13 Best Color Laser Printers For Home
The mechanical sound of printer operation is the heartbeat of many
businesses. Work efficiency in the office depends at least on the properties
of the printer. Although inkjet printers achieve high print quality, they
work slowly and are considered inefficient. The best color laser printers
often put out more than 30 pages per minute and use cost-effective toner
cartridges instead of ink cartridges. This makes it an attractive
alternative to the heavily printed personal office or household.
The following comparison shows the most important properties of 13 color
laser printers from different price ranges at a glance. This guide then
explains how it works, the advantages and disadvantages and the different
types of the best color laser printers. An overview of the most important
criteria helps to quickly find a suitable printer.
The 13 best reliable color laser printers in a big comparison
1. HP Color Laser 178nwg Color Laser Printer
- Connectivity technologies Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Standard output capacity:50 sheets, copy ratio:25 - 400%, Maximum temperature10 - 30 °C, maximum copy resolution:600 x 600 DPI, warranty card, standard printer language (SPL), supported text formats:PDF
- Recommended use for home, office
- HP Color Laser MFP 178nwg Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 4ppm
- Monochrome max print speed 18ppm
The HP Color Laser 178nwg color laser printer is a 3-in-1 multifunction
device for printing, copying, and scanning. Laser models print at speeds of
up to 18 pages per minute in black and white and up to 4 pages per minute in
color, with a print quality of 600 x 600 dpi. A color laser printer prints
the first page in 13 seconds (black and white) or 26 seconds (color). The
printer has a 50-sheet output tray and a 150-sheet paper tray. There is no
automatic document feeder, also known as the ADF. This multifunction printer
has WLAN function and is suitable for mobile printing from smartphones via
HP ePrint, Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint.
Equipped with an LC control panel: According to the manufacturer,
the HP Color Laser 178nwg color laser printer offers fast and easy printing
via the integrated two-line LC control panel. There are a total of 13
buttons for operation. There's also an LED display for power, status, and
wireless.
The color laser printer supports borderless printing up to DIN A4, but no
automatic duplex printing. The model can copy at resolutions up to 600 x 600
dpi and also scan up to 600 x 600 dpi (optical). HP determines the speed for
scanning and copying as follows:
- Copying: 14 copies per minute in black and white, 4 copies per minute in color
- Scanning: 6 ipm black and white, 18 ipm color
Color laser printers have 128 megabytes of non-expandable memory. The
integrated processor runs at a speed of 800 megahertz. For coupling, the
system requires at least the operating system Windows 7 and higher or macOS
X v.10.11 and higher.
Who are laser printers suitable for? The advantages of laser
printers are high printing speed and low printing costs. In terms of print
quality, color laser printers cannot compete with inkjet printers. This is
especially noticeable when printing photos. In commercial use, where a
larger number of documents are printed, laser printers show an advantage.
But it's also a good choice for private users who don't value high image
quality.
Advantages
- 3-in-1 device for printing, scanning, and copying
- Mobile printing possible (AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint)
- With LC control panel and LED status display
- Large shipping coverage (toner cartridge, waste toner container, ...)
- USB connection and WLAN function
Deficiency
- No Bluetooth, no NFC
- No automatic duplex printing
- No automatic document feeder
2. Brother HL-L8260CDW Color Laser Printer
- USB connectivity technology
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Security algorithms: WEP 64-bit, WEP 128-bit, RADIUS 802.1x, EAP-FAST, EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, HTTPS, IPSEC, PEAP, SMTP-AUTH, SNMP, SSL/TLS ,WPA-AES,WPA-PSK,WPA-PSK,WPA-PSK,WPA-PSK,WPA-PSK,WPA. -TKIP, WN. PA2-AES,WPA2-EAP,WPA2-PSK, standard output capacity: 150 sheets, economical operation, standard printer language (BR-Script 3,Microsoft XPS, PCL 6,PDF 1.7,XPS), duplex function: yes
- Recommended use for home, office
- HL-L8260CDW Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 31ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 31ppm
The Brother HL-L8260CDW color laser printer is a mono laser printer with no
scanning, copying, or faxing capabilities. It prints all formats up to DIN
A4 with a print resolution of 2,400 x 1,200 dpi and speeds of up to 31 pages
per minute in black and white or color. According to Brother, it only takes
15 seconds to print the first time after power on. The color laser printer
has 256 megabytes of memory and a processor with a speed of 800 megahertz.
In addition to the WLAN function, the printer has a LAN connection and a USB
2.0 port. NFC is also available, but no Bluetooth function.
With the "Blue Angel" environmental seal: The Brother HL-L8260CDW
color laser printer has been awarded the "Blue Angel" environmental seal.
Since 1978, "Blue Angel" has been awarded by the federal government as an
environmental label for products that meet high standards in terms of
environmental, health and functional properties.
The color laser printer has a two-line LC display and, according to
Brother, supports automatic duplex printing. There should also be flexible
paper management options with a 250-sheet paper tray capacity. According to
Brother, mobile printing is possible with this model, for example via Apple
AirPrint or Google Cloud Print. The color laser printer has a power
consumption of 0.64 kilowatt hours per week and works with a sound pressure
level of 49 decibels when printing. It supports paper weighing between 60
and 163 grams per square meter.
What requirements must a color laser printer meet for home office use?
Color laser printer requirements for home offices are usually limited to
print quality and printer size. Because one person usually does not cause a
high print volume, print speed usually plays a subordinate role. High
resolution, high working memory capacity and fast processor are more
important. To ensure that a suitable place for the printer can be found
quickly, it is also important to pay attention to dimensions.
Advantages
- High print speed (31 pages per minute in black and white and color)
- With environmental seal "Blue Angel"
- NFC function available
- Suitable for automatic duplex printing
- Mobile printing (Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print)
Deficiency
- Not for scanning, copying, or faxing
- No bluetooth
- Supplied without data cable
3. Kyocera Ecosys P6230cdn Color Laser Printer
- USB 2.0 connectivity technology; LANs; Optional WiFi
- Laser printing technology
- Special features of KYO_TK5270
- Recommended use for home
- Model name P6230cdn
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 30ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 30ppm
The Kyocera Ecosys P6230cdn color laser printer is a mono laser printer
with no copy, scan, or fax capabilities. It prints formats up to DIN A4 with
a print resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi and at a speed of 30 pages per
minute in color and black and white. When first turned on, the printer takes
26 seconds to warm up, and takes another six (b/w) or seven (color) seconds
to print the first page. The color laser printer has 1,000 megabytes of RAM
and a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with a clock speed of 1,200
megahertz. Integrated paper cassette holds up to 600 sheets, paper feeds 100
sheets.
With Kyocera climate protection system: According to the
manufacturer, the Kyocera Ecosys P6230cdn color laser printer is 100 percent
climate neutral and has taken into account the CO₂ compensation contribution
for the device in the price of the device. According to the company, the CO₂
footprint of Kyocera products is offset by concrete climate protection
projects. Those interested should visit the Kyocera website.
The color laser printer has a USB 2.0 and LAN interface, and there is also
a WLAN function. Bluetooth and NFC are missing. Mobile printing from phone
via Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print is supported. This model operates
with a sound pressure level of 50 decibels and has a power consumption of
466 watts when printing. Kyocera provides a two-year manufacturer's warranty
for the printer.
How to estimate the power consumption of a color laser printer?
Power consumption is calculated using a simple formula: Watts x time (hours)
= power consumption in watt hours. One watt hour is equal to 0.001 kilowatt
hour. As a result, a 300 watt color laser printer consumes 0.3 kilowatt
hours. With one hour of use per day, this equates to a power consumption of
109.5 kilowatt hours per year.
Advantages
- Supports Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Linux
- Kyocera climate protection system (CO₂ compensation contribution, climate project)
- High print speed (30 pages per minute in black and white and color)
- Mobile printing possible (Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print)
Deficiency
- No Bluetooth, no NFC
- No copy, scan or fax functions
4. Kyocera Ecosys P5021cdn Laser Printer
- Connectivity technology Integrated duplex unit, USB, SD/SDHC card, Gigabit network interface
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Integrated reading card
- Recommended use for home, office
- 1102RF3NL0 . Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 21ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 21ppm
With the Ecosys P5021cdn, Kyocera offers a monofunctional color laser
printer that, according to the manufacturer, offers a high level of
reliability and enables resource-efficient printing. Therefore, this printer
works with Kyocera's durable technology, which allows it to print with
better toner cartridges. Color laser printers offer SSL security
functionality for use on corporate networks.
- Print resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Print speed: 21 pages per minute in black and white and color
- Heating time: 32 seconds
- Input tray paper capacity: 250 sheets
- Output tray paper capacity: 150 sheets
- Paper size: DIN A4 or smaller
- Memory: 512 megabytes
- Processor: 800 megahertz
The monofunction color laser printer from Kyocera can be operated with a
two-line display and surrounding buttons. It has individual color toner
cartridges. The printer has a WLAN, USB port, and LAN port for connection
options and a memory card slot for SDHC cards. Among others include Apple
AirPrint, Mopria and Kyocera Mobile Print to compatible applications.
Kyocera attaches great importance to environmental protection and offers
opportunities to contribute. According to the manufacturer, all systems
offered in Germany or Austria are climate neutral. To offset the CO2
footprint of its own printer system, the company is therefore involved in a
specific climate protection project with a Gold Standard award. This is an
independent quality standard that, apart from reducing CO2 emissions, also
takes into account improving the living conditions of local people.
Weighing 7.26 kilograms, this mostly white laser printer measures 41
centimeters wide, 32.9 centimeters high and 41 centimeters deep. Power
consumption during operation is 345 watts.
What are SSL security features? SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer and
describes a standard technology for securing Internet connections and
protecting sensitive data. Data transmission is encrypted. This means that
third parties can intercept the data, but cannot read it. In companies that
work with customer-related data, an SSL-encrypted network is mandatory. This
is regulated in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Advantages
- Climate neutral printer
- SSL Encryption
- Good processor (800 megahertz)
- Plenty of RAM (512 megabytes)
- SDHC card slot (print jobs from SDHC cards)
- Individual color toner cartridge (flexible change)
- Wireless Internet Access
Deficiency
- No scan, copy, or fax functions
- No bluetooth
- Long warm-up time (32 seconds)
5. Kyocera M5521cdn Color Laser Printer
- Connectivity technologies USB 2.0 (High Speed), networking (10/100/1000BASE-T[X], SNMPv3, 802.1x authentication, IPsec, HTTPS, IPPS, POP over SSL, SMTP over SSL (IEEE 802.11b/g/n , Wi-Fi Direct)1, USB host for USB flash memory, slot for SD/SDHC card
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Warm-up time (32 s), Maximum number of copies (999 copies), Maximum copy resolution:9600 x 600 DPI, Copy control:25 - 400%, ISO Standard:B5, B6
- Recommended use for home, office
- M5521cdn . Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 21ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 21ppm
The Kyocera M5521cdn is a 4-in-1 color laser printer with scan, copy, and
fax functions. With special long-lasting toner cartridges, enabling reliable
and resource-efficient printing. Thanks to its solid resolution and printing
speed, it is therefore attractive for both personal and commercial
use.
- Print resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Print speed: 21 pages per minute in black and white and color
- Heating time: 32 seconds
- Input tray paper capacity: 250 sheets
- Output tray paper capacity: 100 sheets
- Paper size: DIN A4 or smaller
- Memory: 512 megabytes
- Processor: 800 megahertz
Expandable RAM: With 512 megabytes of RAM capacity, color laser
printers from Kyocera offer good conditions for detailed, full-page
printouts. If you need more memory, you can increase the capacity to 1,500
megabytes.
Kyocera color laser printers have a five-line display and a large user
interface for controlling printers, scanners, copiers, and faxes. The
automatic document feeder, which offers up to 50 sheets of space, should
contribute to pleasant handling. With a scan resolution of 600 x 600 dpi,
the printer digitizes up to 30 black and white and 23 color images per
minute.
The Kyocera M5521cdn connection options include WLAN and LAN connections
and a USB port. It has individual color toner cartridges and a memory card
slot allows files to be printed from the SDHC card independently of the
computer. Compatible apps include Apple AirPrint, Mopria and Kyocera Mobile
Print.
Compared to monofunctional devices, multifunction printers with laser
technology take up more space. It measures 41.7 centimeters wide, 49.5
centimeters high and 42.9 centimeters deep. Its weight is 26 kilograms.
Power consumption in printing mode is 345 watts.
How high is the scan resolution of a color laser printer? The
resolution a color laser printer scanner should use depends on the document
to be digitized. If you only want to scan text documents, you can get them
with a scan resolution of 600 x 600 dpi. Scanner resolution must be higher
to scan detailed graphics.
Advantages
- 4-in-1 laser printer (scan, copy, fax and print)
- Expandable memory (up to 1,500 megabytes)
- Plenty of RAM (512 megabytes)
- Good processor (800 megahertz)
- SDHC card slot (print jobs from SDHC cards)
- Individual color toner cartridge (flexible change)
- Automatic document feeder for 50 sheets
- Low power consumption (345 watts print)
- Wireless Internet Access
Deficiency
- No bluetooth
- Long warm-up time (32 seconds)
6. Lexmark 28C0154 CS310 Color Laser Printer
- Connectivity technology RJ45, USB
- Laser printing technology
- Recommended use for home, office
- Model name CS310dn
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 23ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 23ppm
- Item weight 20.5 kilograms
If you choose the Lexmark 28C0154 CS310, you get a monofunctional laser
printer that works with the trademarked Unison™ toner cartridge. According
to the manufacturer, they are characterized by low friction between the
toner particles, which improves the flow and application of toner to the
paper and thus contributes to higher print quality. Thus, color laser
printers enable the printing of sharp images and graphics.
- Print resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
- Print speed: 23 pages per minute in black and white and color
- Input tray paper capacity: 250 sheets
- Output tray paper capacity: 125 sheets
- Paper size: DIN A4 or smaller
- Memory: 256 megabytes
- Processor: 800 megahertz
With PANTONE® calibration: Lexmark color laser printers are PANTONE®
calibrated by Patrone Corporation, which means high color quality. This
means that color printing has been optimized by proven experts in setting
color standards.
The Lexmark 28C0154 CS310 is button operated and a two-line display. The
memory capacity of the color laser printer can be increased up to 2,034
megabytes, which makes it easy to print complex graphic layouts. Duplex
function is available. Borderless printing is not possible. The printer
leaves a margin of at least 4.2 millimeters.
Color laser printers from Lexmark are designed in black and gray. It weighs
20.5 kilograms, has a width of 44.2 centimeters, a height of 29.1
centimeters and a depth of 40.7 centimeters. Its power consumption in
printing mode is 480 watts.
How does the high memory capacity make printing complex graphics easier?
The more complex the graphic, the larger the file. To be able to print files
at once, must not exceed the capacity of the printer's working memory.
Otherwise it has to be printed in multiple passes, which is time consuming.
Therefore, high working memory capacity is a determining factor for printing
graphically complex files.
Advantages
- Good processor (800 megahertz)
- Expandable memory (up to 2,304 megabytes)
- Unison™ toner (said to allow for better print quality)
- PANTONE® calibration (better color matching)
Deficiency
- No scan, copy, or fax functions
- No WLAN
- No bluetooth
- No unlimited printing
- No information about warm-up time
7. Brother DCP L3550CDW Color Laser Printer
- WLAN connectivity technology, USB 2.0, WiFi Direct, LAN
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Copy Control: 25 - 400% Standard Output Capacity: 100 sheets Security Algorithm: 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, SMTP-AUTH, SNMPv3, SSL/TLS, WPA-AES, WPA-PSK, WPA-TKIP, WPA2- AES,WPA2-PSK,WPA2-TKIP, maximum copy resolution: 600 x 600 DPI, warm-up time (28 seconds)
- Recommended use for home, office
- SeriesNormal
- Printer output color
- Monochrome max print speed 1
- Windows Server 2012 Operating System, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Yes, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2016
Anyone looking for a multifunction color laser printer without a fax
machine may be interested in the Brother DCP L3550CDW. The 3-in-1 printer
scans and copies at a high resolution of 2400 x 1200 dpi. Brother describes
it as fast, quiet and eco-friendly. Therefore, color laser printers offer
multifunction in a small space and are perfect for home offices or small
workgroups.
- Print resolution: 2400 x 600 dpi
- Print speed: 18 pages per minute in black and white and color
- Heating Time: Less than 15.5 seconds
- Input tray paper capacity: 250 sheets
- Output tray paper capacity: 100 sheets
- Paper size: DIN A4 or smaller
- Memory: 512 megabytes
- Processor: 800 megahertz
Two certificates prove that the environment also played a role for Brother
in the development of laser printers. Amazon has given it the Climate Pledge
Friendly seal - a sustainability certification designed to highlight
products that support Amazon's commitment to preserving the environment. In
addition, the printer is certified with the Nordic Ecolabel, which meets
certain requirements for chemical use, resource consumption, greenhouse gas
emissions, and biodiversity (biodiversity, biodiversity).
Easy to use: According to the manufacturer, color laser printers
from Brother have a clear, yet multifunctional control panel. It is operated
using a large 9.3-inch touchscreen and three buttons (call menu, step back,
end process). In addition, this printer has a numeric keypad for quickly
typing passwords or the like.
For convenient scanning and copying, the Brother DCP L3550CDW has an
automatic document feeder of up to 50 sheets. Silent mode, which reduces
operating volume from 45 to 43 decibels, is advantageous for concentrated
work. This corresponds to a noise reduction of about 20 percent.
The Brother DCP L3550CDW comes in plain gray and is relatively compact for
a multifunction laser printer. It is 41 centimeters wide, 41.4 centimeters
high, and 47.5 centimeters deep. Its weight is 23.2 kilograms. Power
consumption during printing is 400 watts.
Which environmental characteristics are important for a color laser
printer? During operation, color laser printers pollute the air with fine
dust. In order to talk about the nature of a good environment, pollutant
emissions must be as low as possible. Power consumption also plays a role in
environmental characteristics. Power plants create waste products that pose
a threat to the environment. Therefore, low power consumption is an
advantage in terms of environmental protection.
Advantages
- 3-in-1 laser printer (scan, copy and print)
- High print resolution (2,400 x 600 dpi)
- High scan resolution (2,400 x 600 dpi)
- Good processor (800 megahertz)
- Plenty of RAM (512 megabytes)
- Low warm-up time (less than 15.5 seconds)
- 50 sheet automatic scanner document feeder
- Two eco-friendly labels (Nordic Ecolabel and Climate Friendly)
- Individual color toner cartridge (flexible change)
- Wireless Internet Access
Deficiency
- No bluetooth
8. OKI C824dn Color Laser Printer
- Connectivity technology USB, Ethernet, WiFi
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Maximum temperature10 - 32 °C, Duplex function: Yes, Warm-up time (20 seconds), ISO standard: B4, B5, B6, standard printer language (PCL 5c, PCL 6), security algorithms: HTTPS, IPSec, SNMPv3, SSL/TLS, WEP, WPA, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise
- Model name C824dn
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 26ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 26ppm
- Operating system Windows Server 2008,Windows Server 2008 R2 x64,Windows Server 2008 x64,Windows Server 2012 R2 x64,Windows Server 2012 x64,Windows Server 2016, Yes
The OKI C824dn color laser printer is a pure printer with no scan, copy or
fax functions. The LED printer prints up to DIN A3 print format with a print
resolution of 1,200 x 600 dpi. Speed in color and black and white is 26
pages per minute in DIN A4 format and up to 14 pages per minute in DIN A3
format. The model prints the first page in black and white and in color
after just 8.5 seconds. The color laser printer has a 300-sheet paper tray
capacity and a 100-sheet multi-feed tray. According to the manufacturer, the
capacity can be increased to 2,540 sheets. Paper with a maximum weight of
256 grams per square meter can be used.
Secure and mobile printing: According to the manufacturer, the OKI
C824dn color laser printer offers secure printing via password or smart card
and enables mobile printing via Apple's AirPrint 1.6 and Google Cloud Print
2.0. Thanks to the NFC function, fast direct printing from a mobile device
is possible.
The color laser printer is an LED printer with an auto-off mode for low
power consumption of just 0.15 watts and low noise emission of 54 decibels.
It enables automatic two-sided printing (duplex function) and offers WLAN
functionality with WPA2 encryption and LAN connection. This model has a
massive 1,000 megabytes of working memory and an additional 3 gigabytes of
flash memory for fast print processing. According to OKI, the printer
warm-up time is 20 seconds after power on and 10 seconds from energy saving
mode.
Advantages
- NFC function for fast mobile printing
- Secure printing (WPA2, password, smart card)
- Allows automatic two-sided printing (duplex printing)
- Auto power off mode to save power
Deficiency
- No bluetooth
- No scan, copy and fax functions
9. Canon i-SENSYS MF643Cdw Color Laser Printer
- Connectivity technology USB, Ethernet
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Warm-up time (13 seconds), Copy control: 25 - 400%, Maximum copy resolution: 600 x 600 DPI, Maximum copies (999 copies), ISO standard: B5
- Recommended use for home
- MF643Cdw . Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 21ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 21ppm
According to Canon, the i-SENSYS MF643Cdw is a powerful, robust, and fast
color laser printer. With the manufacturer's own Quick-First-Print
technology, it only takes 10.5 seconds to get the first print. It also
offers a fast processor for reliable work. The good environmental properties
of Canon printers are certified twice. It bears the "Blue Angel"
environmental certification mark and the Climate Pledge Friendly seal, which
Amazon awards for eco-friendly products.
- Print resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
- Print speed: 21 pages per minute in black and white and color
- Heating time: 10.5 seconds
- Input tray paper capacity: 250 sheets
- Output tray paper capacity: 100 sheets
- Paper size: DIN A4 or smaller
- Memory: 1,000 megabytes
- Processor: 2 x 800 megahertz
Large touch screen: According to the manufacturer, color laser
printers from Canon are equipped with a large 12.7 inch (= 32.3 centimeter)
angled touch screen with free-floating optics for easy operation, which
enables the entire operation of the printer. The only haptic button is the
power button.
Canon laser printers have an automatic document feeder for easy scanning,
copying, or faxing of multiple documents. It also has individual color toner
cartridges for flexible replacement. Laser printer connection options
include WLAN, LAN connection and USB port. Digitization takes place with a
scan resolution of 600 x 600 dpi. Compatible printer apps include Apple
AirPrint, Canon Print Business, and Mopria.
With its "floating" touchscreen, Canon's white color laser printer stands
out from many comparable printers. Weighing 22.6 kilograms, measuring 45.1
centimeters wide, 41.3 centimeters high, and 46 centimeters deep. Power
consumption during printing is 370 watts.
Advantages
- 12.7 inch large touch screen
- 3-in-1 laser printer (scan, copy and print)
- Good processor (1,600 megahertz)
- Lots of memory (1,000 megabytes)
- Two seals of environmental approval (Blue Angel and Climate Pledge Friendly)
- Individual color toner cartridge (flexible change)
- Wireless Internet Access
Deficiency
- No bluetooth
- No scan, copy and fax functions
10. Brother HL-L3230CDW Color Laser Printer
- WLAN connectivity technology, USB 2.0, WiFi Direct, LAN
- Laser printing technology
- Special features Standard output capacity: 100 sheets, economy, duplex function: yes, security algorithm: WEP 64-bit, WEP 128-bit, RADIUS 802.1x, EAP-FAST, EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, HTTPS , IPPS, PEAP, SMTP-AUTH, SNMPv3, SSL/TLS, WPA-AES, WPA-PSK, WPA-TK. IP, WPA22 -AES, WPA2-PSK, WPA2-TKIP, standard printer languages (BR-Script 3, PCL 6, PDF, PostScript 3, XPS)
- Recommended use for home, office
- HLL3230CDW Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 24ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 24ppm
The Brother HL-L3230CDW color laser printer prints at 18 pages per minute
in color and black and white and at a resolution of 2,400 x 600 dpi. It
offers automatic duplex printing and, according to Brother, takes less than
15.5 seconds to print the first page. The LED printer has a working memory
of 256 megabytes and prints all formats up to DIN A4. This model paper
cassette holds 250 sheets, one sheet feeder is available. Color laser
printers have a single-line LC display to display the most important
information. In pressure mode, the model operates at a volume of 45
decibels, on the contrary at 43 decibels. The printer has been awarded the
"Blue Angel", an environmental label from the federal government.
Great for mobile printing: The Brother HL-L3230CDW color laser
printer offers the option to print from a mobile device. It works with
AirPrint from Apple, Google Cloud Print or iPrint & Scan from
Brother.
The color laser printer has a USB 2.0 port, LAN, WLAN interface and
supports Wi-Fi Direct as well as PCL6 and BR-Script3 printer languages -
emulations of Postscript3. The printer has an IP filter and, according to
the manufacturer, offers secure printing with Lock v3. Shipping coverage
includes a driver CD for the Windows operating system, four starter toners
in black, magenta, cyan, and yellow for 1,000 pages each, installation
instructions, and a user manual. According to Brother, the data cable (USB
cable) is not included. Average power consumption per week is 0.315 kilowatt
hours.
Advantages
- Automatic duplex printing
- Mobile printing (AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, iPrint & Scan)
- Secure printing is possible
- Blue Angel (German government environmental label)
- With a large delivery scope (driver CD, toner, instructions)
Deficiency
- No touch screen available
- No scan, copy, or fax functions
11. HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fnw Color Laser Printer
- USB connectivity technology
- Inkjet printing technology
- Special features Touchscreen, auto redial, standard printer language (PCL 5c, PCL 6, PWG, PostScript 3, URF), maximum number of copies (999 copies), standard output capacity: 150 sheets, Copy ratio: 25 - 400% , speed dial, maximum copy resolution: 600 x 600 DPI, Maximum temperature15 - 27 °C, Supported text formats: PDF
- Recommended use for home
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M479fnw Seri Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 27
- Monochrome maximum print speed 27
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fnw color laser printer is a 4-in-1
multifunction printer for copying, scanning, printing, and faxing. Prints in
color and black and white with an optical resolution of 600 x 600 dpi and a
print speed of 27 pages per minute. The laser printer outputs the first page
in 9.7 seconds. The manufacturer sets the scanning speed as 29 images per
minute. The color laser printer has a standard input capacity of 300 sheets
and holds a maximum of 850 sheets. The output capacity is 150 sheets. It is
equipped with 512 megabytes of internal memory and a 1,200 megahertz
processor. According to HP, there is no automatic duplex printing.
With HP JetIntelligence: The HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fnw color
laser printer uses a newly developed type of toner cartridge designed to
optimize print output. In addition, toner capacity is put to better use
thanks to "JetIntelligence" technology, according to HP.
The color laser printer has a 10.9 centimeter color touchscreen for
operation and offers WLAN and Wi-Fi Direct capabilities for mobile printing
via Apple AirPrint or Google Cloud Print. Documents can be loaded via a USB stick via the easily accessible high-speed USB port on the front. The
following connections are also available:
- 1x USB host on the back
- 1x LAN
The laser printer has a Bluetooth function and a WPS button for direct
connection to end devices. Integrated security functions such as WPA2
encryption are designed to protect the printer from hacker attacks and other
dangers. The scope of delivery includes a starter toner set with four toner
cartridges for 2,400 pages in black and 1,200 pages in magenta, cyan, and
yellow.
Advantages
- Suitable for mobile printing (AirPrint and Google Cloud Print)
- HP JetIntelligence (better toner capacity usage according to HP)
- 4-in-1 multifunction device for scanning, printing, copying, and faxing
- Bluetooth function and WPS button
- Security features like WPA2 encryption
Deficiency
- No automatic duplex printing
- No NFC function
12. Brother MFC L8690CDW Color Laser Printer
- WLAN connectivity technology, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0
- Laser printing technology
- Special features of Brother TN421, Print function
- Recommended use for home, office
- MFC-L8690 CDW Series
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 31ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 31ppm
If you are looking for a fast color laser printer, the Brother MFC L8690CDW
may be of interest. With its high resolution and memory capacity, it
achieves print speeds of up to 31 pages per minute. In addition, the 4-in-1
printer offers scan, copy, and fax functions. This makes it a good choice
for office use. The color toner cartridge allows a single replacement.
- Print resolution: 2400 x 600 dpi
- Print speed: 31 pages per minute in black and white and color
- Input tray paper capacity: 250 sheets
- Output tray paper capacity: 150 sheets
- Paper size: DIN A4 or smaller
- Memory: 512 megabytes
- Processor: 1,000 megahertz + sub-processor with 133 megahertz
Expandable paper cassette: The Brother color laser printer can be
expanded with up to three 250-sheet paper cassettes, providing a capacity of
up to 1,000 sheets.
According to the manufacturer, the Brother color laser printer has a clear
control panel with a 9.3-inch touchscreen and numeric keypad for ease of
use. The automatic document feeder offers up to 50 sheets of space and
therefore allows convenient scanning, copying, and faxing. The color laser
printer supports WLAN, has a USB connection and for a stable connection to
the Internet with an error LAN connection. It has NFC for uncomplicated
wireless connection to external devices. The printer supports various
applications such as AirPrint, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox or
OneDrive.
The Brother 4-in-1 color laser printer is white with black elements on the
paper output and display. More space is required to set up the printer
compared to monofunctional devices. It weighs 27.9 kilograms, has a width of
43.5 centimeters, a height of 53.9 centimeters and a depth of 52.6
centimeters. Power consumption in normal printing operation is up to 580
watts. By using Eco mode consumption can be reduced to 340 watts.
Advantages
- Expandable paper cassette (up to 1,000 sheets)
- Fast print speed (up to 31 pages per minute in black and white and color)
- 4-in-1 laser printer (scan, copy, fax and print)
- Good processor (800 + 133 megahertz)
- Plenty of RAM (512 megabytes)
- 50 sheet automatic scanner document feeder
- Individual color toner cartridge (flexible change)
- Saving mode (340 watts)
- Wi-Fi, NFC
Deficiency
- No information about warm-up time
- No bluetooth
13. Brother DCP L8410CDW Color Laser Printer
- WLAN connectivity technology, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0
- Laser printing technology
- Special features of Brother TN421, Print function
- Recommended use for home, office
- DCP L 8410 Series CDW
- Printer output color
- Maximum print speed (color) 31ppm
- Monochrome maximum print speed 31ppm
With the DCP L8410CDW, Brother offers a 3-1 color laser printer with scan
and copy functions (1,200 x 2,400 dpi scan resolution). With its high
capacity and speed, this large printer is primarily designed for use in
offices or other commercial facilities.
- Heating Time: Less than 15 seconds
- Print resolution: 1,200 x 600 dpi
- Paper capacity: 1,050 sheets
- Paper format: DIN A4 and smaller
- Print speed: 31 pages per minute (black and white and color)
- Memory: 512 megabytes
- Processor: 800 megahertz + sub-processor with 133 megahertz
Optional for jumbo toner cartridges: Laser printers from Brother are
optionally compatible with jumbo toner cartridges, which, according to the
manufacturer, offer up to 6,500 black and white pages and 4,000 color pages.
Therefore, it saves costs.
For convenient use, the DCP L8410CDW laser printer features an automatic
document feeder for 50 sheets and a 9.3-inch touch screen, allowing
intuitive fingertip operation. According to the manufacturer, integration
into a LAN or WLAN network is not complicated. Good compatibility with
various printer applications, which expands the possibilities of using and
operating the printer, therefore it is advantageous.
The Brother laser printer has a white design with black document output.
Weighing 27.6 kilograms, measuring 43.5 centimeters wide, 53.9 centimeters
high, and 52.6 centimeters deep. Its power consumption is 580 watts (340
watts in Eco mode).
Advantages
- 3-in-1 . laser printer
- Short warm-up time (less than 15 seconds)
- High print speed (31 sheets per minute)
- Automatic document feeder for 50 sheets
- Good processor (800 + 133 megahertz)
- Plenty of RAM (512 megabytes)
- Large paper capacity (1,050 sheets)
- Optional use of jumbo toner cartridges
- Wireless Internet Access
Deficiency
- No bluetooth
- Weight (27.6 kilograms)
What is a color laser printer?
Laser printers work with a special printing process designed for high
volumes of documents. With toner powder applied to the image roll with a
laser beam, they achieve higher speeds compared to inkjet printers.
The first laser printers could only print in black and white. Currently,
many models are color laser printers. This is often a combination device a
3-in-1 or 4-in-1 printer that can scan, copy, and fax. They are not only
popular in offices or other commercial settings. For private users, laser
printers can be an alternative to inkjet printers, as long as lower image
quality is not an exception criterion.
How do color laser printers work?
Every laser printer consists of four main components. This includes the
imaging drum, laser, toner cartridge, and fuser unit. They use the principle
of electrophotography and work with electric charges. The explanation is
simple: two particles attract each other if they have opposite polarities
(positive and negative). If both particles are positive or negative, they
repel each other.
Are laser printers harmful to health? The toner cartridges that
laser printers use contain a very fine powder. Therefore, it is reasonable
to assume that the operation of the laser printer increases the level of
fine dust in the air, which will be bad for health. In fact, laser printers
can increase fine dust pollution. According to the Federal Office for
Occupational Safety and Health, the health burden is low. If you want to
prevent indoor air pollution, you can ventilate when printing or install the
printer in another room so you don't have to be in the same room when you
print.
The laser printer imaging drum is negatively charged. The printer uses a
laser beam to transfer the image to be printed onto the mirror. The mirror
reflects the laser beam onto a rotating imaging drum. The negative charge of
the imaging drum is neutralized at the point where the laser beam hits
it.
For printing, the imaging drum is carried over to the toner, which contains
a negatively charged pigment powder that is attracted to the neutral area of
the imaging drum. The rest of the imaging drum is still negatively
charged. No toner powder settles there. In the final step, the toner powder
is transferred to the printer paper. The paper is positively charged first
so the powder sticks. The image drum then rolls the paper and prints text,
images or other images.
How do multifunction printers print color using a laser? Laser
printers can print in color by using multiple toner cartridges. Most color
laser printers work with cyan, magenta and yellow. All other colors can be
mixed from this.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a color laser printer?
Color laser printers demonstrate their superiority above all else in a
commercial environment. Because they are designed for high print volumes and
fast print speeds, they can speed up many processes in companies large and
small. While an inkjet printer takes a few minutes to print a 30 page
report, a good laser printer does the job in less than 60 seconds. Printing
costs are often lower compared to inkjet printers.
In terms of image quality, inkjet printers are superior to laser printers
in many ways. They produce stronger colors and sharper images. But laser
printers are often more convincing in one property: edge sharpness. When
printing documents, this proves useful for making small fonts legible.
If you only need to print something occasionally, you can also benefit from
purchasing a color laser printer. Unlike the liquid ink in an inkjet
printer, toner powder cannot dry out. The cartridges usually work even after
several weeks without a print job.
Longer document life: Documents that aren't kept in the drawer all
the time will fade over time. This is due to UV radiation in sunlight, which
breaks down the pigment components of the color. Printed products from color
laser printers are considered to be more resistant to UV radiation than
inkjet printers. As a result, documents can be expected to last
longer.
If you want to take advantage of the advantages of a color laser printer,
you have to accept some disadvantages. The first thing to mention is the
cost of acquisition, which is often higher than comparable inkjet printers.
Laser color printers are only suitable for photo printing to a certain
extent and cannot print on rigid media such as CDs or plastic cards. Another
disadvantage is the potentially harmful fine dust pollution generated by the
operation of the laser printer.
Advantages
- Designed for high print volume
- High print speed
- Low printing cost
- Documents are more durable
- Better edge sharpness (good quality with small font size)
- The toner cartridge won't dry out
Deficiency
- Often more expensive than inkjet printers
- Lower print quality than inkjet printers
- Only conditionally suitable for photo printing
- No rigid media like printable CDs
- Fine dust pollution
What types of color laser printers are there?
With regard to their range of functions, color laser printers can be
divided into two distinct types. The following sections explain the
advantages and disadvantages of both types and who they are suitable
for.
Monofunctional color laser printer
Monofunctional color laser printers have only one function: printing. The
only advantage is that the acquisition cost is lower compared to
multifunction printers. This could be interesting, for example, if a new
color laser printer is only intended to complement a multifunction inkjet
printer or copier. If you are sure that you will not need to digitize or
duplicate documents in the future, you can use a multifunction printer that
supports lower acquisition costs.
Black and white laser printer: If you only want to print a
monochrome document, you can cut costs even further. Cheap black and white
laser printers are multifunctional and do not offer color printing, but only
work with black toner powder.
Multifunction color laser printer
Multifunction color laser printers have several basic functions. These are
mostly 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 devices that have scan, copy, and fax functions in
addition to print functions. Being able to scan and copy is an advantage in
most cases. The fax function is usually not required as fax has largely been
replaced as a communication medium with the combination of email and
printer.
- Scanning: Scanning refers to the digitization of physical documents. Simply put, a scanner "takes a photo" of a paper document and converts it into a digital format. This can be useful in many situations - for example, to forward documents received in the mail or hand signed by e-mail.
- Copy: Most printers with scanners can copy. You print the digital document again. It can be duplicated as often as you like. This may be necessary, for example, when drafting a contract or advertising letter.
- Fax: The fax machine sends text information over the phone line and prints it. This used to be a common way to send order confirmations, employment contracts, or similar documents. Nowadays, this mostly happens via email. Given their higher cost, a color laser printer with fax is only useful if the function is explicitly required.
How much does a color laser printer cost?
Color laser printers come in a variety of prices. Print resolution and
additional functions (copy, scan, fax) have the biggest impact on costs. If
you are looking for a cheap color laser printer and can do without such
functionality, you will find printers in the lower price range for a low
three-digit count. If the focus is on high print resolution and suitability
for high print volumes (commercial use), a medium triple digit investment
can be expected. In general, color laser printers can be divided into the
following price ranges:
- Lower price range: 100 to $200
- Mid price range: 200 to $400
- Top price range: from $400
Internet versus specialist stores - where is it worth buying a new
color laser printer?
Color laser printers are available in electronics stores, department
stores, and sometimes as an option at supermarkets and discount stores. If
you want to benefit from personal advice as the biggest advantage of local
trade, visit a specialist shop. It is important to remember that the quality
of advice depends on the knowledge of the advisor's employees.
In addition, offline purchases are often a hassle. The selection of
available printers is usually small, which is why there are no good
conditions for comparing the many different color laser printers. Worst case
scenario, it will take a lot of time to visit several stores to find a good
laser printer.
The internet offers better conditions for buying a good color laser printer
quickly and without much effort. Here you will not only find nearly all of
the versions currently available, but there is also an excellent opportunity
to obtain complete information and compare individual printers with one
another. As soon as the best color laser printers are found, orders can be
placed easily and quickly from home. The bottom line is that the advantages
of the Internet outweigh the disadvantages.
Purchase advice: What to consider when buying a color laser printer?
If you want to find a color laser printer that meets your requirements and
doesn't cost you more than necessary, you should consider several factors
before buying. The following sections explain what is important:
- Print resolution
- Print speed
- Warming up
- Paper size and paper thickness
- Processor
- Random access memory
- Serve
- Print options
- Power consumption
- Tall and heavy
Print resolution
Print resolution can be used to assess the print quality expected from a
color laser printer. Resolution is given in dpi or dots per inch. It shows
how many pixels make up an inch of the length and width of the printed
product. A resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi is considered a good average for
a color laser printer. Solid image quality can be expected here. If print
quality plays a minor role, a cheaper color laser printer with a resolution
of 600 x 500 dpi can be attractive.
Color laser printer for photos: If you want to print photos or images with
your color laser printer, for example, you should use a higher resolution -
for example 2,400 x 1,200 dpi. Otherwise, the photo quality cannot be
expected to be good.
Print speed
When printing multiple pages, there is almost no difference between each
color laser printer. Almost everyone prints a page in less than 3 seconds.
For printing large quantities of documents on a regular basis, it is
necessary to pay attention to the print speed. This indicates how many A4
pages the printer can print per period of time (usually per minute).
Fast color laser printers can print up to 25 color pages per minute. Up to
45 pages per minute is possible in black and white. The lower limit for
color printing is about 18 pages per minute. When printing several hundred
pages, the difference quickly adds up to a few minutes.
Warming up
Once turned on, the color laser printer should heat up. Depending on the
model, this may take between 15 and 45 seconds. If the printer is then not
used again, the printer automatically goes into standby mode and must warm
up again before the next printout. For office use, you should make sure the
warm-up time is short.
Paper size and paper thickness
As far as paper size is concerned, there's not much to consider with a
color laser printer. Most printers support all paper formats up to DIN A4.
If you want to print a larger document, you should pay attention to
compatibility with the DIN A3 format.
In addition to the format, it is important to pay attention to the
thickness of the paper with respect to the printer paper. Many color laser
printers achieve good results on thin paper with a grammage of 60 to 110
grams per square centimeter. Inkjet printers usually require thicker and
more expensive printer paper with a strength of 120 to 140 grams per square
centimeter.
Processor
Every color laser printer has an integrated processor. This is the
computing unit that is responsible for all computing processes during
printing, scanning or copying. If the processor is slow, file processing may
take longer. If you want to work as efficiently as possible with your new
printer, you should pay attention to a fast processor. Processor speed can
be estimated based on clock speed. With a clock speed of 800 megahertz or
more, one can talk about a fast processor.
Random access memory
Main memory is used for short-term data storage and plays an important role
in printing complex high-resolution graphics. A laser printer can basically
only print an entire page. Therefore, the main memory capacity must match
the size of at least one full page. Otherwise, the print job will be divided
into several operations, which will significantly increase the time
required.
Printing large color flyers requires more RAM than black and white text
documents. Color laser printers work with 64 to 512 megabytes of RAM. In
general, the higher the RAM capacity, the better the state of complex color
prints.
Expand RAM: Some color laser printers offer the option to expand
RAM. In this way, the printer can be adapted to ever-increasing needs.
Serve
Most color laser printers can be operated using a simple clear LCD and a
multi-button control panel. With regard to the LC display, it is important
to pay attention to the number of lines - for example one line, two lines or
three lines. The more lines the printer screen has, the more information it
can display at the same time.
While monofunction models often only have three buttons for navigating
menus, multifunction printers with scanners, copiers, and fax machines often
have multiple buttons. Lack of experience in handling printers can lead to
excessive demands.
If you value ease of use, you may be interested in a color laser printer
with a touch screen. The touch-sensitive screen can be operated intuitively
using the on-screen buttons. The touch screen displays only the buttons
required for operation in each menu. This simplifies the overview and makes
handling almost self-explanatory.
Print options
In addition to basic functions such as printing and scanning, many color
laser printers have useful functions and special printing options. If you
know before buying which functions are important to you, you can quickly
narrow down your choices. The possible print options are as follows:
- Borderless printing: When printing an entire page, conventional printers leave white edges. Most color laser printers can print borderless, which is especially useful when printing full-page photos or illustrations.
- Duplex printing: Printing documents on both sides saves not only a lot of time, but also paper. Most color laser printers can do this. This function is called duplex printing.
- Foil printing: Foil printing is required, for example, for presentations with a projector. Many color laser printers are capable of this.
Power consumption
Among office equipment, laser printers are one of the largest consumers of
electricity. With a high print volume, it is necessary to pay attention to
low power consumption. The easiest way to estimate power consumption is
based on power consumption in watts. This value indicates how much energy
the printer draws from the socket and is between 300 and 500 watts for most
models.
Important to know: In addition to power consumption during
operation, it is important to pay attention to consumption in standby mode.
That's 0.5 to 10 watts for most printers.
Tall and heavy
Due to technical differences, color laser printers tend to be slightly
larger and heavier than inkjet printers. For home office use or in a small
office space, it is advisable to pay attention to the dimensions and weight
before buying.
If you have to deal with high print volumes, you can hardly avoid bulky
laser printers. Dimensions of 50 x 40 x 50 centimeters (width x height x
depth) are not uncommon. If the need for small space in the foreground,
there is a small laser printer with dimensions of 40 x 30 x 40 centimeters.
They usually weigh between 7 and 25 kilograms.
What should be considered when maintaining and cleaning a color laser
printer?
Color laser printers consist of many sensitive components. Frequent opening
and closing causes large amounts of dust and debris to collect in the toner
cartridge or paper tray area. To maintain the printer's function, coarse
dirt must be cleaned regularly. The following points should be noted:
- Removing removable parts: Before cleaning, turn off the printer and remove all removable parts. Depending on the printer, these are the toner cartridge, toner compartment cover, paper tray components and all connection cables.
- Removes coarse dirt: The lint-free microfiber cloth is suitable for removing coarse dust and dirt. To remove stubborn dirt, lightly dampen a cloth or use a cleaning agent (such as isopropanol). When using liquids, the following applies: as much as necessary and as little as possible. If liquid gets into sensitive electronic components, the printer may be damaged.
- Cleaning hard-to-reach areas: The corners and bent areas of the printer are easy to clean with a cotton swab, soft brush, or compressed air sprayer .
- Clean the image roll: Dirt on the image roll can affect print quality. Here too, it is important to remove coarse dirt with a microfiber cloth.
- Remove toner powder: During operation, toner powder may be released from the image roll and collect in the printer. This must be taken into account when cleaning. If necessary, the powder can be quickly removed with a slightly damp cloth.
Use cleaning kits for laser printers: If you want to get the best
results when cleaning laser printers, you can use cleaning kits specifically
for laser printers. As a rule, such a set consists of a cloth and cleaning
agent provided for this purpose.
Frequently asked questions about color laser printers
The following sections answer a series of frequently asked questions about
color laser printers.
Which is the best color laser printer?
Requirements for the print quality, functionality, or cost of the printer
vary depending on the user. There is no such thing as the best color laser
printer that is equally suitable for every user. If you follow all the tips
in this guide, you have a good chance of finding your personal best color
laser printer.
Which is the cheapest color laser printer?
Color laser printer prices may vary. However, the printer from the Ecosys
Kyocera series is one of the cheapest color laser printers on the
market.
Which color laser printer is suitable for personal use?
Which color laser printer is suitable for personal use depends on the main
requirements placed on the device. Private users, for example, benefit less
from fast printing speeds. In most cases, the priority here is more on print
quality.
Thus, it can be said that a good printer for personal use should have a
high resolution and memory capacity. Printing speed is negligible in most
cases.
Can laser printers dry out?
Instead of liquid ink, color laser printer cartridges contain non-drying
powdered toner. Therefore, unlike inkjet printers, it is okay to not use the
laser printer for a few weeks.
How long do laser printer toner cartridges last?
Typically, toner cartridges for laser printers last until the toner powder
they contain is empty. How many prints last for different cartridges. Many
cartridges contain toner powder for 1,000 to 2,000 prints.
Conclusion
So, that's the discussion about color laser printers and how to choose one.
Not only that, we have also recommended twelve of the best color laser
printer products. If you are planning to buy a color laser printer, use the
guide above as a reference. If you want to know more about the differences,
please find out the features in each product. Buy a printer that suits your
needs.
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