With dozens of printer models on the market, choosing the right one for your home or office setup in 2025 can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, Brother continues to offer some of the most reliable, affordable, and user-friendly printers — whether you need fast black-and-white documents or long-lasting color output.

But not every Brother printer fits every type of user.

Before diving into model numbers and technical specs, the smartest way to narrow your options is by answering three core questions. These questions help define your use case, avoid overspending, and make sure you’re not stuck with features you’ll never use.

Let’s walk through each one — and along the way, we’ll highlight which Brother printers best match your answers.

❓ Question 1: What Do You Actually Print — and How Often?

This question is crucial.

Are you printing shipping labels, tax documents, and PDFs a few times a week? Or do you regularly handle full-color reports, school projects, or marketing flyers?

Your print volume and content type dictate whether you need:

• A laser printer (for sharp, fast black-and-white output)

• An inkjet printer (for occasional color use)

• An INKvestment Tank printer (for high-volume color printing at low cost)
  
  

🖨️ For black-and-white, high-speed jobs:

The Brother HL-L2390DW is a standout. It’s a monochrome laser printer that offers sharp text, flatbed scanning, and speeds up to 32 pages per minute. Ideal for contracts, forms, and documents — with no need to worry about ink drying out.

🖨️ For light color use, low volume:

The MFC-J1205W is a compact INKvestment model. It prints in color, includes scan and copy features, and is perfect for occasional users who still want low ink costs.

🖨️ For regular color printing or higher volume:

The MFC-J4335DW balances performance and price. It includes fax, duplex printing, and a smart display — plus up to a year of ink in the box using Brother’s INKvestment Tank system.

If you print daily, especially in color, it’s one of the best long-term value picks in 2025.

❓ Question 2: Do You Need All-in-One Features Like Scanning, Faxing, or Copying?

Some users only need a printer. Others want a device that can scan, copy, fax, and more — especially for work-from-home offices or freelance setups.

Brother’s MFC series stands for Multi-Function Center, meaning all models can print, scan, and copy. Some include fax, auto document feeders (ADF), and duplex scanning.

If you're not scanning frequently, you can save by choosing a model without an ADF or touchscreen. But if scanning and copying are part of your routine, you’ll want those extras.

🖨️ Best for basic multi-function use:

The MFC-J1205W includes scan and copy functionality, without overcomplicating the setup. It’s minimal but covers the basics well.

🖨️ Best for full-feature home offices:

The MFC-J4335DW and MFC-L2710DW (laser version) both include scan, copy, fax, and auto-duplex features. You get wireless printing, document feeders, and quiet performance.

🖨️ Best for high-volume scanning & wide-format:

The MFC-J5855DW steps up the game. With 11"x17" print capability, a large 250-sheet tray, and a 50-sheet ADF, it’s made for heavy workloads and creative professionals.

If you regularly scan contracts, forms, or multi-page documents, an ADF is worth it — it saves hours over time.

❓ Question 3: Do You Want the Lowest Long-Term Cost — or the Lowest Upfront Price?

Budgeting for a printer isn’t just about the sticker price. Some models seem affordable at checkout but end up costing hundreds per year in ink or toner. Others might cost a bit more upfront but pay for themselves in savings.

Here’s what to know:

• INKvestment Tank models (like MFC-J4335DW and MFC-J5855DW) come with long-lasting ink cartridges and low cost per page.

• Laser printers (like HL-L2390DW or MFC-L2710DW) use toner that lasts months or even years.

• Cartridge-based inkjets (non-INKvestment) usually have the highest long-term costs — and are worth avoiding.
  
  

💸 Best for low long-term cost:

The MFC-J4335DW is often the best value overall. With an upfront price around $150 and extremely low cost-per-page, it's a long-term winner.

💸 Best for upfront savings (very light use):

The MFC-J1205W often retails under $120 and includes enough ink for several months. It’s ideal for light-duty use or small spaces.

💸 Best for black-and-white efficiency:

The HL-L2390DW is inexpensive to run, fast, and doesn’t require frequent toner refills — especially if you use high-yield toner cartridges.