this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2023
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Printer recommendations (home colour laser). (self.buildapc)
submitted 1 year ago by cynar to c/buildapc
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Might not be the best place to ask, but nowhere else reliant seemed alive.

My old laser printer has given up the ghost. What are people's recommendations on a replacement. As far as I'm aware, Brother are about the only company both making reasonably priced printers and not playing stupid games. Beyond that though, I'm not up to date on what's good and what's not.

Requirements.

  • Colour laser.

  • WiFi

  • Works with both windows and Linux

  • No need for scanner etc.

  • CD/ID card printing nice, but not required.

  • Photo quality nice, but not required (we have an ink sublimation printer for photos).

I'm UK based, which can mess with availability.

Thanks in advance.

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[–] Redredme 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Brother. Period. The most expensive model you can afford which fits your list.

Why? The more expensive models have bigger toners, which for home use sometimes mean "never have replaced the toner in 10 years" and better internal mechanics which means the thing will never break down and you only replace it because the outer plastic has become yellow and you want something different to look at after 20 years. Or so it went with my previous brother laser) the freaking thing had an usb1 and paralel port and it just wouldn't give up.

Why I don't have a product number? Because mine does have a scanner integrated. I've the DCP-L8410CDW which I can wholeheartedly recommend. But you don't need the scanner.

Printers? Always buy a brother, always the most expensive you can afford. You'll thank me in 10 years.

[–] themeatbridge 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

FWIW Brother will still disable your printer if it uses 3rd party toner. I don't have a better recommendation, though. Be prepared to either shell out for the official stuff, or learn to do batter with firmware updates and toner cartridge chips.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've been using cheap third-party toner in my Brother printer for over a decade.

[–] themeatbridge 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They started including ink DRM in 2019 I think? Newer models with new firmware may vary, but I know the old Brother printers are excellent.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That's horrible news. Thankfully my HL-2270DW from early 2013 is still chugging along without any issues. I'm on my 5th toner cartridge.

[–] cynar 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Now it's a dilemma between the HL-L3210CDW (same as the 3230 without wired ethernet) and the HL-L8260CDW.

It's £158.53 for the L3210, but £261.56 for the L8260

How much difference does LED make Vs laser?

[–] Redredme 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Led is cheaper, laser is older tech, most of the times laser is better but these days you really can't tell the difference for normal use.

Since my brothers always worked for a loooooooong time I would go for the wired one. Why? WiFi security tends to change every few years (wep, wpa, wpa2psk, wpa3) and if your device can't communicate with your new access point.... Well, that sucks ass. With the wired one you have that backup plan.

Edit: and to reinforce my own advice : which one is the most expensive? Buy that one.

[–] phareous 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like Brother lasers. And I’d stay away from HP

[–] cynar 3 points 1 year ago

Definitely staying away from HP!

My previous printer was a Samsung, but I've heard some mixed info on the more recent ones.

Bothers seem to have cracked the "keep is simple and effective, then do it well" mindset. I wasn't sure if that still held, or if anyone else had adopted that mindset.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I have a Brother HL-L8360CDW and it checks several of your boxes. I've had it for a few years and it works great for office-type printing. I've never seriously tried printing photos on it, so I can't speak to that, but I'm currently using it in a mixed Windows/Linux/Android environment over wifi. Even if that's not the model for you, I think Brother is the right brand.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Seconding Brother.

Alternatively, I have a canon pixma (can'tremember the model. 45something.) It's not great, but it's reliable and it was dirt cheap. I've had it for years with no issues. Plus my cat likes to sleep on top of it, which I guess is a positive thing. It does have a scanner, though.

[–] cynar 3 points 1 year ago

I've a hard no regarding inkjets. Our print requirements are intermittent. An object tends to dry out, or waste its ink WAY too quickly.

I'd rather spend a bit more on something that will just work for another decade than deal with inkjets again.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’ve had decent results with my Brother MFC-L3750CDW. This one has a scanner because my use case is a bit different, but it definitely ticks the color laser, wifi, and Windows/Linux boxes. I wouldn’t necessarily use it to print photos, not because they’re bad, but because the colors tend to show up dark.

[–] cynar 2 points 1 year ago

It's also in the same range as the one I'm now looking at getting, which is a good sign.

My current printer has a scanner. It's not actually been used for at least 5 years. I think I can get away without one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've had good experience with Brother's B&W lasers and Canon's color ones.

100% not what you asked but I just replaced my color laser with a tank inkjet and have been pretty happy with it. Cost per page is slightly lower than laser.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Agreed. Cost per page is way lower if you compare genuine consumables. It's around $.002 for ink tanks and easily $.02+ with most color laser printers these days until you get into around the $600 range. Even with knock off toner ink tank printers are more affordable. Just be sure to print to them regularly so they don't clog up.

[–] cynar 2 points 1 year ago

That last bit is the issue. We go through phases of needing to print. Unfortunately, our previous inkjet ended up needing new cartridges at an annoying rate. If we left it off, it clogged. If we left it on, it used up a lot of the ink clearing itself.

[–] cynar 1 points 1 year ago

My current soft choice is the Brother HL-L3210CW. Ticks the boxes, and has good reviews (for what that's worth).