Top 10 Best Laser Printers in India

Compared to inkjet printers, laser printers deliver higher speeds, better quality black and white printing, smooth paper handling, and are basically less annoying (I meant the maintenance). Do you find it challenging to choose among laser printers? Here is our researched list on laser printers that will assist in finding the best laser printers in India that suit your requirements.

How We Picked Top Ten Laser Printers?

You might be wondering how we picked the top ten laser printers from 100s of printers out there. Let me explain our process. We picked four important aspects of a laser printer which customers have the most appeal for (Four aspects: Printer cost, Features, Cost per print and Maintenance). Then we matched other aspects to these four main points (such as print quality, compatibility, release date, etc…). Then we started researching and collecting data on different printers from their official websites, and customer responses. This collected data then converted into points that we can rank all printers. Voila!!

We created this list keeping in mind that there are different needs, and there will be at least one printer for each of the needs.

Best Laser Printers in India

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (0.60 paise/page)
• High print speed
• Automatic duplex printing
• ADF option
• Wi-Fi connectivity

Printer name	Brother DCP-B7535DW
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, copy, scan
Page yield	2,500
Cost per print	0.6 paise
Print speed	34 ppm
Copy speed	34 ppm
Display	Yes
Ethernet	Yes
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	Yes
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	12,000 pages
Paper tray capacity	250 + 50-sheet ADF
GSM	60 to 230 GSM
Duty cycle	15,000 pages
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2500 pages
Processor speed	600 MHz
Memory	128 MB
OS	Windows, MacOS and Linux
Maximum print resolution	2400 x 600 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopira
Tonner price	TN-B021
Drum price	DR-B021
Printer Price	No products found.

Brother DCP-B7535DW is one of the best and cheapest laser printers with a print cost of mere 60 paise per print and a high print speed of 34 ppm. ADF (Automatic document feeder) is one of its major attractions. This is a multifunction printer with a page yield of 2500 sheets. You can use paper sizes like A4, Letter, A5, A6 etc. with maximum print resolution of 2400 x 600 dpi. The copy speed is 34 ppm, and there is the automatic duplex function too. DCP-B7535DW has separate toner and drum units with a drum life of 12,000 sheets. The maximum duty cycle is 15,000 pages with a recommended range of 200 to 2,500 pages. The paper tray capacity is of 250 sheets with additional 50 for ADF and allows papers of 60 to 250 GSM.

When it comes to connectivity, it uses Ethernet and Wi-Fi and also supports third-party applications like AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Mopria Print Service. For feedback, the device has a display panel too. And it supports Windows, macOS and Linux Operating Systems.

Pros

• Low print cost
• WiFi available
• Automatic duplex printing
• ADF available

Cons

• High price point

Product Brief

• Single-function printer
• Low cost per print (0.60 paise/page)
• Low maintanance
• High print speed
• Automatic duplex printing
• Budget Printer

PRINTER NAME	Brother HL-B2000D
Type	Laser
Functions	Print only
Page yield	2,500
Cost per print	0.6 paise
Print speed	34
Copy speed	34
Display	No
Ethernet	No
In-built Wi-Fi	No
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	15,000
Paper tray capacity	250 sheets
GSM	60 to 230 GSM
Duty cycle	15000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 1500
Processor speed	600 MHz
Memory	32 MB
OS	Windows, Mac and Linux
Maximum print resolution	1200 x 1200 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	Not applicable
Tonner	TN-B021
Drum	DR-B021
Printer Price	No products found.

Brother HL-B2000D is one among the cheapest single function automatic duplex printers available in the market. It is a laser printer known for its cost-effectiveness with a very low print cost of 60 paise per print. It has high print and copy speed of 34 ppm with a maximum print resolution of 2,400 x 600 dpi. The device consists of a DR-B021 drum unit with a life of 12,000 sheets which is a high-end value for a printer of this profile, and a TN-B012 toner cartridge unit separate from the drum. The toner has a page yield of 2,500 sheets.

It could be the best print-only device with its low print cost, automatic duplex feature and high drum life. The maximum duty cycle is 10,000 pages and recommended is 200 to 1,500 pages. It has a paper tray capacity of 250 sheets which can be 60 to 230 GSM thick. You can connect the printer using a USB 2.0 port and feedback of functions can be taken from the LED lights. It supports the usual operating systems like Windows, macOS and Linux.

Pros

• Low print cost
• Automatic duplex printing
• High print speed
• Budget friendly

Cons

• Print only
• No WiFi

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (0.60 paise/page)
• Low maintanance
• High print speed
• Automatic duplex printing
• Display available

PRINTER NAME	Brother DCP-B7500D
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, copy, scan
Page yield	2,500
Cost per print	0.6 paise
Print speed	34
Copy speed	34
Display	Yes
Ethernet	No
In-built Wi-Fi	No
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	12,000
Paper tray capacity	250 sheets
GSM	60 to 230
Duty cycle	15,000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2500
Processor speed	600MHz
Memory	128 MB
OS	Windows, Mac and Linux
Maximum print resolution	1200 x 1200 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	Not applicable
Tonner price	TN-B021
Drum price	DR-B021
Printer Price	No products found.

Brother DCP-B7500D is another multifunction automatic duplex printer that is economical. It is also known for its low print cost which is 60 paise per print, along with a print and copy speed of 34 ppm. The page yield is 2,500 pages. Different page sizes like A4, A5, A6, letter, legal etc. paper thickness of 60 to 230 GSM can be used, and you get a print resolution of up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi. The ink cartridge unit is separate from the drum unit and works using a low-cost toner box technology.

The drum unit, DR-B021, has a life of 12,000 sheets. The maximum duty cycle of the printer is 15,000, and the recommended duty cycle is between 200 to 2,500 pages. And the paper tray capacity is 250 sheets. It has a display to track down its functions which is very helpful for the users. The printer will work fine with the Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems. And it can be connected to the system using a high-speed USB 2.0 cable.

Pros

• Low print cost
• Automatic duplex printing
• High print speed
• Display option

Cons

• No ADF
• No WiFi

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (1.50 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi available
• High print speed
• Automatic duplex printing
• High RAM

PRINTER NAME	Canon MF244DW
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, Scan, Copy
Page yield	2,400
Cost per print	1.5 Rs
Print speed	27
Copy speed	27
Display	Yes
Ethernet	Yes
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	Yes
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Combined
Drum life	Not applicable
Paper tray capacity	250 +35-sheet ADF
GSM	60 to 163 GSM
Duty cycle	15,000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2500
Processor speed	Not provided
Memory	512 Mb
OS	Windows, MacOS and Linux
Maximum print resolution	1200 x 1200 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopira
Tonner price	Canon 337
Drum price	Not applicable
Printer Price	No products found.

Canon MF244DW is a digital multifunction laser printer with a high RAM capacity of 512 MB and can provide a maximum of 999 copies when you use the copier function. This printer offers a page yield of 2,400 sheets with cost per print of Rs. 1.5 along with print and copy speed of 27 ppm. Along with ADF, it also supports automatic duplex printing. The paper tray capacity is 250 sheets with additional 35 sheets for ADF and permits papers of 60 to 163 GSM thickness. The prints give a maximum resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi.

It uses a Canon 337 toner cartridge which encloses the drum unit too. The duty cycle provided is 15,000 pages with a recommended monthly range of 200 to 2,500. The tiltable ‘Vari-angle display’ is an excellent feature for feedback. For connectivity, apart from the usual USB connectivity, Ethernet and built-in Wi-Fi is also available. Along with other mobile applications like Canon PRINT Business, Canon Print Service, AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Mopria Print Service. This device is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux Operating Systems.

Pros

• High RAM
• Automatic duplex printing
• ADF available
• WiFi available

Cons

• Moderate print cost
• Combined cartridge

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Moderate cost per print (2 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi available
• High print speed
• Automatic duplex printing
• ADF available

PRINTER NAME	Brother DCP-L2541DW
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, copy, scan
Page yield	2,500
Cost per print	2 Rs
Print speed	30
Copy speed	30
Display	Yes
Ethernet	Yes
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	Yes
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	12,000
Paper tray capacity	250 +35-sheet ADF
GSM	160 GSM
Duty cycle	10,000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2000
Processor speed	600 MHz
Memory	32 MB
OS	Windows, MacOS and Linux
Maximum print resolution	2400 x 600 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	AirPrint, Google Cloud Print
Tonner price	TN-2365
Drum price	DR-2365
Printer Price	No products found.

Brother DCP-L2541DW is one of the cheapest multifunction ADF plus duplex laser printers in the market. This automatic duplex printer’s page yield is 2,500 with cost per print of Rs. 2 along with a copy and print speed of 30 ppm. It provides an excellent print resolution up to 2,400 x 600 dpi, and paper sizes like A4, Letter, A5, A6 etc. with up to 160 GSM can be used. The maximum duty cycle and the recommended duty cycle are 10,000 and 200 to 2,000 sheets, respectively.

It has a paper tray capacity of 250 sheets. There is also an additional 35 sheet capacity for ADF. The device also has separate cartridge and drum units with a drum life of 12,000 sheets. The useful LCD option is available for feedback, and it supports third-party applications like AirPrint and Google Cloud Print. The connectivity options include USB 2.0, Ethernet and In-built Wi-Fi. And it works with Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems.

Pros

• High print speed
• Automatic duplex printing
• ADF available
• WiFi available

Cons

• Moderate print cost
• Moderate RAM

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (1.50 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi and Ethernet available
• High print speed
• Display available
• High RAM

PRINTER NAME	Canon MF232W
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, copy, scan
Page yield	2,500
Cost per print	1.5 Rs
Print speed	23
Copy speed	23
Display	Yes
Ethernet	Yes
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Manual
Cartridge type	Combined
Drum life	Not applicable
Paper tray capacity	250 sheets
GSM	60 to 163
Duty cycle	15,000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2000
Processor speed	Not provided
Memory	512 Mb
OS	Windows, Mac and Linux
Maximum print resolution	1200 x 1200 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, Mopria
Tonner price	Canon 337
Drum price	Not applicable
Printer Price	No products found.

Canon MF232w is a budget-friendly multifunction laser printer which is also known for its high capacity RAM of 512 MB. It provides a page yield of 2,500 sheets with cost per print at Rs. 1.5. A maximum print resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi is available with this printer. One can avail a maximum duty cycle of 15,000 pages and a recommended value of 200 to 2,000 pages with the printer. It uses a combined toner-drum assembly, and there is the duplex feature too that operates manually (with the help of the software).

The paper tray capacity is 250 sheets and handles papers of 60 to 163 GSM thickness. When it comes to connectivity, USB, Ethernet and built-in Wi-Fi features are available in addition to third party applications like Google Cloud Print, AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. The sufficiently large LCD provides good feedback of the functions and the status of the printer, which goes a long way when we are using the printer for big tasks. And it works with the Windows, macOS and Linux Operating systems.

Pros

• High RAM
• Display available
• Ethernet available
• WiFi available

Cons

• Moderate print cost
• No automatic duplex printing
• No ADF

Product Brief

• Single-function printer
• Low cost per print (1.50 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi available
• High print speed
• Display available
• High page yield

PRINTER NAME	Brother HL-L2351DW
Type	Laser
Functions	Print only
Page yield	3,000
Cost per print	1.5 Rs
Print speed	30 ppm
Copy speed	30 ppm
Display	Yes
Ethernet	No
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	12,000 sheets
Paper tray capacity	250 sheets
GSM	60 to 230
Duty cycle	15,000 sheets
Recommended duty cycle	250 to 2000
Processor speed	600 MHz
Memory	64 MB
OS	Windows, Mac and Linux
Maximum print resolution	1200 x 1200 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopira
Tonner price	TN-2465 TN-2469
Drum price	DR-2465
Printer Price	No products found.

Brother HL-L2351DW is one of the cheapest single-function Wi-Fi laser printers available in the market. The print cost of this automatic duplex printer is Rs. 1.5 per print. It has moderately high print and copy speed of 30 ppm with a maximum print resolution of 2,400 x 600 dpi. This device consists of a drum unit with a life of 12,000 sheets and a separate TN-2465 cartridge unit. This printer has a page yield of 3,000 sheets. The maximum duty cycle is 15,000 pages, and the recommended range is 250 to 2,000 pages.

The printer has a paper tray capacity of 250 sheets which can handle papers of 60 to 230 GSM thickness. Feedback such as task progress, error codes can be viewed from the display panel. Other than the high-speed USB 2.0, the unit can also be accessed with in-built Wi-Fi as well as mobile applications such as AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Mopria Print Service, which helps to initiate prints from anywhere. It supports the usual operating systems like Windows, macOS and Linux.

Pros

• High print speed
• Display available
• Automatic duplex printing
• WiFi available

Cons

• Single function printer
• Moderate RAM
• No ADF

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (0.70 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi available
• Moderate print speed
• Display available
• High page yield

PRINTER NAME	HP MFP 1200w
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, copy, scan
Page yield	2,500
Cost per print	0.7 paise
Print speed	20
Copy speed	20
Display	Yes
Ethernet	No
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Manual
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	20,000
Paper tray capacity	150
GSM	60 to 120 GSM
Duty cycle	20,000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2500
Processor speed	500 MHz
Memory	64 MB
OS	Windows, MacOS
Maximum print resolution	600 x 600
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Mopira
Tonner price	103A
Drum price	104A
Printer Price	No products found.

HP MFP 1200w is one of the latest edition HP multifunction laser printers with a low print cost of 70 paise. The NeverStop series is HP’s new experiment on separated drum-toner setup like we saw on Brother printers. This cartridge setup is the primary reason why the print cost is low with this printer. The page yield of this printer is around 2,500 sheets. It provides a maximum print resolution of 600 x 600 dpi. The maximum duty cycle of the printer is 20,000 pages with a recommended monthly range of 200 to 2,500 pages. This printer provides a duplex function that operates manually and has a 103A toner cartridge separate from the 104A drum unit with a drum life of 20,000 pages.

Reccomended Read: HP M1136 VS M1005 Printer Comparison

The paper tray capacity is 150 sheets with paper thickness in the range of 60 to 120 GSM. It has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and Wi-Fi-Direct features apart from the USB connectivity. It is also compatible with mobile applications such as HP Smart App, Google Cloud Print, AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. A 32 mm x 32 mm LCD to the left provides the necessary feedback to the users and improves the user experience. It works fine with the Windows, macOS and Linux Operating systems.

Pros

• Low print cost
• Display available
• Seperate drum
• WiFi available

Cons

• Moderate RAM
• No automatic duplex printing
• No ADF

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (1.50 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi available
• Automatic duplex printing
• Display available
• High page yield

PRINTER NAME	Brother DCP-L2531DW
Type	Laser
Functions	Print, copy, scan
Page yield	3000
Cost per print	1.5 Rs
Print speed	30
Copy speed	30
Display	Yes
Ethernet	No
In-built Wi-Fi	Yes
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Automatic
Cartridge type	Seperate
Drum life	12,000
Paper tray capacity	250 sheets
GSM	60 to 230
Duty cycle	15,000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 2000
Processor speed	600MHz
Memory	64 MB
OS	Windows, Mac and Linux
Maximum print resolution	1200 x 1200 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	Google Cloud Print, Apple AirPrint, Mopria
Tonner price	TN-2465 TN-2469
Drum price	DR-2465
Printer Price	No products found.

Brother DCP-L2531DW is another one of the best laser printers with a high page yield of 3,000 sheets. This is a multifunction printer with automatic duplex printing. You can use paper sizes like A4, Letter, A5, A6 etc. and get a maximum print resolution of 2,400 x 600 dpi. The print cost is around Rs 1.5 per print, and you get a print and copy speed of 30 ppm. It has separate toner and drum units with a drum life of 12,000 sheets. The maximum duty cycle is 15,000 pages with a recommended range of 200 to 2,000 pages. The paper tray capacity is of 250 sheets and allows papers of 60 to 230 GSM.

As far as connectivity is concerned, it can use USB 2.0, in-built Wi-Fi and also supports third-party applications like AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Mopria Print Service for mobile printing or scanning from any location. For feedback and interaction, there is the user panel with necessary buttons and a display in the middle. And it supports Windows, macOS and Linux Operating Systems.

Pros

• High print speed
• Display available
• Automatic duplex printing
• WiFi available

Cons

• Moderate RAM
• Moderate print cost
• No ADF

Product Brief

• Multi-function printer
• Low cost per print (1.50 Rs/page)
• Wi-Fi available
• Automatic duplex printing
• Display available
• High page yield

PRINTER NAME	Canon imageCLASS LBP6030B
Type	Laser
Functions	Print only
Page yield	1500
Cost per print	1.5 Rs
Print speed	18
Copy speed	18
Display	No
Ethernet	No
In-built Wi-Fi	No
ADF	No
Duplex printing	Manual
Cartridge type	Combined
Drum life	Not applicable
Paper tray capacity	150 sheets
GSM	60 to 163
Duty cycle	5000
Recommended duty cycle	200 to 800 pages
Processor speed	Not provided
Memory	32 MB
OS	Windows, Mac and Linux
Maximum print resolution	2400 x 600 dpi
Warranty	1 Year
Third party apps	Not applicable
Tonner price	Cartridge 925
Drum price	Not applicable
Printer Price	No products found.

Canon imageCLASS LBP6030B is a digital single function laser printer with a page yield of 1,500 sheets with a cost per print of Rs. 1.5. It gives a print and copy speed of 18 ppm. The duplex printing function is available, though manual and you get a maximum print resolution of 2,400 x 600 dpi. The printer houses a combined toner-drum cartridge. The duty cycle provided is 5,000 pages with a recommended range of 200 to 800 pages. A wide range of paper sizes is accepted, including A4, B5, A5, Legal and many other sizes.

The paper tray capacity is 150 sheets, and it permits papers of 60 to 163 GSM. The user panel has two LED lights and two key buttons for feedback on the printer’s operation. The device is connected to the computer using a USB 2.0 cable and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux and even Citrix Operating Systems.

Pros

• Budget friendly price
• Supported in all major OSs

Cons

• Single function printer
• Moderate print cost
• No ADF
• No WiFi

Laser Printer Buyer’s Guide

Functions

There are two options to consider based on the functions of a laser printer: Single function and Multifunction.

Single function laser printers come without any additional features. It only prints. It’s advantageous if you only need printouts and no extra functions because you only pay for what you need and don’t spend money on other functions (scanning/copying) that will be hardly used. Another attractive advantage is their specialization in what they do; you will get prints of excellent quality compared to multifunction printers in the same price range.

With a multifunction laser printer, you can print, scan, copy and sometimes even fax. The multifunction printer is the most prefered printer because of its ability of multitasking ability. In this’ all-in-one’ era, one can avoid purchasing different machines for each task. Instead, one can get all the functions in one laser printer. Being money-saving, less space-consuming and easy to move makes it suitable for office uses.

Connectivity

Most laser printers today have high-speed USB and wireless connectivity. However, there are many other options too. The different common types of connectivity options in laser printers are Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB, Ethernet and Bluetooth.

Wi-Fi isn’t a new word now; most of the devices now support Wi-Fi connectivity, with which you can easily connect your system wirelessly to laser printers. Wi-Fi Direct can connect the printer to other devices without going through an access point as they can establish a direct ad-hoc network. Therefore Wi-Fi Direct helps to connect laser printers easily and take prints very quickly. The latest printers will have dual-band Wi-Fi over conventional single-band Wi-Fi which has a better transmission rate and low failure rate.

Bluetooth is another ‘not so common’ wireless mode to print by pairing the device using a Bluetooth connection. Even though it hasn’t quite reached laser printers, it is said to be the best way to save power while using the printer for the whole day.

A reliable USB cable is the best way if you worry about wireless signal issues, as you have a direct connection to the laser printer. The major issue with USB connectivity is that you should place the printer near the PC.

An Ethernet cable is the type of network cable which is also used for connecting laser printers and any other wired devices. This method is still used in a few offices for connecting printers into one network and enabling the users to share the device remotely.

Page Yield

The number of pages you can print with one cartridge can be termed as the page yield of a printer. However, cartridges come in different sizes, and clearly, the page yields vary. It can influence the running cost and maintenance requirements. The page yield is measured in the factory by printing out pages with 5% page coverage until the cartridge runs empty, and this is the ISO standard for measuring. A simple way to measure page yield is by visiting the product page for the toner of the printer.

The factors that decide the page yield are the content type, print quality and content size. If you opt for content that has more detail, like images, the page yield will reduce accordingly. Also, if you set the quality to high, the page yield will reduce.

Print Speed

As the name says, print speed is the speed at which a printer can print. The print speed may vary according to the model of the printer, the content of the printing, quality, thicknesses of paper and cartridge used. Laser printer speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm) rather than images per minute (IPM). In IPM the printed page is considered as image and not text, while in PPM only the regular text is calculated and other images and graphics are not considered. PPM is usually related to monochrome office documents, which is why PPM is preferred in measuring the print speed of laser printers. IPM measurement is mostly used in inkjet printers.

Cost Per Print

Cost per print is the cost incurred to print a page. To calculate the cost per print of a laser printer, divide the number of pages a toner cartridge can produce by the price of the cartridge (if the cartridge has two separate units, you need to change the calculations accordingly). Generally, the average cost to print on a laser printer varies in the range of Re. 1 to Rs. 3. However, this may vary according to the photos and heavy graphics when you use it for graphic prints. Some of the lastest Brother and HP laser printers have print cost less than Re. 1.

Toner Cartridge

As the name suggests, toner cartridges are the containers of toner particles, or plainly, the ink powder. The transfer of toner particles to the pages is facilitated by what is called the drum units. The two types of toner cartridges are based on how the printers are structured.

In some laser printers, the toner cartridge and the drum unit are designed as a single module. While in others, the two components are two separate units. Both the components are consumables.

In single-unit printers, you are forced to replace both the toner cartridge and the drum unit every time the toner runs out. On the other hand, in two-unit or separated cartridges, you only have to replace either the drum or the toner as required. Both of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantages of a single unit cartridge are that the running cost will be a bit high, but the quality of the print will be consistent. For two-piece cartridges, the quality of the print will deteriorate over time due to overuse of the drum, but the running cost will be less. Though the single-unit cartridge is convenient, separate drum and toner are preferred by many when the cost is a major constraint.

User Interface (UI)

The User interface or UI is the visual display of the laser printer that enables the interaction of the user with the device and the display of information. A standard UI should be consistent, offer meaningful feedback and ask for verification of any non-trivial destructive actions. One of the important parts of the user interface is the display feature. The display screen is significant as it provides essential feedback and helps in configuring the functions.

In the most modern laser printers, advanced options are available such as Custom UI which allows the touchscreen control panel to be adapted to meet customer requirements. This feature is enriched by adding more targeted bespoke workflow shortcuts.

Usage

There can be low, medium or heavy usage requirements for a printer. This value will change according to each user. Low usage atmosphere may need to print an average of 100-500 prints per month, while medium users require a higher capacity range, say more than 500 prints on a monthly calculation. Then there are the heavy users that require continuous printing in a very busy office atmosphere, like 5,000 or much more prints every month.

One must check the duty cycle and recommended monthly usage of the printer before purchasing to know how many prints it can handle without diminishing the quality. One must also choose the page yield, speed, cost per print etc. based on one’s usage requirement.

Duplex

Printing on both sides of a sheet is termed as duplex printing. There are two types of duplex printing, namely manual and automatic. In automatic duplex, the page is flipped automatically without any user intervention, which saves a lot of time. Manual duplex printing requires human intervention since the printer will only assist us in printing on both sides. Duplex printing saves money, as well as time. Since it prints on both sides of the sheet, only less number of sheets is required. The average price of a good quality duplex multifunction laser printer ranges around Rs. 15,000 – 20,000. For a single function duplex printer, it’s around Rs. 9,000 – 12,000.

ADF

When you use scan/copy mode, Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) allows the user to place a bundle of documents, and the device automatically feeds one page at a time. There are two types, single-sided and double-sided. In single-sided, the bundle has to be reversed manually after one side of the pages is scanned/copied. In two-sided ADF, the printer will automatically turn over sheets to scan/copy data on the other side. But two-sided ADF is only available in heavy usage laser printers which will cost more than 30,000 Rs. ADF allows to scan, copy or fax multi-page documents without replacing each page manually. The price of an ADF printer starts from Rs. 14,000.

OS Support

The laser printer’s compatibility with the Operating System (OS) of your computer is very important. Almost all printers usually support Microsoft Windows. However, if you use a Mac or even Linux, check the specification to be sure before buying the printer. As Linux is a rarely used OS, many printers may not be supporting it. Also, one needs to make sure one’s OS is of at least the minimum version that the printer supports.

Memory & Processor Speed

The data of each document is entirely stored in the printer memory before it gets printed. This is a speciality of laser printers. The prescribed minimum memory requirement is 32 MB (not necessarily) for good quality monochrome/colour prints. Low memory creates a delay in printing and can also affect the quality. The time taken to process the print job depends on the processor speed too. However, one doesn’t need to worry much about the processor speed today as most modern printers come with amply high-speed processors.

Third-party Apps

Even though printer manufacturers provide mobile applications for both Android and iOS platforms, it might be easier for some to use in-built applications or third party applications for better flexibility. Major third-party apps are AirPrint, Google Cloud Print and Mopria.

AirPrint is an Apple technology to provide easy printing for Apple users. It facilitates printing via a wireless WLAN for iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad. AirPrint runs without printer-specific drivers, but its compatibility varies depending on the printer.

Google Cloud Print is a Google service in the Android platform that allows anyone to print over the web from anywhere. This app makes use of cloud technology for easy printing for users from any cloud print-aware devices.

Mopria is another application specifically for Android users. Mopria enables simplified mobile printing from any Android device. It boasts that its print technology is the default print service in many Android devices. Again this application requires a Mopria certified printer to work.

Other Important Terms

1. First Print Out Time (FPOT)

FPOT is the time a laser printer takes to start printing the first sheet after turning on the printer. This does not include the time taken for printing. FPOT is not always considered at the time of purchasing.

2. Print Quality

Laser printers are well known for their print quality with black and white documents which is why they are considered as the perfect match for office use. Laser printers can print very sharp lines which makes it suitable for texts documents. The average resolution of laser printers is in the range of 600 – 1200 dots per inch.

Another thing about the laser printer is that the documents are instantly ready to use since the ink gets stamped to the paper using laser technology.

3. Duty Cycle

The duty cycle can be referred to as the maximum monthly capacity of the laser printer. Every machine is designed to carry a specific workload. It is specified as the number of prints you can make in a month without diminishing the print-quality or creating a breakdown of the printer.

4. Recommended Duty Cycle

This value will be much lower than the duty cycle of a printer. By keeping the number of prints per month under the recommended duty cycle will ensure longevity to the printer.

Frequently Asked Questions on Laser Printers

1. Which printer is the best ink tank or laser or inkjet?

The type of printer depends on the user requirement. If you are planning to print a lot of images, you should go with inkjet or ink tank. If your requirement is mostly text-based documents, then a laser printer should be best suited for you.

To elaborate the answer; inkjet printer is nowadays used to print studio-quality images since the ink used in this printer is solid ink. Ink tank printers are the successors of inkjet printers, and they are more economical than inkjet printers. So ink tank printers are nowadays used in homes and small offices. Image quality is comparatively low in ink tank printers, but there are some high-end photo printers in ink tank printers. Laser printers use powder-based ink, and they are not great with images. Although there are colour laser printers available, they are not used for image printing.

2. Which is the best monochrome laser printer?

The best monochrome laser printer is Brother DCP-B7535DW. This multifunction laser printer packs high printing speed, cheap cost per print, automatic duplex printing and ADF function. Brother DCP-B7535DW is the best value for money laser printer out there.

3. Which laser printer is best for home use in India?

The best laser printer for home use is Brother DCP-B7500D. This Brother printer is a multifunction printer with automatic duplex printing and costs under 15,000 Rs. Print cost is as low as 0.6 paise and also has a page yield of 2,500 pages.

Conclusion

Laser printers are available in all configurations. You just have to know the parameters and choose the perfect laser printer based on your requirements. I hope this article helped you understand your requirements and pick the best printer for your need.

If you have any more doubts or need any further advice, please post it in the comments, I will be more than happy to help you.