A printer that sits idle for weeks still needs to work when a return label, school form, or work document suddenly lands in your inbox. The right monochrome model should wake quickly, produce clean text, and stay connected without turning a simple page into a troubleshooting session. Our Best best black and white printer picks include compact single-function lasers, office-ready all-in-ones, and one inkjet for households that also print photos.
Brother's HL-L2405W is the easiest recommendation for most people because it combines useful speed, a 250-sheet tray, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a compact footprint. The rest of the list ranges from the tiny HP LaserJet M110w to substantial multifunction office machines with faxing, scanning, copying, and stronger paper handling.
Our top pick is the Brother HL-L2405W, with alternatives for duplex printing, scanning, color output, wired reliability, and small-team workloads.
Best best black and white printer at a glance
| # | Product | Award | Speed | Duplex | Functions | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brother HL-L2405W | Best overall | Up to 30 ppm | No | Home offices | |
| 2 | HP LaserJet M110w | Best compact printer | Up to 21 ppm | No | Very small spaces | |
| 3 | Brother DCP-L2640DW | Best multifunction model | Up to 36 ppm | Yes | Print, scan, copy | Small businesses |
| 4 | Brother HL-L2460DW | Best duplex printer | Up to 36 ppm | Yes | Frequent document printing | |
| 5 | HP LaserJet MFP M140w | Best small-team all-in-one | Up to 21 ppm | Not specified | Print, scan, copy | Small teams |
| 6 | Canon PIXMA TS6520 | Best color-capable option | Not specified | Yes | Print, scan, copy | Home users |
| 7 | HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw | Best office printer | Up to 35 ppm | Yes | Teams of up to seven | |
| 8 | HP LaserJet M209d | Best wired printer | Fast two-sided printing | Yes | Wired home offices | |
| 9 | HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw | Best small-team workhorse | Up to 35 ppm | Yes | Print, scan, copy | Heavy office use |
| 10 | HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw | Best office all-in-one | Up to 35 ppm | Yes | Print, scan, copy, fax | Offices needing fax |
1. Brother HL-L2405W: Best Overall
Pros
- Up to 30 pages per minute
- Dual-band wireless and USB connectivity
- 250-sheet paper tray
- Manual feed slot for envelopes and specialty paper
Cons
- No automatic duplex printing
- Print-only design cannot scan or copy
- Toner restrictions may matter to some buyers
Best for: home users and home offices that want a fast, straightforward wireless laser printer.
The Brother HL-L2405W gets the important things right without trying to be an office copier. It is a print-only machine, but that simplicity is useful if your routine is mostly documents, shipping labels, forms, and drafts. Text is the main event here, and the monochrome laser design is built around producing crisp black-and-white pages consistently.
Its rated speed of up to 30 pages per minute is enough for a stack of reports or invoices without the stop-and-start feeling of a basic home printer. The 250-sheet paper tray is a particularly practical feature. It means ordinary paper can stay loaded, while the manual feed slot handles envelopes and specialty paper when needed. The printer measures 14 inches wide, 14.2 inches deep, and 7.2 inches high, so it is compact without being the smallest machine here.
Wireless setup is more flexible than the very small HP LaserJet M110w because the Brother supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, as well as USB for a local computer. The Brother Mobile Connect app lets users print from a phone, manage the printer remotely, track toner usage, and order Brother Genuine supplies. Alexa compatibility is included, though the useful part for most households will be the app and dual-band connection.
The weakness is automatic duplex printing. The Brother HL-L2460DW adds that feature and raises output to 36 pages per minute, so it is the better fit for anyone who regularly prints long documents on both sides. The HL-L2405W also cannot scan or copy, which rules it out for households that want one machine for paperwork. Its one-year limited warranty and ongoing online, phone, and live-chat support are reassuring, but the printer is intended for Brother TN830 or TN830XL toner, and HP's cartridge restrictions make the HP alternatives no more flexible in that respect.
For a dependable print-only machine, this is the one we would keep in a home office. Choose the Brother HL-L2405W when wireless document printing matters more than duplexing or multifunction features.
2. HP LaserJet M110w: Best Compact Printer
Pros
- Very small footprint
- Wireless printing from phones, tablets, and computers
- Up to 21 pages per minute
- Supports AirPrint, Android, Chromebook, Mac, and Microsoft devices
Cons
- No scanner or copier
- No automatic duplex feature listed
- Intended for original HP chip-equipped cartridges
Best for: a single user or small group that has very little room for a printer.
The HP LaserJet M110w is the printer to choose when desk space is the deciding factor. At 13.63 inches wide, 7.45 inches deep, and 6.26 inches high, it takes up less room than the other laser printers here. Its 9.02-pound weight also makes it easier to move between a shelf and a desk than the larger multifunction models.
Output is slower than the Brother HL-L2405W, with a single-sided speed of up to 21 pages per minute. That remains perfectly reasonable for occasional letters, forms, and schoolwork. It is less convincing for a household that prints several long documents at once. The M110w is a focused printer rather than a flexible document center, and its small body reflects that trade-off.
HP's wireless setup is designed for printing from nearly any current device. The feature list names Microsoft, Mac, AirPrint, Android, Chromebook, phones, tablets, and PCs, while the HP Smart app handles mobile printing and cloud scanning workflows. The app language can seem broader than the hardware because this model does not have a built-in scanner, so scanning here means using a separate device or a phone.
Compared with the Brother HL-L2405W, the M110w gives up paper capacity, speed, and the Brother's dual-band specification in exchange for a smaller footprint. It also lacks the automatic duplexing found on the Brother HL-L2460DW. HP's self-reset wireless connection is intended to help the printer stay connected, but firmware updates can maintain cartridge authentication, and cartridges using non-HP chips may be blocked.
Skip this model if you want to copy, scan, print on both sides automatically, or keep a large paper supply loaded. For an apartment, dorm room, or lightly used home desk, the HP LaserJet M110w is a clean answer to the space problem.
3. Brother DCP-L2640DW: Best Multifunction Model
Pros
- Print, scan, and copy functions
- Up to 36 pages per minute
- Automatic duplex printing
- 50-page automatic document feeder
- 250-sheet paper tray
Cons
- Larger and heavier than print-only models
- No fax function listed
- More machine than occasional printers need
Best for: small businesses and home offices that handle multipage paperwork.
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the most complete fit for a small office that does more than print. It combines a laser printer, scanner, and copier in one machine, and the 50-page automatic document feeder changes how practical those extra functions are. Scanning or copying a multipage packet no longer requires placing every sheet on the glass individually.
Print speed reaches 36 pages per minute, matching the Brother HL-L2460DW and making this a substantial step up from the 21-page-per-minute HP compact models. Automatic duplex printing helps with two-sided documents, while the 250-sheet input tray keeps the printer ready for a busy workday. The machine is 16.1 inches wide, 15.7 inches deep, and 12.5 inches high, with a 25-pound weight, so it needs a permanent surface.
Connection options are unusually broad for this group. Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, and the printer also has Ethernet and USB. Brother Mobile Connect can print, scan, and manage the device from a mobile phone. The stated scan speeds reach 23.6 images per minute for black and 7.9 images per minute for color, giving the feeder a meaningful role rather than making it a token extra.
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is a stronger office alternative with the same broad print, scan, and copy concept, but the Brother is more compact and its 50-page feeder is easy to understand for a small team. The HP LaserJet MFP M140w takes up less room, yet its listed 21-page-per-minute speed is a better match for lighter workloads. The DCP-L2640DW is not the right pick for someone who only prints a few pages each month, and its lack of a listed fax function matters in some offices.
For paperwork-heavy homes and small businesses, the Brother DCP-L2640DW is the most capable all-rounder in this roundup. It is the pick when scanning and copying are regular tasks, not emergency features.
4. Brother HL-L2460DW: Best Duplex Printer
Pros
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Up to 36 pages per minute
- 250-sheet paper tray
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB
- Manual feed for envelopes and specialty paper
Cons
- Print-only design
- Heavier than the HL-L2405W
- No scanner or copier
Best for: people who print long documents and want automatic two-sided output.
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the sensible upgrade for anyone who has grown tired of manually turning pages. Automatic duplex printing saves repeated handling and makes reports, meeting notes, and school assignments easier to manage. It retains the uncomplicated print-only design of the HL-L2405W, so there is no scanner or copier taking up extra space or adding another menu system.
Its up-to-36-page-per-minute output is quick enough for a small team, and the 250-sheet tray supports sustained document work better than a compact personal printer. A manual feed slot handles envelopes and specialty paper. At 14 inches wide, 14.2 inches deep, and 7.2 inches high, it shares the HL-L2405W's footprint, though its 15.6-pound weight is slightly higher.
Connectivity is a clear strength. The printer supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB, which covers mobile users, networked offices, and a computer placed directly beside the machine. Brother Mobile Connect supports mobile printing and remote management. That makes it more adaptable than the wired-only HP LaserJet M209d, while Ethernet gives it a firm network option if wireless conditions are unreliable.
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the better Brother if you need to scan or copy, and the Brother HL-L2405W is a simpler fit if every page will be single-sided. The HL-L2460DW's real limitation is not performance but scope. It cannot replace a scanner, copier, or fax machine, and its larger paper-focused design may be unnecessary for occasional printing.
Choose this model when duplexing is a daily convenience rather than an occasional bonus. It is the printer for a home office that produces enough paperwork to appreciate speed, paper capacity, and fewer manual page turns.
5. HP LaserJet MFP M140w: Best Small-Team All-in-One
Pros
- Print, scan, and copy in one unit
- Wireless printing from phones and computers
- Automatic ID card copying
- Compact all-in-one design
- Up to 21 pages per minute
Cons
- Slower than the Brother multifunction models
- Duplex capability is not specified
- HP cartridge authentication applies
Best for: one to three people who need basic scanning and copying in a compact machine.
The HP LaserJet MFP M140w is a small multifunction printer with a useful party trick: it can copy both sides of an ID card onto the same side of one sheet. That feature will appeal to home offices, landlords, schools, and anyone who handles identification documents. It also prints, scans, and copies, so the machine can cover ordinary paperwork without requiring a second device.
Output reaches up to 21 black-and-white pages per minute for single-sided printing. That is the same listed speed as the HP LaserJet M110w, but the M140w adds the scanner and copier. Its 10.4-inch width and 14.2-inch depth make it notably narrow, while the 7.8-inch height leaves room for the raised scanner assembly. At 11.9 pounds, it remains manageable for a home office.
Wireless printing works from mobile devices, PCs, tablets, Microsoft systems, Mac, AirPrint, Android, and Chromebook. The HP Smart app can print or copy from a smartphone and scan to the cloud. HP also describes the wireless system as self-resetting, intended to help maintain the connection without constant user intervention.
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is much faster and adds automatic duplex printing plus a 50-page document feeder, so it is the stronger choice for repeated multipage jobs. The HP M140w makes more sense when compact dimensions and ID-card copying matter more than throughput. Its listed features do not specify automatic duplexing, and HP says the printer can block cartridges that do not use original HP chips or circuitry.
This is a practical small-team machine, not an office workhorse. Pick the HP LaserJet MFP M140w when print, scan, and copy functions need to fit into a modest workspace and the workload is light enough for its slower pace.
6. Canon PIXMA TS6520: Best Color-Capable Option
Pros
- Prints in black and white and color
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Integrated scanner and copier
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- 1.42-inch monochrome OLED display
Cons
- Inkjet rather than monochrome laser
- Heavier than its compact dimensions suggest
- No print speed is specified
Best for: home users who need black-and-white documents but also print color pages and photos.
The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the outlier here, and that is exactly why it belongs in the comparison. It is not a monochrome laser printer. It is a wireless color inkjet that can handle sharp text, vivid color, photos, scanning, and copying. For a home that occasionally needs black-and-white forms but also prints recipes, school projects, or images, that flexibility is more useful than laser-only specialization.
Canon uses a two-cartridge hybrid ink system and supports media up to 8.5 by 11 inches, with borderless printing available. Automatic two-sided printing reduces page handling for ordinary documents. The product information lists a compact body measuring 14 inches wide, 14.8 inches deep, and 6.7 inches high, although its 15.3-pound weight is closer to some small laser models than the dimensions suggest.
A 1.42-inch monochrome OLED display shows ink levels and printer status, while the control panel is designed for direct adjustments. Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections. Mobile printing works through the Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service, so the printer is not tied to one computer.
The Brother HL-L2405W and Brother HL-L2460DW remain better choices for fast, dry-to-the-touch text pages and laser-style document routines. The Canon wins when color matters, and its integrated scanner and copier make it more versatile than either print-only Brother. Since no print-speed figure is provided, readers with frequent long document batches should look toward the laser models instead. For more context on mixed household use, the kinds of documents and photos a home printer must handle are worth considering before choosing laser or inkjet.
The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the right exception to a monochrome shortlist. Choose it if black-and-white pages are only part of the job and color output, duplexing, scanning, and copying all need to live in one compact device.
7. HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw: Best Office Printer
Pros
- Up to 35 pages per minute
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth
- HP Wolf Pro Security
- Designed for teams of up to seven people
Cons
- Print-only design
- Larger than compact home models
- HP cartridge authentication applies
Best for: offices that need fast monochrome printing and stronger network and security features.
The HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw is built around shared office printing rather than occasional personal use. Its up-to-35-page-per-minute single-sided speed and automatic two-sided printing make it a better fit for reports, forms, and internal documents that move through a team. HP positions it for up to seven people, which places it above the smaller M110w and M209d in intended workload.
Connectivity is broad. Wireless printing works from phones, tablets, PCs, Macs, AirPrint devices, Android, and Chromebooks, while Ethernet and Bluetooth provide alternatives. HP's intelligent Wi-Fi looks for the best connection to stay online and ready to print. That is a more office-minded setup than a basic printer that relies on one wireless path.
Security is the other major distinction. HP Wolf Pro Security includes customizable settings intended to protect the printer and information moving through it. That matters more in a shared workplace than in a private desk setup, especially when documents may contain employee, customer, or financial information.
The Brother HL-L2460DW is a close competitor for duplex printing and reaches a slightly higher listed speed, while the Brother DCP-L2640DW adds scanning and copying. The HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw keeps its attention on printing and offers the office security story those multifunction and home models do not emphasize. Its 15.7-inch depth and 14.4-inch width are not extreme, but it still needs more room than the small HP models.
Skip it if your main need is a scanner, copier, or very small footprint. For a shared office that wants fast two-sided output, flexible connections, and configurable security, the HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw is the more appropriate tool.
8. HP LaserJet M209d: Best Wired Printer
Pros
- Automatic two-sided printing
- USB connection and cable included
- Fast two-sided printing
- 150-sheet input tray
- Compact design
Cons
- Wired connection only
- Print-only design
- HP cartridge authentication applies
Best for: a home office that prefers a direct USB connection over wireless networking.
The HP LaserJet M209d is refreshingly clear about its purpose. It prints black-and-white documents, connects by USB, and automatically prints on both sides. There is no wireless setup to troubleshoot and no scanner or copier to configure. For a dedicated desk where one computer will do the printing, that narrow mission can be an advantage.
HP calls out fast two-sided printing, though it does not provide a pages-per-minute figure in the supplied features. The 150-sheet input tray is smaller than the 250-sheet trays on the Brother HL-L2405W and HL-L2460DW, but it is sufficient for a home office that does not want to keep a large paper stack loaded. Smart-guided buttons are intended to make common operations easier.
The body measures 8.07 inches wide, 13.98 inches deep, and 11 inches high. The unusual proportions may suit a narrow shelf, although the taller design needs overhead clearance. A USB cable is included, which removes one small setup concern. The printer is designed for consistent laser-quality pages and automatic duplexing rather than mobile convenience.
The HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw is the obvious step up if several people need access, since it adds wireless, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and a much faster listed single-sided speed. The Brother HL-L2460DW is also more flexible because it includes wireless and Ethernet while retaining duplexing. The M209d's weakness is therefore fundamental: phones, tablets, and other computers cannot simply send jobs over Wi-Fi.
This is a good fit for a wired home office, especially when the printer will remain beside one computer. Do not choose the HP LaserJet M209d if wireless printing is part of the brief. If that trade-off suits your desk, its simple connection and duplex output keep the routine uncomplicated.
9. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw: Best Small-Team Workhorse
Pros
- Print, scan, and copy functions
- Up to 35 pages per minute
- Automatic two-sided printing
- 250-sheet tray and 50-sheet document feeder
- Wireless connectivity
Cons
- Large and heavy
- No fax function listed
- More than a light home workload requires
Best for: small teams that need fast printing plus routine scanning and copying.
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is an office machine in the full sense of the word. It prints, scans, and copies, supports automatic two-sided output, and has the paper handling to keep a small team moving. Its 50-sheet automatic document feeder is the feature that separates it from basic multifunction printers. A stack of pages can be scanned or copied with much less supervision.
Print speed reaches 35 pages per minute, close to the HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw while adding the other functions. The 250-sheet input tray is suited to a busier routine than the 150-sheet tray in the HP LaserJet M209d. Wireless connectivity is designed to stay online by looking for the best connection, which is useful when multiple people depend on the printer.
The machine measures 16.5 inches wide, 15.7 inches deep, and 12.3 inches high, and it weighs 23.1 pounds. Those dimensions call for a sturdy, permanent surface. It is not a printer to move in and out of a cupboard each evening. The extra size buys real capability, but the office has to provide the space.
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a strong alternative with a 50-page feeder, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and a listed 36-page-per-minute print speed. HP's MFP 3101sdw counters with HP's office-oriented reliability and wireless behavior, while the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw adds fax capability for teams that need it. The 3101sdw is not ideal for a casual home user, and its lack of a listed fax function limits it for some administrative offices.
For teams that scan and copy almost as often as they print, this is one of the most balanced office machines here. It is also a useful reference point in how automatic feeders change everyday document work, particularly when several pages need to be processed at once.
10. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw: Best Office All-in-One
Pros
- Prints, scans, copies, and faxes
- Up to 35 pages per minute
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Automatic document feeder
- Wireless, Ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity
- HP Wolf Pro Security
Cons
- Largest machine in the roundup
- Heavy office-oriented design
- HP cartridge authentication applies
Best for: offices that need a full monochrome document center with faxing.
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is the most complete office printer in this group. It handles printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, with automatic two-sided printing and an automatic document feeder for faster scan and copy work. For an office that still sends or receives faxes, that last function is the reason to choose this model over the otherwise similar 3101sdw.
Its listed print speed reaches 35 black-and-white pages per minute for single-sided output. Wireless connectivity is supported by intelligent Wi-Fi, and Ethernet and Bluetooth provide additional ways to connect. HP says the printer works with mobile devices, PCs, tablets, Microsoft, Mac, AirPrint, Android, and Chromebook, so it can serve a mixed-device office without relying on one platform.
HP Wolf Pro Security provides customizable settings intended to protect information and the printer itself. That feature makes more sense in a shared office than in a home that prints a few forms. The multifunction design also means that one device can handle routine paperwork instead of sending scans and copies to separate equipment.
This is a large machine, measuring 19.25 inches wide, 19.25 inches deep, and 15 inches high, with a weight of about 23.15 pounds. It requires more planning than the compact Brother HL-L2405W or HP LaserJet M110w. The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is the better fit if fax is unnecessary, while the Brother DCP-L2640DW offers a smaller multifunction alternative with a 50-page feeder and a slightly higher listed print speed.
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is not the right answer for a casual home printer. It earns its place for an office that needs faxing, security controls, automatic document handling, and dependable two-sided monochrome output from one substantial machine.
How to choose best black and white printer
The right Best best black and white printer depends less on the logo and more on the kind of paperwork you handle, how often several people need access, and whether printing is the only job the machine must perform.
Laser or inkjet output
Monochrome laser printers are built for sharp text and repeated document work. They are the natural fit for forms, reports, labels, and office pages. The Canon PIXMA TS6520 uses a two-cartridge hybrid ink system instead, which makes it the more flexible choice for color documents and photos but a less specialized option for black-and-white-only routines.
Print speed
Speed matters when a printer serves more than one person or when documents arrive in batches. The HP LaserJet M110w and HP LaserJet MFP M140w list speeds up to 21 pages per minute, while the Brother DCP-L2640DW and HL-L2460DW reach up to 36 pages per minute. A compact personal printer can be perfectly adequate for occasional pages, but a small office should look toward the faster models.
Automatic duplex printing
Automatic duplexing prints on both sides without asking you to turn the pages manually. It is included on the Brother HL-L2460DW, Brother DCP-L2640DW, Canon PIXMA TS6520, HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw, HP LaserJet M209d, HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw, and HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw. The feature is not listed for the Brother HL-L2405W, HP LaserJet M110w, or HP LaserJet MFP M140w.
If a printer will handle reports, school packets, or meeting documents, automatic duplexing is a daily convenience, not a decorative feature.
Paper capacity
A larger input tray reduces interruptions. The Brother HL-L2405W, Brother HL-L2460DW, Brother DCP-L2640DW, and HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw list 250-sheet trays. The HP LaserJet M209d lists a 150-sheet tray, while the compact HP models do not provide a tray capacity in the supplied information. Match capacity to your routine rather than choosing a larger machine simply because it looks more substantial.
Scanning and copying
A print-only model is simpler and often smaller, but it cannot digitize paperwork or reproduce a document. The Brother DCP-L2640DW and HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw add scanning and copying with 50-page automatic document feeders. The HP LaserJet MFP M140w also scans and copies, including two-sided ID-card copying, while the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw adds faxing.
Connections and workspace
Wireless printing is convenient for phones, tablets, and shared computers. Dual-band Wi-Fi appears on several Brother models and the Canon, while the HP office printers also support broad device compatibility. The HP LaserJet M209d is the exception with USB only. Check the available surface carefully: the small HP LaserJet M110w is far easier to place than the large HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw.
Frequently asked questions
Are black and white printers better for documents?
Monochrome laser printers are especially well suited to text documents because they focus on black toner output and consistent page production. They are a strong fit for forms, reports, schoolwork, and office paperwork. The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is better if color documents and photos are also part of the routine.
Do all of these printers print automatically on both sides?
No. Automatic duplex printing is listed for the Brother HL-L2460DW, Brother DCP-L2640DW, Canon PIXMA TS6520, HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw, HP LaserJet M209d, HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw, and HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw. It is not listed for the Brother HL-L2405W, HP LaserJet M110w, or HP LaserJet MFP M140w.
Which model can scan and copy?
The Brother DCP-L2640DW, HP LaserJet MFP M140w, HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw, HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw, and Canon PIXMA TS6520 can scan and copy. The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw also includes faxing. The Brother DCP-L2640DW and HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw list 50-page automatic document feeders.
Which printer is best for a small desk?
The HP LaserJet M110w is the smallest laser option in the list, measuring 13.63 inches wide, 7.45 inches deep, and 6.26 inches high. The Brother HL-L2405W is also compact while offering a faster listed speed and a 250-sheet tray. Choose the HP M110w for minimum footprint, or the Brother for heavier document use.
Can these printers work with phones and tablets?
The wireless models support mobile printing, though the exact apps and services differ. Brother uses the Brother Mobile Connect app, HP uses HP Smart on its applicable models, and Canon supports the Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint, and Mopria Print Service. The HP LaserJet M209d is wired only, so it does not offer wireless mobile printing.
Which printer has fax capability?
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is the only model in this list with faxing explicitly included in its title and feature description. The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw includes printing, scanning, and copying but does not list fax. If fax is part of the office workflow, check the 3101fdw's larger footprint before choosing it.
Is a print-only printer enough for a home office?
It is enough if the office already has a separate scanner and copier, or if those tasks rarely arise. The Brother HL-L2405W, Brother HL-L2460DW, HP LaserJet M110w, HP LaserJet Pro 3001dw, and HP LaserJet M209d concentrate on printing. If paperwork routinely needs to be scanned or copied, an all-in-one such as the Brother DCP-L2640DW is the more practical setup.
The bottom line
The Best best black and white printer for most home offices is the Brother HL-L2405W. It has useful 30-page-per-minute output, dual-band wireless, USB, a 250-sheet tray, and a compact print-only design. The Brother HL-L2460DW is the stronger alternative when automatic duplex printing and a 36-page-per-minute speed matter more.
For scanning, copying, and small-team work, choose the Brother DCP-L2640DW. The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is the office choice when faxing and security features justify a much larger machine, while the Canon PIXMA TS6520 is the better fit for homes that need color and photo printing alongside documents.
If you are still undecided, choose the Brother HL-L2405W for straightforward printing, or step up to the DCP-L2640DW if paperwork regularly needs scanning and copying.
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