If you want to print black and white photos, an inkjet printer will be the best choice. These printers are ideal for printing pictures of family members, favorite vacations, special occasions, and other photo images. In the past, inkjet printers were available only for large printing tasks. However, now these devices are available for smaller tasks as well. You can now use them for printing simple text messages, emails, and pictures.
Although colored and photo printing has really evolved with time, sometimes you don’t need colors for basic texts and documents. In such circumstances, it’s useless to spend the extra bucks on a product that you won’t be using to its full potential. There is a wide range of best black and white printers that help you save both on the product value, and general printing expenses in the long run. In this article, we have reviewed a great range of the best black and white printer in terms of value, functionality, and durability.
The simple and minimalistic black and white printers take care of individual needs for students and teachers and help with assignments and notes. Whereas all in one variety is ideal for office use and small businesses. Furthermore, there are multiple connectivity options that tailor to individual needs. Here are some of the best black and white printer available in the market.
Comparison of 10 Best Black and White Printers in 2022
Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
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Brother HL-L2350DW Monochrome Laser Printer |
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Brother MFCL2710DW Monochrome All-In One Printer |
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Brother HLL2395DW Monochrome Laser Printer |
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Brother HL-L2300D Monochrome Laser Printer |
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HP Laserjet 1020 Printer |
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HP Laserjet 1320 Laser Printer |
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HP LaserJet Pro M404n Monochrome Laser Printer |
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HP Laserjet 4250N Monochrome Network Printer |
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Xerox VersaLink B400/DN Monochrome Printer |
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Xerox B210DNI Monochrome Laser Printer |
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Top 10 Best Black and White Printer Reviews in 2022.
1. Brother HL-L2350DW Printer Review.
Brother is a very reliable brand when it comes to laser printers. Their monochrome printers are cost-effective and durable, with satisfactory print quality and speed. This particular model is an entry-level monochrome laser printer that’s great for black and white printing.
If you are not looking for a very high print volume over time, this printer will serve you just fine for low volume printing as a home-based, workgroup, or small office use. The built is compact and fairly light in weight, making it handy and portable.
The paper holding tray has a capacity of up to 250 pages in one go. The connectivity options are minimalistic but get the job done. The standard wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct is possible, and there is a USB port for a single PC but no Ethernet. There are a handful of third-party protocols as well.
These include Google Cloud Print, Apple Airprint, and Brother iPrint & Scan. Similarly, the control panel is also minimalistic with simple and easy-to-use operations. You will be pleased with the printing speed, which is 32 pages per minute. The black and white text output is impressive, with sleek and glossy images, and sharp and clear documents.
As it is primarily the best black and white printer, the photo output is nothing to brag about. You can use it here and there for some photo printing if required. The running costs are quite average. All in all, this printer is great for black and white printing.
- Good quality and speed for black and white prints.
- Competitive price and running cost.
- Compact and light in weight.
- Wireless connectivity.
- No Ethernet port.
- Very basic control panel.
2. Brother MFCL2710DW Printer Review.
This model of Brother is one of the best all in one black and white printers for the given price. Along with printing, it can also be used for copy, scan, and fax, which is ideal for small businesses and home-based offices. It fulfills modest printing requirements and offers good quality and durability for long term use.
In terms of features, the printer has a lot to offer, but on the other hand, the running costs are a bit higher than average. It is well built, with a portable and space-saving design that doesn’t take up much room. You can use it for low to moderate volume printing, and keep track of all your documents with the scanner and copier.
The printer features an automatic document feeder that can be loaded with 50 sheets at one time. This saves a lot of time and manual labor. The paper handling is good and compatible with a variety of sizes and materials such as envelopes and card stock in addition to standard printing paper. The wireless connectivity allows you to have some flexibility. In fact, the printer has many connectivity options such as Ethernet and USB interface.
It also has mobile device compatibility and can be used with Airprint, Brother iPrint&Scan, Google Cloud Print 2.0, Cortado Workplace, Wi-Fi Direct, Mopria, and Windows. For black and white printing, it offers a satisfactory speed of 36 pages per minute. The graphics are mediocre at best, but clear enough for occasional use when required. The grayscale shades maintain good detailing.
- Great quality for black and white texts.
- Light in weight and portable design.
- Multiple connectivity options along with Ethernet interface.
- Cost-effective and durable.
- Relativity high running costs.
- It doesn’t have duplex printing.
3. Brother HL-L2300D Printer Review
Among a wide range of laser printers, this model by Brother is a cost-effective one with a reliable and compact design. It offers a lot for the given value, as it has a handful of advanced features and an exceptional print quality for texts.
As compared to its counterparts, its printing speed is slightly less at 26 pages per minute. But it is still good enough for low volume printing for individual needs and home-based workgroups as well as small offices.
The 8 MB RAM delivers efficient printing of good resolution and quality. The paper tray can be loaded with 250 paper sheets at one go, and there’s another single-sheet feed for other sizes and materials of paper such as labels, envelopes, and thicker sheets. The best feature of this printer is its ability of duplex printing.
The design and controls of the printer are quite minimalistic and straightforward, with just a couple of functioning buttons. The printer is compatible with a multitude of operating systems, including both Mac and Windows. The installation is simple and swift. When it comes to connectivity options, the printer is somewhat lacking as it doesn’t have a wireless connection.
It doesn’t have an Ethernet port either, but there is a USB port to connect with your PC. This is somewhat compensated with the output quality, as it is quite good. The printer also has a toner save mode to reduce running costs. The performance is quite satisfactory, and the graphics and photos are pretty satisfactory in terms of printing speed and overall quality.
- User-friendly design and compact built.
- Cost-effective and durable.
- Supports duplex printing.
- Overall running costs are lower.
- Good paper handling and impressive output quality.
- No automatic document feeder.
- No Ethernet port.
- Limited features.
4. HP Laserjet 1020 Printer Review.
This is one of the inexpensive black and white printers, with minimalistic design and modest features. It is good for light and low volume printing needs and can be used for individual and home-based businesses. The print speed and quality is nothing to brag about but is pretty satisfactory for the given price.
The basic and straightforward performance and features make it a very user-friendly printer for everyday use that doesn’t require you to be tech smart. The built is pretty compact and light in weight, so it’s quite handy and easy to carry around. The front panel has a fold that opens for the input tray that can carry 150 paper sheets at once.
There’s also a single-sheet input tray for manual use. In terms of connectivity, it doesn’t offer wireless connection or Ethernet. The connectivity is only through the USB connection, which can be connected to the PC. This makes it a good choice for singles users rather than for use by multiple people. The printer only uses one toner cartridge at a time and has a low running cost in the long run.
What really stands out is the print quality for texts in particular, which is quite clear and crisp. The printing speed is 15 pages per minute. The printer doesn’t have automatic features but can be used for manual duplex printing. The product comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. For optimal performance, it is advisable to use the ink and toner of the same brand as the printer.
- Impressive output quality for texts.
- Budget-friendly printer with low running costs.
- Manual duplexer printing.
- Compact and durable.
- No automatic document feeder or automatic duplexer.
- Only USB connectivity.
- Graphic quality is mediocre.
- Only suitable for low volume printing.
5. HP Laserjet 1320 Printer Review.
HP is a pretty reliable brand to invest in, especially when it comes to good quality laser printers. This is one of the business class printers that are great for black and white printing. The product has a minimalistic and straightforward design that’s quite user-friendly and backed up with good tech support.
The LaserJet printer has a compact design that doesn’t take up much space. It is cheap enough for the given features and quality, and the text quality is pretty clear and sharp.
The graphics, however, are average at best. There are a variety of features that make it a good option for growing businesses, such as the grayscale graphic having high resolution, a built-in duplexer, and a newer model that has wireless connectivity preinstalled in it.
The compact and lightweight design has a two-toned color scheme that’s easy on the eyes. The input tray can hold 20 paper sheets. The manual feed slot can be loaded with papers of varying sizes and materials, such as envelopes and thicker pages. However, the manual slot only accommodates one item and can’t be loaded for more at a single time.
The printing speed is relatively slow, with 22 pages per minute capacity for simple text documents, and even lower for graphic prints. The text quality is quite good and sharp. Only the new upgraded version has a wireless connection, whereas the standard model has a parallel and USB 2.0 interface for connectivity. It is compatible with both Mac and windows.
- Ability of duplex printing.
- Text quality is quite good.
- Noiseless operation.
- Compact and handy design.
- Compatible with both Mac and Windows.
- Wireless connectivity costs extra.
- The printer has no automatic document feeder.
- Limited features.
6. HP LaserJet Pro M404n Printer Review.
Invest in the cutting-edge design and advanced features of the LaserJet Pro M404n and reduce your workload significantly. The functionality and quality of quite impressive, which makes up for the slightly higher price of the printer. The printer has high-class security with early detection of attacks before it can cause any damage.
There’s also built-in Ethernet capability for local connections, which allows you to easily share your resources whenever required. The black and white laser printer has an eco-friendly construction as it uses less energy and has relatively low running costs.
The Laserjet printer makes use of the premium printing technology of HP with high-resolution printing and sharp and crystal clear texts. You can use it for a variety of papers such as envelopes, legal, letterheads, executive, Oficio, and also papers of varying sizes besides the standard size and thickness.
The printer also has an auto on and off feature that conserves energy and makes it one of the sustainable printer models by HP. The control panel is simple to use and has a 2 line LCD display.
To maintain optimal performance, it’s advisable to use the original HP toner with the printer. The input tray has a capacity to hold 250 paper sheets, and the printing speed is high, with 40 pages per minute output.
The product comes with a preinstalled toner cartridge of HP, a starter guide, support and regulatory flyer, and a power cord for connection. It is also backed up with a one-year limited hardware warranty and great customer service.
- Built-in Ethernet.
- Comes with security features to prevent damage and attack to sensitive data.
- High print speed and quality.
- Sustainable features that conserve energy.
- Durable and compact.
- No wireless connectivity.
- Expensive.
- Only compatible with HP toners.
7. HP Laserjet 4250N Printer Review.
This is a simple, departmental laser printer that can be used for documents no larger than a legal size paper. It is somewhat easy to handle, with a moderate weight and a built that can be adjusted over a desk. The printing speed is quite impressive, with 45 pages per minute output.
The paper handling features are also good enough for daily use and maximum productivity. The setup and installation is quite standard for HP, with a straightforward approach that’s swift and easy. Also, it only has one cartridge to be installed for black and white printing, so it doesn’t take much time and also has low running costs.
The output quality of texts is very good, being quite sharp and clear. But for photos and graphics, it is pretty average. The main paper loading tray can hold 600 sheets in one go, and the multipurpose tray can hold 100 sheets. The connectivity options include parallel and USB connections, and the print server also has a fast Ethernet embedded for local connections. The printer has compatibility with Mac and Windows.
It has a 64 MB memory on the purchase, which can be expanded to 512 MB if required. Overall, it rates fair when it comes to low-to-moderate printing volume for regular office use. It can handle light-duty work but leaves something to be desired when it comes to quality for graphics and photos, and can’t handle the heavy-duty demands of a fast-paced work environment.
- Fast printing speed for texts.
- Relatively compact and offers good paper handling.
- Six hundred sheets capacity of the input tray.
- Durable and sturdy.
- Ethernet connection.
- Average photo and graphics quality.
- It can’t be used for documents larger than a legal size paper.
- Bulky.
- No wireless connection.
8. Xerox VersaLink B400/DN Monochrome Printer.
The moderately priced monochrome printer serves as a single function and high volume laser printer. It is ideally suited for low to moderate printing needs of a small office and workgroup.
The printing speed and quality are quite satisfactory, and there are multiple connectivity options. The product is also backed up with some security features to protect your sensitive data. It is somewhat light in weight which makes it easy to move around.
It has a pretty high capacity, with the paper tray holding 700 paper sheets at a single time. Five hundred fifty sheets can be loaded in the main drawer and 150 in the multipurpose tray.
Use this printer for optimized productivity with easy setup and smooth operation. The control panel has a 5-inch wide color touchscreen, which is quite easy to use, akin to a mobile screen. One of the best features of this printer is its connectivity, as you can pair it and use it through multiple devices at one time, making it ideal for workgroups.
It has wireless connectivity as well as Wi-Fi direct, along with Apple Airprint, Mopria, and Xerox Print Service Plugin for Android, Google Cloud Print, and Near Field Communication Tap-To-Pair. The product comes with a year warranty and can be used with a dash replenishment program which significantly lowers its otherwise high running costs.
- Fast speed and good output quality.
- Good paper handling with high loading capacity.
- Multiple connection options.
- Good security features.
- Wireless connectivity costs extra.
- Expensive.
- Limited features.
9. Xerox B210DNI Monochrome Laser Printer.
If you are looking for a simple, minimalistic, and straightforward printer without any flashy features or additional functions, this monochrome laser printer is the one for you. It is a modestly priced, entry-level printer that’s good for home use and for small offices with low volume printing needs.
It is handy and compact, easy to move around, and doesn’t take up much space. The paper capacity is adequate, and the output quality is quite impressive for the given value. The control panel is quite concise with just a handful of buttons as it singularly works as a printer alone.
One of the most desirable features of the printer is its ability for automatic duplex printing, which saves the user from manual labor and also saves excessive paper use. Although it is small-sized, the paper handling is still quite good. It has a paper loading capacity of 250 sheets, and there’s an override tray that can be loaded with one sheet at a time for printing envelopes and other different-sized papers with varying thicknesses.
There are many connectivity options such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB 2.0, but it lacks Wi-Fi Direct. The mobile device supports include Google Cloud Print, Xerox’s Print Service Plugin for Android, Airprint, and Mopria. The printing speed is of 21 pages per minute.
- Good printing speed and output quality.
- High loading capacity.
- Wireless connectivity.
- Compact and handy.
- Reasonably priced.
- Supports duplex printing.
- There’s no Wi-Fi Direct.
- No automatic document feeder.
- Limited features.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is The Most Economical Black And White Printer?
Kyocera Ecosys P3155dn: It works like a premium printer turning out crisp mono pages at a speed of 55 per minute. If you have to print documents in large quantities, this printer will be cost-effective.
Canon image Classes MF247dw: The print quality is good. It has a large document feeder (ADF) and duplex that facilitates it to print on both sides by default. The Canon offers a wide range of connection options including USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and most importantly supports Google Cloud Print. It is compact and budget-friendly too.
What Is The Difference Between Monochrome Printing And Greyscale Printing?
There are only two colors in a monochrome image and those are black (ink or toner) and white (no ink or toner). In this case, every character is printed in black and the background is white (unprinted). Greyscale printing contains some shades of grey, which are usually used for reproducing images.
Printing greyscale images will produce smoother transitioned images and more detail in the midrange.
Are Laser Printers Capable Of Only Black And White Images?
Budget laser printers are mostly capable of printing black and white images. Monochrome laser printers are highly efficient in printing the best quality text documents. These printers are reliable, speedy, and cost-effective. Furthermore, monochrome laser printers have a faster speed than color laser printers. The latter uses a single black cartridge to print documents whereas the color printers need four. The cost per page of printing is higher in case of color printers because the toners used are quite expensive and uses more toner to create a document with colored graphics unlike the same graphics printed in black and white.
Why Is It Essential To Have Color Ink To Print In Black?
A printer usually mixes the black ink with color in order to produce prints having varying grey values.
However, the ink cartridges are more expensive than the actual printers. Hence some of the companies want to take advantage and waste your hard-earned money by luring you into buying highly profitable color ink.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s safe to say that the best black and white printers have overall less running costs and are budget-friendly. There are many options to choose from in terms of connectivity, performance, and features that cater to specific needs and requirements.
Therefore, it’s imperative to go through the printer’s specifications and select the one that suits you best, instead of going for flashy and advanced features. Black and white printers may seem rudimentary, but it’s a fact that they produce high-quality texts that are clear and sharp.