Updated Mar 08, 2024 at 10:16 am
By Ryan Lim
overview 9 comments
Although most printers have wireless capabilities, some models have moreconnectivity options. Depending on what you're using your printer for, you may prefer one option over another. For example, it's fairly common for printers to wirelessly connect to devices using Wi-Fi, and it can be a good choice for a laptop or desktop setup. However, it may not be the most convenient way to print something from your smartphone. Conversely, printers with mobile apps can make printing from your mobile devices easier, but they may not work for computers.
We've tested over 135printers, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless printers you can buy. Also, check out our picks for thebest all-in-one printers, the best home printers, and thebest AirPrint printers.
-
Best Wireless Printer
Brother MFC-L8905CDW 10
Family
8.2
Small/Home Office
9.2
Student
8.7
Black & White
9.1
Photo
4.7
Expected Maintenance
8.5
Estimated Black Page Yield
2,907 printsEstimated Color Page Yield
1,446 printsScanner Features
9.7
Cost-Per-Print
8.6
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
YesSee all our test results
The best wireless printer we've tested is the Brother MFC-L8905CDW. This color laser all-in-one has nearly everything you'd need for a small or home office. You can connect to the printer via your existing Wi-Fi network; if you don't have one, the printer supports Wi-Fi Direct, meaning it can generate its own wireless network. The scanner can process up to 32 pages per minute through the automatic feeder and supports automatic single-pass duplex scanning, making it easy to scan long and double-sided documents. The scan quality is outstanding; no complaints there.
Printing-wise, it produces incredibly sharp documents and prints quickly up to 32 pages per minute, black or color. Its page yield is amazing, so you won't have to replace the toner cartridges often. The cartridges aren't overly expensive, though you'll have to spend extra to replace the drum. Like most laser printers, themain drawback is that it isn't ideal for photo printing, as printed pictures look grainy and lack detail. Cheaper variants exist, like the Brother MFC-L8610CDW, butitlacks duplex scanning and NFC support. See more details about the variants in our full review.
For offices that regularly print in bulk, we recommend getting the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 instead. This all-in-one inkjet model has a refillable ink tank that yields significantly more prints (almost doublethe Brother's yield), making it great for high-volume printing. Plus, its replacement ink is cheaper, resulting in lower ownership costs. There are a couple of compromises, though, like its smaller 8.5x11flatbed scanner and slower scan speed. Its print speed is also slower but still very respectable at 25 pages per minute.
See our review
-
Best Upper Mid-Range Wireless Printer
Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw 18
Family
8.3
Small/Home Office
8.8
Student
8.6
Black & White
8.4
Photo
5.0
Expected Maintenance
8.5
Estimated Black Page Yield 2,409 prints
Estimated Color Page Yield
2,442 printsScanner Features
9.4
Cost-Per-Print
9.1
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
YesSee all our test results
The Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw is a good option if you want something less expensive. This all-in-one color laser printer has the same features as the Brother above and produces equally sharp documents. It also yields more color prints and is easier to maintain, as its toner cartridges include the drum, so you don't need to replace the drum separately. The main tradeoff is printing speed, as it can only push out 10 black or 12 color pages per minute over Wi-Fi. It can print up to 22 pages per minute, but only over a wired USB or Ethernet connection, which is inconvenient if you don't have space near the computer or router or just want to keep your setup free of unsightly cables. Again, cheaper variants are available; see our full review for more details.
If you only need to print in black, get the Brother MFC-L2750DW instead. It produces high-quality documents, warms up quickly, and prints up to 36 pages per minute. Its black page yield lags behind the Canon model's; however, its cost-per-print is lower because the cartridge is cheaper, and there's only one cartridge to replace. Naturally, the drawback is that it can't print in color, so you need to be sure you won't need color printing in the future. There are cheaper variants if you don't need all the features on the MFC-2750DW, and you can also get bundles that come with a high-yield cartridge, which might be cheaper than buying it separately.
See our review
-
Best Mid-Range Wireless Printer
Brother MFC-J4335DW 3
Family
8.2
Small/Home Office
8.2
Student
8.4
Black & White
8.5
Photo
7.3
Expected Maintenance
6.0
Estimated Black Page Yield
2,280 printsEstimated Color Page Yield
825 printsScanner Features
7.6
Cost-Per-Print
9.5
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
YesSee all our test results
A more modest mid-range model might be better if you just need a simple printer for home use. We recommend the Brother MFC-J4335DW, one of the best wireless printers for home use we've tested. This all-in-one inkjet model can print thousands of pages before its cartridges run out of ink, reducing the frequency you need to replace them. Its page yield still falls slightly short of the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw above but is likely enough for most households. You can buy XL cartridges, which might be cheaper and more environmentally friendly in the long run.
This model produces sharp, high-quality documents. As for photos, it reproduces fine details well but doesn't have the widest color range, and its color accuracy is only passable. It prints 17 black or 15 color pages per minute and supports automatic double-sided printing. The scanner is equipped with an automatic document and supports optical character recognition (OCR) capability, allowing you to scan documents into searchable PDFs or text files. You can get the slightly more expensive Brother MFC-J4535DW variant if you need Ethernet. It also has NFC support, a larger touch-sensitive display, and an additional 250-sheet input tray.
See our review
-
Best Budget Wireless Printer
Brother MFC-J1205W/MFC-J1215W 2
Family
7.9
Small/Home Office
7.2
Student
8.0
Black & White
7.3
Photo
See AlsoThe Best Photo Printers for 20247.6
Expected Maintenance
6.0
Estimated Black Page Yield
1,178 printsEstimated Color Page Yield
766 printsScanner Features
6.2
Cost-Per-Print
9.5
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
YesSee all our test results
For our budget pick, we chose the Brother MFC-J1205W, also one of the best wireless printers for home use we've tested. You can find this model as the Brother MFC-1215W at Walmart. It's a simple, all-in-one inkjet model with a sturdy build, wireless connectivity, and a basic flatbed scanner. It prints black and color documents well, although its printing speed of nine black or six color pages per minute is very slow, so you'll have to be patient during large print jobs.
You don't need to replace the ink cartridges too often, as they're good for around 1,100 black and 750 color prints. Plus, replacement cartridges are relatively cheap, which helps keep your maintenance costs low. Printed photos have some graininess and banding, but they still look decent, and the colors are reasonably accurate. All in all, it's a good option for people who only print occasionally.
See our review
-
Best Cheap Wireless Printer
Canon PIXMA MG3620 5
Family
7.6
Small/Home Office
6.2
Student
7.3
Black & White
6.7
Photo
7.7
Expected Maintenance
7.0
Estimated Black Page Yield
225 printsEstimated Color Page Yield
210 printsScanner Features
6.2
Cost-Per-Print
7.9
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
NoSee all our test results
If you only print once in a blue moon and need a cheap printer to get the job done, consider the Canon PIXMA MG3620. The build feels a little flimsy, and it only has a basic flatbed scanner, but it still prints good-quality documents and photos. The main downside with cheap printers like the PIXMA MG3620 is that the ink cartridges run out quickly, meaning you'll have to replace them often. The cost-per-print is low because replacement ink is relatively cheap; it's just inconvenient because it requires more maintenance, and you might end up with many incomplete or faded pages, wasting paper and time. This printer is fine for the occasional print job, but if you print more regularly, it's best to get one with better page yields, like our budget or mid-range pick.
See our review
-
Best Wireless Photo Printer
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 0
Family
6.9
Small/Home Office
5.6
Student
6.6
Black & White
5.3
Photo
8.9
Expected Maintenance
7.0
Estimated Black Page Yield
323 printsEstimated Color Page Yield
425 printsScanner Features
Cost-Per-Print
7.2
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
YesSee all our test results
Our best wireless photo printer pick is the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300. This professional-grade photo printer produces incredibly detailed, colorful, and color-accurate photos. It can print on various media and supports paper sizes up to 13x19. Its nine cartridges include specific ink cartridges that work only on glossy photo paper, so you won't deplete them when printing documents, and there's also a Chroma Optimizer cartridge to seal photos for better shine and longevity. The downside is that it only yields around 400 color prints, and the cartridges are costly, so your running costs will add up quickly if you print a lot. Also, this is a print-only model, meaning it doesn't have a scanner.
If you find the Canon too pricey, get theEpson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 instead. Not only is the printer itselfcheaper, but its cost-per-print is also lowerbecause it uses a refillable ink tank that yields significantly more prints, and its replacement ink isn't as costly. Plus, it has a scanner. The difference in print quality between this model and the Canon above is color accuracy. Printed pictures still look amazing; it's just that the colors are a tad oversaturated. This model supports wide format paper up to 13x19—if you don't need to print on wide format paper, you can go with its cheaper variant, the Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500. It has the same print quality as the ET-8550 but has a smaller 8.5x11.7flatbed scanner and only supports paper sizes up to 8.5x11.
See our review
-
Best Portable Wireless Printer
HP OfficeJet 250 0
Family
6.8
Small/Home Office
4.4
Student
7.0
Black & White
4.8
Photo
6.6
Expected Maintenance
6.0
Estimated Black Page Yield
167 printsEstimated Color Page Yield
123 printsScanner Features
6.4
Cost-Per-Print
6.6
Wi-Fi via Router
YesWi-Fi Direct
YesSee all our test results
The best portable printer we've tested is the HP OfficeJet 250, an all-in-one inkjet model with a built-in rechargeable battery. It's a great option if you have to travel for work or print receipts at an outdoor event. You can connect to the printer via an existing Wi-Fi network, and the printer can also generate its own Wi-Fi signal (Wi-Fi Direct). It produces fairly sharp documents that look good enough for a professional work environment. The one big drawback is printing speed, as it only pushes out three black or six color pages per minute when plugged in, and it's even slower when running on battery. The battery is good for about 225 prints and takes around two hours to charge.
Aside from its slow printing speed, another downside of this printer is its low page yield. The cartridges aren't overly expensive, but because the cartridges don't last very long, the cost will still add up if you print a lot. You can increase the page yield slightly with XL ink cartridges, and the printer also accepts third-party ink, which might be cheaper. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't have a flatbed scanner, as it would make the printer too cumbersome to carry around. What it does have is a sheetfed scanner that produces very detailed scans and processes up to four pages per minute.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw: The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw/MF751Cdw is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-L8905CDW. However, its toner cartridges yield fewer pages, and it has slower scanning and printing speeds. See our review
- Brother MFC-L3780CDW/MFC-L3720CDW: The Brother MFC-L3780CDW/MFC-L3720CDW is a great alternative to the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw if you need faster printing speeds. The printer is more expensive, though, and you'll have to spend more on toner because it doesn't yield as many prints. See our review
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e: The HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e is a great inkjet alternative to the Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw. It has the same features as the Canon and prints faster, but doesn't yield as many prints. This model comes with three months of free ink via HP's ink replenishment service, which will help offset the cost of replacement ink for a short time; however, subscribing to the service will block you from using third-party cartridges. Also, the printer must have a continuous internet connection to function. See our review
- Canon PIXMA TR8620a: The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a good photo printing alternative to the Brother MFC-J4335DW. It yields fewer pages than the Brother, making it slightly more expensive to maintain, but it produces higher-quality photos with a wider range of colors and better color accuracy. See our review
- Epson EcoTank ET-2840 Special Edition: If you have a large print load, the Epson EcoTank ET-2840 Special Edition is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-J4335DW. It's slightly more expensive upfront, but you'll likely save more money in the long run due to its significantly higher page yield. It comes with two additional bottles of black ink, which is equivalent to 8,600 pages, according to Epson's estimate. However, it has no automatic feeder and only supports manual duplex printing. See our review
- Brother HL-L2325DW: The Brother HL-L2325DW is a good alternative to the Brother MFC-J1205W if you only need to print black-and-white documents. It produces sharp documents and prints up to 33 pages per minute. However, it's a print-only unit, so you'll need a separate scanner to scan anything. See our review
Recent Updates
-
Mar 08, 2024: Added the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 as the 'Best Wireless Photo Printer.' Minor text changes to add the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 as an alternative to the Brother MFC-L8905CDW. Removed the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e as a Notable Mention and replaced it with the HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e since the 9025e is discontinued.
-
Feb 09, 2024: We've reviewed this article and verified our picks for accuracy and availability.
-
Jan 12, 2024: Added the Brother MFC-L3780CDW/MFC-L3720CDW as a Notable Mention. Minor text changes to improve clarity.
-
Dec 12, 2023: Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.
-
Nov 13, 2023: Small text changes to includethe Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 as a second alternative to the Brother MFC-L8905CDW. Added the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e and Epson EcoTank ET-2840 Special Edition asNotable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best wireless printersfor most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our wireless printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While noprinter is perfect for every use, mostare goodenough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
