The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201DW won because it prints faster and sharper than anything else we tested. The ReviewLab clocked a 9-second first-page-out time and measured sustained output at 42 pages per minute in black, 35 in color. No other model came close. Audioviser called its color output 'some of the crispest color documents I've ever seen,' and The ReviewLab confirmed that even fine print stays perfectly sharp at full speed.
The walk-up USB port on top is a detail that separates this from cheaper competitors. Plug in a thumb drive, select your file from the 4-line LCD, and the printer handles the rest. No app download, no driver installation, no connecting to Wi-Fi first. The ReviewLab specifically praised this for shared office environments where multiple people need to print without configuring their devices.
This is a print-only machine. No scanner, no copier, no fax. That trade-off is deliberate: HP stripped out the multifunction hardware to maximize print speed and quality within the footprint. For offices that already have a dedicated scanner or use phone-based scanning, the 4201DW delivers the best raw printing performance per dollar in the $400 to $600 range.
What It Won't Do
Toner costs will hurt. Audioviser warned that replacements 'cost more than my monthly coffee budget,' and the math backs it up: the HP 210A black cartridge runs around $80 for 2,000 pages, and each color cartridge costs $117 or more for 1,800 pages. If you print 500 color pages per month, you're spending roughly $40 per month on toner alone. The 4-line LCD display also feels archaic on a $520 printer. Audioviser compared operating it to using 'a machine from the Stone Age.' Every other printer in this roundup with a display has a touchscreen.
The Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw prints 30 pages per minute for $120. That speed-to-price ratio is extraordinary. Printer Insider tested it against the $130 HP LaserJet M110w and found the Canon faster (30 ppm vs. 21 ppm), higher resolution (same 600 dpi but sharper text rendering), and cheaper. At this price point, those margins matter.
The 5.3-second first-page-out time is the fastest in our entire roundup, including the $520 HP. Printer Insider verified this in real-time tests. For a teacher printing 40 worksheets between classes, the Canon finishes the job in under 90 seconds from a cold start.
Auto-duplex printing at $120 is unusual. Most printers under $150 force manual page-flipping. The Canon handles two-sided printing automatically, cutting paper usage in half for everyday documents. It also includes Ethernet alongside Wi-Fi and USB, giving network administrators a wired option that most budget printers skip.
What It Won't Do
The 600x600 dpi resolution is genuinely limiting. Printer Insider demonstrated that while regular text looks fine, graphics show visible pixelation and small font sizes lose definition. If you print anything with images, charts, or detailed formatting, the output looks rough. The display is worse: a tiny LCD with no backlight that Printer Insider said requires a flashlight to read during Wi-Fi setup. And the compact form factor is misleading. When you fold out the input tray and extend the output arm, the printer's footprint roughly triples.
Who Should Buy Which
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201DW
The fastest color laser with the sharpest output in its class
- Small businesses that print high volumes of color marketing materials, presentations, or client-facing documents
- Shared offices where multiple people need walk-up printing from USB drives without driver configuration
- Buyers who prioritize speed above all else: 42 ppm black and 9-second first page out are class-leading
- Users who already own a separate scanner and want the best dedicated color printer under $600
- Offices willing to absorb higher toner costs in exchange for the fastest, sharpest output available
Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw
30 pages per minute for $120, nothing else comes close
- Students, teachers, or home users who print text documents in black and white and want the lowest upfront cost
- Small desk setups where physical space is limited, since the Canon body is barely larger than a letter-size page
- Budget-conscious buyers who need auto-duplex and Ethernet at a price point where most printers skip both
- Light-to-moderate print volume users (under 500 pages/month) who need a reliable, fast mono printer
- Anyone who values low per-page cost over graphics quality and can live without color or scanning