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How to pick
The only question that matters is whether you print photos. If you do not, get a black and white laser printer and never think about printers again. Ink jets dry out if you do not use them weekly, and the cartridges cost more than the printer. Laser toner sits in a drawer for years and still works. The second question is whether you need to scan. If you do, get the all in one version of the same printer.
What I recommend
Brother HL-L2400D laser printer
Same toner and same reliability as the one below, but it plugs into the computer with a cable instead of joining your Wi-Fi. Fine if the printer sits next to the computer and only that computer prints. If you want to print from a phone, skip this and get the next one.
- Prints
- Black and white only
- Speed
- About 36 pages a minute
- Two sided
- Automatic
- Connection
- USB cable only, no Wi-Fi
Brother HL-L2460DW laser printer
I recommend this more than anything else on the whole site. No ink to dry out, no subscription nagging you, and one toner cartridge lasts most households a couple of years. Prints from your phone. If you mostly print documents, buy this one.
- Prints
- Black and white only
- Speed
- About 36 pages a minute
- Two sided
- Automatic
- Connection
- Wi-Fi and USB
Brother MFC-L2820DW all in one
Same reliable laser guts as above, with a scanner and copier on top and a feeder for stacks of paper. Get this if you deal with forms, tax paperwork, or anything you need to send back as a PDF.
- Does
- Print, scan, copy, fax
- Speed
- About 36 pages a minute
- Feeder
- 50 sheet, automatic
- Connection
- Wi-Fi, USB, ethernet
Epson EcoTank photo printer
If you genuinely print color photos at home, this is the ink jet to get. You refill it from bottles instead of buying cartridges, so the running cost is a fraction of a normal ink jet. Still needs to be used regularly or the heads clog, so skip it if it will sit for months.
- Ink
- Refillable tanks, not cartridges
- Prints
- Color, including photos
- Connection
- Wi-Fi
- Check
- Whether you need the scanner version
Related reading
New printer arriving?
Getting it on the Wi-Fi and talking to every device in the house is the part people call me about. Happy to set it up.