My main requirements are it works with color, cos we sometimes photo print for personal use, and that it's possible to refill rather than spend big buck on new toners, so either they don't have chips faking the fill level or are easy to reset.
Scanner optional but appreciated.
Do y'all have any tips for me? I'm so so done with flaky inkjets and I've read some nightmares about some more modern printers.
Thanks in advance!
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Ready to Buy the Right Laser Printer for You?
We trust that our list of the best lasers we've tested, plus this guide's advice, will make your choice easier. Laser printers have much to offer businesses of all sizes, from sole proprietorships to large corporations. They are worth considering, for some folks, for home use as well.
We update these picks often, but also check out our printer category page for the very latest reviews we've posted, including many models that didn't make the cut here but are also worth considering. And for more printer buying advice and reviews, check out our top printer picks overall, the best inkjet printers, and our picks for best all-in-one printers.
Will a Laser Printer Cost More or Less Than a Comparable Inkjet?
As surprising as it may seem, a laser printer can be less expensive in the long run than a comparable inkjet. You really have to look at the total cost of ownership to figure that out, though.
A common complaint about lasers is that laser toner cartridges are expensive compared with inkjet cartridges. For inexpensive models, the cost can even exceed the cost of the printer, particularly for color lasers if you need to replace a full set of cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners). But if you compare the cost per page, rather than the price per cartridge, you'll find the running cost for cartridge-based lasers is actually less than for comparable cartridge-based inkjets. In addition, most lasers are designed to last longer than most inkjets, so you can amortize the initial cost of the printer over more pages as well.
Be aware that tank-based inkjets can beat lasers on running cost, which complicates any broad-brushstroke comparison of costs between the two technologies. The tank-based models cost more than equivalent inkjets that use cartridges, but they let you use far cheaper ink, which you typically pour from bottles into large tanks in the printer. There are also a few lasers that take a similar approach, selling toner in bulk "injectors" rather than in cartridges.
Ultimately, focusing on initial price only or on running costs only when comparing printers is likely to lead to the wrong conclusion about which will be cheaper. You need to take both into account by estimating the total cost of ownership over the printers' lifetimes. How to Save Money on Your Next Printer: Weighing the Cost of Tank vs. Cartridge Ink gives a step-by-step example of how to compare tank and cartridge inkjets. The same approach will work with any two printers. And don't forget to factor in the possible savings from ink subscription plans if any are available for a printer you're considering.
What Kind of Connectivity to Look for in a Laser Printer?
Almost any printer will include a USB Type-B connector for a direct wired connection to a single PC. (USB connectors supporting the faster USB 3.0 protocol are showing up with increasing regularity.) And even if that's the only connector, Windows will let you share the printer on a network. But the easiest, and most efficient, option for connecting to a network is an Ethernet port, which all but the least-expensive lasers generally include as well. Connecting with Ethernet is usually as simple as plugging in the cable.
Most lasers today also offer Wi-Fi for network connection, either as an alternative to Ethernet or as the only choice. Wi-Fi lets you put the printer anywhere without having to worry about stringing cables, but it is sometimes tricky to set up. AIOs with fax functionality will add a phone-line interface (RJ-45), unless they use cloud-based faxing.
Support for Wi-Fi Direct is also common, though sometimes that feature comes under a different name. It lets you establish a direct peer-to-peer connection between the printer and a computer or mobile device. However, you don't actually need Wi-Fi Direct to print wirelessly. If the printer is attached to a network, using either a wired or wireless connection, and you can connect to the network by Wi-Fi from a computer, phone, or tablet, you can print over the network. Just check to be sure that the manufacturer offers a free downloadable app for printing (as well as for scanning, for an AIO) that your phone or tablet can use. Another option that is less common is support for Near-Field Communication (NFC), which lets you initiate the wireless connection to a mobile device by simply tapping the device on a specific spot on the printer.
What would you like to accomplish?
Laser printers are more capable of printing clearer Word documents at higher volumes. They are more expensive than inkjet printers, which is one you may wonder if you can afford them in your home office.
While working at home may present some financial constraints on the equipment that you use, it doesn’t mean you can’t get yourself a laser printer.
Brother? Any other good brand?
We have curated a list of laser printers that can serve you well despite the lack of space and/ or budget:
1. Canon Color ImageClass MF656Cdw
2. Brother MFC -L2750DW
3. HP LaserJet Tank MFP 2604SDW
4. Brother HL-L2350DW
5. Canon imageClass MF264dw II
6. Xerox VersaLink B600DN
7. Kyocera Ecosys
8. Xerox B215
9. Ricoh
10. Lexmark MB3442adw
Finally, laser printers you can use for your home office
You don’t have to settle for blurred documents or very slow printing and noisy printers. You can get more work done and clearer outputs with a laser printer. No matter what your size requirement and budget may be, you can find a suitable unit for your home office.