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If you are shopping for a new computer printer, you are probably tired of the old cycle: you buy a cheap inkjet, the ink dries up, and then you spend more on cartridges than you did on the machine itself. The real question is which printer breaks you out of that loop without sacrificing speed or quality.
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.
if you need a quiet workhorse for a home office, a color laser for occasional graphics, or a tank that cuts ink costs for good, the right computer printer is the one that fits both your daily tasks and your long-term budget.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Computer Printer
The best printer for you depends on one thing: what you print most. If your work is mostly black-and-white documents, a monochrome laser printer delivers the fastest speeds and lowest per-page cost. If you print photos or marketing materials, a color laser or a refillable-ink tank model makes more sense. A third option — a dedicated photo printer — is only for those who want gallery-quality prints from home.
Print speed and first-page-out time
Speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm) for black-and-white and color. A fast home-office laser runs 30 to 36 ppm. The first-page-out time — how many seconds until the first sheet lands in the tray — matters more if you print single pages throughout the day. Faster is better: 7 to 10 seconds is typical for modern lasers.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Print Speed (B&W) | First Page Out | Key Feature | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2480DW★ Best Overall | Small offices & home | 36 ppm | 8.5 sec | 2.7″ Touchscreen | Amazon |
| HP LaserJet M209dBest Value | Budget wired setup | 30 ppm | — | Auto 2-sided print | Amazon |
| HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw | Small teams & pros | 35 ppm | 7 sec | 50-sheet ADF | Amazon |
| Canon Color imageCLASS LBP646Cdw | Color printing (print only) | 26 ppm | 10.3 sec | 5-line LCD screen | Amazon |
| Brother MFC-L2820DW | Full-office fax & scan | 36 ppm | 8.5 sec | 50-page ADF | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4950 | Low-cost color printing | 18 ppm | — | Up to 3 years of ink | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA PRO-200S | Pro photo printing | 2 ppm | — | 8-color dye system | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Brother HL-L2480DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer
Our pick — 4.5★ from 600+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The 36 ppm laser that leaves inkjets in the dust, paired with a touchscreen you will actually use.
This Brother HL-L2480DW is a 3-in-1 monochrome laser (print, copy, scan) that pumps out black-and-white pages at 36 ppm with a first-page-out time of just 8.5 seconds. That is a 3% faster pace than the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw at 35 ppm, so for multi-page documents you shave off real time. The 2.7-inch touchscreen lets you print from and scan to cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox without touching a computer.
Owners praise the “reliable wireless printing after one year” and call it the “best printer I’ve ever used,” noting how quiet and fast it is compared to old inkjets. The crowd — over 600 ratings — backs up that enthusiasm. The 250-sheet paper tray and automatic duplex printing (printing on both sides) keep you moving without constant refills. A few people find it a little noisy on startup, but that is par for a small-office laser.
The honest limit here is that it is black-and-white only. If you need color documents or photos, this is not your pick. But for text-based home offices, it wins on speed, reliability, and long-term toner costs using Brother Genuine TN830 or TN830XL cartridges.
What Owners Love
- Fast 36 ppm print speed with an 8.5-second first page
- Intuitive 2.7-inch touchscreen for cloud printing
- Automatic duplex saves paper on every job
- Reliable wireless and Ethernet connectivity
The Trade-Off
- Monochrome only — no color printing at all
- A bit noisy during warm-up, typical for a laser
Reach for this if: you print black-and-white documents daily and want a fast, reliable machine that handles scanning and copying without fuss.
Think twice if: your work regularly demands color pages, photos, or glossy marketing materials — you will need a color laser or inkjet.
2. HP LaserJet M209d Laser Printer, Black and White, Automatic Duplex
A no-frills laser that skips wireless entirely and prints warm, sharp pages on day one.
If you never want to troubleshoot a Wi-Fi printer again, this HP LaserJet M209d is your answer. It is a wired-only printer (USB cable included) that focuses on one thing: fast, reliable black-and-white printing at 30 ppm (pages per minute) with automatic duplex (prints on both sides of the page). Owners call it “extremely reliable” and say “no WiFi needed — plugs in and works perfectly.” The reviews highlight how easy it is to set up — over 120 people mention ease of setup as a top positive, and the quality and reliability each get over 100 mentions.
The speed is 6 ppm slower than the Brother HL-L2480DW above, so heavy multi-page jobs take a bit longer. But the trade-off is a noticeably lower upfront cost and no wireless headaches. The 150-sheet input tray is smaller than the Brother’s 250-sheet, so you will refill it more often. A critical detail: this printer is not compatible with Mac OS Sequoia v12 or later, so Apple users need to check compatibility first.
Buyers report it is an “excellent B&W laser printer for home office” with consistently sharp, professional text. The simplicity is the selling point — no apps, no cloud login, just a cable and a print command.
What Wins People Over
- Rock-solid USB connection — no wireless drops or setup
- Fast 30 ppm with automatic two-sided printing
- Compact design saves desk space
- No dried ink issues from infrequent use
The Catch
- USB-only — no wireless, Ethernet, or mobile printing
- Not compatible with recent Mac OS versions
Grab this for: a simple, affordable black-and-white printer for a wired Windows PC where reliability beats features.
Look elsewhere if: you need wireless printing, a Mac, or scanning/copying capabilities — this is print-only.
3. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw Wireless Black and White All-in-One Laser Printer
A business-class all-in-one with a 50-sheet feeder that turns multi-page jobs into a single button press.
This HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is built for small teams that need more than just printing. It prints at 35 ppm, warms up and delivers the first page in just 7 seconds — that is 1.5 seconds faster than the Brother HL-L2480DW above. The 50-sheet auto document feeder (ADF) lets you copy or scan a whole stack of pages without standing at the machine. Print quality is the most-praised feature; over 90 buyers specifically call it out alongside reliability.
Owners who bought three of these for their offices say they work “flawlessly.” The wireless connection is dependable enough to reconnect on its own after a power outage. A 250-sheet input tray keeps paper flowing. The honest note is that HP blocks generic toner cartridges via firmware updates, and some owners decline updates to use cheaper alternatives. A few also note the ADF can jam with more than 25 sheets at a time.
This printer matches the Brother HL-L2480DW’s 36 ppm pace closely (35 vs 36 ppm) but adds a faster first-page-out time and the ADF for scanning. It is the better pick if you regularly copy or scan multi-page documents.
Standout Strengths
- Fast 7-second first-page-out and 35 ppm print speed
- 50-sheet auto document feeder for easy scanning
- Dependable Wi-Fi that recovers from power loss
- Crisp, professional print and scan quality
Good to Know
- HP firmware blocks non-HP toner — avoid updates to stay flexible
- ADF reliability drops with thicker stacks over 25 pages
Perfect for: a small office or team that prints, scans, and copies in volume — the ADF saves real time.
Not ideal if: you want to use third-party toner without workarounds, or you print very infrequently.
4. Canon Color imageCLASS LBP646Cdw Wireless Laser Single-Function Printer
A color laser that prints both black and color at 26 ppm — no scanning, no copying, just fast output.
The Canon LBP646Cdw is a print-only color laser that keeps things focused. It delivers 26 ppm in both color and monochrome, so a mixed document comes out at the same speed as a text-only one. The first page lands in about 10.3 seconds. Owners praise the print quality above all else — 42 reviews cite it as a top positive, with particular note of “realistic skin tones” and good color reproduction.
Setup draws mixed reactions: some find it “very easy” while others call the instructions inscrutable. The 5-inch LCD screen helps you navigate settings, but the initial Wi-Fi connection can be finicky — owners recommend using the 2.5 GHz band instead of 5 GHz. The printer uses Canon Genuine Toner 075 cartridges, and while the starter yields (500 pages for color, 700 for black) get you going, replacements are a recurring cost to factor.
The 250-sheet cassette plus a 1-sheet multipurpose tray handle envelopes and specialty stock. An occasional unit reportedly fails early, so check the return window. For reliable color printing without scanning or copying, this is a capable choice.
What Shines
- Same 26 ppm speed for color and black — no slowdown
- Vibrant, accurate color output praised by owners
- Automatic duplex saves paper on both color and B&W jobs
The Trade-Offs
- Print only — no scanner, copier, or fax
- Setup and connectivity can be tricky
- Starter toner runs out quickly
Choose this for: dedicated color printing without the bulk of an all-in-one machine — great for small creative offices.
Pass if you need: scanning or copying, or if you want a simpler setup experience from the start.
5. Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer
The same 36 ppm engine as the top pick, but with a fax line and a 50-page document feeder.
This Brother MFC-L2820DW shares the same 36 ppm print speed and 8.5-second first-page-out as the HL-L2480DW above, then adds fax capability and a 50-page auto document feeder for multi-page scanning and copying. It is a full four-function machine: print, copy, scan, and fax. The 2.7-inch touchscreen works with cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox, just like its sibling.
Owner feedback is clear: it is a “good solid machine” that is easy to set up and produces sharp text. The setup is the quickest owners have seen across any printer — one described it as “easiest and quickest setup of any printer.” Printer quality gets 107 positive mentions, and ease of use gets 80. The notable point is that reliability has 125 total mentions, but Amazon marks it as mixed — meaning some owners hit occasional wireless connectivity or firmware update annoyances. Most of those are solved by using a wired Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection from the start.
The honest call is that this is the better choice over the HL-L2480DW if you need fax or a document feeder. If you do not use those, the HL-L2480DW saves you a little upfront and skips the extra complexity.
Strength Highlights
- Fast 36 ppm print speed with automatic duplex
- 50-page ADF for hands-free scanning and copying
- Built-in fax for offices that still need it
- Intuitive 2.7-inch color touchscreen
Honest Considerations
- Wireless connectivity can be finicky — Ethernet is more reliable
- Firmware update prompts can be annoying
Reach for this if: your office needs faxing and multi-page scanning alongside fast monochrome printing.
Save your money if: you only need print and scan — the HL-L2480DW does those without the fax feature at a lower cost.
6. Epson EcoTank ET-4950 Wireless All-in-One Color Supertank Printer
A refillable tank that comes with enough ink for 6,600 black pages right in the box.
The Epson EcoTank ET-4950 is a color all-in-one (print, copy, scan, fax) that replaces ink cartridges with refillable tanks. It ships with enough bottled ink to print up to 6,600 black pages and 5,500 color pages — equivalent to about 80 cartridges, according to the maker. Each replacement set of Epson 502 ink bottles costs far less than buying cartridges repeatedly, making this the long-term budget champion for color printing.
Print speed lands at 18 ppm for black and 9 ppm for color, which is slower than a laser. Owners note that single-sided printing is fast, but duplex (two-sided) slows down noticeably. Setup can take 30 to 45 minutes including ink charging and firmware updates, and some owners mention a frustrating initial paper jam. Once running, the print quality is outstanding — text and images come out clean and sharp. The 2.4-inch color display and wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB) make daily use straightforward.
The trade-off is speed versus cost per page. If you print many color pages each month, the EcoTank pays for itself over time. If you only need occasional color, a cartridge-based printer may be simpler. The build quality feels a bit flimsy to some owners, and photo quality on glossy paper draws rare but strong complaints.
The Big Wins
- Up to 6,600 black pages of ink included in the box
- Dramatically lower per-page cost than cartridge printers
- Simple, mess-free refilling with keyed bottles
- Excellent print quality for text and color images
What to Watch
- Slow duplex printing and 18 ppm B&W speed
- Setup can take 45+ minutes with potential initial jams
- Professional photo quality is inconsistent
Best for: high-volume home or school printing where color matters and long-term ink cost is the top concern.
Skip if: you print mostly text at high speed — a monochrome laser is faster and cheaper per page for black-only jobs.
7. Canon PIXMA PRO-200S Professional 13″ Wireless Inkjet Photo Printer
A professional 8-color dye system that turns your digital art into gallery-quality prints on 13-inch paper.
The Canon PIXMA PRO-200S is a dedicated photo printer for people who want museum-level results. Its 8-color dye-based ink system produces vibrant, rich prints with deep blacks and accurate skin tones. It prints bordered A3+ prints in around 90 seconds and 8×10 prints in about 53 seconds. Owners say the quality is “incredible” and that it produces “stunning matte black and white prints.”
The trade-off is significant. This is a large and heavy machine at 32 pounds — it needs a sturdy table. It is print-only, with no scanning or copying. Print speed is just 2 ppm, which is no concern for a photo printer but completely unsuitable for text documents. Ink consumption is high: customers note the black cartridge is half used after roughly 30 8.5×11 prints, and replacement Canon cartridges are expensive. The printer blocks third-party cartridges and refills.
Setup is a mixed experience. The hardware is simple, but the phone install app can be confusing and Wi-Fi setup may require YouTube help. Once running, the Canon app is easy to use. This printer is for hobbyist photographers and artists who want gallery-worthy output at home — not for general office tasks.
Print Quality Highlights
- 8-color dye-based inks for vibrant, accurate colors
- Borderless printing from 3.5″x3.5″ up to 13″x19″
- Quiet operation and surprisingly fast for photo work
- Excellent matte black and white prints
Reality Check
- Very slow at 2 ppm — not for document printing
- Ink cartridges are expensive and drain quickly
- Large and heavy at 32 pounds
- Blocks third-party ink and refills
Perfect for: serious photographers and artists who demand professional photo quality from a home printer.
Not for: any text or document printing — get a laser printer for that and this only for your photo work.
Understanding the Specs
Pages Per Minute (ppm)
This is the speed rating for black-and-white text pages. A 36 ppm laser prints around 12 pages in 20 seconds. For reference, a typical inkjet manages about 8 to 15 ppm. If you print multi-page reports or contracts regularly, higher ppm saves you real waiting time.
First Page Out
Measured in seconds, this tells you how fast the first sheet lands in the tray after you hit print. A 7-second printer is ready before you have set the paper down. This spec matters more than top speed if you print many single-page jobs throughout the day.
Automatic Duplex
This means the printer automatically flips the paper and prints on both sides. It cuts your paper use in half for multi-page documents. Most modern office lasers include it, but some budget models or photo printers do not.
Auto Document Feeder (ADF)
A tray on top of a scanner that feeds a stack of pages through automatically. A 50-sheet ADF lets you scan or copy 50 pages without standing there feeding each sheet. It is a must-have for any office that handles multi-page contracts, invoices, or forms.
FAQ
Should I get a laser or an inkjet printer?
How many pages per minute do I really need?
Will a laser printer work with my Mac?
What does automatic duplex printing mean?
Is it worth paying more for a color laser printer?
How much does toner or ink cost per page?
What is a supertank or EcoTank printer?
Do I need a printer with an auto document feeder?
Can I print from my phone or tablet?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the computer printer winner is the Brother HL-L2480DW because it delivers the fastest black-and-white print speed in its class (36 ppm) with a responsive touchscreen, reliable wireless, and automatic duplex at a mid-range price that owners consistently praise. If you want a fax machine and document feeder built in, grab the Brother MFC-L2820DW. And for truly low-cost color printing at home, the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 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 July 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.