Brother HL-L2460DW - Best Overall Value for Monochrome Printing
A simple, affordable, and dependable monochrome laser printer perfect for casual home use, offering low operating costs and reliable wireless printing.
- +Extremely low cost per page, averaging around 3.1 cents
- +Compact and lightweight design fits easily on a bookshelf or desk
- +Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity and hassle-free operation after initial setup
- -Prints only in black and white with no scanning, copying, or faxing functions
- -Flimsy plastic construction and basic, archaic one-line LCD interface
- -Includes a low-yield starter toner cartridge good for only 700 pages
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the quintessential no-frills laser printer that excels at its core function: printing black-and-white documents quickly, cheaply, and reliably. It is consistently recommended as the top pick for users who print infrequently but want a machine that works without complaint. Its greatest strength is its low total cost of ownership, with a modest purchase price and a per-page cost of approximately 3.1 cents when using high-yield toner cartridges. The printer delivers crisp, clean text at speeds up to 36 pages per minute, more than sufficient for printing recipes, invoices, or school papers. Its compact footprint allows it to tuck away neatly, and it supports automatic duplex printing and wireless connectivity.
As a laser printer, it avoids the clogging issues common with idle inkjets, making it ideal for sporadic use. The primary trade-offs are its limited functionality and basic user experience. It cannot scan, copy, or print in color. Setup, particularly connecting to Wi-Fi via the rudimentary button-based interface, can be tedious. The build quality uses thin plastics, reflecting its budget nature. However, for anyone whose needs are strictly monochrome printing, the Brother HL-L2460DW offers an unbeatable combination of reliability, low cost, and simplicity, minimizing the typical annoyances associated with home printers.