If there was one word to describe the Brother HL-L2300D, then that would be popular. This is a device that is loved by many in the market mainly because it delivers on what it promises. It’s a different thing altogether that this device doesn’t promise much in the first place. What we’re trying to say here is that the Brother HL-L2300D is a device that is very accomplished in what it does but, at the same time, doesn’t promise to do a lot.
The HL-L2300D is a monochrome laser printer that is aimed at the Small Office / Home Office market segment. Even though it qualifies for this category fairly well, it is important to realise that it is much more suited to individual users with high volume requirements than shared workgroups with low volume requirements. Here are some more details in our review of the Brother HL-L2300D.
Strengths of Brother HL-L2300D
If you analyse the Brother HL-L2300D as a personal printer then one thing stands out and that is its paper handling capacity. In its class, the HL-L2300D offers some exceptional paper handling capabilities. This device’s total paper handling capacity is 251 sheets, which is divided between a 250-sheet primary tray and a single-sheet manual feed slot.
The monthly duty cycle (minimum and maximum both) of the Brother HL-L2300D is conducive to its paper capacity as well. Its minimum monthly duty cycle is 250 sheets while maximum monthly duty cycle is 2,000 sheets.
The print speed of this device is also great for the market segment that it is placed in. The Brother HL-L2300D is formally rated to print at 26 pages per minute (ppm).
Even if it falls short of this ideal-condition metric, like most printers, its print speed is still very good. The best part is that you get this speed without the price of noise. The Brother HL-L2300D is not a noisy printer and that can be a big boon for deep workers.
Another feature that is rare in this class of printers that the Brother HL-L2300D possesses is automatic duplexing. Automatic duplexing is virtually non-existent in the price range that the HL-L2300D hails from. This brings us to the element of cost. The Brother HL-L2300D is one of the most economical monochrome laser printers you’ll find on the market.
Its economy is relevant whether you consider what you have to pay to get it or what you have to pay to run it. For example, you’ll find this device under $80 in most online outlets. At Inkjet Wholesale, you’ll get it for lesser than $70. This puts the HL-L2300D in a very approachable company.
Even if you consider the running cost of this device, you’ll find that it fares well. The running cost, however, will vary on whether you use a genuine cartridge or generic cartridge. With a genuine or OEM cartridge, you can expect to spend about 6 cents for every page you print. On the other hand, using generic or compatible cartridges will mean a lower running cost of only 5 cents per page.
Cost-effectiveness, print speed, and print volume are all available in a very compact package. The dimensions of the Brother HL-L2300D are such that you can easily share your desk with it, even if it isn’t the largest around. The HL-L2300D measures about 183mm high, 360mm deep, and 356mm wide. It is also extremely lightweight. You can probably pick it up with one hand since it only weighs 5.9 Kg.
Weaknesses of Brother HL-L2300D
If the Brother HL-L2300D is so good at what it does, where has the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cut costs? What do you give up by buying such a cheap printer? The answer is advanced features. This machine doesn’t come with any bells or whistles. It doesn’t even have frills. The best example of this is connectivity. The most glaring limitation of the Brother HL-L2300D is that there is only one way you can connect to it – USB 2.0. This is the main reason why this device is more suited to individual users than sharing workgroups. If you want to use the HL-L2300D within a workgroup then you’ll have to access it through the primary connecting computer.
The absence of wireless connectivity and especially Ethernet connectivity is the biggest problem with this device since it also takes Air Print and Google Cloud Print out of the picture. Incidentally, if you want wireless connectivity, you can opt for the slightly more expensive Brother HL-L2640DW. Another slight flaw, if it can be called that, is the absence of a display screen in the control panel. The control panel, instead, consists of a ‘Go’ and a ‘Power’ button with four status indicator lights. The absence of the display screen is not even that pertinent because you’ll most probably be using the Brother HL-L2300D from your computer.
Key Features of Brother HL-L2300D
The output quality of the Brother HL-L2300D is at par with its competitors in the same class. This means that this printer won’t light up your world with its black and white prints but it will do a job. The text output is what you primarily need if you’re going for a monochrome laser printer and the HL-L2300D prints words very well. Just don’t try to use it for printing graphics and photos too much.
While the graphics may be good enough for internal use, the greyscale gradient isn’t the best on the planet. If you print photos, be ready to use them as newspaper clippings. It is rated to produce a maximum resolution of 2400 x 600 dots per inch (dpi).
The Brother HL-L2300D is based on a 266 MHz processor which is backed by an 8 MB RAM. The combination of these allows this device to deliver the first print to you in less than 8.5 seconds from the ‘Ready’ mode and less than 17.5 seconds from the ‘Sleep’ mode.
There are two cost-saving modes that you can use with automatic duplexing and generic cartridges to really protect your pocket. The first of these is Power Saving that will reduce your energy costs and the other is Toner Saving that will cut down the amount of toner you use. Be prepared for lighter prints if you’re going to use the latter though. Brother offers a 12-month return to base warranty on the Brother HL-L2300D.
Leave a Reply