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Laser PrintersHelping You Find the Best
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Laser PrintersHelping You Find the Best
7 Best Laser Printers  [Tested and Reviewed]

7 Best Laser Printers [Tested and Reviewed]

The benefit of owning a laser printer lies in its print quality. In comparison to inkjet printers, laser printers are far less affected by the type of paper used, making it easy to produce high-quality prints. However, the top printer manufacturers, such as Brother Industries, HP, and Canon, sell many models, and so people struggle deciding which laser printer is best for their printing needs.

We gathered 7 of the most popular laser printers, including the latest from each manufacturer and top-selling models, and conducted thorough examinations of each by comparing them across various points. We then ranked each laser printer, noting the pros and cons of each to make it easy for you to decide which is best for you.


At mybest, we define the best laser printer as one that produces high-quality prints quickly and enhances work productivity with high functionality. We explain the best way to choose a laser printer, as revealed through our tests, so refer to our guide before making a purchase.

Last updated 03/27/2024
Alan Truly
Expert
Technology Writer
Alan Truly

Alan is a Technology Writer living in Canada. With over 30 years of experience in computer, video, and photography, his writing includes useful tips and insights. Alan has a degree in programming and many years focused on graphic design. A period of managing logistics and e-commerce for a mobile accessories company rounds out a diverse background. To stay flexible in mind and body, he practices yoga and eats plant-based foods.

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Syuri Taguchi
Guide
Former PC sales; Head of PC Products at mybest
Syuri Taguchi

After graduating from the University of Tsukuba's School of Art and Design, she joined a major home electronic retailer to put her knowledge of digital devices and software to use. Not only was she tasked with selling computers, she was responsible for sales of tech equipment such as printers and routers, proposing internet and communication services, and was in charge of forming comprehensive contracts for computer sales. Putting sales quotas and profits aside, she made it her goal to put the customers' needs first and match them with the best products. In 2022, she joined mybest as the head guide of PC equipment. Utilizing her experience and knowledge of various digital devices from major manufacturers such as Fujitsu and Dell, she is committed to producing articles that help connect users to the best PC products.

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How We Tested the Products

We gathered the 7 bestselling Laser Printers and put them through rigorous testing.
  1. Text Readability

    1
    Text Readability

    We defined text readability as text that native English speakers would evaluate as being clear and legible. To assess the laser printers for readability, we tested them in the following way:

  2. Sharp Imaging

    2
    Sharp Imaging

    A printer’s image sharpness was defined as having no blurring or smudging when printing text documents, and each was tested in the following way:

  3. Color Accuracy

    3
    Color Accuracy

    The color accuracy standard was defined as a printer with a color reproduction range equivalent to an 8-color inkjet printer, and we tested each printer in the following way:

  4. Low Print Defects

    4
    Low Print Defects

    Low print defects were assessed as whether print defects were observable in both monochrome and color prints, and we tested each printer in the following way:

  5. Print Speed

    5
    Print Speed

    Print speed was assessed as a printer that completes all printing even when a large number of copies were made, and we tested each printer using the following methods:

  6. Scan Quality

    6
    Scan Quality

    A printer had sharp imaging while scanning if it produced no smudging, regardless of whether copied text was printed or hand-written. We tested each printer in the following way:

  7. Convenience

    7
    Convenience

    Convenience was assessed as whether a printer could handle all print jobs necessary for work with easy and intuitive operation. We tested each printer using the following methods:

All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest

Company Facility
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.

Table of Contents

Laser Printers vs Inkjet Printers

The differences between laser and inkjet printers are unknown to the uninitiated. We will explain the differences between the two types of printers, especially in terms of print method, print quality, and paper quality.

Laser Printers Produce Crisp Text on Any Type of Paper

Laser Printers Produce Crisp Text on Any Type of Paper

Laser printers and inkjet printers use different printing methods. Laser printers use a method called electrophotography, which prints by heat-bonding solid toner to paper. One advantage of this method is that toner adheres tightly to paper, making it less affected by a paper’s fibers, thus maintaining crisp, clear text.


Inkjet printers spray ink onto paper. The liquid ink penetrates horizontally and vertically onto the paper, which makes it susceptible to the effects of the paper's fibers and smoothness, resulting in less stable, and sometimes unpredictable, print quality.


When comparing top-of-the-line laser and inkjet printers, we printed the same document on both types of printers using low-quality, recycled paper. The document contained 9-point text, which is small and requires crisp printing to read well. The laser printer printed the text clearly, as shown in the picture, but the inkjet printer produced noticeable blurring and smudging.

How to Choose Laser Printers

Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best Laser Printers.

1

For a Home Business, Choose a Printer With the Highest Print Quality

Print quality is the most important issue when choosing a laser printer. Using what we learned during our tests, we show how to choose a printer that produces high-quality prints.

HP’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw Has Excellent Print Quality

HP’s Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw Has Excellent Print Quality

We found that the LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw offers outstanding print quality. Below, we introduce why HP’s laser printer excelled in comparison to other printers we tested.

No Blurring or Smearing, Even With Small Fonts

No Blurring or Smearing, Even With Small Fonts

Print quality can be summarized as the degree to which a laser printer’s output is blurry or smears on the page. The smaller the font, the more important it is that a printer is capable of crisp printing. For example, a 6-point font is about the smallest that would be used for printing in business, found on business cards and in a document’s notes.


We prepared and compared print samples that had character sizes that ranged from 6-point to 18-point text. Larger text sizes of 12-point or greater produced little blurring or smearing, but noticeable differences were found at smaller sizes of 6-point and 9-point fonts.

 
Among other printers that blurred around the 6-point font size, high-end printers like HP's Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw were clear and had no blurring or smearing. Choosing such a model gives you the confidence that your printer will handle any text you need to print, especially when it is being shown to clients and business partners.

No Printing Defects

No Printing Defects

Similarly important when choosing a laser printer is minimizing print defects such as misaligned lines, misplaced positions, and dirty print surfaces. The printers we tested produced a variety of such defects, some of which were worse than others.


We randomly chose two prints from each printer and counted the number of defects. Some lower-ranked printers had 16 defects, while higher-ranked ones had nearly none. The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw had zero.

 
For those who want a printer that produces fewer defects and provides stable image quality, we recommend a printer with a Low Print Defect ranking of 5.

With a Rating of 4.5 Stars or More, You Can Expect Accurate Colors

With a Rating of 4.5 Stars or More, You Can Expect Accurate Colors

Color reproduction is essential for people who print presentation material, POPs, flyers, and brochures. We printed the same document on each laser printer and checked for color accuracy. We prepared samples of five grades as a benchmark and confirmed which quality it matched best.

 
High-end printers like HP's Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw were able to print colors that matched those of an 8-color inkjet printer, but some lower-end printers produced completely different colors. As shown in the picture, expressions of shades varied across the printers we tested.

 
For those who need color accuracy from a laser printer, we recommend products with a High Color Fidelity above 4.5. While it's not quite on par with an 8-color inkjet printer, it does produce color accuracy that is close to that of a 5-color inkjet printer.

2

Liquid Crystal Displays and Automatic Document Feeders

After print quality, we recommend choosing a laser printer based on ease of use. We therefore explain the importance of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) and automatic document feeders (ADFs).

Choose a Touch LCD That is Larger Than 4 Inches

Choose a Touch LCD That is Larger Than 4 Inches

LCDs come in two varieties—those operated by touch and those that require buttons to operate the laser printer. If ease of operation is important to you, a touch screen is recommended. Button-operated printers require you to look at both the LCD and buttons. Touch-operated LCDs require only the screen for operation, offering intuitive operation like a smartphone.

 
The size of an LCD screen greatly influences convenience. Printers with an LCD that is smaller than 3 inches can feel cramped and are prone to mispresses, but screens larger than 4 inches result in fewer mispresses. For convenience, choose a printer that has an LCD that is larger than 4 inches.

ADF Allows Scanning and Copying Both Sides

ADF Allows Scanning and Copying Both Sides

Scanning and copying are much more convenient when a printer supports ADF. Otherwise, you will need to manually handle each sheet when making multiple copies, which wastes time and undermines efficiency.


Among laser printers with ADFs, we especially recommend those that can easily copy double-sided printed pages. Note that some printers with an ADF cannot read both sides of a document simultaneously.

3

Scanners With High Read Quality

Scanners With High Read Quality

We tested the performance of each printer's scanner. We added handwritten text to printed documents that had characters in font sizes that ranged from 6-point to 18-point. We checked for blurring in both handwritten and printed parts. Every printer we tested was able to print clear text without blurring, as shown in the images.

4

For Speed, Choose Brother’s MFC‐L8905CDW All‐in‐One

For Speed, Choose Brother’s MFC‐L8905CDW All‐in‐One

Print speed is a fundamental performance factor for laser printers, almost as important as print quality. Comparing the number of pages that could be printed in one minute, many printers can reach about 20 pages, but the Brother MFC-L8905CDW Business Color Laser All-in-One Printer printed 33 pages, or 1.4 times the average. Although this printer did not receive high marks for print quality, we recommend it to those who print a large amount of documents at a time.

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7 Best Laser Printers Ranking

Here are the best Laser Printers we found after testing them. We ranked them after weighting each of our testing specs.
Recommended
Price Performance
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For Bulk Printing
For Home Use
Products
Image
mybest Score
Click to purchase
Key features
Main Score
Details
Text Readability
Sharp Imaging
High Color Fidelity
Low Print Defects
Printing Speed
Scan Quality
Convenience
Type
First print speed (actual measurement)
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)
Paper tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
Automatic power-on function
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight
Resolution
Power consumption
Depth
Width
Height
1

HP

Color LaserJet Pro MFPM283fdw

HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 1
4.50

mybest's Top Choice: Highest Quality Prints

4.40
4.84
4.50
5.00
4.06
5.00
4.30

All-in-one type

12.7sec.

22 sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) - Single-sided

41.2 lbs.

600 × 600 dpi

361W

16.6 in.

16.5 in.

13.2 in.

2

Canon

Color imageCLASS MF654Cdw

Canon Color imageCLASS  1
4.37

High Print Quality; Character Coloration Varies

4.10
4.34
4.50
4.75
3.96
5.00
4.40

All-in-one type

15.0sec.

21sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) - Single-sided

48.5 lbs.

1200 x 1200 dpi

900W

18.2 in.

17.8 in.

16.3 in.

3

HP

HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

HP HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw 1
4.34

High Print Quality; Recommended for Home Use

4.78
5.00
4.50
4.25
4.06
3.00
3.96

Single function type

12.3sec.

22sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

Not supported

32.6 lbs.

600 ×600 dpi

337W

16.5 in.

15.4 in

9.7 in.

4

Lexmark International

Color All-in-One 2-series BasicMC3224dwe

Lexmark International Color All-in-One 2-series Basic 1
4.17

Clear Text; Fits Small Budgets

4.48
5.00
3.50
5.00
4.13
5.00
3.91

All-in-one type

13.7sec.

23sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

Not supported

40.2 lbs.

2400 × 600 dpi

385W

15.5 in.

16.2 in.

12.1 in.

5

Brother Industries

Digital Color All-in-One PrinterMFC-L3720CDW

Brother Industries Digital Color All-in-One Printer 1
4.13

Low Print Quality, Speed, and Functionality

4.48
3.96
4.00
4.50
3.80
4.50
4.34

All-in-one type

19.7sec.

19 sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

ADF(Automatic Document Feeder)-Single-sided

44.0 lbs.

300 × 300 dpi

500W

16.1 in.

17.5 in.

15.8 in.

6

Brother Industries

Compact Digital Color PrinterHL-L3220CDW

Brother Industries Compact Digital Color Printer 1
3.88

Fast Print Speed; Buttons Inconvenient

4.55
3.88
4.50
3.32
3.80
3.00
3.83

Single function type

21.7sec.

20sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

Not supported

24.7 lbs.

2400 x 600 dpi

480W

15.7 in.

15.7 in.

9.4 in.

7

Brother Industries

Business Color Laser All‐in‐One PrinterMFC‐L8905CDW

Brother Industries Business Color Laser All‐in‐One Printer 1
3.53

Print Quality Lacking; Best for Personal Use

4.10
3.20
3.00
3.13
4.45
4.00
4.61

All-in-one type

17.0sec.

33 sheets/min.

Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray

250 sheets

ADF(Automatic Document Feeder-Double-sided

65.4 lbs.

2400×600 dpi

600W

20.7 in.

19.5 in.

21.6 in.

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1
Top Choice Laser Printers
No.1 in High Color Fidelity
No.1 in Low Print Defects
No.1 in Scan Quality

HP
Color LaserJet Pro MFPM283fdw

mybest Score
4.50
Text Readability
4.40
Sharp Imaging
4.84
High Color Fidelity
4.50
Low Print Defects
5.00
Printing Speed
4.06
Scan Quality
5.00
Convenience
4.30
View on Amazon
Color LaserJet Pro MFP 1
Lowest price
$422.00
Mid
Lowest price
$422.00
Mid
TypeAll-in-one type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) - Single-sided

mybest's Top Choice: Highest Quality Prints

What we loved

  • Highest print quality
  • Fewest print defects

What we didn't love

  • Still not better than the best inkjet printers for photos
  • ADF supports only single-sided scanning

HP's Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283FDW produced the highest quality prints in comparison to all of the other laser printers we tested. We observed no print defects, such as streaks, color misalignment, or positional displacement, in both black-and-white and color documents. We saw only one instance of blurring when printing 6-point text, but otherwise, printing was clear and sharp.


Color accuracy was high, and although a laser printer can’t reach the quality of an 8-color inkjet printer when it comes to photos, this printer approximates the output of a 5-color inkjet printer. Even when printing leaflets and POPs, exact color tones are preserved from screen to paper.


During speed tests, we printed 22 pages of monochrome documents per minute and recorded an average time of 145 seconds for printing 50 pages in bulk. This printer also features an ADF, automatic duplex printing, AirPrint, and smartphone printing. The ADF supports only single-sided scanning. If you need to make multiple copies of double-sided printed material, manual operation is required for each page. Also, the LCD is touch-operated, but it's only 2.7 inches, so people with large fingers may easily press the wrong buttons.

First print speed (actual measurement)12.7sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)22 sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight41.2 lbs.
Resolution600 × 600 dpi
Power consumption361W
Depth16.6 in.
Width16.5 in.
Height13.2 in.
View all
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No.2
No.1 in High Color Fidelity
No.1 in Scan Quality

Canon
Color imageCLASS MF654Cdw

mybest Score
4.37
Text Readability
4.10
Sharp Imaging
4.34
High Color Fidelity
4.50
Low Print Defects
4.75
Printing Speed
3.96
Scan Quality
5.00
Convenience
4.40
Lowest price
$299.99
Low Mid
TypeAll-in-one type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) - Single-sided

High Print Quality; Character Coloration Varies

What we loved

  • High print quality
  • Good color reproduction

What we didn't love

  • ADF supports only single-sided scanning
  • Some clarity issues with small fonts

The Color imageCLASS MF654CDW laser printer by Canon offers high print quality, but it wasn’t the best among the printers we tested. Color reproduction was equivalent to a 5-color inkjet printer, but it did produce a few printing defects. Text prints are heavy, so small text (6-point or smaller) is blurred in some cases. Some testers reported that the toner overlapped too much.


During speed tests, this printer printed 21 documents per minute, which was average among the printers we tested. The time it took to print 50 copies of a document was 154 seconds, which might slow some people.


The MF654CDW offers an ADF, automatic double-sided printing, and smartphone printing, though the ADF supports only single-sided scanning. The LCD is 5.2 inches and it supports touch operation, so getting to features is quick and convenient.

First print speed (actual measurement)15.0sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)21sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight48.5 lbs.
Resolution1200 x 1200 dpi
Power consumption900W
Depth18.2 in.
Width17.8 in.
Height16.3 in.
View all
No.3
No.1 in Text Readability
No.1 in Sharp Imaging
No.1 in High Color Fidelity

HP
HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

mybest Score
4.34
Text Readability
4.78
Sharp Imaging
5.00
High Color Fidelity
4.50
Low Print Defects
4.25
Printing Speed
4.06
Scan Quality
3.00
Convenience
3.96
Lowest price
$299.00
Mid
TypeSingle function type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
Not supported

High Print Quality; Recommended for Home Use

What we loved

  • High print quality
  • Wi-Fi direct printing

What we didn't love

  • No ADF
  • No copying or scanning

HP’s Color LaserJet Pro M255DW laser printer is a single-function model that does not support copying or scanning. Its print quality was a strength among the printers we tested. No blurring or smudging was observed, even when printing 6-point fonts. Color reproduction was accurate, but it can’t compete with 8-color commercial inkjet printers, though it's close to a 5-color inkjet printer for photo printing. Some lines were observed in both monochrome and color images, but the print quality was otherwise high.


During speed tests, it printed 22 monochrome documents per minute, and it took 144 seconds to print 50 copies in bulk, which was average among the printers we tested. This printer does not have an ADF, but it does support smartphone printing such as AirPrint, Mopria, and Wi-Fi Direct. It has a touch LCD and its compact size makes it easy to place, so it is a good choice for a home office where space is a premium.

First print speed (actual measurement)12.3sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)22sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight32.6 lbs.
Resolution600 ×600 dpi
Power consumption337W
Depth16.5 in.
Width15.4 in
Height9.7 in.
View all
No.4
No.1 in Sharp Imaging
No.1 in Low Print Defects
No.1 in Scan Quality

Lexmark International
Color All-in-One 2-series BasicMC3224dwe

mybest Score
4.17
Text Readability
4.48
Sharp Imaging
5.00
High Color Fidelity
3.50
Low Print Defects
5.00
Printing Speed
4.13
Scan Quality
5.00
Convenience
3.91
Lowest price
$380.00
Mid
TypeAll-in-one type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
Not supported

Clear Text; Fits Small Budgets

What we loved

  • High print quality
  • Low price

What we didn't love

  • Poor color reproduction poor
  • Small LCD

The Lexmark Color All-in-One 2-series Basic MC3224DWE offers excellent print quality, with no blurring or fading, even when printing 6-point font. However, color reproduction was poor, with areas that should have printed in pink coming out red instead. Monochrome documents print especially well, producing crisp text and images.


During speed tests, we printed 22 black and white documents in one minute, with 50 sheets printed in bulk taking 144 seconds. This speed is sufficient for regular business use, but it might be inconvenient for people who need to print bulk jobs often.


This printer supports automatic double-sided printing, but its flatbed scanner does not support ADF or double-sided scanning. The LCD operates by touch, but at 2.9 inches, it is small and inconvenient for people with larger hands.

First print speed (actual measurement)13.7sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)23sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight40.2 lbs.
Resolution2400 × 600 dpi
Power consumption385W
Depth15.5 in.
Width16.2 in.
Height12.1 in.
View all
No.5

Brother Industries
Digital Color All-in-One PrinterMFC-L3720CDW

mybest Score
4.13
Text Readability
4.48
Sharp Imaging
3.96
High Color Fidelity
4.00
Low Print Defects
4.50
Printing Speed
3.80
Scan Quality
4.50
Convenience
4.34
Lowest price
$399.99
Mid
TypeAll-in-one type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
ADF(Automatic Document Feeder)-Single-sided

Low Print Quality, Speed, and Functionality

What we loved

  • Clear printing of standard-sized fonts

What we didn't love

  • Some blurring and smudging
  • Subtle shades difficult to distinguish
  • Slower printing

Brother’s MFC-L3720CDW Digital Color All-in-One Printer offers lower print quality than those observed with other printers. Blurring and smudging were more common. Larger 12-point fonts printed clearly, but small fonts from 6-point to 9-point were much less clear. Poor color reproduction meant that it was difficult to distinguish shades of color. For example, orange and light orange were not rendered clearly.


The printing speed was slow among those we tested, printing only 19 documents per minute. If you need to prepare documents quickly, this is not the printer for you, but it is fast enough for everyday use.


The printer features an ADF, automatic duplex printing, and smartphone printing. However, the ADF supports only single-side scanning. When making multiple copies of double-sided printed material, it will take some time to complete. The touchscreen is easy and comfortable to use.

First print speed (actual measurement)19.7sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)19 sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight44.0 lbs.
Resolution300 × 300 dpi
Power consumption500W
Depth16.1 in.
Width17.5 in.
Height15.8 in.
View all
No.6
No.1 in High Color Fidelity

Brother Industries
Compact Digital Color PrinterHL-L3220CDW

mybest Score
3.88
Text Readability
4.55
Sharp Imaging
3.88
High Color Fidelity
4.50
Low Print Defects
3.32
Printing Speed
3.80
Scan Quality
3.00
Convenience
3.83
Lowest price
$249.99
Low
TypeSingle function type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
Not supported

Fast Print Speed; Buttons Inconvenient

What we loved

  • Fast print speed

What we didn't love

  • Buttons inconvenient
  • Adequate color accuracy
  • Streaks common

Brother’s HL-L3220CDW has low print quality. Streaks on both black-and-white and color documents were common, and color accuracy was lacking. Blurring and smudging were also apparent with small font sizes of 6-point to 9-point.

 
Print speeds were slightly slower than other printers we tested. It printed 20 pages in one minute, though it is still considerably faster than inkjet printers. It takes 170 seconds to print 50 pages, which would be useful when printing multiple copies of the same document.


This printer is a single-function type, so copying and scanning are not possible. It comes with smartphone print features like AirPrint, Mopria, and Wi-Fi Direct, which increases its functionality somewhat. However, its small LCD screen requires buttons to operate because it has no touch capability.

First print speed (actual measurement)21.7sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)20sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight24.7 lbs.
Resolution2400 x 600 dpi
Power consumption480W
Depth15.7 in.
Width15.7 in.
Height9.4 in.
View all
No.7
No.1 in Printing Speed
No.1 in Convenience

Brother Industries
Business Color Laser All‐in‐One PrinterMFC‐L8905CDW

mybest Score
3.53
Text Readability
4.10
Sharp Imaging
3.20
High Color Fidelity
3.00
Low Print Defects
3.13
Printing Speed
4.45
Scan Quality
4.00
Convenience
4.61
Lowest price
$699.98
High
TypeAll-in-one type
With LCD display
Touch panel compatible
ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
ADF(Automatic Document Feeder-Double-sided

Print Quality Lacking; Best for Personal Use

What we loved

  • Fast printing
  • 7-inch LCD

What we didn't love

  • Low print quality
  • Small text lacks crispness

Brother’s MFC-L3770CDW laser printer is lacking when it comes to print quality. Blurring and smudging were present when printing small, 6-point fonts. Streaks were visible in color prints and color accuracy was low. For example, purple printed in blue.


Print speed was excellent among the printers we tested. It prints as many as 33 pages in one minute, and it printed 50 pages in 105 seconds. It has an ADF that can read both sides, and its 7-inch LCD is operated by touch. This printer is not suitable when print quality is a priority, and thus we recommend it only for personal or internal use.

First print speed (actual measurement)17.0sec.
Continuous copying speed (actual measurement)33 sheets/min.
Paper trayCassette tray 1、Manual feed tray
Maximum paper feeding capacity250 sheets
Automatic power-on function
AirPrint compatible
Main unit weight65.4 lbs.
Resolution2400×600 dpi
Power consumption600W
Depth20.7 in.
Width19.5 in.
Height21.6 in.
View all

How We Tested the Laser Printers

Laser Printers Evaluation

At mybest, we define the best laser printer as one that produces high-quality prints quickly, is highly functional, and enhances work productivity


To find the best one, we gathered 7 top-selling laser printers from popular manufacturers, and the latest products from Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, to thoroughly examine them based on seven points: 


  • Text Readability

  • Sharp Imaging

  • Color Fidelity

  • Low Print Defects

  • Print Speed

  • Scan Quality

  • Convenience

Products we tested

  1. Brother IndustriesBusiness Color Laser All‐in‐One PrinterMFC‐L8905CDW
  2. Brother IndustriesDigital Color All-in-One PrinterMFC-L3720CDW
  3. Brother IndustriesCompact Digital Color PrinterHL-L3220CDW
  4. CanonColor imageCLASS MF654Cdw
  5. HPColor LaserJet Pro MFPM283fdw
  6. HPHP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
  7. Lexmark InternationalColor All-in-One 2-series BasicMC3224dwe
1

Text Readability

Text Readability

We defined text readability as text that native English speakers would evaluate as being clear and legible. To assess the laser printers for readability, we tested them in the following way:

Scoring Method

The testers checked printed materials and scored each based on a recommendation level.

Test Conditions

  • Testers: 10 people from English-speaking countries aged 20 and above

  • Printing using each printer's dedicated driver

  • Printing Samples: Sample 1

  • All settings set to "standard" or "normal" mode for printing

What We Checked

  • Color Accuracy
  • Clarity of Printed Text
2

Sharp Imaging

Sharp Imaging

A printer’s image sharpness was defined as having no blurring or smudging when printing text documents, and each was tested in the following way:

Scoring Method

Print a document that included 6-point, 9-point, and 12-point fonts. Using a microscope, the testers checked 60 characters, 20 for each size, and counted the number of blurs and smudges. Scores were calculated as how closely the number of blurs and smudges was to zero, with printers producing zero being recommended.

Test Conditions

    • Printing using each printer's dedicated driver

    • All settings set to "standard" or "normal" mode for printing

    • Printing Samples: Sample 2

    • Test Equipment: Sanwa Supply 400-CAM056 Microscope
3

Color Accuracy

Color Accuracy

The color accuracy standard was defined as a printer with a color reproduction range equivalent to an 8-color inkjet printer, and we tested each printer in the following way:

Scoring Method

We prepared five graded samples using various quality printers tailored to the satisfaction of the testers. We printed the same document on each printer to produce graded samples, and we assessed how closely the color accuracy matched. Recommendations were based on a printer’s ability to match an 8-color inkjet printer’s output.

Test Conditions

    • Printing using each printer's dedicated driver

    • All settings set to "standard" or "normal" mode for printing

    • Grade Sample 1: Inkjet Printer (Canon PIXMA PRO-200)

    • Grade Sample 2: Inkjet Printer (Canon PIXMA TS9521C)

    • Grade Sample 3: Inkjet Printer (Canon PIXUS TS6730)

    • Grade Sample 4: Inkjet Printer (EPSON Colorio EW-052A)

    • Grade Sample 5: Laser Printer (RICOH P C200SFL)

4

Low Print Defects

Low Print Defects

Low print defects were assessed as whether print defects were observable in both monochrome and color prints, and we tested each printer in the following way:

Scoring Method

We printed multiple copies of both black-and-white and color versions of the same document, which contained diagrams, and we picked one from each randomly. We counted print defects such as streaking color displacement, position displacement, and dirt on the printed paper. Printers that scored closest to zero were recommended.

Test Conditions

    • Printing using each printer's dedicated driver

    • All settings set to "standard" or "normal" mode for printing

5

Print Speed

Print Speed

Print speed was assessed as a printer that completes all printing even when a large number of copies were made, and we tested each printer using the following methods:

Scoring Method

Print speed was calculated by printing 50 pages of a monochrome document three times and determining the average time to complete. Lower times resulted in higher ratings. Timing began when “print” was clicked on the PC, and to ensure accurate measurement, timing was checked using a video on a smartphone.

Test Conditions

    • Printing over a wired connection using each printer's dedicated driver

    • All settings set to "standard" or "normal" mode for printing

6

Scan Quality

Scan Quality

A printer had sharp imaging while scanning if it produced no smudging, regardless of whether copied text was printed or hand-written. We tested each printer in the following way:

Scoring Method

Handwritten text was added to a clear printed document, and it was copied using each printer. The number of smudges in handwritten text and 9-point text were counted under a microscope. Printers with counts close to zero were recommended.

Test Conditions

    • Printing using each printer's dedicated driver

    • All settings set to "standard" or "normal" mode for printing

    • Test Equipment: Sanwa Supply 400-CAM056 Microscope

7

Convenience

Convenience

Convenience was assessed as whether a printer could handle all print jobs necessary for work with easy and intuitive operation. We tested each printer using the following methods:

Scoring Method

Testers assessed each printer and rated it according to several points:

What We Checked

  • Whether a printer supported automatic duplexing

  • Whether it had an automatic document feeder (ADF), and whether it could scan both sides simultaneously

  • Whether it had an LCD that could be operated intuitively and was a convenient size

  • Whether it could handle a variety of paper types simultaneously

  • Whether it supported printing from a smartphone

Top 5 Laser Printers

No. 1: HPColor LaserJet Pro MFPM283fdw

No. 2: CanonColor imageCLASS MF654Cdw

No. 3: HPHP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw

No. 4: Lexmark InternationalColor All-in-One 2-series BasicMC3224dwe

No. 5: Brother IndustriesDigital Color All-in-One PrinterMFC-L3720CDW

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