Our readers keep the lights on and my morning glass full of iced black tea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.6 Best Compact Laser Printer | Crisp Prints Without the Clutter

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The 3-in-1 that prints fast, scans flat, and lets you manage everything from a touchscreen.

This Brother packs a scanner and copier into a compact frame alongside a 36 ppm print engine — matching the top speed in this roundup, not slower than the 26 ppm MFC-L2690DW. The 2.7-inch touchscreen makes navigating cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox feel natural, so you scan-to-cloud without touching a computer. It connects via dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, or USB, giving you flexibility the USB-only HP M209d lacks.

The 250-sheet paper tray holds 250 sheets versus that HP’s 150-sheet tray. Automatic duplex (two-sided printing without you flipping pages) saves paper on every multi-page job. Buyers report that setup with Apple devices is easy and that the printer is fast and quiet — one reviewer noted being near the end of the first cartridge after 6 months, which suggests the starter toner is about typical for compact lasers. It also works with Alexa for voice-command printing.

One trade-off: it is a 3-in-1, not a fax machine. If you need fax capability, you will want the MFC-L2820DW below. But for a home office that prints, scans, and copies in black and white, this hits the balance with no glaring compromises.

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The fax-equipped sibling that adds a document feeder for multi-page copying.

Take everything great about the HL-L2480DW — the 36 ppm speed, the automatic duplex, the 2.7-inch touchscreen, the dual-band Wi-Fi — and add fax capability plus a 50-page automatic document feeder (ADF) for hands-free multi-page scanning and copying. This is the printer for a small office that still faxes documents or regularly runs batches of multi-page originals through the scanner. The Xerox B230 and HP M15w can’t do any of this.

Reviewers consistently call it a solid, fast machine once it is set up, though some mention the setup instructions are sparse and that configuring Wi-Fi manually instead of following the guide saved them time. Owners mention reliable wireless printing and scanning even from another room, and one buyer called it “a work horse” with very few paper jams. It uses the same TN830/TN830XL toner cartridges as the HL-L2480DW, so consumable costs are identical.

The one caveat is that if you never fax and rarely scan more than one page at a time, you are paying for features you will not use — the HL-L2480DW gives you the same core print engine for less. But if fax is a requirement, this is the pick.

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The sturdy build that chews through card stock and watercolor paper without jamming.

While its 26 ppm print speed trails the 36 ppm of the HL-L2480DW and MFC-L2820DW, the MFC-L2690DW makes up for it with a noticeably more sturdy construction and a standout ability to handle thick media. Reviewers report feeding card stock and even 140# watercolor paper through the manual feed slot with no issues — a rare capability for a compact laser. If your work involves paper crafts, envelopes, or heavier stock, this is the one. That 140# watercolor paper is far thicker than what the HP M209d or Xerox B230 can reliably feed.

It includes copy, scan, and fax functions plus duplex printing, a 250-sheet adjustable paper tray that handles legal size, and a manual feed slot for specialty papers. Buyers consistently praise its build quality: one owner replaced a previous Brother model that lasted 8 years. Setup is generally smooth via Wi-Fi or USB, though the fax default can confuse some users initially. The LCD display is clear but smaller than the 2.7-inch touchscreens on the newer L-series models.

The snag is the 26 ppm speed: for high-volume plain-paper printing, the 36 ppm models above will finish faster. But for mixed-media jobs and long-term reliability, this premium pick earns its place.

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A no-nonsense print-only machine for the wired desktop that skips the Wi-Fi headache.

If your workspace is a single desk and you have zero interest in network printing, the HP M209d strips away everything else. It is a USB-only printer (USB cable included) with automatic duplex and a 30 ppm print speed. That is faster than the HP M15w (19 ppm) and the Brother MFC-L2690DW (26 ppm), and it beats the M15w on duplex support — the M15w has none.

The trade-off for that simplicity is total: no Wi-Fi, no Ethernet, no mobile printing. And critically, reviewers point out that this printer is “incompatible with Mac OS v12+ (Sequoia) as of April 2025” — HP has not updated the drivers. If you run Windows 11, shoppers say it works flawlessly with easy setup and crisp output. The 150-sheet input tray is smaller than the 250-sheet trays on Brother models, but adequate for personal use.

If you are all-in on Windows and want a cheap, fast, no-frills printer that just works, this is it. Mac owners should steer clear entirely.

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The 36 ppm Xerox that one reviewer used for a 200-page brief without a single hiccup.

The Xerox B230 matches the 36 ppm speed of the top Brother models at a lower price point, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers who still want fast output. It comes with built-in Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint, Mopria support, and Ethernet — so it plays well with iPhones, iPads, and Android devices right from the start. One buyer confirmed it “did a 200page brief with no problems” and praised the speed.

Duplex (two-sided printing) is automatic, and security features like secure access protection are included — a nice bonus for a small-office printer. However, the setup experience is divisive. Reviewers mention a tiny screen with tedious character scrolling for entering Wi-Fi passwords, along with hidden internal tapes that must be removed during installation. A few users reported frequent Wi-Fi disconnections, while others had no issues after using the guided phone app.

Where it falls short of the Brother HL-L2480DW: no scan or copy function (print-only), no touchscreen, and not everyone finds the Wi-Fi setup smooth. But for raw speed per dollar, this Xerox delivers.

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The world’s smallest laser printer in its class — 35% smaller than its predecessor — but Wi-Fi setup tests your patience.

If absolute desk space is your number-one constraint, the HP M15w is the smallest monochrome laser you can buy. At 13.6 inches wide, 7.5 inches deep, and 6.3 inches tall, it fits on a cramped shelf or corner of a desk where nothing else will. It has built-in Wi-Fi plus Wi-Fi Direct for printing without a network, and the HP Smart app lets you print from iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

The catch: it prints at 19 ppm versus 36 ppm on models like the Xerox B230, and there is no automatic duplex (two-sided printing). Reviewers are split: those who get through the setup report that it is a fast, compact workhorse, but setup “is hours-long due to poor instructions” and typically requires finding the WPS button on your router. One buyer mentioned that print quality shows “some crushing/warping,” though most find it acceptable for black-and-white documents. It is a renewed (refurbished) unit, which brings a lower price but also a shorter 90-day warranty.

If you need absolute portability or the smallest possible footprint and can tolerate a manual duplex workflow and a tricky first-time setup, this is your printer. You would pick this over the Brother HL-L2480DW only if that 13.6 x 7.5 inch footprint is non-negotiable — otherwise, the Brother’s speed and duplex are worth the extra space.