This $140 Brother printer nails the basics

For anyone who prints only occasionally, PCWorld says the Brother HL-L2405W is the one to buy. Staff writer Michael Crider, who has worked from home for 15 years, says the $140 printer has been a dependable fixture in his home office for years.

Crider’s case for it is simple: this is a monochrome laser printer, so it uses toner instead of liquid ink, prints only in black and white, and connects over Wi-Fi. The bigger advantage is running cost. According to PCWorld, its cartridges can handle hundreds and hundreds of pages and can be refilled with generic third-party toner, avoiding the high refill costs often associated with some inkjet models.

The tradeoff is that the HL-L2405W is strictly a basics machine. It doesn’t scan, and it can’t print photos. Crider says he uses it for routine tasks like shipping return labels, paperwork that needs a signature, and Dungeons & Dragons character sheets.

He also notes one annoyance: setting up Wi-Fi can be awkward because the printer relies on tiny buttons and a one-line LCD screen. But once connected, he says it fades into the background and just works. That reliability, especially for people who print only once or twice a month, is what makes it stand out from many inkjet alternatives.

At Amazon, PCWorld says the printer is listed at $140, which Crider describes as a typical price. He adds that it can sometimes be found on sale or refurbished for less. For buyers who do not need color documents or photo printing, PCWorld’s verdict is straightforward: this Brother model is one of the most reliable pieces of hardware in Crider’s home office.

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