Brother HL-2030 Toner Cartridges

Brother HL-2030 Printer Review

The Brother HL-2030 and HL-2030R are a pair of single-function monochrome laser printers that can suit small workgroup needs. Speeds aren't quite up to par with comparable units, with documents on letter paper printing up to 17 pages per minute and on A4 paper at a maximum of 16 pages per minute. While the HL-2030 is available for an affordable price tag, elements like its speeds, simple design and lackluster output put it low on the list in its class.

One impressive aspect this device has to offer is its size, which is compact and measures only 14x14x6 inches to suit desktop printing. The design, however, suffers from primitive control offered by only a single button and 4 LEDs - one of which will flash when toners are running low. The build also incorporates a USB port and optional Wi-Fi for wireless printing.

The unit is equipped with a total media capacity of 250 pages that can support a maximum size of 8.5x16 inches and media like labels, transparencies and bond paper. The device offers a maximum resolution of 2400x600 dpi using black Brother HL-2030 printer toner on media like plain paper, but reviews indicate that there are banding issues and the paper sometimes curls when printing.

One perk to this device is its low-cost print system, which incorporates only one black Brother HL-2030 toner cartridge. This supply can be replaced with a remanufactured Brother HL-2030 toner cartridge that is less expensive than genuine toner and can further reduce costs. Each replacement can yield a maximum of 2,500 pages to support medium volumes for small workgroups.

There are few redeeming qualities to this device, but slow speeds, below par output and primitive control features bring it down. However, it has optional wireless connectivity and is compact and inexpensive to own, which may be enough to suit small workgroups with basic print needs.