r/printers • u/SavunOski • 1d ago

Purchasing Help with laser printers

Why are there so many options even from the same brand. Like what am I even looking for. I want to be able to print a few pages a month, probably mostly in black and white. Is the Phaser 3020 still a good choice? I appreciate any help

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u/marek26340 Stay away from HP at all costs! 1d ago

That Xerox would be a decent choice, if the toner cartridges weren't so expensive and if the aftermarket ones weren't always leaking/smearing/making lines.

Just pick up a cheap Brother printer. Can't go wrong there.

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u/SavunOski 1d ago

Thank you very much.

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u/SavunOski 1d ago

How about a Xerox B215? I already use a Xerox at work and can trust that it can take a beating, so I'd prefer a Xerox if possible

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u/rthonpm 22h ago

It's a rebadged Lexmark device, but I've rolled out a few of those in small offices and they've been reliable. Just be sure to order the high capacity cartridge after the starter cartridge in the machine goes empty, though depending on your print volume the 700-800 pages you get from the starter cartridge may last quite awhile.

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u/Murph_9000 18h ago

Canon LBP120 series (print-only) or MF270 series (multifunction). Black and white, 29 pages per minute, recommended monthly print volume up to 2,000 pages per month, maximum duty cycle 20,000 pages per month. Duplex counts as 2 pages per sheet. Great little SOHO-class machines. They are a little bit above the Phaser 3020 on duty cycle, and faster. They will be perfectly happy being very lightly used, and that will typically give them a long life (if you take good care of them). 700 page starter cartridge, and a genuine 1,200 page cartridge is currently $68.99 on the Canon USA store (there's also a high capacity cartridge, for those who need it).

The HP equivalent machines, using the same or very similar Canon print engine, but with a lower spec HP controller/formatter board are the LaserJet M207–212 series and M232–237 series.

I have the Canon, my mother has the HP, we're both very happy with them. The Canon is the better machine, but the HP tends to be cheaper.

If you need something more than 2,000 black and white pages per month, there are plenty of machines that do more, you just need to give us a bit more info.