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The 7 Best Printers - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Printers

If you're searching for the perfect printer for your home or office, the right choice will depend mostly on your needs and habits. The type of printer that's best for you depends on how many pages you print, how often you print, and the type of media you print. For example, if you're shopping for your small office, features like a high page yield at a cheap cost and an automatic document feeder are good to have. On the other hand, a color printer that produces good-looking photos and is compatible with photo paper is ideal if you want to print pictures.

We've tested over 135 printers, and below are our recommendations for the best you can buy. You can also check our picks for the best home printers, the best all-in-one printers, and the best small business printers.


  1. Best Printer

    The best printer we've tested is the Brother MFC-L8905CDW, an all-in-one laser model designed for small and home offices. It produces amazingly sharp and detailed documents, warms up in 15 seconds, and prints quickly at up to 32 pages per minute. Its numerous connectivity options—Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, and NFC—make it easy for everyone in the office to access. Scanning documents is a breeze; the flatbed is large enough to process Legal-size sheets (8.5" x 14"), and there's also an automatic feeder with single-pass duplex scanning, letting you quickly scan multi-page and double-sided documents.

    Regarding page yield and running costs, this printer yields a large number of prints, so you likely won't need to replace the cartridges unless you have a large print load. Also, replacement toner isn't overly expensive. You'll have to spend extra to replace the drum, but again, it isn't something you'll have to do often, as it's typically good for 30,000 prints. If you don't need all the features on this model, there are cheaper variants, like the Brother MFC-L8900CDW, which performs identically but has a smaller display. The Brother MFC-L8610CDW is another cheaper option; it has an 8.5" x 11" flatbed scanner and doesn't support duplex scanning.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Printer

    Our best upper mid-range pick is the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw. This color laser all-in-one has the same features as the Brother MFC-L8905CDW and produces documents that look just as good. Plus, it yields significantly more color prints and is easier to maintain, as its toner cartridges contain the drum, meaning you don't have to replace the drum separately. However, it prints slower at 22 pages per minute, and that's only achievable via a wired USB or Ethernet connection, which is inconvenient if you don't have space near your computer or router to place the printer. Scan speed is also slower but respectable at 14 pages per minute. If you don't need an ADF, duplex scanning, or fax functionality, you can save money with one of the cheaper variants of this printer, like the Canon Color imageCLASS MF654Cdw. Our full review gives more details on the differences between models.

    If you're only printing in black-and-white, consider the Brother MFC-L2750DW instead. It produces high-quality documents, warms up quickly, and prints up to 36 pages per minute. It doesn't cost much to maintain, as it yields a large number of prints, and replacement toner is cheap. Unlike the Canon, you'll have to replace the drum separately; it's usually good for around 12,000 prints, so that isn't something you'll need to do very often. The scanner only processes up to seven pages per minute through the feeder but supports single-pass duplex scanning. The main tradeoff is the lack of color printing, so ensure you won't need to print any color documents. There are less expensive variants without duplex scanning or Ethernet if you want to save more money, and you can also get this printer bundled with high-yield cartridges.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Printer

    If you want something more modest for home use, we recommend the Brother MFC-J4335DW, one of the best color printers we've tested. This well-built inkjet all-in-one has plenty of features and uses cartridges with a high page yield, so they won't have to be replaced very often. You can connect to the printer via USB or Wi-Fi, and it's compatible with Brother's mobile companion app, which you can use to print, scan, copy, and perform maintenance tasks. Its ADF-equipped scanner scans up to 20 pages per minute; however, it doesn't support duplex scanning, so you'll have to flip the pages manually when scanning double-sided sheets.

    Printing-wise, it produces incredibly sharp documents with minimal artifacts, and it's quick, capable of pushing out 17 black or 15 color pages per minute. As for photo printing, printed pictures look detailed but slightly flat and grainy, with an overly warm tone. The input tray holds 150 sheets of paper, which is likely enough that you won't have to refill it often. If you have a larger print load, you can get the more costly Brother MFC-J4535DW variant; it has an additional 250-sheet input tray, bringing the total to 400 sheets. Additionally, it has a larger control panel and more connectivity options, including Ethernet and NFC support.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Printer

    Our best budget printer pick is the Brother MFC-J1205W, also sold as the Brother MFC-J1215W at Walmart. This inkjet all-in-one produces very sharp black and color documents and detailed and reasonably color-accurate photos. It also costs little to maintain as it yields a large number of prints, and the cartridges are relatively cheap. Connectivity options include USB and Wi-Fi, and there's support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. Unfortunately, this model only has a flatbed scanner, so scanning multi-page documents can take a lot of time. Another downside is that it prints slowly at nine black or six color pages per minute and doesn't support automatic duplex printing.

    If you want a monochrome laser model in the same price range, get the Brother HL-L2350DW. It produces incredibly sharp documents, prints quickly, and is cheap to maintain. It's also a great choice if you don't print often, as there's no risk of printhead clogging, which happens on inkjet printers left unused for a long time. The tradeoff is that it lacks a scanner, so you must be sure you won't need to digitize anything. The Brother HL-L2325DW variant is a good option, too. It's cheaper but doesn't print as quickly and is harder to find due to low availability.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Printer

    If you only need to print once in a blue moon, a cheap printer like the Canon PIXMA MG3620 will do. Although it doesn't feel particularly well-built and only has a basic flatbed scanner, it still prints crisp, legible documents and detailed photos. Unfortunately, it takes a little longer than most inkjet printers to warm up and prints only nine black or three color pages per minute, so patience is necessary when printing longer documents. Thankfully, it still offers USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, not to mention support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, making it easy to print documents from a multitude of devices.

    Like most printers in its price range, the main drawback is its low page yield. It only has two ink cartridges—one black and one tri-color—and they're only good for around 200 black and color prints. Replacement ink is relatively cheap, so maintenance cost isn't the issue; it's just inconvenient because it requires a lot of maintenance, and you might end up with lots of faded or incomplete prints. Also, since it uses a tri-color cartridge, you have to replace the entire cartridge if a single color runs out.

    See our review

  6. Best Photo Printer

    If you're a photographer who needs high-quality prints, the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 is a great option and is among the best color printers we've tested. This professional-grade photo printer produces incredibly detailed, sharp, and color-accurate photos. It supports borderless printing and paper sizes up to 13" x 19". It uses nine cartridges, including specific photo cartridges that work only on glossy photo paper, so you won't have to worry about depleting the photo ink when printing documents. The downside is that it only yields around 400 color prints, and the cartridges are costly, so the printer can become expensive to maintain if you print a lot. Also, this is a print-only model, meaning it doesn't have a scanner.

    If you only print photos casually and want something cheaper, get the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550. The print quality is actually fairly close to the Canon; it just isn't as color-accurate, with a tendency to over-saturate most shades. However, it's a little more practical for day-to-day use since it has a scanner and costs less to maintain over time; its supertank design gives it a much higher yield than the Canon, which uses expensive cartridges. Like the Canon, it also supports wide format printing up to 13" x 19". If you don't need to print on wide format paper, you can save money with its cheaper variant, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500. It has the same print quality as the ET-8550 but has a smaller 8.5 x 11.7" flatbed scanner and only supports paper sizes up to 8.5" x 11".

    See our review

  7. Best Portable Printer

    For on-the-go printing, get the HP OfficeJet 250. It's a great option if you travel a lot for work or run a kiosk and need to print out receipts. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts about 225 prints and takes around two hours to fully charge. Despite its compact size, it still manages to pack an ADF scanner with a maximum scanning resolution of 600 DPI, which is more than enough for text documents and photos. It also has an optical character recognition (OCR) feature, allowing you to scan documents into PDFs for quick keyword searches.

    Unfortunately, it prints slowly at one page per minute for black and color documents. It's faster when plugged in, but not by much. Also, it can only print 100-150 pages before the ink runs out, meaning you might need to carry a few extra cartridges. The cost per print is okay, though color printing can get expensive if you print a lot. On the upside, you can get XL cartridges that'll last longer, and it also accepts third-party ink, which can be cheaper in the long run.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw/MF751Cdw: The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw/MF751Cdw is a great alternative to the Brother MFC-L8905CDW. It has the same features as the Brother and is slightly cheaper. However, it yields fewer prints and doesn't print or scan as quickly. It uses toner cartridges with an integrated drum unit, which makes maintenance easier since you don't have to replace the drum separately, but this can also be a disadvantage because you have to replace the cartridge if the drum gets damaged, potentially wasting toner. See our review
  • Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850: The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 is a great inkjet alternative to the Brother MFC-L8905CDW. It produces better photos and is cheaper to maintain due to its high page yield. It prints up to 25 pages per minute, which is slower than the Brother but still very respectable for an inkjet model. It's more expensive, though. Also, its scanner can only process up to nine pages per minute through the ADF and produces lower-quality scans. See our review
  • Brother MFC-L3780CDW/MFC-L3720CDW: The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is an excellent color laser printer and a good alternative to the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw. It scans and prints faster; however, the printer costs more, and you'll have to spend more on replacement toner because it doesn't yield as many pages. See our review
  • HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e: If you prefer an inkjet model, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e is a good alternative to the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw. It prints slightly faster when connected wirelessly and produces much nicer photos. It comes with six months of free ink through HP+, HP's ink replenishment subscription service. However, subscribing to the service will block you from using third-party cartridges, even if you unsubscribe later. If you don't care for the ink subscription, you can get the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025, though it may be harder to find. See our review
  • Epson EcoTank ET-2840 Special Edition: If you have a large print load, the Epson EcoTank ET-2840 Special Edition is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-J4335DW. It costs more upfront, but you'll likely save more money in the long, as it's a supertank model with an incredibly high page yield. However, its document print quality isn't as good, and it prints slower at 14 black or six color pages per minute. It also lacks an automatic feeder and only supports manual duplex printing. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 28, 2024: Slight in-text adjustments to further clarify product details.

  2. Feb 01, 2024: Minor text changes to provide information about the Brother MFC-J4535DW variant. No change in recommendations.

  3. Jan 04, 2024: Added the Brother MFC-L3780CDW/MFC-L3270CDW as a Notable Mention.

  4. Nov 21, 2023: Verified that all picks are valid and available; no change in the recommendations. Minor text changes to improve clarity.

  5. Oct 23, 2023: Small text changes to add more information regarding HP's ink subscription service. Added the Epson EcoTank ET-2840 Special Edition as a Notable Mention. No change in recommendations.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best overall printers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.