Rank #7 in Best Laser Printer 2026: 10 Ranked, and Why the Cheap One Costs More
Brother HL-L3220CW Colour Wireless LED Printer, Single Function
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Brother HL-L3220CW is the cheapest way into colour in our laser-printer ranking, and it takes seventh place as a single-function colour machine. It uses LED technology, which works like a laser — a toner-and-drum engine, not an inkjet — and costs like one to run. It prints around 18 pages a minute, connects wirelessly, and holds a fair 4.2 stars across 406 ratings, so for colour documents or the occasional graphic without an all-in-one price, it does the job at GBP 190.
Being single-function, it only prints: there is no scanner or copier, so it suits someone who specifically needs colour output rather than a full office workflow. And like any colour machine it feeds four toners (the TN248 set — black, cyan, magenta and yellow), so the per-page cost sits above a mono printer even though the sticker is friendly. Two listing entries are worth a careful read — the network field lists only USB even though this is the wireless "CW" model, and the duplex field says "Automatic", which is worth confirming as this single-function model is often sold without automatic two-sided printing. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing rather than our own testing.
How those 406 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.2 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Printer type | Colour LED (laser-class), single function — print only |
|---|---|
| Toners | Four — black, cyan, magenta, yellow (TN248 set) |
| Print speed | 18 ppm (B&W) |
| Print resolution | 600 dpi |
| Duplex (as listed) | Field says "Automatic" — confirm, as this single-function model is often sold without auto duplex |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi and USB (field lists USB only) |
| Paper capacity | 250 sheets in / 250 out |
| Display | LCD |
| Wattage | 430 watts |
| Weight | 14.7 kg |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 39.9 x 39.9 x 23.9 cm |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Model number | HLL3220CWZU1 |
| ASIN | B0CJV67NSL |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchaseGood print quality
“The printer is easy to set up. Just be careful to remove all the pieces of securing.tape, some of which are under the toner cartridges.The print quality is good and the printer is quieter than my previous HP printer.”
Verified purchaseExcellent little printer
“Excellent little printer, very happy with it and the length of time cartridges last too”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Laser Printer 2026: 10 Ranked, and Why the Cheap One Costs More.
Questions people ask
Is the HL-L3220CW a laser or an inkjet?
It is a colour LED printer, which is laser-class: it uses toner and a drum, not liquid ink, so it prints and costs to run like a laser rather than an inkjet. The specification even labels it "Laser". The practical upshot is cheap, smudge-free pages compared with inkjet, but four toners to buy.
Does it scan or copy?
No. It is a single-function printer — print only. Some reviews on the listing mention scanning or copying, but those describe other machines; this model has no scanner. If you need colour scanning and copying, see the HP LaserJet Pro 3302fdw or the Canon MF664Cdw in our ranking.
Why does colour cost more to run?
It feeds four toners — black, cyan, magenta and yellow (the TN248 set) — instead of a single black cartridge, so the cost per page is higher than any mono laser above it. The sticker price is the lowest route into colour here; the running cost is where colour is paid for.
Does it do automatic double-sided printing?
The listing's duplex field says "Automatic", but this single-function model is commonly sold without automatic two-sided printing, so confirm before you rely on it. If guaranteed auto duplex matters, check the specification carefully or consider a model that states it clearly.
Does it connect over Wi-Fi?
Yes — it is the wireless "CW" model and prints over Wi-Fi from a computer or phone, even though the specification's network field lists only USB. Reviewers report easy setup from an iPhone or MacBook.
How fast is it and how big?
The listing gives 18 pages a minute and a 600 dpi resolution, with a 250-sheet tray. It is a substantial desktop unit at 14.7 kg and about 39.9 x 39.9 x 23.9 cm.
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