The Brother HL-L2350DW and HP LaserJet Pro M255dw are two of the most popular laser printers in their class — but they serve very different buyers. The Brother is a monochrome-only print machine at $119 with some of the lowest toner costs available. The HP M255dw is a color laser at $249 with 30ppm speed and HP's premium feature set. The right choice depends almost entirely on whether you need color. Here's the complete breakdown.
Side-by-Side Specifications
| Specification | Brother HL-L2350DW | HP LaserJet Pro M255dw |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$119 | ~$249 |
| Color printing | Monochrome only | Full color |
| Print speed (black) | 32ppm | 30ppm |
| Auto duplex | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet | No (Wi-Fi only) | Yes + Wi-Fi |
| Scan / Copy | No | No |
| Toner cartridge | TN760 (3,000 pages, ~$50) | W2210A (1,350 pages, ~$55 black) |
| Toner cost per page (black) | ~$0.017 | ~$0.041 |
| Color toner cost | N/A | ~$0.12/page (all 4 colors) |
| Monthly duty cycle | 15,000 pages | 20,000 pages |
| Resolution | 2400×600 dpi | 600×600 dpi (up to 4800×600 enhanced) |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets | 250 sheets |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs | 38.6 lbs |
Pros & Cons
Brother HL-L2350DW ✅
- $130 cheaper upfront
- Lower toner cost ($0.017 vs $0.041/page)
- Slightly faster (32 vs 30ppm)
- Lighter and more compact
- Third-party toner widely available
HP LaserJet M255dw ✅
- Full color laser printing
- Ethernet connectivity
- Higher duty cycle (20,000/month)
- HP Smart app ecosystem
- Color for presentations and marketing materials
Which Should You Buy? 3 Buyer Scenarios
🖨️ Scenario 1: You only print documents, forms, and text
If everything you print is black-and-white — contracts, reports, notes, receipts — the Brother HL-L2350DW is the obvious choice. You'll spend $130 less upfront and $25 less per month on toner at 300 pages/month. There is no reason to pay for color capability you won't use.
→ Pick: Brother HL-L2350DW
🎨 Scenario 2: You occasionally need color — presentations, kids' school projects, marketing materials
If color printing matters even occasionally — even monthly — the HP M255dw justifies its premium. Color laser output is sharp and professional, far better than inkjet quality for text-heavy color documents. The $130 price difference pays for itself in value if color is regularly needed.
→ Pick: HP LaserJet Pro M255dw
💼 Scenario 3: Small business or home office, 500+ pages/month, need network reliability
For heavy users who need rock-solid networking and a higher duty cycle, the M255dw's Ethernet and 20,000-page monthly duty cycle edge it ahead for professional environments. But if color isn't needed, the Brother HL-L2395DW (adds Ethernet and scanner) is a better fit at ~$159.
→ Pick: HP LaserJet M255dw (if color needed) or Brother HL-L2395DW (if monochrome)
The Verdict
For most home and student users: Brother HL-L2350DW wins. The $130 price difference and dramatically lower toner costs make it the smarter buy for anyone who doesn't specifically need color printing. The Brother prints marginally faster and accepts affordable third-party toner.
For color needs: HP LaserJet Pro M255dw. If you want color laser output without the bulk and cost of an inkjet color printer, the M255dw delivers professional-grade color documents. The higher toner cost is the trade-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Brother HL-L2350DW faster than the HP M255dw?▾
Slightly — the Brother is rated at 32ppm vs HP's 30ppm for black-and-white. In real-world use, the difference is minimal. Both feel fast and deliver similar first-page-out times.
Which has cheaper toner — Brother or HP?▾
Brother wins significantly. TN760 high-yield toner is about $0.017/page; HP W2210A is about $0.041/page for black alone. At 300 pages/month, you'd spend ~$61/year on Brother toner vs ~$148/year on HP black toner — and color toner adds significantly more to HP's costs.
Does either printer scan or copy?▾
Neither the HL-L2350DW nor M255dw scans or copies. Both are print-only laser printers. For all-in-one functionality, look at the Brother HL-L2395DW (adds scan/copy) or HP LaserJet MFP M234dw.
Which is better for a home office?▾
For monochrome document printing: Brother HL-L2350DW. Faster, cheaper, and reliable. For color printing (proposals, reports with graphics): HP M255dw. The HP also adds Ethernet for wired network integration if needed.