Brother HL-3070CW Toner Cartridges

Brother HL-3070CW Printer Review

The Brother HL-3070CW color laser printer is designed for the home or small office environment. Its fast print speed and wireless connectivity are impressive, but cost of ownership is a bit high compared to other models.

The Brother HL-3070CW color laser printer is also referred to as the HL-3070. The C denotes a color printer, and the W denotes its included wireless connectivity. The machine can connect via ethernet or wireless, and supports 802.11b and 802.11g technologies. Setting the unit up for a wireless connection can be a bit complicated, but only because there are multiple scenarios to account for. Connecting it to an existing wireless network or having the unit operate as its own access point are both options, and require different setup processes. Lastly, the unit can connect via USB, but users who don't need the wireless option should probably opt for the HL-3040 for a lower price.

The unit is fairly compact, especially for its speed and paper capacity. It measures 9.8 inches by 16.1 inches by 18.2 inches, and weighs 41.9 pounds. This makes it heavier than most home office models, but not so heavy as to be difficult to move with a little help.

Brother HL-3070CW toner cartridges cost more than many competing units, resulting in higher per-page costs. This can be a significant issue, as the operating costs will eventually be much higher than the cost of the unit itself. The black printer toner cartridge has a capacity of 2,200 pages, and each color laser toner cartridge has a capacity of 1,400 pages.

Print quality is excellent, but color prints can sometimes be a bit fuzzy. Text is very sharp and detailed. Print speed is fast, at up to 17 pages per minute for both monochrome and color.

Overall, the Brother HL-3070CW impresses with its wireless connectivity and its low price, but its high toner costs may become expensive in the long run.