Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer Review: The No-Nonsense Workhorse Your Office Needs

For years, my home office was a graveyard of failed inkjet printers. It was a familiar, frustrating cycle: print a few documents, leave the printer idle for a few weeks, and return to find the print heads hopelessly clogged. The endless cleaning cycles would drain the shockingly expensive ink cartridges, and the print quality would still be streaky and unprofessional. I remember one particularly stressful morning, trying to print a critical 50-page report for a meeting, only to have my inkjet sputter, jam, and produce pages that looked like abstract art. That was the last straw. The promise of low-cost hardware had led to a high-stress, high-cost reality. This experience, shared by countless users we’ve spoken to, is precisely why we began our search for a better solution—a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective machine built for one purpose: printing documents flawlessly. The search led us directly to the world of monochrome laser printers, and specifically, to the doorstep of this review’s subject.

What to Consider Before Buying a Laser Printer

A laser printer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for productivity and peace of mind. For anyone who prints text-heavy documents regularly—reports, invoices, essays, shipping labels, or manuscripts—a mono laser printer offers unparalleled speed, sharpness, and a remarkably low cost per page. Unlike their inkjet counterparts, laser printers use toner, a fine powder that doesn’t dry out or clog. This makes them the perfect choice for both high-volume environments and for those who print infrequently but need the machine to work perfectly every single time. It’s about investing in reliability and escaping the constant maintenance and consumable costs that plague other printing technologies.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone running a small business from home, a student with heavy printing needs, or anyone in a small office who values efficiency over colour graphics. It’s for the person who has faced the endless cycle of expensive, empty ink cartridges and just wants a device that prints crisp black text, quickly and cheaply. However, it might not be suitable for those who need to print high-quality colour photographs, marketing brochures, or creative projects. For those users, a dedicated photo inkjet printer or a full-colour laser printer would be a more appropriate, albeit more expensive, alternative. Before you make your final decision, it’s vital to assess your true printing needs.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: While business-grade printers can be monstrous, modern home office laser printers are surprisingly compact. Measure your intended space carefully. The Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer has a modest footprint, but you’ll still need to account for the paper tray extending and space for ventilation. Ensure it fits comfortably on your desk or shelf without overcrowding your workspace.
• Capacity/Performance: This is where laser printers shine. Key metrics include Pages Per Minute (PPM), the paper tray capacity, and automatic duplexing (two-sided printing). A higher PPM means less waiting, a large paper tray means fewer refills, and duplexing saves paper and time. Consider your average print volume to decide if a 250-sheet tray and 34 PPM is sufficient or overkill for your needs.
• Materials & Durability: Look for a printer with a sturdy build. While most printer bodies are made of durable plastic, pay attention to the moving parts like the paper tray and output guides. A well-built machine feels solid and is designed to handle the rigours of daily use in a busy office environment without flexing or creaking.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A great printer should be simple to set up and maintain. This includes straightforward driver installation, easy network configuration, and hassle-free toner replacement. Long-term care for a laser printer is minimal, primarily involving replacing the toner cartridge and, much less frequently, the drum unit.

While the Brother HL-L2370DN 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:

First Impressions: A Compact Powerhouse Ready for Business

Unboxing the Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer, our first thought was how efficiently packed and reassuringly solid it felt. Weighing in at 7.2 kg, it has a density that speaks to quality components, unlike the flimsy feel of many budget inkjets. The design is classic office utilitarianism—a compact, dark grey cube that prioritizes function over form. It’s designed to sit unobtrusively on a shelf or in the corner of a desk and just get the job done. Assembly was a breeze; we simply removed the transit tape, inserted the included starter toner cartridge and drum unit with a satisfying click, and loaded paper into the 250-sheet tray. The single-line LCD display is basic but provides all the necessary status information without any confusing frills. From box to ready-to-print, the entire physical setup took less than five minutes. It immediately gives the impression of a tool, not a toy—a piece of equipment built for sustained performance. You can explore its design and features in more detail here.

Deep Dive: A Comprehensive Performance Analysis

A printer’s true worth is revealed not on the spec sheet, but in day-to-day use. We put the Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer through its paces over several weeks, using it as our primary printer for everything from multi-page reports and invoices to shipping labels and scanned articles. Our goal was to test its speed, quality, connectivity, and long-term value to see if it truly lives up to its promise as a home and small office workhorse.

Speed and Print Quality in a Real-World Setting

Brother claims a maximum print speed of 34 ppm, and in our testing, it comes impressively close. For a standard multi-page text document, the first page was out in under 10 seconds, with subsequent pages flying out at a consistent and rapid pace. Printing a 40-page report felt almost instantaneous, a night-and-day difference from the laborious chugging of an inkjet. This speed is a game-changer for productivity; there’s no more standing around waiting for a long document to finish. The automatic duplexing feature is equally impressive. It’s seamless and quick, pulling the page back in and printing the reverse side without any drama or risk of jamming. We found this feature alone to be a massive upgrade, cutting our paper consumption in half for internal documents.

Print quality is exactly what you should expect from a laser: exceptionally sharp. The 2400 x 600 dpi resolution produces razor-crisp text, even at small font sizes. Characters are clean, dark, and perfectly formed with no smudging or bleeding. This makes it ideal for professional correspondence, academic papers, and any document where clarity is paramount. While it’s not designed for complex graphics, it handled charts, logos, and simple diagrams with clean lines and consistent fills. We did note that some users have reported issues with black flecks or faded prints appearing after several months of use. In our extensive testing period, we experienced no such degradation; every page was as flawless as the first. However, it’s a reminder of the importance of using quality toner and performing occasional maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure the machine’s longevity.

Setup, Connectivity, and Network Integration

One of the most pleasant surprises was the setup process. This is where the “DN” in the model name (Duplex, Network) really comes into play. The printer is equipped with an Ethernet port, not Wi-Fi. While some may see this as a drawback, for an office setting, a wired connection offers unparalleled stability and security. We simply plugged the printer into our router with an Ethernet cable, and our Windows 10 PC detected it automatically within seconds, installing the necessary drivers without any need for a disc or manual download. This plug-and-play experience was echoed by other users, who confirmed it “just works” on modern operating systems.

For those on other platforms, Brother’s support is robust. We tested it on a Linux machine, and as one user noted, installing the official driver from Brother’s support site was straightforward and provided full functionality. Once connected to the network, the Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer becomes a shared resource for the entire office. We were able to print seamlessly from multiple PCs, a MacBook (via AirPrint), and even our smartphones using the Brother iPrint&Scan app. The ability for anyone in the house or small office to send a print job without hassle is a massive efficiency boost. It’s important to clarify for potential buyers: this is a *network-ready* printer, not a *wireless* one. It needs a physical cable to your router, but once connected, it allows wireless printing from any device on that same network. This is a critical distinction that some users have missed, so it’s essential to understand your office layout and connectivity before you commit to this excellent networked solution.

Cost of Ownership and Toner Efficiency

The true genius of a mono laser printer lies in its long-term economics. While the initial hardware cost is higher than a cheap inkjet, the total cost of ownership is dramatically lower. The printer arrives with a starter toner cartridge rated for about 700 pages. The real savings, however, begin when you invest in the optional high-yield TN-2420 toner cartridge, which delivers a staggering 3,000 pages. When you calculate the cost per page, it often comes out to a mere fraction of what you’d pay for inkjet ink. This cost-saving potential is the primary reason to upgrade.

We must address a point raised by several users: the price of genuine Brother toner. Yes, an official high-yield cartridge is a significant upfront investment. Some users have expressed frustration with this cost, especially when third-party alternatives are available for less. However, many non-genuine cartridges lack the necessary chip to communicate with the printer, or they use inferior toner that can lead to poor print quality or even damage the machine. In our expert opinion, sticking with genuine Brother toner is the best way to guarantee the flawless print quality, reliability, and longevity that you bought the printer for in the first place. The cost is high, but the yield is massive, and when amortized over thousands of pages, the value proposition remains incredibly strong. Furthermore, for infrequent users, the toner’s stability is a priceless benefit—it will be ready to print perfectly whether it’s been a day or six months since the last job.

What Other Users Are Saying

Diving into feedback from other owners, a clear and consistent picture emerges. The overwhelming sentiment is one of relief from users who have, like us, escaped the “inkjet trap.” One user perfectly summarized this, stating they were tired of “high cost of ink and really low quality/reliability” from their previous printers and found the Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer to be a revelation in terms of low cost per page and suitability for infrequent use. Many praise the easy setup, particularly on Windows and Linux, and the fantastic performance of the automatic duplex printing feature.

However, the feedback isn’t universally perfect. The most common criticism revolves around the cost of genuine toner, with one user noting the price had risen to “a crazy amount.” Another area of confusion, which we also highlighted, is connectivity. A buyer returned the device because they couldn’t connect it to the internet without a cable, mistakenly believing it had built-in Wi-Fi. Similarly, another was disappointed to find it doesn’t make copies, reinforcing the importance of understanding that this is a dedicated, single-function printer. These critiques underscore the need for buyers to do their research and align the product’s features with their specific needs.

How Does the Brother HL-L2370DN Compare to Alternatives?

No product exists in a vacuum. The Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer is a formidable contender, but your specific needs might be better met by a different machine. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives.

1. Brother DCP-L3550CDW Colour Wireless LED Multifunction

If your needs extend beyond simple black-and-white documents, this sibling model from Brother is a compelling upgrade. The DCP-L3550CDW is an all-in-one solution that adds colour printing, scanning, and copying capabilities. It also includes the built-in Wi-Fi that our main review unit lacks. This makes it an ideal central hub for a small office that handles a variety of tasks. The trade-offs are a significantly larger footprint and a higher upfront and running cost, as you’ll need to maintain four toner cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow) instead of just one. It’s the right choice for users who need versatility and colour and are willing to pay a premium for it.

2. HP LaserJet M209dw Wireless Duplex Printer

The HP LaserJet M209dw is a direct competitor in the compact mono laser space. Its biggest advantage over the Brother is the inclusion of built-in dual-band Wi-Fi, offering more flexible placement options. It’s also incredibly compact, making it one of the smallest laser printers in its class. However, its print speed is slightly lower at 30 ppm, and its standard paper tray holds only 150 sheets compared to the Brother’s 250. Many modern HP printers are also closely integrated with the HP+ smart printing system, which may require an internet connection and use of genuine HP toner. This is an excellent choice for individuals with limited space who prioritize wireless convenience over paper capacity and network stability.

3. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4302dw Laser Printer Duplex WiFi

This HP model represents a significant step up in performance and is aimed squarely at busy small to medium businesses. It’s a full-colour multifunction printer (MFP) that offers printing, copying, and scanning with a fast automatic document feeder (ADF). With incredibly fast print speeds, robust security features, and advanced connectivity options like self-healing Wi-Fi, it’s built for demanding environments. This performance comes at a much higher price point, both for the hardware and the consumables. The HP LaserJet Pro is overkill for a typical home office but is the superior choice for a workgroup that needs top-tier speed, colour output, and versatile document handling features.

The Final Verdict: Is the Brother HL-L2370DN Worth It?

After weeks of rigorous testing, our conclusion is unequivocal. The Brother HL-L2370DN Mono Laser Printer is an outstanding machine that delivers precisely what it promises: fast, reliable, and high-quality monochrome printing at an exceptionally low long-term cost. It is the perfect antidote to the frustrations of inkjet printing. Its robust build, generous paper capacity, and seamless automatic duplexing make it a true office workhorse. While the lack of Wi-Fi might deter some, its rock-solid Ethernet connectivity is a boon for stability and security in any shared environment.

We wholeheartedly recommend this printer to students, home office professionals, and small businesses who need to produce a high volume of text-based documents and prioritize speed and cost-effectiveness above all else. It is a no-frills, no-nonsense tool designed for productivity. If you are ready to end the cycle of clogged print heads and expensive ink and invest in a machine that will simply work every time you need it, this printer is an exceptional choice. You can check the latest price and secure your own productivity powerhouse today.

Last update on 2025-10-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API