The 5 Best Black And White Printers – Spring 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Black And White
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Budget
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Best Cheap
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Best High-Yield
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Apr 21, 2023 at 03:13 pm
By Ryan Lim
Although color printers are relatively affordable, many people only print in black, especially in the commercial environment. Many offices only need to print invoices and receipts, so why pay more for a color printer? Monochrome printers often have room for a bigger cartridge, giving you a higher page yield, so you don’t have to replace the cartridge as frequently.
Laser printers are usually the preferred choice for black-and-white printing, as they typically print faster. That said, inkjet printers are more versatile and often cheaper, and those with an ink tank system can often match or surpass the page yield of their laser counterpart. Whether looking for the best black-and-white laser printer for home use or office use, you’ll find a good option that fits your printing needs.
We’ve tested over 120 printers, and below are our recommendations for the best monochrome printers you can buy. You can also check out our picks for the best laser printers, the best printers for small businesses, and the best all-in-one printers.
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Best Black And White Printer
Brother MFC-L2750DW
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Black & White
9.1
Estimated Black Page Yield
1,953 prints
Cost-Per-Print
9.6
Black & White Documents
9.0
Black Only Text Document
36 PPM
Scanner
ADF + Flatbed
See all our test results
The best black and white printer we’ve tested is the Brother MFC-L2750DW, an all-in-one laser model.
It produces incredibly sharp documents, doesn’t take long to warm, and prints quickly at 36 pages per minute. You can connect to the printer via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet, and there’s also NFC support, so you can connect by tapping your NFC-enabled device against the printer. Its ADF-equipped scanner isn’t particularly fast, but it’s still more convenient than scanning each page manually, and it can scan double-sided sheets in a single pass. The toner cartridge yields a large number of prints, so you won’t need to replace it often unless you print a lot, and you can increase the yield further with an XL cartridge. The drum is a separate unit you’ll have to spend extra to replace, although it’s usually good for about 12,000 prints and won’t need regular replacement.
If you don’t need all the features on the MFC-L2750DW and would rather save some money, know that there are cheaper variants with slightly different features and performance. You can get a model like the Brother MFC-L2710DW, which lacks duplex scanning and prints a little slower at 32 pages per minute.
The print quality remains the same, so you’ll still get sharp-looking documents. You can also get bundles with longer-lasting XL toner cartridges, like the Brother MFC-L2750DW XL, which might be cheaper than buying the cartridges separately. You can see more details about the variants in the full review.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Black And White Printer
Brother HL-L2390DW
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Black & White
8.4
Estimated Black Page Yield
1,425 prints
Cost-Per-Print
9.3
Black Only Text Document
32 PPM
Scanner
Yes
See all our test results
If you have simpler needs, you can save money with the Brother HL-L2390DW.
It’s also an all-in-one monochrome model, but unlike our top pick, it lacks an automatic feeder and Ethernet connectivity. It produces sharp-looking documents, prints quickly at 32 pages per minute, and supports automatic duplex printing. The toner cartridge is good for about 1400 prints and is fairly cheap, so you don’t need to worry about high maintenance costs. The lack of an automatic feeder is probably the most significant compromise with this printer, so you need to ensure you won’t need to scan lots of long, multi-page documents.
This model has a variant, the Brother HL-L2395DW. It’s essentially the same printer but with Ethernet connectivity, a larger touch-sensitive display, and a slightly faster printing speed.
See our review
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Best Budget Black And White Printer
Brother HL-L2350DW
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Black & White
7.
7
Estimated Black Page Yield
1,273 prints
Cost-Per-Print
9.1
Black & White Documents
9.0
Black Only Text Document
33 PPM
Scanner
No Scanner
See all our test results
For our budget pick, we have yet another Brother laser printer (Brother makes really good laser monochrome printers), the Brother HL-L2350DW. This print-only unit is a variant of the Brother HL-L2325DW we tested. We chose this model because the HL-L2325DW is hard to find, so this is the best option. It feels sturdily built, produces outstanding quality documents, and prints up to 32 pages per minute. It doesn’t cost much to maintain as the toner cartridge yields a large number of prints and is fairly cheap. Of course, if you have a very tight budget and don’t mind shopping around, the HL-L2325DW is cheaper and performs almost identically.
Like the Brother printers we recommend above, you’ll have to replace the drum on this model separately, which is an added expense, but again, the drum usually lasts a long time, so you likely won’t need to do it all that often.
See our review
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Best Cheap Black And White Printer
Pantum P2502W
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Black & White
7.2
Estimated Black Page Yield
2,090 prints
Cost-Per-Print
9.4
Black & White Documents
9.0
Black Only Text Document
23 PPM
Scanner
No Scanner
See all our test results
If you want a cheap printer that can get the job done, get the Pantum P2502W.
Like the Brother HL-L2350DW above, this is also a print-only unit, so there isn’t a scanner. It produces nice, sharp documents and doesn’t cost much to maintain because the toner cartridge lasts a long time. It takes a little longer than most laser printers to warm up, but it’s very fast once it starts printing, pushing up to 23 pages per minute. You just have to flip the pages manually when printing double-sided because it doesn’t support automatic duplex printing.
Unfortunately, there’s an issue with this printer. It tends to push printed sheets off the output tray, which can be annoying during large print jobs, as you’ll have to rearrange the prints into the right order. This issue also causes misaligned prints. While this doesn’t happen all the time, it’s still an inconvenience, as you might waste a lot of time, paper, and toner. Again, this model can get the job done; just know that you might run into some occasional problems.
See our review
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Best High-Yield Black And White Printer
Epson WorkForce ST-M1000
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Black & White
7.
8
Estimated Black Page Yield
4,465 prints
Cost-Per-Print
10
Black Only Text Document
18 PPM
Scanner
No
See all our test results
If you regularly print in bulk and only care about a high page yield, we recommend the Epson WorkForce ST-M1000, a print-only inkjet model. The biggest advantage of this model over the others is its much cheaper ink cost, which helps keep its cost-per-print exceptionally low. It comes with three black ink bottles, so you’ll be good for over 10,000 prints. It produces sharp documents, wakes up quickly from an idle state, and prints up to 18 pages per minute. Unlike laser printers, you won’t have to worry about replacing the drum unit; however, this model’s inkjet technology means you need to print frequently, as letting the printer go unused for a long time will cause the ink to dry up and clog the printheads.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202w:
The HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202w is one of the best monochrome laser printers we’ve tested for page yield and a great alternative to the Epson WorkForce ST-M1000. It yields significantly more prints than the Epson and has a scanner; however, it’s hard to find because it’s discontinued.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Apr 21, 2023:
Verified accuracy of picks. No change in recommendations. -
Feb 20, 2023:
Minor structure change. Added the Pantum P2502W as the ‘Best Cheap’ pick. -
Dec 22, 2022:
Replaced the Brother HL-L2325DW with the Brother HL-L2350DW variant because the HL-L2325DW isn’t available. -
Oct 27, 2022:
Minor structure change. Replaced the Canon imageCLASS MF445dw with the Brother MFC-L2750DW because the Brother has better print quality and is cheaper. Removed the Brother MFC-L2710DW as a main pick, as it’s a variant of the MFC-L2750DW. Added the Brother HL-L2390DW as a mid-range pick. Replaced the Brother HL-L2370DW with the Brother HL-L2325DW because the HL-L2325DW performs almost identically but at a lower price. Removed the HP NeverStop Laser MFP 1202w as it’s discontinued and hard to find. -
Aug 29, 2022:
Restructured article to better match user expectations. Added the Canon imageCLASS MF242dw as a Notable Mention.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best black and white printers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here’s the list of our printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Brother HL-L2390DW/HL-L2395DW Review – RTINGS.com
Sort Category───────────RATINGSFamilySmall/Home OfficeStudentBlack & WhiteCasual Photo
Category AllDesignPrintingMobile App And Connectivity
Design
Type
All in One
The build quality is excellent. It’s entirely plastic but feels solid, with no obvious gaps in the construction. It has a rear panel giving easy access to paper jams and grooves on each side for easy moving. The paper tray cassette can expand for both longer formats and different widths, and the scanner’s lid hinges can extend to accommodate thicker items like textbooks. Unfortunately, the power cord isn’t removable, making it difficult to replace if damaged.
Height
Lock” (Lock cm)
Width
Lock” (Lock cm)
Depth
Lock” (Lock cm)
Weight
Lock lbs (Lock kg)
This printer doesn’t take up an excessive amount of space on a desk but is fairly tall. The Brother HL-L2395DW is identical in size and weight.
Display Screen
Locked
Display Screen Size
Lock” (Lock cm)
Touchscreen
Locked
This printer has a small, two-line LCD back-lit display. It has poor viewing angles, so it’s hard to see from the sides, above, or below, and the panel doesn’t tilt or swivel. On the upside, the settings menu is relatively easy to navigate. The Brother HL-L2395DW variant has a larger, touch-sensitive color display, as well as more buttons to help you navigate.
- TN-730 starter toner cartridge
- DR730 drum unit
- Installation CD
- User guide
Photo Cartridge
Locked
Technology
Laser
Number Of Color Cartridges
N/A
Black Cartridge Model
Locked
Color
No
Tested Black Page Yield
Lock prints
SuperTank
No
Estimated Black Page Yield
Lock prints
Color Cartridge Model
Locked
Tested Color Page Yield
N/A
Estimated Color Page Yield
N/A
Third Party Cartridge
Locked
High Yield Cartridge
Locked
Drum Unit
Locked
The toner cartridge yields a large number of prints, so you won’t need to replace it often unless you print a lot, and you can get an XL toner cartridge (TN760) that’ll last even longer. The drum is a separate unit that you’ll have to replace, but not as regularly as the toner because it’s usually good for around 12,000 prints.
Scanner
Locked
Scan Flatbed
Locked
Scan Sheetfed
Locked
Automatic Document Feeder
Locked
Duplex Scanning
Locked
Scan Resolution
Lock DPI
Scan Color Depth
Lock Bit
Flatbed Scan Size
Locked
Fax
Locked
Copy
Locked
This printer only has a flatbed scanner, so scanning long, multi-page documents can be extremely time-consuming. The lid hinges extend about an inch, making it easier to close the lid over thicker items like textbooks. If you need a scanner with an automatic document feeder, check out the Brother MFC-L2710DW.
Printing
Black Cartridge Price
Lock US$
Color Cartridge Price
N/A
Black Only Printing
Lock US$/print
Color Printing
N/A
Photo Printing
N/A
Ink Subscription
Locked
The cost-per-print is outstanding because the toner cartridge lasts a long time and is relatively cheap. However, you need to replace the drum separately, which is an additional expense. That said, the drum lasts much longer than the toner cartridge, so you won’t have to replace it as often.
Black Only Text Document
Lock PPM
Color Document
N/A
Photo Printing Time
Lock s
First Page Out Time (Black Only)
Lock s
Duplex Printing
Locked
Input Tray Capacity
Lock pages
The overall printing speed is outstanding. It doesn’t take long to warm up and prints very quickly. The photo printing time is the time it takes to print an 8.5″ x 11″ photo, as the printer doesn’t support a 4″ x 6″ format. The Brother L2395DW variant prints black documents faster at up to 36 pages per minute. If you want a printer with faster printing speed and bigger input trays, check out the HP LaserJet Enterprise M507dn.
Average Color dE
N/A
This printer can only print in black.
Borderless Printing
Locked
This printer isn’t meant to print photos. The print quality is bad, as the picture looks grainy and lacking in detail. We tested the photo printing on basic 8.5″ x 11″ paper because it can’t print on glossy paper.
Letter (8.5″ x 11″)
Locked
Legal (8.5″ x 14″)
Locked
Tabloid (11″ x 17″)
Locked
A6 (105mm x 148mm)
Locked
A5 (148mm x 210mm)
Locked
A4 (210mm x 297mm)
Locked
Photo (2″ x 3″)
Locked
Photo (4″ x 6″)
Locked
Photo (5″ x 7″)
Locked
In addition to the main input tray, there’s a single-sheet manual feeder on the front with width sliders. The output tray holds up to 100 sheets of paper.
Mobile App And Connectivity
Ethernet
Locked
USB Input To Computer
Locked
Wireless
Yes
Bluetooth
Locked
Wi-Fi via Router
Locked
Wi-Fi Direct
Locked
External Storage Support
Locked
Apple AirPrint
Locked
Mopria Print Service
Locked
This model doesn’t have Ethernet connectivity, but its variant, the Brother HL-L2395DW, does.
Mobile App
Locked
App Name
Locked
iOS
Locked
Android
Locked
Photo (JPEG, PNG)
Locked
Locked
Microsoft Office Files
Locked
Text Files (TXT)
Locked
Webpages (HTML)
Locked
Brother’s iPrint&Scan mobile companion app is superb. You can use it to print, scan, and copy documents directly to your phone. You can also perform maintenance tasks like checking the ink level and firmware updates.
Inkjet or Laser Printer Prints in Stripes – Troubleshooting Methods « Knowledge Base
Inkjet Printer Prints in Stripes
Possible Causes of the Problem:
- Ink is low.
- The print head nozzles (PH) are clogged with dry ink.
- Air has entered the print head.
- A mechanical or electronic failure of the printer itself.
- If this is a wide white stripe along the page on a Canon and the problem occurred in March 2021, you are here.
Color inkjet printer streaks
1. Ink level problem. What can be done:
The ink level should be checked when the printer starts to print streaks on photos or documents unexpectedly. It’s not about the ink if: you recently changed or refilled the cartridge, there was a malfunction (for example, the paper jammed and you pulled it out of the printer) or something happened to the printer itself (it was turned over, dropped or was in the cold for some time ).
Check the ink level by software and replace the cartridge.
Select “Maintenance” or “Service” from the printer’s control menu. Run an ink level check. If there are few left or run out, replace the cartridges.
Visually check the ink level in the SPD (if you have one) and refill.
For refillable cartridges, the actual ink level may not match the meter reading, so remove the cartridges and check the ink level visually. If there are very few left, the cartridges should be refilled.
Check the efficiency of the CISS (for those who have it installed)
Make sure that there is enough ink in the donor tanks. Check if something is blocking the flow of ink through the loops, and also at what height the donor containers are (sometimes it makes sense to raise them). If air gets into the loops, it should be removed from there. For more details, see the instructions for removing air from the CISS cables for Epson. Or instructions for some HP and Canon models. If the cable is clogged with dried ink, it should be cleaned or replaced.
Change old ink (for PZK and CISS owners)
It is unlikely that stripes will “suddenly” appear during printing due to old ink, but you should still check the expiration date.
2. Problems with the print head. What can be done:
You should pay attention to this item first of all, if the streaks appeared during printing after a long downtime of the printer (I haven’t printed for more than a week, but I haven’t preserved it). The occurrence of problems with PG can also be preceded by manipulations with the printer: moving from place to place, changing or refilling cartridges, attempts to “climb inside” without appropriate preparation.
Run “Nozzle/Nozzle Check”
Select “Nozzle Check” or “Nozzle Check” from the printer control menu (depending on printer model). Printing out a test page will help determine the cause of the problem and possibly even fix it programmatically.
Start “Print Head Cleaning”
From the printer control menu, select “Print Head Cleaning” or “Nozzle Cleaning”. You can run it several times, but is mandatory with pauses of 5-15 minutes. If several of these procedures did not help, proceed with cleaning with service fluid.
Rinse the print head (PG located in the cartridge)
If you have a dual cartridge printer, then the PG is located on the cartridge. Try to rinse it according to the instructions (point 1), if this does not work, then the cartridge will have to be replaced.
Clean the print head with service fluid (PG located in the printer)
The method is relevant in case of severe blockage or air ingress into the print head. Use a syringe, cleaning fluid, and lint-free wipes to clean the nozzles thoroughly.
A step-by-step guide can be found in the detailed instructions for cleaning the steam generator.
3. Other printer problems.
In the vast majority of cases, the problem of streaks during printing is related to the ink and print head, but sometimes it is due to malfunctions in the mechanics of the printer. In this case, we recommend that you contact the service specialists, since an attempt to “climb inside” without special knowledge can lead to the final breakdown of the device.
Encoder strip reading problem.
Encoder (raster) tape – a strip stretched inside the printer with strokes with which the device determines the position of the print carriage in space. By chance, ink or dirt can get on the ribbon, because of which the printer will stop “seeing” some of the strokes and begin to “skip” part of the sheet when printing. As a result, one or more longitudinal (vertical) stripes will appear on the page.
The problem, in this case, is solved by cleaning the tape from dirt. To do this, wipe it with a dry cloth. If it does not help, wipe it slightly damp, and then dry. Wet the cloth with water, not with cleaning liquid, because aggressive liquid can damage the strokes on the encoder and it will have to be replaced with a new one.
Encoder disk reading problem.
Encoder wheel – a wheel on the side of the printer connected by a gear to the paper feed motor. It also has marks by which the printer determines the position of the sheet when printing. If ink or dirt gets on it, reading will fail and streaks will appear on the printout. The stripes will appear at an equal distance between each other, corresponding to a full rotation of the disk.
As in the case of the tape, the problem is solved by carefully cleaning the encoder disk from contaminants.
Laser printer prints in stripes
Possible causes of the problem:
- Toner is low.
- The cartridge seal is broken (seals are worn out).
- The waste toner box is full.
- Blade installed incorrectly.
- Magnetic roller or photoconductor malfunction.
- Foreign object in the printer.
- Poor contact between photo roller and magnetic roller.
Troubleshooting:
For laser printers, the cause of the problem can be identified by the streak pattern on the printed output.
Streaks on prints appear in random, different places, blotches are possible.
Cartridge seal likely to be leaking. Remove it from the printer and check for toner spills. Make sure all rubber seals are in place. A leaky cartridge should be replaced with a new one.
Streaks and smudges when printed if the cartridge is not sealed
Randomly spaced streaks when printed
Streaks consist of small dots.
There may be several reasons: the cartridge is not loaded correctly, the waste toner reservoir is clogged, or the doctor blade is not installed correctly for some reason.
Will help: refilling the toner cartridge, cleaning the reservoir and correctly installing the blade, respectively.
Dotted stripes on passport photocopy
Unprinted streaks along the sheet
If the unprinted area increases a little with each sheet, the toner cartridge is low. If not, there is a foreign object on the cartridge phototube. Check the toner level and refill the cartridge if necessary. If it’s not the lack of powder, check the shaft and remove foreign objects.
Printed with white streaks
Dark wavy streak along edge of print
The problem is most likely with the photoconductor. It is worn out (this process starts from the edges), or is completely out of order. In this case, you need to replace the photoconductor in the cartridge, or the entire cartridge.
“Waves” on the sides of the page due to drum problems
Dark streaks across the page at equal distances from each other
This may just be an overflow of the toner reservoir. You should check it and the correctness of refilling the cartridge as a whole.
If it does not help, then the contact between the magnetic roller and the drum unit is most likely broken. The third possible reason is the wear of the magnetic roller (it should be replaced).
Horizontal black streaks from defective charge roller , black – buy in the F-Center online store.
Article number
132642
Full name
Epson “L132” A4 inkjet printer, 5760x1440dpi, black (USB)
Manufacturer
Epson
Manufacturer (brand):
Epson
9001 8 Print format:
A4
USB connection interface:
yes
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Manufacturer (brand): | Epson |
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Print Format: | A4 |
USB connection interface: | There is |
Printer Color: | black |
Warranty period | months |
Measured at F-Center
Box (packing) of goods | Width: 450 mm. Height: 200 mm. Depth: 305 mm. Weight: 4.05 kg. |
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Article: 132642
Name: Epson “L132” A4 inkjet printer, 5760x1440dpi, black (USB)
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Article: 132642
Name: Epson “L132” A4 inkjet printer, 5760x1440dpi, black (USB)
Our warranty period: months.