Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer Review: The Compact Workhorse for Home Offices?

I remember the distinct feeling of panic. It was 11 PM, my thesis was due the next morning, and my trusty old inkjet printer decided to display the one error message that strikes fear into the heart of any student: “Ink Cartridge Not Recognised.” After an hour of frantic cleaning, re-inserting, and pleading, I admitted defeat. The ink had dried up from weeks of inactivity. That frantic, late-night dash to a 24-hour printing shop taught me a valuable lesson about the hidden costs and frustrations of inkjet technology for someone who doesn’t print every single day. This experience is precisely why a reliable, compact monochrome laser printer is so appealing. For home offices, students, or small businesses, the need isn’t for vibrant holiday photos; it’s for crisp, clear text documents, shipping labels, and reports that print on command, every time, without fuss. The Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer aims to be the perfect antidote to this common problem.

What to Consider Before Buying a Compact All-in-One Printer

An All-in-One Printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for streamlining your workspace and boosting productivity. By combining printing, scanning, and copying into a single device, it eliminates the need for multiple bulky machines, saving precious desk space and money. For those of us working from home or in smaller office environments, this consolidation is a game-changer. The main benefit of a monochrome laser model, specifically, is its unwavering reliability and cost-effectiveness for text-based documents. Unlike inkjets that can suffer from clogged nozzles or dried cartridges after periods of disuse, a laser printer’s toner is a dry powder, ready to go whenever you are. This means lower long-term running costs and significantly less maintenance-related stress.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the classic home-office dilemma: needing a reliable machine for moderate volumes of black-and-white printing, scanning receipts, or copying documents, but without the space for a full-sized office machine. Students printing essays, remote workers printing reports, or families printing homework and forms will find immense value here. However, it might not be suitable for those who require high-quality colour photo printing, graphic designers, or anyone needing to print on specialised media beyond plain paper. For those users, a dedicated photo inkjet printer or a more advanced colour laser printer would be a more appropriate, albeit more expensive, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your intended space carefully. While the Brother DCP-1612W is marketed as compact, you must also account for operational space, such as the paper tray which extends from the front. We found, as some users have confirmed, that it can fit into tight spaces like an IKEA Kallax shelf, but you need to leave room for ventilation and paper loading.
• Capacity/Performance: Look beyond just the print speed (ppm). Consider the paper tray capacity—150 sheets is standard for this class and suitable for home use but might be limiting for a busy office. Also, investigate the toner yield. The included starter toner offers fewer pages than a standard replacement, so factor in the cost of a full-yield toner for a true picture of its running costs.
• Materials & Durability: Most budget-friendly printers are constructed primarily from plastic. While this keeps them lightweight, assess the feel of key components like the paper tray, scanner lid, and control panel buttons. We noted the plastic on this model feels functional but not premium, which is a common trade-off in this price bracket.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The setup process can be a significant hurdle. Check if a USB cable, often required for initial Wi-Fi configuration, is included. For long-term care, understand the consumables. This model uses a separate toner cartridge and drum unit, meaning you’ll eventually need to replace both, which is an important long-term cost consideration.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the Brother DCP-1612W: First Impressions and Key Features

Opening the box of the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer reveals a straightforward, no-frills package. Inside, we found the printer unit itself, securely packed, along with a 700-page starter toner cartridge, the drum unit (pre-installed), a UK power cable, a software CD, and a quick setup guide. The first thing we noticed—and a point of contention echoed in many user experiences—was the glaring omission of a USB-A to USB-B cable. This is a critical oversight, as the recommended setup procedure for Wi-Fi often involves a temporary USB connection.

Lifting the printer out, its 7.2kg weight is manageable, and its compact dimensions (38.5 x 34 x 25.5 cm) immediately impress. It’s small enough to sit on a desk without dominating the space or to be tucked away on a sturdy shelf. The all-black plastic construction feels solid enough for its intended use, though it won’t be winning any design awards. The control panel is simple, featuring a two-line monochrome LCD and a series of tactile buttons, which feel responsive and clearly labelled. One design choice that stood out immediately is the 150-sheet paper tray, which protrudes from the front of the unit when loaded, leaving the paper stack exposed to dust. It’s a space-saving measure, but one that feels like a slight compromise.

A Detailed Look at the Brother DCP-1612W’s Performance

A printer’s true worth is revealed not on the spec sheet, but in the day-to-day grind of printing, scanning, and copying. We put the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer through its paces over several weeks, using it for everything from multi-page reports and university assignments to scanning receipts and copying official documents. Our deep dive reveals a machine with a solid core performance that is occasionally let down by frustrating setup quirks and minor design compromises.

The Setup Gauntlet: Navigating a Fiddly Installation

Let’s address the elephant in the room first: the setup process. In our testing, this was a mixed bag that leaned towards frustrating. Eager to test the “wireless” capabilities, we attempted a completely cable-free setup. This involves a slightly convoluted process of putting the printer into Wi-Fi setup mode and then connecting to it from a computer or mobile device to input the network credentials via a web browser. It can be done, but it’s not intuitive and requires patience. Several users have noted that they simply gave up on this method. Our experience validates their frustration.

The far more reliable method, as recommended by Brother’s own guide, is to use a USB cable for the initial configuration. This allows the installation software (downloadable from their website, as few modern laptops have CD drives) to seamlessly detect the printer and transfer your Wi-Fi settings. The irony, of course, is that this essential cable is not included. We had one on hand, but for a first-time buyer, this could mean an immediate halt to the setup process and an unexpected trip to the store. As one user aptly put it, it’s “shocked and disappointed” to find a required component missing. Once connected via USB, the software installation on both Windows 10 and macOS was straightforward, taking about 10-15 minutes to install the drivers and utility software. Our advice is unequivocal: have a USB-A to USB-B cable ready before you start.

Print, Scan, and Copy: The All-in-One Workhorse in Action

Once the setup hurdles were cleared, the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer truly began to shine. This is where the core value of the machine lies. Printing is its strongest suit. The claim of 20 pages per minute (ppm) is accurate for simple text documents after the first page is out. The first-page-out time is a respectable 10 seconds from ready mode. We printed a 50-page thesis draft, and the machine churned through it quickly and, most importantly, quietly. The operational noise is a low hum, far less intrusive than the jerky, high-pitched sounds of many inkjets. Print quality, at a resolution of 600 x 600 dpi, is excellent for its purpose. Text is sharp, crisp, and clean, even at smaller font sizes, making it perfect for professional reports, essays, and legal documents.

The scanning function is handled by a flatbed scanner on top. It’s simple and effective. Using Brother’s iPrint&Scan software, we could easily scan documents directly to our PC as PDFs or JPEGs. The colour scanning quality is sufficient for archiving documents, receipts, or even kids’ artwork, though it’s not designed for high-resolution photo archival. Copying is just as simple. You can make up to 99 copies of a document without ever touching a computer, using just the buttons on the control panel. The quality of the copies is a faithful reproduction of the original, with no noticeable degradation. For everyday home office tasks, this 3-in-1 functionality is seamless and reliable.

Connectivity and Day-to-Day Usability

Post-setup, the wireless connectivity proved to be rock solid. The printer maintained a stable connection to our Wi-Fi network throughout the testing period, waking from sleep mode promptly when a print job was sent. This is a significant advantage over some budget printers that are known to frequently drop their network connection. The ability to print wirelessly from any device on the network is liberating. We tested this from a Windows laptop, a MacBook, an Android phone, and an iPhone. Using the Brother iPrint&Scan app on mobile was particularly convenient, allowing us to print documents and photos directly from our phones with ease. This “it just works” reliability is a major selling point.

However, daily use does highlight some of the printer’s design compromises. As mentioned, the paper tray’s design means your paper stack is always exposed, which isn’t ideal in a dusty environment. Furthermore, we noted a few user reports of receiving units with a hard-wired European two-pin plug instead of a standard UK one. This seems to be an issue with stock from different distributors and is a significant problem, as the power cord is not detachable. While this wasn’t the case with our test unit, it’s a potential pitfall for buyers to be aware of when purchasing online.

Running Costs and Long-Term Value

The primary reason to choose a mono laser printer is the long-term saving on running costs, and the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer delivers on this promise. The included starter toner is rated for 700 pages, which is enough to get you going. A standard replacement Brother TN-1050 toner cartridge yields approximately 1,000 pages. While the upfront cost of a toner cartridge is higher than an ink cartridge, the cost per page is significantly lower, and more importantly, the toner will not dry out. This makes it incredibly economical for those who print infrequently.

One crucial detail, highlighted by an astute user and confirmed in our research, is the separate DR-1050 drum unit. This component is separate from the toner and requires replacement after approximately 10,000 pages. While this is a long way off for a typical home user, it is an additional long-term cost to be aware of. Even factoring this in, the total cost of ownership remains far below that of a comparable inkjet printer, especially when you account for the wasted ink from cleaning cycles and dried-out cartridges. Considering the reliability and low per-page cost, the Brother DCP-1612W presents a compelling case for budget-conscious users who value dependability over colour.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings align closely with the general consensus among other users. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive regarding the printer’s core function, with most praise centring on its value and reliability. One user summed it up perfectly: “Great value laserjet printer… I need the printer for occasional use, so previous inkjets have always had issues with the ink drying out. Much more hopeful I won’t have that issue with a laserjet.” Another highlighted its compact size, stating it “Fits perfectly in the cupboard under my working from home desk.”

However, the negative feedback is just as consistent and focuses almost entirely on the setup process and included accessories. The lack of a USB cable is a common and justified complaint. One frustrated customer wrote they were “Shocked and disappointed to receive my parcel only to find it was missing the usb connection cable (required to complete the installation).” Another significant issue flagged by multiple UK-based users is receiving a model with a hard-wired EU plug, rendering it unusable without an adapter or rewiring, which is a major inconvenience and a compliance issue for sellers.

How Does the Brother DCP-1612W Compare to the Alternatives?

The Brother DCP-1612W occupies a specific niche, but it’s important to understand the inkjet alternatives. While they offer colour printing, they come with a different set of trade-offs in terms of cost and reliability.

1. Canon PIXMA TR4650 Multifunctional Inkjet Printer

The Canon PIXMA TR4650 is a direct competitor in the budget all-in-one space, but it uses inkjet technology. Its primary advantage is the ability to print in colour, making it a more versatile choice for families or home offices that need to print photos, school projects, or colour charts. It often includes features like an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for multi-page scanning, which the Brother lacks. However, it comes with the classic inkjet drawbacks: higher ink costs per page and the risk of cartridges drying out if not used regularly. This Canon is a better fit for users who need versatile colour functionality and accept the higher running costs.

2. Canon PIXMA TS5350 Wifi Printer

The Canon PIXMA TS5350 is another inkjet alternative that leans more towards creative and photo printing. It typically offers superior print quality, especially for photos, with a more advanced multi-ink system. Its design is often more stylish and modern, fitting well into a home environment. While it can handle document printing, its main purpose is not high-volume text output. The ink costs are significantly higher than the Brother’s toner, making it an expensive choice for printing essays or reports. This printer is best suited for hobbyists, crafters, and photo enthusiasts who prioritise colour fidelity over monochrome efficiency.

3. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 4-in-1 Printer Duplex ADF

The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 represents a step up into the small business category. This is a much more feature-rich inkjet machine, offering faster print speeds in both black and colour, automatic duplex (two-sided) printing, a large ADF, and often fax capabilities. It’s built for higher print volumes than the Brother. However, it is significantly larger, has a higher upfront cost, and while its high-yield ink cartridges can be cost-effective, they still don’t match the per-page economy and reliability of the Brother’s laser toner for simple text documents. This Epson is for a small office that needs speed and colour features, not the compact simplicity of the Brother.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Brother DCP-1612W the Right Printer for You?

After extensive testing, our verdict on the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer is clear: it is a fantastic, no-nonsense workhorse for its target audience. If you are a student, a remote worker, or anyone who primarily prints text-based documents and is utterly fed up with the cost and unreliability of inkjet printers, this machine is a breath of fresh air. Its core strengths are its dependable performance, crisp print quality, speedy output, and incredibly low long-term running costs. Its compact size is the icing on the cake.

However, it is not without its flaws. The setup process is more challenging than it needs to be, a problem made worse by Brother’s baffling decision not to include the all-but-essential USB cable. The exposed paper tray and functional-but-basic build quality are minor compromises for the price. If you can overcome the initial setup hurdle, you are rewarded with a machine that will simply and reliably serve its purpose for years to come. It’s a tool, not a toy, and it performs its job exceptionally well.

If you’ve decided the Brother DCP-1612W Wireless Mono Laser Printer is the right fit for your home office, you can check its current price and purchase it here.