[tamalpais]

I recommend checking Wirecutter [0] when making a purchase like this. It’s a site that publishes detailed, well-organized, and well-researched reviews of consumer products. I check anytime I buy anything durable, though I don’t always go with their recommendations.

Their “Affordable and reliable” printer pick is the Brother HL-L2350DW for ~$100 on Amazon [1]. I have a similar model, the HL-L2340DW, for the same reason you’re looking for.

[0] https://thewirecutter.com/

[1] https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-home-printers/

[bryanlarsen]

Wirecutter makes their money from affiliate links, so the potential for conflict is high.

They also mostly just meta-analysis rather than doing their own. Their biggest source is Consumer Reports, who don't make their money from advertisers. Much better to go straight to the source: https://www.consumerreports.org/printers/best-laser-printers...

Subscription required, but that's the point -- no conflict of interest.

For those who don't want to subscribe, here are the Consumer Reports recommendations:

Best for work: Brother MFC-L2710DW

Best for price: Brother HL-L5200DW

Best for presentations: Canon imageCLASS MF642Cdw

[tamalpais]

You’re not wrong that there’s the potential for conflict of interest. Many commenters on Wirecutter articles note that the options they choose are more expensive.

But the articles are well-written and have saved me considerable time. They’ve done much of the work of comprising shopping for the reader. I have no qualms buying through their links when the linked product is the right balance of reliable and economical.

[copperx]

The best Wirecutter recommendations come from the comments, not the articles.

[tamalpais]

You’re definitely on to something here. The comments are half the value. There’s usually someone wanting to know why a given option was excluded or why a conclusion was reached by Wirecutter staff.

[yangikan]

Any similar recommendations for color laser printer?

[bryanlarsen]

the recommended Canon imageCLASS MF642Cdw is a color laser printer

[yangikan]

Thank you. Looks great, but simplex scanning is a show stopper.

[joshstrange]

Thank you for the suggestion! I love wirecutter but I've learned to take their suggestions with a large grain of salt. I have no less than 10 products bought from wirecutter suggestions but there are lots of other examples where I diverged from their suggestions.

In fact I looked at that post on printers and specifically their budget Brother laser printer pick [0] but the 1-star reviews were concerning which actually led me to ask here on HN.

[0] https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0763WDSYZ/

[exabrial]

I have that printer and use it to print music sheets about one a week. I'm two years in and still have plenty of toner.