Best Multifunction Laser Printer For Mac 2015
- Amazon.com: best laser printer for mac. Brother Monochrome Laser Printer, Compact Multifunction Printer and Copier, DCPL2550DW, Wireless Printing, Duplex Printing, Mobile Printing, 50-Sheet Document Feeder, Amazon Dash Replenishment Enabled. $138.99 $ 138 99 $159.99.
- The HP Color LaserJet Pro M254dw is fast, powerful, flexible, and—most important—easy to use, which in our book makes it the best laser printer for most people. We love the responsive control panel, the modern design of HP’s PC and mobile software, and how easy the printer is to set up and get on Wi-Fi.
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Rundown
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- Best Overall:Brother MFC-J985 at Amazon, “a good choice, thanks to its low running costs.”
- Best High Speed:Brother MFC-L6800DW at Amazon, “capable of printing at a max speed of 48 pages per minute.”
- Best Photo Printer:HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 at Amazon, “boasts impressive connectivity options and borderless photo printing.”
- Best Budget:HP OfficeJet 5255 at Amazon, “With Wi-Fi connectivity, you can easily set this printer up in any room.”
- Best for Ease of Use:Epson XP-830 Small-in-One at Amazon, “versatile, wireless and offers excellent photo quality printing.”
- Runner-Up, Best High Speed:Brother MFC-L5800DW at Amazon, “a quick monochrome printer and scanner.”
- Best Value:Brother MFC-J895DW at Amazon, “it’s simple, shuttable design helps it keep from being an eyesore.”
- Best for Small Businesses:Samsung ProXpress at Staples, “this is a straightforward and capable option with killer speeds.”
- Best for Versatility:Epson Expression Premium at Amazon, “more high-quality prints than you'd expect from your typical printer.”
- Best High Capacity:Epson workForce Pro at Amazon, “when it comes to high-capacity printing, it is both capable and upgradable.”
- Best Compact:Canon Pixma TR4520 at Amazon, “the Canon Pixma TR4520 is on the small side for a printer of its class.”
- Best Design:Canon Pixma TS9120 at Amazon, “a versatile all-in-one printer with scanning and copying.”
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Brother MFC-J985DW with INKvestment Cartridges
The Brother MFC-J985DW all-in-one inkjet printer is a great choice, thanks to its low running costs. With its high-capacity ink refills as part of Brother's INKvestment series, you're getting one of the best cost-per-page value of any home inkjet on the market. Operating costs are less than 1 cent per black and white page, and less than 5 cents per color page.
It also has great features for the office, including duplex (two-sided) printing, and wireless printing from devices via AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopria, Brother iPrint&Scan, and Wi-Fi Direct. Networking is enabled via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct, or you can print directly from USB. Paper capacity is 100 pages, and this printer can handle up to legal-sized paper (8.5” x 14”). You can print up to 12 black-and-white pages or 10 color pages per minute.
Best High Speed: Brother MFC-L6800DW
When it comes to speed, Brother makes a mighty impressive, monochrome all-in-one model. Whether you want to print or scan, the Brother MFC-L6800DW will floor it, offering incredible speed no matter your project. It’s capable of printing at a max speed of 48 pages per minute, and it can scan 50 single-sided or 100 double-sided documents per minute.
The Brother MFC-L6800DW can fit 570 sheets of paper in its main and multi-purpose trays, and it can be fitted with an even larger tray to expand the capacity up to 1,610 sheets if needed. Considering how fast it can print documents, business customers printing high volumes may find that extra capacity useful.
On top of its high speeds, the Brother MFC-L6800DW supports auto-duplex printing and faxing, can scan directly to the cloud or mobile devices, and has Wi-Fi connectivity. Plus, it comes with a number of business-oriented features, like Secure Print — to ensure no one gets your documents — and Setting Lock — to keep people from messing with your preferred settings. Whatever you need to print, copy, or fax, the Brother MFC-L6800DW can help you do it quick.
Best Photo Printer: HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 Wireless Printer
This all-in-one color inkjet printer from HP boasts impressive connectivity options and borderless photo printing, making it an ideal option for standard tasks, copying, faxing and photography. You can manage your printing jobs via a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, which has an intuitive tap and swipe feature. Wireless printing is facilitated by AirPrint for Apple devices and NFC touch-to-print for other smart devices. Some users have commented they have had difficulty setting up wireless functionality, but once up and running it offers a seamless and convenient way to bring your documents to life.
Impressive print management options are buoyed by high speeds, with ultra-fast automatic two-sided printing and a 50-page automatic document printer and 250-sheet paper tray. HP claims the specs are 24 pages per minute for black and white printing and 20 pages per minute for color. The high volume trays and efficient ink model result in up to 50 percent lower cost per page compared to laser printers. Documents scan at 1200 dpi resolution, while borderless photos print in standard 4 x 6-inch size.
Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best photo printers.
Best Budget: HP OfficeJet 5255
HP’s OfficeJet 5255 is probably exactly what you’d think of when you imagine a budget printer in 2018. But, when you need something affordable that can handle basic printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, the OfficeJet 5255 does the job. And a few extra features make it even more compelling.
With Wi-Fi connectivity, you can easily set this printer up in any room in your house and print from wherever you are. You’ll also have an easy time printing documents from a variety of devices, since you can print from computers, your mobile phone, tablet, and cloud-based storage services like Google Drive, iCloud, and Dropbox.
The OfficeJet 5255 also has handy features like an auto document feeder with a 35-sheet capacity, as well as automatic duplex printing. If you’re expecting to do a lot of printing, you’ll also be able to save on ink by using Amazon Dash replenishment to automatically order ink refills when your printer detects it’s running low, so you'll never be out when you need it most.
Best for Ease of Use: Epson XP-830 Small-in-One
The Epson XP-830 all-in-one is versatile, wireless and offers excellent photo quality printing. You can print, copy, scan or fax from this compact AIO, and the automatic document feeder is capable of holding 30 pages. Two-sided printing is available, and print speeds are rated at 9.5 pages per minute (ppm) for black-and-white pages, and 9ppm for color pages, making for a rather slow printer, but photo printers aren't usually fast. The XP-830 has the additional ability to print on pre-surfaced optical discs.
This Small-in-One is a great option for someone who doesn’t have heavy usage demands and wants an inexpensive all-in-one with superior print quality. Mobile printing options, such as printing directly from your phone or tablet, are a snap thanks to Epson Connect software and other mobile printing options. A 4.3-inch touchscreen makes it easy to use. And it’s small, at 15.4” x 13.3” x 7.5”, so it’ll fit just about anywhere.
Runner-Up, Best High Speed: Brother MFC-L5800DW
The smaller sibling of the Brother MFC-L6800DW, Brother’s MFC-L5800DW model is also a quick monochrome printer and scanner — just with a more palatable price. This machine can spit out documents at a maximum speed of 42 pages per minute while scanning 28 impressions per minute. This model has a base capacity of 300 sheets of paper but has an auto document feeder that's also able to fit 70 pages.
Since the Brother MFC-L5800DW is significantly cheaper than its sibling, it does miss out on some perks, namely the bigger touchscreen display and duplex copying, but it still offers plenty of speed. And, like other printers in this Brother series, its paper capacity can be greatly expanded with add-ons, ultimately allowing users to stow as many as 1,340 sheets.
The Brother MFC-L5800DW can connect to Wi-Fi and supports printing from and scanning to iOS and Android devices, as well as Kindle Fire and even Windows Phone devices. You can also link the printer with Evernote, Google Drive, and Dropbox and scan documents to those cloud storage services or print files from them for convenience.
Best Value: Brother MFC-J895DW
The impressive Brother MFC-J895DW offers a comparable experience to it's XL sibling (literally called the MFC-J985DW XL), but at a much more budget-friendly price point. Since it blends great all-around performance and features with a price tag that is not painfully high, it gets our top pick for best value printer.
The Brother MFC-J895DW offers color printing, copying, and scanning along with faxing. And, it’s simple, shuttable design helps it keep from being an eyesore — something particularly nice for those using it at home. Like its larger sibling, it can print a maximum of 12 pages per minute, and 10 pages per minute in color. It can hold 150 sheets of paper and has an auto document feeder that can hold 20 sheets.
The Brother MFC-J895DW supports automatic duplex printing. Plus, thanks to its Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, it supports a host of other features. You can print from or scan to the cloud, you can connect to your computer wirelessly, and you can connect to mobile devices with NFC without needing to sign on to a Wi-Fi network. Amazon Dash Replenishment support will also help you keep your ink stocked so you never run out in the middle of a job.
Best for Small Businesses: Samsung ProXpress SL-M3870FW
It may not be the prettiest, but the Samsung ProXpress M3870FW printer gets the job done — and fast. If your small business does a lot of printing and you don’t need color, this is a straightforward and capable option with killer speeds.
The Samsung ProXpress M3870FW can print up to 40 pages per minute, and warms up quickly, with the first page ready in as few as 6.5 seconds. For heavy printing loads, this printer has a duty cycle up to 80,000 pages per month. You’ll be able to put in a lot of paper, too, with a 250-sheet input tray, a 50-sheet multi-purpose tray, and a 50-sheet auto document feeder. With auto-duplex printing, you’ll get more from each sheet as well.
So, to summarize, you’ll get plenty of use out of the Samsung ProXpress M3870FW in a business setting, plus you'll get some of the handy modern features of an internet-connected printer. You can print documents from anywhere using Google Cloud Print or the Samsung Mobile Print App and Apple users can use Apple AirPrint. Best of all, it won't run you much more than your average consumer printer.
Best for Versatility: Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank
The Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank takes the versatility of an all-in-one printer and does consumers one better. If you can do without faxing — the machine's one caveat — and are looking for a printer that, beyond regular document printing, delivers brilliant photo prints, then this is the unit for the job.
The Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank can handle wide-format printing, supporting sizes of up to 11' x 17'. That — combined with a high DPI, three ink colors, and two separate black ink types — can make for much more high-quality photo and document prints than you'd expect from your typical printer. Plus, you can still get solid printing and copying performance with auto-duplex printing and speeds of up to 13 pages per minute.
This EcoTank model doesn’t use regular ink cartridges. Rather, you can fill it back up with bottles of ink, and Epson includes an estimated two-years worth of extra ink right in the box. You also get handy options for printing from smartphones and the cloud using the printer's internet connection. So, whether it’s documents or photos, the Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank is a flexible pick.
Best High Capacity: Epson workForce Pro ET-8700 EcoTank
Epson’s various EcoTank models have a lot going for them, and when it comes to high-capacity printing, the Epson WorkForce Pro ET-8700 EcoTank is both capable and upgradable. While the base model’s main paper tray has a capacity of 250 sheets and an additional rear tray can hold 80 sheets, there’s the option of adding on an additional tray with a 500-sheet capacity.
All that flexibility in capacity is balanced out with strong printing and copying performance. The WorkForce Pro ET-8700 EcoTank can print documents at up to 24 pages per minute, and it can scan documents just as fast. Helping you take advantage of the high sheet capacity is the EcoTank line’s ink, which doesn’t come in a typical cartridge. Epson boasts including enough ink to deliver 16,000 monochrome pages or 11,000 color pages.
The WorkForce Pro ET-8700 EcoTank also has a number of features for ease-of-use, such as a 4.3' color touchscreen and auto-duplex printing. It can also connect to wireless networks, use Wi-Fi direct, or NFC, giving you plenty of options for printing files from a variety of devices.
Best Compact: Canon Pixma TR4520
It might not look it, but the Canon Pixma TR4520 is on the small side for a printer of its class. Plenty of others come smaller, but the Canon Pixma TR4520 supports printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, while its competition may focus on just printing. Despite its smaller size, it can still hold 100 sheets of paper and features an auto document feeder and automatic duplex printing.
At a printing speed of 8.8 pages per minute, it’s not the fastest all-in-one printer, but it wins on size, measuring just 17.2' x 11.7' x 7.5' when closed. Best yet, it packs quite a few bonus features on top of its basic functionality.
The Canon Pixma TR 4520 can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, and supports wireless printing and scanning. You’ll be able to print documents from the cloud, scan documents to the Canon Print App, and create multi-page PDFs. This printer even supports Amazon Alexa natively along with IFTTT (If This Then That) and Google Assistant through IFTTT. This means you’ll have extensive automation options available to you. All that comes in a small package with a similarly small price tag.
Best Design: Canon Pixma TS9120
The Canon Pixma TS9120 may lack faxing functionality, but it still proves a versatile all-in-one printer with scanning and copying, and it boasts a number of other valuable features that round out its performance. Plus, on a more superficial level, what the printer really does best is look pretty. So, if you don’t have a dedicated home office where you can hide your printer away, this is a great option that will blend pretty seamlessly with your decor.
The Pixma TS9120 has a simple, box-shaped design, and a metallic gold, gray, or red finish on top. The rear paper feed and front tray for catching your printed documents pop out when needed, and tuck away when not in use. Both the rear and bottom paper trays can hold 100 sheets of paper each, which is helpful since this can print 15 pages per minute.
On the front, there is a large, 5' LCD touchscreen display that makes navigation easier. The Canon Pixma TS9120 also offers plenty of connectivity options, with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and even Bluetooth. You’ll have plenty of ways to print files from your devices, and, you won’t be limited to just documents, either, as this is a capable photo printer, and even can print special CD/DVD/Blu-ray cover images.
Tested by
How We Tested
We bought five top-rated all-in-one printers that our reviewers tested for more than 40 hours. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using these printers, from their supply costs to their networking capabilities. We’ve outlined the key takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in an All-in-One Printer
Inkjet vs. laser -If you’re looking for a printer that can handle a combination of text, graphics, and photos, an inkjet is the way to go. However, if you’ll mostly be printing and scanning black-and-white text documents, a laser printer makes more sense.
Supply costs -While AIO printers themselves might not cost a lot, the printer cartridges can really add up. Research those costs before you make your purchase, as in some cases a more expensive printer can end up being cheaper in the long run. Also look into the possibility of refilling your own cartridges.
Networking capability -Connection via USB has been standard in printers for years, but for an office environment, it’s essential that it supports Wi-Fi. This makes it easy for several devices to connect and many even offer one-click wireless setup. Some printers even offer near-field communication (NFC) connectivity, which let you connect a smartphone just by tapping it on a specific area on the machine.
Test Results: Brother MFC-J985DW (Best Overall)
What We Like
Sharp, quick text printing
Super efficient ink usage
Fast scanning and copying
What We Don't Like
Slow color printing
Subpar graphics and photos
No direct USB to PC connection
Our tester said this printer 'stands out for having the lowest long-term operating costs of any comparable printer because of its efficient and inexpensive ink.' In terms of print quality, however, our reviewer noted that 'it's better geared toward text than images.' Still, he found the setup 'fast and straightforward,' the scanner 'adequate,' and the fax quality to be 'solid.' Overall, our tester recommended this printer for anyone looking for 'long-term value for a reasonable up-front price.'
Test Results: Brother MFC-L6800DW (Best High Speed)
What We Like
High capacity and speed
Accessible price
Universal connectivity
Fast and effective scanner
What We Don't Like
Monochrome printing
Lost detail on high-resolution images
Calling it “an ideal all-in-one for high-volume printing and scanning,” our tester was impressed by this printer’s “smart, focused features” and “relatively accessible price.” He noted “text documents were of reasonably high and consistent quality,” but cautioned that it “handles images less well.” However, our reviewer explained that the real highlight of this printer is “the top-mounted automatic document feeder, which can scan double-sided documents on a single pass at an impressive clip.” The takeaway? “The Brother MFC-L6800DW strikes a perfect balance between speed, features, and cost for a printer for any budget-minded small-business or home office,” he said.
Test Results: HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 Wireless Printer (Best Photo Printer)
What We Like
Scanning is crystal clear
Duplex automatic document feeder
High-speed printing
Rich color printing
What We Don't Like
Large footprint
Some inconsistency in printing text
“For color printing, the OfficeJet Pro 8720 was fast, producing rich and consistent colors that matched the screen image very well,” our tester raved. Other pluses, according to our reviewer, include the “fast, easy, and high-quality” scanner, super easy setup, and functional design. While he did notice “tiny, stray ink spots showing up in large text documents,” he felt this wasn’t a huge concern. And although our tester didn’t like its bulkiness, he still called this model “the best middle ground between a consumer-grade inkjet printer and a small-business-ready all-in-one.”
Test Results: HP OfficeJet 5255 (Best Budget)
What We Like
Inexpensive
High-quality color printing
Automatic duplex printing
What We Don't Like
Ink gets pricey
Spotty wireless connectivity
“HP has managed to cut costs in such a way that combines all of the basic business hardware features at an acceptable quality with an exceedingly low price,” our tester said of this budget-friendly printer. He called the printing speeds “more than adequate” and said the overall printing quality was “fairly impressive.” The downsides? Our reviewer said the scanner is just “mediocre” and setting up the wireless feature was a “stubborn” process. And while the price of the printer itself is ideal, our tester warned that “ink operating costs are not the best.”
Multifunction Laser Printer Reviews
Test Results: Epson XP-830 Small-in-One (Best for Ease of Use)
Staples
What We Like
Small size
Great print quality
Easy to use
“For a small printer, I thought it packed a lot into one,” one of our reviewers said about the Epson XP-830. She liked the multi-page paper feeder, the ability to scan, and the scan-to-email functionality. Plus, she thought the touchscreen made it easy to flip from one function to the next. “Set up to my laptop was pretty easy and setting it up to a phone was even easier,” she added.
During some of our other printer tests, Lifewire reviewers noticed that the printed colors sometimes ended up duller than expected—but not with this model. “I've printed out text documents and high-color photos and everything looks great,” one person said. Color-heavy print jobs will come out a bit slower, but the end result will impress you.
Color Laser Multifunction Printer Reviews
Our writers spent 10 hours researching the most popular all-in-one printers on the market. Before making their final recommendations, they considered 90 different laptops, screened options from 9 different brands and manufacturers, and read over 40 user reviews (both positive and negative). All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.