Imagine this: you need to print a document for work, then scan an important form for your doctor, and maybe even make a quick copy of a recipe. Juggling multiple devices can be a hassle, right? That’s where the magic of a laser printer scanner combo comes in – it’s like having a superhero team for your home office or small business, all rolled into one sleek machine.
But with so many different models out there, picking the perfect one can feel like a treasure hunt with a confusing map. You want something reliable, easy to use, and that won’t break the bank. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the technical terms and features. This is why we’re diving deep into the world of laser printer scanner combos today.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of what makes a great combo unit. We’ll break down the important features, help you figure out what you really need, and guide you toward a choice that will make your printing and scanning tasks a breeze. Get ready to simplify your life and boost your productivity!
Our Top 5 Laser Printer Scanner Combo Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Laser Printer Scanner Combo Detailed Reviews
1. Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer with Copy and Scan
Rating: 8.7/10
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a fantastic all-in-one laser printer designed for small businesses. It prints, copies, and scans in black and white, all from one compact machine. This printer is built for speed and efficiency, helping you get more done.
What We Like:
- It’s a 3-in-1 machine: printer, scanner, and copier.
- It prints and scans super fast, saving you time.
- It has a 50-page document feeder for easy multi-page jobs.
- You can connect it wirelessly using 2.4GHz or 5GHz, or with an Ethernet cable.
- You can also connect it to one computer using a USB.
- The Brother Mobile Connect app lets you print and scan from your phone or tablet.
- It works with Alexa for voice commands.
- The Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service can save you money on toner and makes sure you never run out.
What Could Be Improved:
- It only prints in black and white, so it’s not for color photos or documents.
- The initial toner cartridge might not last as long as you expect, encouraging you to sign up for the subscription.
This Brother printer is a powerful tool for any small business. It makes printing, scanning, and copying quick and easy, helping you stay productive.
2. HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer
Rating: 9.3/10
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw is a wireless all-in-one color laser printer designed for small offices. It handles printing, scanning, and copying with ease. HP, America’s most trusted printer brand, brings you this machine to help your team produce professional-quality color documents and reports. It prints up to 26 pages per minute in both black and color, making it efficient for busy work environments.
What We Like:
- Fast Printing: Prints up to 26 pages per minute in black and color.
- Vivid Colors: Next-generation TerraJet toner creates more vibrant colors for your business documents.
- All-in-One Functionality: Combines printing, scanning, and copying in one device.
- Automatic Features: Includes auto 2-sided printing and an auto document feeder for easy scanning and copying.
- Ample Paper Capacity: Features a 250-sheet input tray to reduce the need for frequent refills.
- Reliable Performance: Built for the demands of business, offering dependable results.
- Wireless Connectivity: Easily connect and print from various devices wirelessly.
What Could Be Improved:
- Original Cartridge Requirement: The printer only works with Original HP toner cartridges and will block non-HP ones. This can limit cartridge choices and potentially increase ongoing costs.
This HP printer offers a robust set of features for small office productivity. Its ability to print and copy in vivid color, along with its automatic duplex printing and document feeder, makes it a valuable addition to any workspace.
3. Canon imageCLASS MF273dw – Monochrome Wireless Laser Printer
Rating: 9.0/10
The Canon imageCLASS MF273dw is a black-and-white laser printer that can do a lot. It’s a 3-in-1 device, meaning it can print, copy, and scan. This printer is wireless, so you can connect to it from your computer or phone without any messy cables. It’s designed for busy homes or small offices that need to handle documents quickly and efficiently.
What We Like:
- It’s super fast, printing up to 30 pages every minute.
- You get your first page in about 5.3 seconds, so no more waiting around.
- It prints on both sides of the paper automatically, saving you paper and time.
- The wireless feature makes it easy to print from anywhere in your home or office.
- It comes with an Auto Document Feeder, which is great for scanning or copying multiple pages at once.
- It uses Toner 071 and 071 High-Capacity Toner, which are easy to find and replace.
- A 1-year limited warranty is included for your peace of mind.
What Could Be Improved:
- This printer only prints in black and white, so it’s not good for color photos or graphics.
- It’s a monochrome printer, meaning it only uses black ink.
This Canon printer is a solid choice for anyone needing a reliable and fast monochrome multifunction device. It handles everyday printing and copying tasks with ease.
4. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw Wireless Black & White All-in-One Laser Printer
Rating: 8.8/10
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is a powerful black and white all-in-one printer designed for small teams. It handles printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, making it a true office workhorse. This printer is built for efficiency, helping your team get more done.
What We Like:
- It has everything small teams need, like printing, scanning, and copying professional documents.
- The auto 2-sided printing and auto document feeder save you time on scans and copies.
- It prints really fast, up to 35 black-and-white pages per minute.
- The intelligent Wi-Fi keeps it connected and ready to print.
- HP Wolf Pro Security protects your printer and data with smart settings.
- You can print from any device, including phones, tablets, and computers, using wireless, Ethernet, or Bluetooth.
- It works with many operating systems and devices like AirPrint and Android.
- You can connect it to Alexa to get notified when you’re low on ink and even reorder it.
- Voice commands with Alexa let you print things like shopping lists.
What Could Be Improved:
- This printer only works with original HP cartridges.
- Firmware updates will block cartridges that don’t have original HP chips.
This HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw is a fantastic choice for small offices needing a reliable and feature-rich black and white printer. It offers great convenience and security for your daily tasks.
5. HP LaserJet MFP M140w Wireless Black & White Printer
Rating: 8.9/10
The HP LaserJet MFP M140w is a compact and powerful black and white printer designed for small teams. It handles printing, scanning, and copying with ease, making it a versatile addition to any home office or small business. This printer is from America’s most trusted printer brand and is ideal for 1-3 people who need reliable document management.
What We Like:
- It’s the world’s smallest laser printer in its class, so it fits anywhere.
- It prints up to 21 black-and-white pages per minute, which is fast.
- Wireless printing lets you connect easily and print from any device like your phone, tablet, or computer.
- The HP Smart app makes tasks simpler, like scanning to the cloud or printing from your smartphone.
- You can easily copy both sides of ID cards onto a single page.
- It’s designed for easy setup and reliable performance.
What Could Be Improved:
- This printer only works with original HP ink cartridges.
- It requires periodic firmware updates to maintain its features.
Overall, the HP LaserJet MFP M140w offers excellent performance and convenience for small teams. It’s a solid choice for anyone needing a reliable and compact black and white multifunction printer.
Your Smart All-in-One: Choosing a Laser Printer Scanner Combo
Are you tired of juggling multiple devices for your printing and scanning needs? A laser printer scanner combo, also known as an All-in-One (AIO) or Multifunction Printer (MFP), brings printing, scanning, and often copying into one neat package. This guide helps you find the perfect one for your home or office.
Why Choose a Laser Printer Scanner Combo?
Laser printers are known for their crisp text and fast printing speeds, making them ideal for documents. Combining this with a scanner means you can digitize important papers or make copies with ease. This saves space and simplifies your workflow.
Key Features to Look For
1. Print Technology
- Laser: Best for sharp text and graphics. Toner cartridges last longer than ink.
- LED: Similar to laser but uses an LED light bar. Often more compact.
2. Print Speed
Look for pages per minute (PPM). For home use, 20-30 PPM is usually fine. Offices might need 40 PPM or more.
3. Print Resolution
Measured in dots per inch (DPI). Higher DPI means sharper prints. For documents, 600 x 600 DPI is good. For photos, look for 1200 x 1200 DPI or higher.
4. Scanner Resolution
Also measured in DPI. A scanner resolution of 300 x 300 DPI is standard for documents. For detailed images, 600 DPI or higher is better.
5. Connectivity
- USB: Simple connection to one computer.
- Wi-Fi: Print wirelessly from multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets.
- Ethernet: Connect to your network for shared printing in an office.
6. Duplex Printing (Automatic Double-Sided)
This feature prints on both sides of the paper automatically. It saves paper and time.
7. Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)
An ADF lets you scan or copy multiple pages without putting them on the glass one by one. This is a big time-saver for large jobs.
8. Color vs. Monochrome
Most laser AIOs are monochrome (black and white). Color laser AIOs are available but can be more expensive. Decide if you need color printing and scanning.
Important Materials and Build Quality
Look for a sturdy plastic casing. A well-built printer feels solid and won’t wobble. Check reviews for comments on durability. The paper tray should slide in and out smoothly. The scanner lid should open and close without feeling flimsy.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality Boosters
- High DPI: Both print and scan resolutions directly impact sharpness.
- Good Toner: Using genuine or high-quality compatible toner ensures vibrant prints.
- Fast Processor: A faster internal processor means quicker job completion and less waiting.
- Sufficient RAM: More memory helps the printer handle complex documents and multiple print jobs.
Quality Reducers
- Low DPI: Blurry text and pixelated images.
- Cheap Toner: Can lead to faded or streaky prints.
- Slow Processor: Makes printing and scanning feel sluggish.
- Driver Issues: Outdated or poorly designed software can cause problems.
User Experience and Use Cases
A good user experience means easy setup and simple operation. Intuitive control panels and clear instructions are important. Wireless connectivity makes life much easier for many users.
- Home Offices: Ideal for printing documents, scanning receipts, and making copies. Wireless printing from laptops and phones is a big plus.
- Small Businesses: Need speed and reliability. ADF and duplex printing are essential for handling higher volumes of work.
- Students: Great for printing assignments and scanning notes. Wi-Fi is helpful for dorm rooms.
Choosing the right laser printer scanner combo depends on your specific needs. Consider your budget, how much you print and scan, and what features will make your tasks easier.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the main difference between a laser and an inkjet printer scanner combo?
A: Laser printers use toner powder to print, which is great for sharp text and fast printing. Inkjet printers use liquid ink, which is better for high-quality photos. Laser printers are generally more cost-effective for printing lots of text documents.
Q: How long do toner cartridges last in a laser printer?
A: Toner cartridges can print hundreds or even thousands of pages, depending on the cartridge size and how much you print. They typically last much longer than inkjet ink cartridges.
Q: Can I print photos with a laser printer scanner combo?
A: While some color laser printers can print photos, they are usually not as vibrant or detailed as photos printed with an inkjet printer. Laser printers excel at printing text and graphics.
Q: Is it difficult to set up a wireless laser printer scanner combo?
A: Most modern wireless printers have straightforward setup guides. You usually connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network through its control panel or using a setup wizard on your computer.
Q: What does “duplex printing” mean?
A: Duplex printing means the printer can automatically print on both sides of a piece of paper. This saves you from having to manually flip the pages.
Q: What is an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)?
A: An ADF is a tray on top of the scanner that holds a stack of papers. The printer automatically feeds each page through the scanner, making it easy to scan or copy multiple documents.
Q: Do I need a color scanner if I only print in black and white?
A: Yes, if you want to scan color documents, photos, or anything with color, you need a color scanner. Most laser printer scanner combos come with color scanners.
Q: Are laser printer scanner combos expensive to maintain?
A: The main ongoing cost is toner. While the initial printer cost can be higher than some inkjets, the longer-lasting toner often makes them cheaper to run over time, especially for high-volume printing.
Q: Can I scan documents directly to my email or a cloud service?
A: Many higher-end laser printer scanner combos offer scan-to-email, scan-to-cloud, or scan-to-network folder features. Check the product specifications to see if this is supported.
Q: How do I know if a laser printer scanner combo is right for my business?
A: If your business prints a lot of text documents, needs fast printing, and requires scanning and copying capabilities, a laser AIO is a great choice. Consider print speed, ADF, and network connectivity for business use.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.