Did you know that you could save a considerable amount of money using monochrome printers?
Even if you print double the number of papers, you’ll still end up saving bucks compared to the expenses of printing with color printers.
This is why, most government, education, or accounting office mostly uses monochrome printers.
However, it’s important to buy high-quality monochrome printers, or the output won’t be up to the mark.
As this can be quite challenging, we decided to help you out! In this article, we’ll review the best black and white printer scanners in 2021.
So, let’s begin.
Best Black And White Printer Scanner Reviews
Getting the printer that offers the right features for you can be tough. In this review section, you’ll find out how each of these printers can help you achieve different purposes.
1. Brother Black And White Printer Scanner | Compact All-In One Wireless Printer
This wireless black and white printer are perfect for small office and home. The Brother MFCL2710DW printer will get your printing done super-fast.
This can speed up to 36ppm, which makes it one of the fastest printers of this range.
It comes equipped with an automatic document feeder that can store up to 50 sheets. You can reduce the number of refills with its 250-sheet paper storing capacity.
As it’s a wireless printer, you’ll be able to operate it remotely using your smartphone, laptop, desktop, or tablet.
This printer can be connected to the internet using the built-in Wi-Fi or through the Ethernet port.
The duplex architecture of this printer can print on both sides of the paper, and this feature will save both your money and your time.
Then again, there’s the ‘Toner Save Mode’ that allows you to minimize the usage of toner without ruining the quality.
There’s a smart feature built into this printer that can detect low toner levels. If this is turned on, then this printer will automatically order toner on Amazon once the toner level is low.
The diverse features of this printer make it one of the best black and white printer scanners that you can find.
Key Features :
- Fast 32ppm printing speed can make your office and home more efficient
- Can be remote-controlled using any smart device
- Automatically prints on both sides of a paper to save cost and effort
- Orders toner on Amazon automatically when toner level falls low
- Massive 250-paper storage capacity for reducing refills
2. Brother Compact Monochrome Laser Printer Flatbed Copy & Scan, Wireless
The Brother HLL2395DW black and white only printer scanner is built for fast scanning, as it comes equipped with a flatbed scan glass. This printer sports a wireless facility that allows you to print remotely.
For printing wirelessly, you’ll get a variety of software such as Google Cloud Print 2.0, AirPrint, Brother iPrint and Scan, Cortado Workplace, and Mopria.
You’ll be able to use both letter and legal-sized paper effortlessly with this printer. The unit can hold 250 sheets at a time, which will help you print in bulk easily.
It is very easy and intuitive to use for the built-in touch panel. The color touch screen will allow you to access all the digital apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneNote, Evernote, etc. easily, so you’ll be able to print more smoothly.
Other than the wireless connection, the NFC technology adds a newer height to this device. You’ll be able to connect to other devices with just a touch!
This device also comes with the Amazon Dash replenish feature. If you have this enabled, you’ll get a shipment of toner every time the toner level is low!
Key Features :
- Flatbed scan glass allows you to scan quickly and accurately
- Makes your workflow efficient with the 36 paper per minute speed
- Features a 2.7” touch panel for intuitive maneuvering
- Offers built-in cloud apps for instant printing without any device
- NFC feature helps connect devices with a touch only
3. HP LaserJet Pro Black And White Printer Scanner | Wireless All-in-One Printer
If you’re looking for the cheapest black and white printer, then the HP LaserJet Pro Y5S53A is a solid choice for you.
In fact, it’s the smallest monochrome laser printer that you can find at this price point. It’s 30% smaller than the rest of the printers of this series.
With its compact build, you’ll be able to store this very easily.
This printer comes with built-in Wi-Fi that’ll allow you to control it remotely. It’s a common complaint that the wireless connectivity of printers is quite unstable.
If you’re skeptical about that, you can always use the USB interface to connect your devices directly.
It also comes with some preloaded apps that allow you to print PDFs directly from emails, and this is definitely very handy.
However, this printer seems to compromise a bit of the speed for getting the smaller form factor. You can print at a speed of 19ppm, which is slower than the previous printers.
Then again, you’ll need to flip the sheet manually for double-sided print, which is definitely a hassle.
Overall, despite the shortcomings, its compact size makes it one of the best home black and white printers that you can get.
Key Features :
- Offers a compact build that makes it easier to store
- Preloaded apps will let you print PDF directly from the email
- HP Smart App allows scanning directly from smartphones which saves time
- Can connect devices through USB in case the Wi-Fi falters
- An intuitive LCD control panel allows you to use it easily
4. Brother Compact Monochrome Laser Printer Duplex Two-Sided Printing
The Brother HLL2390DW black and white wireless printer takes things to the next level by integrating Alexa with it.
Connect it to Alexa, and you’ll be able to get your important files printed with a single voice command! This feature really brings smart printing to our fingers.
With a printing speed of 32ppm, this printer will get your office and home workload finished fast and efficiently. This standard-sized device can store 250 sheets at a time, requiring refills less frequently.
It also allows you to print on multiple sizes of papers, stamps, as well as card stocks. No matter what size you’re printing on, you’ll get high-resolution prints with an accurate finish.
One of the best features of this printer is its reliability. No matter what device you’re using, you’ll have no problem connecting to this printer.
This is a section where every wireless printer owner faces a problem, and we were happy to see that this one’s different.
The installation procedure is the main drawback of this printer. However, if you’re covered by their customer support, you won’t have a hard time setting it up.
Key Features :
- Can connect to any device easily, requires no troubleshooting
- Prints at 32ppm and it can help you get your job done very fast
- Allows you to print on multiple paper sizes in high definition
- Can connect to Alexa for voice control
- 250-sheet capacity can reduce the number of refills taken
5. Brother Home Black And White Printer Scanner Duplex Copy & Scan
If you need an all-in-one black and white wireless printer, then going for the Brother MFCL2750DW is the right choice.
This printer offers all the features that you might look for in a perfect monochromatic printer. Let’s take a closer look at them.
This printer features a duplex architecture that allows you to print on both of its sides at once.
The feeder can hold up to 50 sheets at a time, making bulk printing efficient and automatic, and it can print at a speed of 36ppm.
There’s a 2.7” touch panel built into this printer, and you’ll be able to browse through the apps and the menu intuitively with this.
The wireless facility helps you connect to this printer from anywhere, and the NFC feature allows you to connect devices with a touch.
Built-in apps such as Evernote, Google Cloud, Dropbox, OneNote, etc. will allow you to print from the user interface, without the necessity of another device.
The only drawback of this printer is its buggy Wi-Fi connection. It gets disconnected without notice.
Other than that, the model one of the very best black and white laser printers, and it offers all the top features.
Key Features :
- The 50-sheet feeder can help you print in bulk
- Duplex architecture prints on both sides at once
- Can print files directly from the cloud services, not requiring other devices
- One-touch NFC feature helps connect instantly
Top 5 Black And White Printer Scanner | Comparison Chart
Product Name | Printing Speed | Storage Capacity | Touch Panel | Duplex Architecture |
Brother MFCL2710DW | 36ppm | 250-sheet | No | Yes |
Brother HLL2395DW | 36ppm | 250-sheet | Yes | Yes |
HP LaserJet Pro Y5S53A | 19ppm | 150-Sheet | Yes | No |
Brother HLL2390DW | 32ppm | 250-sheet | No | No |
Brother MFCL2750DW | 36ppm | 250-sheet | No | Yes |
Things to Consider Before Buying Black And White Printer Scanner
Choosing the right black and white printer scanner can be tough unless you know what you need. This guide will help you get the best printer for your purpose.
Printing Speed
If you’re living in the fast lane, this is the factor you must focus on. The faster your printer can operate, the faster will you get your job done.
So, if you’re a person who’s working in a busy office, then speed is what you need.
Having a printer that works at 32 to 36ppm will be enough for you.
Storage Capability
The more the printer can store, the lesser refills you will need. We always recommend getting the one with higher storage, unless you need a printer with a smaller form factor.
Wireless Connectivity
The best black and white printer scanners come with wireless connectivity. What you need to look for are consistency and reliability.
Not all devices will remain connected for long, some even get disconnected. Focus on these while choosing.
Duplex Architecture
Even though it’s an advanced feature, you’re most likely to get it from most printers.
This ensures that both sides of the sheet are printed automatically without your interference. It can save time and reduce wastage too.
Without this feature, you’ll have to flip the sheet every time you need to print on both sides.
Feeder Capacity
The feeder provides a sheet directly for printing. The higher the capacity, the more the printer can print at a time. If you need to print in bulk often, you should really give this some thought.
Built-in Controls
Not all printers come with touch panel built-in, but we definitely recommend those that do. These panels will simplify the entire process for you, and you’ll be able to use the printer more intuitively.
Plus, built-in controls allow you to use many onboard cloud apps for printing from the cloud directly. This is why we highly favor these.
Special Features
You can find printers that come with Alexa integration. This feature allows you to get your important files printed with voice commands.
If your home has Alexa devices, then you’ll benefit greatly from this feature.
Some printers come with the capability of printing directly from emails. This will reduce your effort and the time taken to share a file over Wi-Fi.
It’s also an optional feature that can help you out in tight spots.
NFC allows you to connect your smart device by touching it with the printer. With NFC, you won’t have to go through the hassle of connecting manually every time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a black and white printer scanner suitable for me?
Certain sectors can benefit highly from monochromatic printers. You’ll get a bang for your buck from buying one of these printers if you’re working with:
- Text documents
- Company letters
- Research papers
- Memos
- Project documents
- Presentations or other similar documents
2. Is black and white toner cheaper than color toners?
Yes, black and white toners are far cheaper than color toners. If you’re printing documents where adding color makes no sense, then the black and white printers are the best for you.
3. What’s the average speed of printing?
For monochromatic printers, the average speed of printing is 28ppm. However, you’ll get many printers that print at a much higher speed of 36ppm.
4. What features should I look for in a home printer?
If you’re looking for a printer for home purposes, you better look for one with a compact build. These printers are easier to store and carry around.
Even though they compromise printing speed and paper storage capacity, you won’t need them for your home anyway.
5. What’s the alternative to a Wi-Fi connection?
As the Wi-Fi connection of your printer may falter randomly, it’s better to prepare a backup plan.
If your printer has NFC, using that is a good plan. Otherwise, you can use the built-in USB ports for the most secure connection.
Final Words
Finding the best black and white printer scanner for yourself can be quite tough. This is why, it’s important to know what you need when buying a monochromatic printer, or you’ll only get lost.
Each of the mentioned printers has its strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for something for the home, the HP LaserJet one is the one for you.
The rest of the lot are for offices and bulk printing, and they’re differentiated through special features such as NFC, feeder size, touch panel, etc.
Hopefully, with the help of our black and white printer reviews, you’ll be able to find one for yourself.