Brother HL-5450DN Toner Cartridges

Brother HL-5450DN Printer Review

The Brother HL-5450DN is a monochrome laser printer that improves on the similar HL-5440D model with the addition of an ethernet network port and the ability to upgrade its memory in the future. It features the same fast speeds of up to 40 pages per minute, and up to 9 sheets per minute when duplex printing. Brother HL-5450DN printer toner can go a long time before replacement is needed.

The modern black design of the HL-5450 will appeal to buyers who prefer a simple aesthetic, and it tends to blend into its environment rather than grabbing attention. It measures just 14.6x15.1x9.6 inches, and weighs 23.1 pounds. In addition to its ethernet port, it has a USB port for a direct PC connection, and also supports Apple's AirPrint protocol for printing from these devices quickly and easily when shared.

The maximum resolution of 1200x1200 is somewhat surprising for a monochrome laser at this price, but a welcome addition that provides very sharp quality, making the best use of the Brother HL-5450DN toner. The 64 MB of RAM can be upgraded to 320 MB if needed, and an additional 500-sheet input paper tray is available as an optional upgrade for when the office is beginning to outgrow the machine.

Saving both power and money are easy, with a combination of the unit's sleep mode and affordable toners. Standard Brother HL-5450DN toner cartridges have a capacity of 3,000 pages. High-yield Brother HL-5450DN toner cartridges lower the cost per page, however, with a capacity of 8,000 pages, but a price of only a little more.

In relation to other models in its line, the extra features of the HL-5450DN are impressive, and certainly allow for more expansion. Those who don't see a need for this in the future, however, might be better off benefiting from the lower price of the HL-5440D.