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If you are tired of a printer that wheezes through a 30-page job, smears text, or refuses to connect to your Wi-Fi, the fix is usually choosing the right technology first. For most households and small offices, the real decision is between a laser printer (fast, crisp text, toner that lasts) and an inkjet (cheaper upfront, better for photos and color). This guide sorts through the best computer printers by matching each machine to a specific use case, so you can pick the one that actually fits how you print.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
From the rapid-fire Brother laser to the cartridge-free Epson EcoTank, here are the best computer printers for everything from homework to a busy home office.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Computer Printers
Before you look at any specific model, you need to answer one question: what are you printing most? If the answer is mostly black-and-white documents, a laser printer is usually the smarter long-term choice because toner doesn’t dry out and each page costs less. If you print photos, colorful charts, or school projects, an inkjet gives you the color range you need.
Match the technology to your workload
Laser printers use toner powder fused onto the page with heat, which gives you sharp text that doesn’t smear, even on plain paper. They cost more upfront but are cheaper per page. Inkjets use liquid ink sprayed through tiny nozzles; they are cheaper to buy but the ink runs out faster and can clog if you leave the printer idle for weeks.
Check the connectability, not just the specs
Wireless connectivity is the top complaint in printer reviews, so check that the printer matches your router’s wireless bands before you buy. You can choose Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a simple USB cable. A wired connection is often the most reliable, but Wi-Fi lets everyone in the house print from their own device.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Print Speed (B&W) | Core Function | Connectivity | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2480DW★ Best Overall | Small offices & WFH | 36 ppm | Print, Copy, Scan | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Amazon |
| HP LaserJet Pro M3101sdwTop Performer | Small teams | 35 ppm | Print, Scan, Copy | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Amazon |
| Brother MFC-L2820DW | Offices needing fax | 34 ppm | Print, Scan, Copy, Fax | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2980 | High-volume color | 15 ppm | Print, Scan, Copy | Wi-Fi, USB | Amazon |
| HP LaserJet M209d | Budget home office | 30 ppm | Print Only | USB | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR7120 | Budget color & photos | 14 ppm | Print, Scan, Copy | Wi-Fi, USB | Amazon |
| Epson WorkForce WF-3823 | Color with heavy loads | 21 ppm | Print, Scan, Copy, Fax | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Brother HL-L2480DW Wireless Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer
Our pick — 4.5★ from 600+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The quiet workhorse that rips through a 30-page job while your old inkjet is still warming up.
This Brother 3-in-1 (print, copy, scan) is the pick for anyone who lives on black-and-white documents — school forms, contracts, shipping labels. It prints at up to 36 pages per minute, which is more than 2.6 times faster than the Canon inkjet on this list, and it does automatic two-sided printing (duplex) so you use half the paper. The first page lands in about 8.5 seconds, so you are not staring at a progress bar for your morning print.
Setup is a genuine strong point. Buyers report it connects easily to Apple devices — iMac, iPad, iPhone — and the 2.7-inch touchscreen shows you cartridge life at a glance. It is also quiet, which matters if the printer sits near your desk rather than in a closet. The thing everyone raves about is the build quality, with functionality and setup close behind in owner feedback. One note: the wireless connection is the only area with mixed reviews, so if your router is far away, the Ethernet port is your reliable fallback.
The toner situation is where this printer earns its keep. It uses Brother Genuine TN830 or TN830XL toner, and owners mention the starter cartridge lasts a surprisingly long time before you need a replacement. Customers note it’s a “fast, quiet laser mono printer” that easily replaced a “noisy inkjet.” Just read the fine print on the Refresh subscription trial before you sign up, since some owners warn it’s not for everyone.
What wins people over
- Print quality is the #1 praise, with 173 owners highlighting it
- Seriously fast — 36 ppm with an 8.5-second first page
- Quiet enough for a shared room
- Toner is affordable and lasts
The honest trade-offs
- Wireless connection is the one area with mixed feedback
- Setup can be slightly involved, per some owner experiences
- Monochrome only — no color printing here
Reach for it if: you need fast, sharp, low-cost black-and-white printing for a home office or small business.
Look elsewhere if: you need color output for photos or vibrant charts — this is strictly black and white.
2. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw All-in-One Laser Printer
Built for small teams that need crisp, professional black-and-white prints at a business pace.
For a household with several users, this HP gets your first page out in about 7 seconds — the quickest start on this list — and prints up to 35 pages per minute in black and white. It is a true all-in-one, handling print, scan, and copy. The 50-sheet auto document feeder (ADF, a tray that feeds pages automatically) lets you scan or copy a whole stack without standing there.
The paper handling is built for teams: a 250-sheet input tray means fewer refill trips, and automatic two-sided printing keeps paper costs down. Reliability is the word owners use most, with quality right behind — a combination that matters when you depend on the machine for work. One owner liked it so much they bought three, and another specifically praised its ability to print checks straight from QuickBooks. The wireless is solid too, with HP’s system that hunts for the best connection to stay online.
The catch is HP’s cartridge policy. This printer is set to work only with cartridges that have HP chips, and it will block third-party ink. Owners note that if you decline firmware updates, generic toner can work, but that is a workaround, not a promise. One owner waited through a frustrating 4-day delivery delay, which is a shipping issue rather than a printer problem.
Why teams like it
- Reliability is the second most-praised feature — the machine “just works”
- 7-second first page is the fastest here
- 250-sheet tray plus 50-sheet ADF handles real workloads
- Sharp, economical B&W prints for daily business use
Before you buy
- HP chips block generic toner cartridges
- Wireless has mixed feedback from a portion of owners
- Starter toner yields about 1,000 pages
Best for: small teams or busy home offices that need fast, reliable black-and-white printing with scanning and copying.
Smart to know: you are committing to HP-brand toner, so factor that into your long-term cost.
3. Brother MFC-L2820DW Multi-Function Laser Printer
A four-in-one (print, copy, scan, fax) that still fits on a modest desk without dominating it.
Choose this Brother if you need fax capability — rare today but essential for medical, legal, or government paperwork. It prints black-and-white at up to 34 pages per minute and scans at up to 23.6 ipm (images per minute, the number of pages scanned in one minute) in black. The 50-page auto document feeder handles multi-page copying and faxing hands-free, and the first page prints in about 8.5 seconds.
Setup is where this machine earns its reputation. Owners describe it as the easiest printer they have ever connected, whether over Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet. One owner replaced a 16-year-old Brother with this one and found it better in every way. The 2.7-inch touchscreen gives you access to cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox, so you can scan straight to your cloud storage without touching a computer. The dual-band wireless (2.4GHz and 5GHz) plus Ethernet gives you flexible connection options.
It shares the same TN830 family of toner as the HL-L2480DW, which keeps replacement costs predictable. The main caveat: reliability and wireless both get mixed feedback in the long run, with some owners reporting it works flawlessly for months while others hit connection snags. The value-for-money verdict is also mixed, so this is a pick for people who specifically need the fax function or the full four-in-one setup, not the cheapest page cost.
What makes it special
- Only all-in-one here with built-in fax
- 50-page ADF for hands-free multi-page jobs
- Owners call setup the easiest of any printer
- Scans to Google Drive and Dropbox from the touchscreen
Where it’s mixed
- Long-term wireless reliability gets mixed owner reports
- Value for money is judged inconsistently by buyers
- Fax line needs a telephone cord connection
Choose this if: you need fax plus print, copy, and scan in one compact machine for a small office.
Think twice if: you never fax and just want the cheapest laser possible — the L2480DW covers you.
4. Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless Color Supertank Printer
The cartridge-free color printer that ships with enough ink to last years, not weeks.
This is the printer to buy if you are tired of the inkjet cycle — buying a new cartridge set every few months and cringing at the cost. The EcoTank ET-2980 skips cartridges entirely. Instead, you pour ink from bottles into oversized tanks, and the box comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages in black and 5,500 in color. Epson says that is roughly the equivalent of 90 individual cartridges, and the included bottles can last up to three years of typical home printing.
The refill system is genuinely simple. The EcoFit bottles are shaped so they only fit the correct tank, which removes the guesswork and mess. Print quality is a highlight, especially for a printer at this price, and owners specifically praise its photo prints. It prints at 15 pages per minute in black and 8 in color — slower than the lasers on this list, but that is the trade-off for cartridge-free color at a budget-friendly entry point.
The honest downsides: the small monochrome screen is a recurring complaint (owners find it hard to read), and the wireless connectivity gets mixed feedback, with some reporting constant disconnections. Print quality also draws mixed reviews, and a few owners hit paper jams. This is a printer for patient, light-to-moderate home use — not a high-volume office machine. Weigh the 11.5-pound frame, which is manageable but not the lightest here.
Why it’s a value pick
- Up to 6,600 B&W pages from the included ink
- No cartridges to replace — just pour and go
- Owners praise the photo print quality
- Easy setup, per owner feedback
Where it stumbles
- Small, hard-to-read screen is a common gripe
- Wireless drops reported by a portion of owners
- Slower print speed than laser rivals
Grab it for: a home that prints a lot of color — school projects, photos, and documents — and hates buying cartridges.
Be aware: you’ll want to keep it on a wired setup if your Wi-Fi is finicky, since wireless is its weak spot.
5. HP LaserJet M209d Laser Printer
The no-nonsense USB laser that simply works, for people who hate printer drama.
Here is the printer for the person whose last machine spent more time offline than online. The M209d is wired-only — it connects over USB (cable included) and skips Wi-Fi entirely. That might sound like a limitation, but for anyone who has wrestled with a printer that keeps dropping off the network, it is a genuine relief. You plug in the USB cable, and it just works.
It prints at up to 30 pages per minute in black, with automatic two-sided printing for paper savings. The 150-sheet input tray is smaller than the 250-sheet trays on pricier models, so heavy users will refill more often, but for a home office printing a few jobs a day, it is plenty. Owners call it fast, quiet, and easy — one buyer described it as “low stress,” which is high praise in the printer world. The compact design (about 14 inches deep) fits neatly on a small desk.
The big caveat: this is not a Mac-friendly machine for newer macOS versions. One owner found it incompatible with macOS Sequoia (version 12 and later), with HP support pointing to a non-existent Ethernet port. If you are a Windows user who prints black-and-white documents and wants zero wireless hassle, this is a fantastic, budget-friendly pick. If you need wireless or photo color, look at the Canon below.
The simple strengths
- USB-only means no Wi-Fi dropouts, ever
- Fast 30 ppm with auto 2-sided printing
- Owners praise the “low stress” reliability
- Compact footprint for small desks
The real limits
- Incompatible with macOS Sequoia (v12+)
- No color, no scanning, no wireless
- 150-sheet tray is on the small side
Pick this if: you are a Windows user who wants a cheap, dependable black-and-white printer with zero connection drama.
Pass it by if: you are on a modern Mac or need to scan — this machine only prints.
6. Canon PIXMA TR7120 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
A budget-friendly color inkjet that handles photos and documents with surprising polish.
This Canon is the entry-level color pick for homes and hybrid workers who want one machine for everything — documents, photos, and the occasional colorful project. It prints at up to 14 pages per minute in black and 9 in color, which is modest next to the lasers here, but this is an inkjet built for versatility, not raw speed. The 2-cartridge hybrid ink system delivers sharp text and vivid colors, and buyers specifically mention it can handle 220gsm cardstock (a thick, heavy paper) for craft projects.
What makes it stand out at this level is the Auto Document Feeder. For a budget printer, having an ADF for quick multi-page scanning and copying is a real bonus — you can drop in a stack of forms and walk away. It also does automatic two-sided printing to save paper. Setup is easy, per owner feedback, and the wireless usually connects without drama. The 1.42-inch monochrome OLED screen is small but useful for checking ink levels and printer status.
The trade-offs are typical for the price. The paper tray is on the small side, which owners note but tolerate. Wireless connectivity gets mixed reviews — most connect fine, but some find it impossible, and a few note it can drop on restart (though assigning a fixed IP address is an easy fix). One owner found it does not work with ARM processors, so it is not ideal for certain newer laptops. And the classic inkjet rule applies: this uses traditional cartridges, so your ongoing ink costs will be higher than a laser or EcoTank.
The affordable wins
- Prints on thick 220gsm cardstock for crafts
- ADF for hands-free multi-page scanning
- Compact footprint fits small workspaces
- Easy setup praised by owners
Know before you buy
- Small paper tray is a common complaint
- Wi-Fi setup is hit-or-miss for some
- Not compatible with ARM-processor devices
Reach for it if: you want an inexpensive color all-in-one for light home use, especially with photo or craft printing.
Consider another if: you print daily or in high volume — the ink costs will add up fast.
7. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3823 All-in-One Inkjet Printer
A fast color inkjet with business-grade pigment inks, if you can live with its quirks.
This Epson sits in an interesting spot: it costs like a budget inkjet but prints with a business mindset. It hits 21 pages per minute in black and 11 in color — much faster than the Canon inkjet on this list — and uses DURABrite Ultra pigment inks. Pigment ink sits on top of the paper instead of soaking in, which means prints resist smudging and water damage, so your documents hold up better over time.
The WorkForce Pro is built for volume. It has a 250-sheet paper capacity, automatic two-sided printing, and a 35-page auto document feeder for multi-page scanning. The PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology is designed to keep the printhead reliable on heavy workloads. You also get a 2.7-inch color touchscreen and Epson’s Smart Panel app for phone-based printing and scanning. Owners who get along with it call it a great, easy-to-use machine that produces crisp black-and-white and accurate, bright colors — one even uses it for business cards and labels, though single-sheet only, to avoid jams.
But this is the most polarizing printer on this list. Print quality draws mixed feedback, and the ink system is a real sticking point: Epson designs this printer to work exclusively with genuine Epson cartridges, and using non-genuine ink can cause damage not covered by the warranty. The most extreme owner report involved two ink sets being rejected after about 200 pages — a costly and frustrating experience. Others praise the cheaper ink versus HP. If you stick with genuine Epson ink and print steadily, this is a solid budget color machine; if you want zero ink politics, the EcoTank above is the more peaceful path.
What it does well
- Fast for an inkjet — 21 ppm B&W, 11 ppm color
- Pigment inks resist smudging and water
- 250-sheet capacity handles real volume
- Auto duplex and 35-page ADF for productivity
The challenges
- Genuine Epson ink only — others can void warranty
- Print quality is genuinely mixed in owner feedback
- Setup is not plug-and-play for everyone
Best suited to: a home or small business printing steady color volume with genuine Epson ink and appreciating fast output.
skip it if: you want a carefree ink system — the cartridge rules here demand attention.
Understanding the Specs
Print Speed (ppm)
Pages per minute (ppm) tells you how fast the printer produces documents. A home inkjet may sit around 14-15 ppm, while business lasers hit 34-36 ppm. The gap matters when you regularly print 20-page jobs — a laser finishes in under a minute, while a slower inkjet takes closer to two. For occasional printing, speed is less critical than cost per page.
Toner vs. Ink
Laser printers use toner powder, which never dries out and delivers sharp, smudge-free text — ideal for documents. Inkjets use liquid ink, which produces richer color for photos but costs more per page and can clog if left idle. The Epson EcoTank is the hybrid solution: liquid ink in refillable bottles, cutting the per-page cost dramatically.
FAQ
Is a laser or inkjet printer better for a home office?
What does automatic duplex printing mean?
Will a wireless printer work with my iPhone or Android phone?
How much does it cost to run a printer per page?
Why does my printer keep losing its Wi-Fi connection?
What is an Auto Document Feeder (ADF) and do I need one?
Can I print photos on a black-and-white laser printer?
Is it worth paying more for an Epson EcoTank printer?
Will third-party or generic ink cartridges work in these printers?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the computer printers winner is the Brother HL-L2480DW because it pairs class-leading speed (36 ppm) with quiet operation, easy setup, and affordable toner — everything the crowd loves about a laser. If you want fast, team-ready black-and-white printing with scanning, grab the HP LaserJet Pro M3101sdw. And for color-hungry homes that hate cartridge costs, the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is the one to reach for.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, Gardening Beyond earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.