9 Best Compact Color Laser Printer | Speed by the Page

Check Price on Amazon

The print-only workhorse that outpaces the Canon by a full page per minute in both color and black.

This Brother leaves the inkjet life behind. Owners switching from their first dried-up cartridge report an instant Wi-Fi connection and prints so sharp they look professional. The speed advantage here is tangible: 27 pages per minute in both black and color. The 2.7-inch color touchscreen lets you pull files from Google Drive or Dropbox without touching a computer.

The thing everyone raves about is the sheer print quality — it is the single most-discussed aspect. But reliability gets mixed signals: some owners lose the Wi-Fi connection and have to unplug and replug. The large paper tray holds half a ream (250 sheets), and the duplex printing is automatic, so you can save paper without manually flipping stacks.

Buyers report that the printer is “fast, reliable, and high-quality” and that the 10-minute setup with Mac and iPhone is smooth. A few note that cardstock jams on the duplex path (the automatic two-sided printing route) and prints come out curled on single side — a specific pain if you print a lot of thick paper.

Check Price on Amazon

The Lexmark leans into security and a steel-framed feel, but the toner price stings.

Lexmark designed this one for small offices that care about data safety. It includes Lexmark’s full-spectrum security architecture to keep documents safe on the device and over the network. The 1-GHz dual-core processor and 512 MB of memory let it handle 26 ppm in color and black. The duplexer is fantastic and causes no jams, which owners consistently praise.

The print quality is the top praised aspect — 13 owners call it out specifically, calling it “excellent SOHO color laser” with great speed. Setup uses the Lexmark web page and videos. It supports AirPrint and Mopria, so printing from a phone works immediately. One owner used it after 3-4 months of sitting idle and it printed perfectly, unlike an inkjet that would have clogged.

The catch is toner cost. The toner is “outrageously overpriced” per one owner, who noted replacing all four cartridges costs more than buying a new printer. If you commit to this Lexmark, the long-term supply cost is the real price you pay.

Check Price on Amazon

This Xerox delivers crisp copies at 24 ppm and an easy smartphone setup, but the starter toner runs out fast.

The Xerox C230dni prints at 24 ppm in both color and black, with a first-page time of 11.4 seconds for color and 11 seconds for black. That is a touch slower than the Canon and Brother picks above, but still fast enough for most home offices. The Xerox Easy Assist App guides you through a simplified installation that skips traditional driver headaches. It supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria, so mobile printing works without extra software.

Print quality is the most praised feature, with 52 owners calling it excellent. The setup process also earns positive marks. But reliability receives mixed feedback: some customers note memory errors when printing full-page 8×10 color images (you have to drop to 6×8 to get a clean print). The starter toner runs out after roughly 200 pages — much faster than expected — and replacement black toner can.

Reviewers point out that the printer produces crisp copies on a mesh Wi-Fi network and that the automated duplex printing works reliably. One owner printed “hundreds to over a thousand crisp photo-quality pictures” over 8 months before needing a toner replacement. The catch: there is no screen on the printer itself, so all navigation is done through the computer.

Check Price on Amazon

The 22 ppm Canon is the crowd favorite for overall value — 192 owners call the print quality excellent.

This Canon prints at 22 ppm in both color and black, uses the 067 and 067 high-capacity toner, and has a 250-sheet cassette plus a 1-sheet multipurpose tray. The print quality is the most-discussed aspect by a wide margin — 192 owners single it out as excellent. The value for money is the second most praised trait, with 81 owners calling it a great budget color laser. The setup is straightforward, though some users on Chromebooks found it requires a third-party cloud printing workaround (despite marketing saying it is Chromebook compatible).

Connectivity gets mixed feedback. Some owners say the wireless connection is stable and reliable across multiple computers, while others report random disconnections, especially on Wi-Fi 6 mesh networks. One owner solved it by using a USB cable and Windows printer sharing. The noise level is a notable negative — 54 owners mention it, calling it louder than expected.

Shoppers say excellent print quality with sharp text and professional colors. Automatic duplex printing saves paper. One owner had a power issue fixed by a hard reboot. The printer wakes from sleep in about 15 seconds. For a single-function printer, it punches well above its price point.

Check Price on Amazon

The Lexmark CX331adwe is a steel-framed all-in-one that prints, copies, and scans at 26 ppm.

This is the only all-in-one on the list that combines print, copy, and scan (plus optional cloud fax) without adding bulk. The steel frame makes it feel almost work-group capable — one owner calls it “a solidly made printer, almost work group capable.” It prints at 26 ppm (pages per minute) in both color and black and supports automatic two-sided printing as standard. The Wi-Fi is standard, and USB and Ethernet are available.

Build quality is the top praised aspect, with 8 owners calling it excellent. The company’s full-spectrum security architecture keeps documents safe. But the “scan to computer” feature is described as not real intuitive — several owners found it peculiar to set up. One unit arrived with a full waste toner message straight from the start, which disappointed the owner. And a single owner reported it stopped working after 10 months and would not turn on again.

Buyers report excellent print quality and good value for the money. The printer is durable and designed to increase efficiency with a compact footprint: 16.2 inches wide, 15.5 inches deep, and 13.6 inches tall. At 42.8 pounds, it is the heaviest in this list, but the steel frame is the reason.

Check Price on Amazon

At 35 ppm and a 7.5-second first page, this Xerox is the fastest print-only machine here by a wide margin.

The Xerox C320dni leaves every other printer in this list in the dust for raw speed. It pushes 35 pages per minute in both color and black — 8 ppm faster than the Brother HL-L3280CDW. The first-page-out time is just 7.5 seconds, so you barely pause before the sheets start flying. It includes starter toner rated for 1500 black pages and 1000 color pages, and supports high-yield cartridges (larger-capacity toner) for reduced running costs. The recommended monthly volume goes up to 2,500 pages, making it the most heavy-duty pick here.

The vibrant print quality gets praise: sharp text and brilliant color graphics. The smartphone setup via the Xerox Easy Assist App is quick. But the toner cost is a sharp pain point. Owners mention that a full set of replacement cartridges costs over, and the per-page cost is estimated at to, compared to a competitor’s. Some owners note glitches like a phantom tray missing error and misaligned envelopes from the feed slot. The printer is also heavy — about 50 pounds — and large at 17.9 inches wide.

Customers note the printer is fast and has good networking, but the toner cost and color banding on some prints hold it back from being a universal recommendation.

Check Price on Amazon

The Brother 3-in-1 adds a flatbed scanner and copier, but slows to 19 ppm to make room.

This is the multi-function version of the Brother family. It prints, copies, and scans using a flatbed scan glass — all from a compact machine. Print speed drops to 19 ppm in both color and black, which is 8 ppm slower than the print-only HL-L3280CDW. The trade-off is convenience: you can copy a document or scan a photo without walking to a separate device. The flatbed glass is a real space saver in a small office.

Printer quality is the top praised aspect with 70 owners calling it superb. Setup is the second most praised feature. The print quality is crisp with excellent color accuracy and details. The wireless setup is described as easy. But the reliability gets mixed feedback — some owners experience issues with Alexa compatibility and occasional Wi-Fi dropouts. The price is higher than the print-only models, but owners feel it is worth it for the extra functionality.

Reviewers point out that the printer is reliable for professional-quality prints and that the wireless connection to multiple devices works fine. One owner mentioned using it for homeschooling and printing excellent color materials. The included starter toner lasted a while, and when black toner ran out, customer service shipped replacements overnight.