The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201DW meets
the Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw
The fastest color laser with the sharpest output in its class. We tested it head-to-head against the Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw ($120) across 6 key dimensions.
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201DW
“The fastest color laser with the sharpest output in its class”
Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw
“30 pages per minute for $120, nothing else comes close”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201DW
- Fastest print speed in its class at 42 ppm black and 35 ppm color, per The ReviewLab's timing tests
- Print quality that Audioviser called 'some of the crispest color documents I've ever seen'
- Walk-up USB port on top lets you print from a thumb drive without installing any apps or drivers (ReviewLab)
- 9-second first-page-out time verified by The ReviewLab
- Toner replacement costs are steep: Audioviser warns they 'cost more than my monthly coffee budget'
- Outdated 4-line LCD display that Audioviser compared to 'a machine from the Stone Age'
- No scanner, copier, or fax: this is a print-only machine
Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw
- 30 ppm print speed for $120 is unmatched in this price range, per Printer Insider
- Ultra-compact body barely larger than a sheet of letter paper (Printer Insider)
- Automatic double-sided printing included at this price point
- Triple connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB
- 600x600 dpi resolution produces visible pixelation on graphics and small text (Printer Insider)
- Tiny display has no backlight. Printer Insider says you need a flashlight to read it during Wi-Fi setup
- Footprint triples when you unfold the input tray and extend the output arm for actual printing
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Brother HL-L2460DW (79.4) and Brother MFC-L2820DW (75.7) both outscore the HP 4201DW (73.8) because they dominate on Running Cost and Trust, the two dimensions where HP historically lags. We chose the HP as Best Overall because it's the only model that combines color printing with top-tier speed and print quality. The Brothers are monochrome-only: outstanding for black-and-white documents, but they can't print a single page of color. For a home office or small business that needs color output for presentations, marketing materials, or client-facing documents, that's a hard limitation the weighted scores don't penalize.
HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201DW
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.
- 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
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.
- 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