to another device. Compatible with Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print printing applications. Extensive printer configuration and management options are available with the HP Smart app.

• Simple and convenient control;
• Tray for automatic paper feed for 150 sheets;
• Includes a 700-page color cartridge;
• There is no slot for connecting flash drives;
• Cannot work with envelopes;
• No automatic two-sided printing;
• Poor quality when printing photos;
• The cost of a new cartridge is comparable to that of a printer.

Best black and white laser printer price-quality

The best black and white printer for working with a lot of documents. The device combines high productivity and minimal printing costs. Cheap and affordable cartridges, as well as their counterparts, can be purchased at Aliexpress. The possibility of refilling them saves even more on printing.

A feature of this relatively inexpensive printer is automatic two-sided printing, which is very convenient for a large amount of work. This model is distinguished by its durability, high reliability and wear resistance, it shows itself excellently during intensive use. The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty, provided that the printer is registered on the company's website.

• High speed of work;
• Excellent print quality;
• Easy to operate;
• Information is displayed on a one-line LCD display;
• 300-sheet tray.

A quality printer for little money that is great for home and small offices. Soft LED button illumination. Energy saving is achieved by an automatic system on and off the device. The printer can be controlled using mobile gadgets and the HP Smart app. The machine is compatible with Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print. It can work with A6, A5, A4 paper, envelopes, postcards, and labels. The maximum allowable paper weight is 120 g / cm³.

• Compact size;
• Excellent print quality with a resolution of 600 dpi;
• Supports Wi-Fi Direct;
• Comes with a USB cable;
• Simple and clear instructions for connecting and starting up the printer;
• The included cartridge has a low resource - no more than 500 pages;
• Not high print speed - 18-20 pages per minute.

The printer is designed for office use and can be shared over Wi-Fi. A connection to a PC with a USB cable is also available. The ability to print from mobile devices has been implemented.

For these devices, there are many cheap consumables that are full of analogues of the original cartridges. Considering the large resource of the drum - up to 12,000 sheets, the printing cost is very low. Therefore, the Brother HL-L2340DWR printer is a bargain.

• Separate toner cartridge and drum unit;
• Energy saving with the help of the "sleeping" and "deep sleep" modes;
• Quiet printing: maximum sound level 49 dB;
• The warranty period is 3 years, subject to the registration of the device on the manufacturer's website;
• Possibility to install a cartridge with an extended capacity of 2600 sheets;
• LCD display with 16 characters.

The main technical characteristics are similar to those of similar models from other manufacturers. However, the Brother printer, with good quality, has the lowest printing cost in comparison with all its closest competitors. Low cost of consumables, no chip, inexpensive refilling - all this significantly reduces the cost of printing one sheet.

The HL-1223WR is undemanding and easy to use and is great for regular black and white printing. Helpful firmware options include skipping blank pages and automatically converting color documents to black and white. Printing from smartphones and tablets is available with iPrint & Scan.

• Small size;
• Low noise level - no more than 51 dB;
• There is an option to skip blank pages;
• Chipless cartridge;
• Toner resource for 1500 pages.

A practical printer that combines high quality with low printing costs. Cost savings are achieved through the use of a special cartridge design, which consists of two separate elements: a drum unit and a toner cartridge. If you need to replace consumables, it is enough to buy only one of the parts, and not both at once.

There are inexpensive analogues of the original cartridges on sale that are fully compatible with the printer. The printer has 1 year of basic and 2 years of additional warranty, which is available after registering the printer on the manufacturer's website.

• Compact;
• Low cost;
• Drum resource - 10 thousand sheets;
• The set includes a cartridge without a chip with a resource of 1500 pages;
• Low cost of consumables;
• Non-removable power cable;
• No Wi-Fi connection;
• Supplied without USB cable.

A very cheap printer with excellent print quality. It uses Lexmark's specialty Unison toner to deliver outstanding images. Due to the powerful processor it has a high processing speed and is capable of delivering up to 34 pages per minute. Separately, you can purchase a cartridge with an extended resource - 6,000 sheets, which fully meets the needs of printing for a group of up to 4 people. Built-in security systems help protect information from unauthorized access. When a used cartridge is returned to Lexmark for recycling and disposal, the customer will receive a discount on the purchase of a new cartridge.

• Compact dimensions;
• Duplex option available;
• Possible to work in power saving mode;
• Expensive consumables;
• The included cartridge is designed for 1200 pages and cannot be refilled.

An inexpensive printer perfect for small shops and offices. With a print speed of 30 sheets per minute, it can produce up to 60,000 pages per month. This is a great indicator for a budget model.The resource of the refillable cartridge is 3000 pages (withstands 3-4 refills), the resource of the imaging drum is 9000 pages. Your printer remains warranted if you use Genuine Pantum Refill Kits when reloading toner. Also, the printer differs from analogues in its compact size and lack of noise during operation.

• Two-side print;
• The ability to connect via wi-fi;
• Printing from a mobile device is available;
• USB cable included;
• Can print on film and silk paper;
• At the time of purchase, a trial cartridge of only 1000 pages is given, there is no possibility of refilling it.

A budget model that is well suited for both home and work environments. Handles different types of paper: colored, cotton, envelopes, labels, cardboard. Able to work with densities from 63 to 163 g / cm³... The manufacturer provides a 1 year warranty for the printer.

The cartridge is equipped with a chip that makes printing impossible after a certain number of pages. At the moment, for this model, released in 2020, neither the chips themselves nor the firmware for reprogramming them are on sale. Therefore, when the toner runs out, only the cartridge can be replaced.

• High quality printing;
• Highly legible black text;
• Not a big cost;
• Suitable for simultaneous use by a group of users from 1 to 5 people;
• Not high print speed;
• Up to 1500 A4 sheets per month.

Video: How to Pick a Good Laser Printer