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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.
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.
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.
How We Tested the Products
- Text Readability1
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:
- Sharp Imaging2
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:
- Color Accuracy3
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:
- Low Print Defects4
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:
- Print Speed5
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:
- Scan Quality6
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:
- Convenience7
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
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
- 7 Best Laser Printers Ranking
- No. 1HP | Color LaserJet Pro MFP｜M283fdw
- No. 2Canon | Color imageCLASS ｜MF654Cdw
- No. 3HP | HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
- No. 4Lexmark International | Color All-in-One 2-series Basic｜MC3224dwe
- No. 5Brother Industries | Digital Color All-in-One Printer｜MFC-L3720CDW
- 2 more products
- How We Tested the Laser Printers
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 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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
7 Best Laser Printers Ranking
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 MFP｜M283fdw | | 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 | | 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 | | 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 Basic｜MC3224dwe | | 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 Printer｜MFC-L3720CDW | | 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 Printer｜HL-L3220CDW | | 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 Printer｜MFC‐L8905CDW | | 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. | |||||
HPColor LaserJet Pro MFP ｜ M283fdw
| Type | All-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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 41.2 lbs. |
| Resolution | 600 × 600 dpi |
| Power consumption | 361W |
| Depth | 16.6 in. |
| Width | 16.5 in. |
| Height | 13.2 in. |
CanonColor imageCLASS ｜ MF654Cdw
| Type | All-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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 48.5 lbs. |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi |
| Power consumption | 900W |
| Depth | 18.2 in. |
| Width | 17.8 in. |
| Height | 16.3 in. |
HPHP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
| Type | Single 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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 32.6 lbs. |
| Resolution | 600 ×600 dpi |
| Power consumption | 337W |
| Depth | 16.5 in. |
| Width | 15.4 in |
| Height | 9.7 in. |
Lexmark InternationalColor All-in-One 2-series Basic ｜ MC3224dwe
| Type | All-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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 40.2 lbs. |
| Resolution | 2400 × 600 dpi |
| Power consumption | 385W |
| Depth | 15.5 in. |
| Width | 16.2 in. |
| Height | 12.1 in. |
Brother IndustriesDigital Color All-in-One Printer ｜ MFC-L3720CDW
| Type | All-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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 44.0 lbs. |
| Resolution | 300 × 300 dpi |
| Power consumption | 500W |
| Depth | 16.1 in. |
| Width | 17.5 in. |
| Height | 15.8 in. |
Brother IndustriesCompact Digital Color Printer ｜ HL-L3220CDW
| Type | Single 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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 24.7 lbs. |
| Resolution | 2400 x 600 dpi |
| Power consumption | 480W |
| Depth | 15.7 in. |
| Width | 15.7 in. |
| Height | 9.4 in. |
Brother IndustriesBusiness Color Laser All‐in‐One Printer ｜ MFC‐L8905CDW
| Type | All-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 tray | Cassette tray 1、Manual feed tray |
| Maximum paper feeding capacity | 250 sheets |
| Automatic power-on function | |
| AirPrint compatible | |
| Main unit weight | 65.4 lbs. |
| Resolution | 2400×600 dpi |
| Power consumption | 600W |
| Depth | 20.7 in. |
| Width | 19.5 in. |
| Height | 21.6 in. |
How We Tested the Laser Printers
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
- Brother Industries｜Business Color Laser All‐in‐One Printer｜MFC‐L8905CDW
- Brother Industries｜Digital Color All-in-One Printer｜MFC-L3720CDW
- Brother Industries｜Compact Digital Color Printer｜HL-L3220CDW
- Canon｜Color imageCLASS ｜MF654Cdw
- HP｜Color LaserJet Pro MFP｜M283fdw
- HP｜HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
- Lexmark International｜Color All-in-One 2-series Basic｜MC3224dwe
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
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
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
Printing Samples: Sample 3
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)
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.
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
Printing Samples: Sample 2
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
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: HP｜Color LaserJet Pro MFP｜M283fdw
No. 2: Canon｜Color imageCLASS ｜MF654Cdw
No. 3: HP｜HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw
No. 4: Lexmark International｜Color All-in-One 2-series Basic｜MC3224dwe
No. 5: Brother Industries｜Digital Color All-in-One Printer｜MFC-L3720CDW
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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