HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer Review: The Compact Colour Powerhouse Put to the Test

For years, my home office was haunted by the ghost of printers past. Specifically, the inkjet variety. I can’t count the number of times I needed to print a single, urgent document—a return label, a concert ticket, a signed contract—only to be met with streaky lines, faded colours, or the dreaded “low ink” warning on cartridges I’d barely used. The ink, it seemed, had a tendency to dry up from sheer lack of use. This cycle of buying expensive cartridges, using them once or twice, and finding them useless months later was not only costly but incredibly frustrating. The alternative, a traditional office laser printer, felt like overkill—a hulking, beige behemoth that would dominate my already cramped desk space. I needed something that combined the reliability and crisp text of a laser with a footprint that wouldn’t require a complete office remodel. The search was on for a compact, capable, and colourful solution.

What to Consider Before Buying a Home Laser Printer

A laser printer is more than just a device that puts ink on paper; it’s a key solution for productivity, reliability, and long-term value, especially in a home or small office setting. The primary problem this category solves is the “inkjet frustration”—the aforementioned issue of dried-up cartridges, smudging, and slow speeds for text-heavy documents. Laser printers use toner, a dry powder, which doesn’t dry out. This means you can leave the printer for weeks or even months and trust it to produce a perfect page when you need it. The main benefits are crisp, professional-quality text, faster printing speeds for monochrome documents, and often a lower cost per page in the long run, making them an excellent investment for consistent, reliable document printing.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenges of a modern hybrid work environment: the home office worker, the small business owner, the university student, or the family that needs a dependable printer for homework and administrative tasks. If you primarily print text documents, reports, invoices, and occasional colour charts or presentations, a compact colour laser is a perfect fit. However, it might not be suitable for those who need high-fidelity photo printing. Professional photographers or graphic designers would be better served by a dedicated photo inkjet printer, which offers superior colour depth and tonal range. Likewise, if you need to scan or copy documents frequently, an all-in-one or multifunction printer would be a more practical choice than a print-only model like this one.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your available desk or shelf space carefully. While many modern laser printers are surprisingly compact, some have design quirks. Pay special attention to the true operational footprint, which includes protruding paper trays or the space needed to open access panels for toner replacement. A printer’s listed dimensions can be misleading if the paper tray adds significant depth.
• Capacity/Performance: Performance is measured in pages per minute (ppm). Look for separate speeds for black and white (mono) and colour, as there can be a dramatic difference. For home use, 15-20 ppm for mono is typically sufficient. Also, consider the paper tray capacity. A 150-sheet tray is fine for personal use, but a busy small office might find themselves refilling it constantly and would benefit from a larger capacity.
• Connectivity & Ease of Use: Modern printers should offer flexible connectivity. Wi-Fi is standard, allowing you to print from laptops, smartphones, and tablets without being tethered by a cable. Look for support for apps like HP Smart, Apple AirPrint, or Mopria, which simplify mobile printing. However, always consider an Ethernet port as a reliable backup, as Wi-Fi connectivity can sometimes be temperamental.
• Long-Term Costs & Maintenance: The initial purchase price is only part of the story. Investigate the cost and page yield of replacement toner cartridges. While original manufacturer toners offer the best quality and reliability, third-party options can sometimes provide savings. Also, consider the lack of duplex (automatic two-sided) printing; if you print many multi-page documents, manually flipping pages can become tedious and a model with this feature might be worth the extra cost.

While the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer is an excellent choice for many, 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 Study in Compact Design

Unboxing the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer revealed a device that lives up to its primary marketing claim: it is impressively small. Weighing a solid 10 kilograms, it feels dense and well-constructed, not flimsy. The clean white and grey aesthetic is modern and unobtrusive, designed to blend into a home office rather than dominate it. Inside the box, we were pleased to find everything needed to get started, including a full set of starter toner cartridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) pre-installed, a power cable with both UK and continental plugs, and a USB cable for those who prefer a direct connection. Setup is guided almost entirely by the HP Smart app, which prompts you to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. The top panel has a simple LCD display and a few buttons, but it’s clear the app is intended to be the primary control method. The most immediate and striking design choice, however, is the paper tray. To maintain its tiny footprint, the 150-sheet input tray protrudes significantly from the front when loaded with A4 paper, a necessary compromise that buyers absolutely need to be aware of when measuring their space.

Putting the HP Colour Laser 150nw Through Its Paces

A printer’s value is ultimately determined by its real-world performance. It’s one thing to read a spec sheet, but another entirely to live with a device day in and day out. We spent considerable time testing the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer across a range of tasks, from multi-page reports and invoices to colour-rich presentations and even a few test photos on plain paper. Our goal was to understand its strengths, identify its weaknesses, and determine exactly who this printer is built for. The results were a mix of impressive capability and frustrating quirks, painting a picture of a specialised tool rather than an all-purpose workhorse.

Setup and Connectivity: The HP Smart App Experience

HP heavily pushes users towards its HP Smart app for setup, and for good reason—it aims to streamline what can be a daunting process. Our initial setup experience was relatively smooth. After downloading the app to a smartphone, it quickly discovered the printer and guided us through connecting it to our office Wi-Fi network. Within about 15 minutes, we were printing wirelessly from both a Windows 10 PC and an iPhone. This aligns with feedback from users who found it “easy to install” and were impressed with how quickly they could get started. However, our smooth sailing isn’t the universal experience.

We dug into numerous user reports of significant connectivity issues, and it’s a critical point to address. Many users have struggled, describing the Wi-Fi connection as something that “ENDLESSLY disconnects” or is “tricky” to establish in the first place. Some reported the printer dropping off the network and needing to be power-cycled to be rediscovered. These issues seem particularly prevalent in environments with complex network setups or when trying to connect from different operating systems like macOS. We did encounter a brief moment where the printer became unresponsive over Wi-Fi, but a quick restart resolved it. For those who face persistent issues, the inclusion of an Ethernet port is a saving grace. Plugging it directly into our router provided a rock-solid, instantaneous connection that eliminated all wireless ambiguity. We strongly recommend using the wired Ethernet connection if the printer is located near your router, as it offers a far more reliable experience than relying solely on Wi-Fi, a feature that really sets it apart from some Wi-Fi-only competitors.

Print Quality and Performance: Speed vs. Substance

The core function of any printer is, of course, printing. Here, the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer is a tale of two very different machines. For black and white documents, it’s a nimble and efficient performer. The claimed speed of 18 ppm felt accurate in our tests. It churned out multi-page text documents with a speed and quietness that left our old inkjet in the dust. The 600 x 600 dpi resolution produces exceptionally sharp, clear text that is smudge-proof the moment it leaves the printer. For reports, letters, and invoices, the quality is professional and faultless. This is where the printer truly shines and justifies its existence in a home office.

Colour printing is another story. The rated speed of just 4 ppm is slow, and it feels it. Printing a single A4 page with a mix of text and colour graphics took a noticeable amount of time as the machine whirred and processed. This isn’t a printer for high-volume colour jobs. However, for its intended use—adding a colour logo to an invoice, printing a presentation with charts, or a school project—the quality is more than adequate. We tested it by printing a high-resolution photograph on standard 80gsm A4 paper, and as one user noted, the result was “quite good.” The colours were reasonably vibrant and the detail was decent for a laser printer in this class. It won’t rival a photo inkjet, but it’s perfectly capable for business or educational graphics. We did not experience the smudging or “ghost images” some users reported, which suggests those instances may be due to faulty units or fuser issues, a serious concern but not one we could replicate.

Design and Ergonomics: The Smallest Footprint with a Catch

HP’s claim that this is the “world’s smallest colour laser in its class” is the headline feature, and the main chassis of the printer absolutely delivers on this promise. It’s remarkably compact and will fit on shelves or in tight desk corners where other laser printers simply wouldn’t. The minimalist design is smart and modern. However, this compact size comes with a significant ergonomic compromise that was a recurring theme in user feedback and our own experience: the paper tray.

To keep the body small, the 150-sheet input tray is not fully enclosed. When loaded with A4 paper, the tray and the paper itself stick out about 15cm from the front of the unit. This dramatically increases its real-world depth and is something that could be a deal-breaker if you have a narrow shelf. As one user aptly put it, “It’s annoying as makes footprint of printer bigger.” This design feels like a necessary evil to achieve its small size, but it’s a crucial detail. The output tray is a simple plastic flap on top, with a capacity of 50 sheets, which is perfectly adequate for personal use. Accessing the toner cartridges is straightforward via a top-loading panel, making replacement a simple task. Ultimately, the design is a clever piece of engineering, but one that requires careful consideration of your available space before you check the latest price and availability.

What Other Users Are Saying

Sifting through the experiences of other owners provides a valuable, balanced perspective on the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer. The sentiment is noticeably divided, highlighting that this printer is a great fit for some users and a source of immense frustration for others.

On the positive side, many users echo our sentiment about its core purpose. One owner, tired of inkjet issues, praised it, saying, “I didn’t want an ink jet as I would have had issues with the cartridges drying up… the laser jet was an ideal choice and thankfully this one isn’t some desk monster.” Another was simply happy with its performance, stating, “I love this printer…. Easy to install, easy to print… And it’s working fast.” These comments reflect users whose primary need was reliable, occasional printing in a small space, and for them, the printer delivers.

However, the negative feedback is consistent and points to significant flaws. The most common complaint revolves around connectivity and software. One user’s detailed account of perseverance is telling: “It ENDLESSLY disconnects and spends ages searching for the network. It will then eventually make a lot of noise and claim it’s printed, but nothing appears.” Others simply called it “Very slow and always print error!” Several users also reported serious hardware failures within months, citing error codes or complete breakdowns. This suggests that while a working unit performs its job, there may be quality control issues leading to a frustrating experience for an unlucky minority.

How Does the HP Colour Laser 150nw Compare to the Alternatives?

No product exists in a vacuum. To truly understand the value of the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against other popular choices in the market, each catering to slightly different needs.

1. Brother HL-1212W Mono Laser Printer

The Brother HL-1212W represents the most direct alternative for users prioritising simplicity and cost over colour. This is a monochrome-only laser printer. Its primary advantage is its focus on doing one thing exceptionally well: printing black and white documents quickly and reliably. It often comes in at a lower price point than the HP, and its toner cartridges are typically very cost-effective. Someone who never, or very rarely, needs to print in colour would be better served by this machine. You trade the versatility of colour for potentially greater reliability, lower running costs, and a simpler user experience. If your printing needs are 99% text, the Brother is a pragmatic and economical choice.

2. Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW A3+ Printer Two Trays

The Epson WorkForce WF-7310DTW sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. This is a high-capacity A3+ inkjet printer, not a laser. Its key selling point is its ability to print on large-format paper, making it ideal for users who need to produce posters, spreadsheets, or architectural drawings. As an inkjet, it also offers superior colour photo quality compared to the HP laser. However, it comes with all the traditional inkjet drawbacks: liquid ink that can dry out if used infrequently and a much larger physical footprint. This is the right choice for creative professionals, businesses needing A3 capabilities, or anyone who values high-quality photo output above all else.

3. Brother HL-L2400DWE Mono Laser Printer Automatic 2-sided print

The Brother HL-L2400DWE is a step up in office productivity from both the HP and the HL-1212W, but it remains a monochrome-only device. Its standout feature is automatic duplex (2-sided) printing, a critical function for anyone printing multi-page documents who wants to save paper and create more professional-looking reports. This feature is notably absent on the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer. This Brother model is built for efficiency in a text-heavy environment. A user in a home office who frequently prints long contracts, essays, or manuals would find the duplex feature invaluable and would likely prefer this model over the single-sided printing of the HP, even if it means sacrificing colour.

Our Final Verdict: Is the HP Colour Laser 150nw the Right Printer for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer is one of qualified recommendation. It successfully achieves its primary goal: to be a very compact colour laser printer that frees users from the tyranny of dried-up inkjet cartridges. For those with limited space who need reliable, crisp text printing and the occasional splash of colour for charts or schoolwork, it is a compelling option. The print quality for documents is excellent, and the laser technology means it’s ready to go whenever you are.

However, its strengths are matched by significant trade-offs. The slow colour print speed makes it unsuitable for anything beyond light use, the operational footprint is much larger than its dimensions suggest due to the protruding paper tray, and the well-documented Wi-Fi connectivity issues can be a major source of frustration. It’s a printer that demands patience. We recommend it for users who are willing to use the more stable Ethernet connection or are prepared to troubleshoot the wireless setup, and whose printing needs align perfectly with its specific skill set: frequent mono documents and very infrequent colour pages. If that sounds like you, the HP Colour Laser 150nw Wireless Printer could be the perfect, compact solution to your printing woes. For anyone considering this unique model, we suggest you see its full feature set and user reviews to make a final decision.

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