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Brother HL-L2325DW  Printer Review

Reviewed Sep 30, 2022 at 10:27am
Tested using methodology v1.2 
Brother HL-L2325DW
5.2
Family 
7.1
Small/Home Office 
7.2
Student 
7.7
Black & White 
1.4
Photo 
0.0
Color Quality 
9.0
Document Quality 
0.0
Scanner 
 3

The Brother HL-L2325DW is a budget monochrome laser printer. It's a print-only unit with a 1-line monochrome LCD screen, Wi-Fi, and USB connectivity, and it supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. It uses Brother's TN730 toner cartridge and is compatible with the TN760 high-yield and TN770 super high-yield cartridges. It has many variants with slightly different features and performance, including the Brother HL-L2350DW, the Brother HL-L2370DN, the Brother HL-L2370DW, the Brother HL-L2370DWXL, and the Brother HL-L2379DW.

Our Verdict

5.2
Family 

The Brother HL-L2325DW is a good choice if your household only needs to print black and white documents; however, it isn't ideal if you want to print photos or any color documents since it's a monochrome laser printer. It has USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, making it easy for every household member to access, and its cost-per-print is exceptionally low because its toner cartridge lasts a long time and is relatively cheap. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a scanner.

Pros
  • Produces high-quality black and white documents.
  • High page yield; low cost-per-print.
Cons
  • Prints low-quality photos.
  • No scanner.
7.1
Small/Home Office 

The Brother HL-L2325DW is decent for office use. Its toner cartridge yields a lot of pages, which helps reduce maintenance, and it prints high-quality documents very quickly. However, the lack of a scanner and color printing might be limiting to some offices. This model doesn't have Ethernet connectivity, but some variants that do.

Pros
  • Produces high-quality black and white documents.
  • Fast printing speed.
  • High page yield; low cost-per-print.
Cons
  • No scanner.
  • Slow to warm up.
7.2
Student 

The Brother HL-L2325DW is decent for students. It prints very high-quality documents, and although it's slow to warm up and get a single page out, it gets much faster once it starts printing. Its toner cartridge yields a large number of pages before needing replacement and is relatively cheap, which helps keep your maintenance cost low. It has Wi-Fi and USB connectivity and is compatible with Brother's superb mobile app. Sadly, neither this model nor its variants have a scanner.

Pros
  • Produces high-quality black and white documents.
  • Fast printing speed.
  • High page yield; low cost-per-print.
Cons
  • No scanner.
  • Slow to warm up.
7.7
Black & White 

The Brother HL-L2325DW is good for printing black and white documents. It produces very high-quality documents, and while it takes a while to warm up, it prints very quickly once it gets going. Its toner cartridge yields a lot of prints and is relatively cheap, which helps keep your maintenance costs low over time. Unfortunately, neither this model nor its variants have a scanner.

Pros
  • Produces high-quality black and white documents.
  • Fast printing speed.
  • High page yield; low cost-per-print.
Cons
  • No scanner.
  • Slow to warm up.
1.4
Photo 

The Brother HL-L2325DW is bad for photo printing. Because it's a monochrome laser printer, it needs to use halftones to produce different shades of gray, resulting in photos that look grainy and lacking in detail.

Pros
None
Cons
  • Prints low-quality photos.
0.0
Color Quality 

Pros
None
Cons
None
9.0
Document Quality 

Pros
None
Cons
None
0.0
Scanner 

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.1
Speed 

Pros
None
Cons
None
9.1
Recurring Costs 

Pros
None
Cons
None
  • 5.2
    Family
  • 7.1
    Small/Home Office
  • 7.2
    Student
  • 7.7
    Black & White
  • 1.4
    Photo

  • Performance Usages

  • 0.0
    Color Quality
  • 9.0
    Document Quality
  • 0.0
    Scanner
  • 8.1
    Speed
  • 9.1
    Recurring Costs
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Mar 15, 2024: Added mention of the Brother HL-L3280CDW as an alternative with color printing in the Color Documents section.
    2.  Updated Mar 08, 2024: We've added a link to the Brother HL-L2460DW in the 'Build Quality' section of the review to provide an alternative that has a detachable power cord.
    3.  Updated Sep 29, 2023: We've added a link to the Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw in the 'Cartridge' section of the review to provide an alternative that uses a higher-yield standard-format toner cartridge.
    4.  Updated Oct 25, 2022: Added mention of the Canon imageCLASS MF3010 as an alternative with a scanner.

    Check Price

    GrayHL-L2370DW
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    GrayHL-L2325DW
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    GrayHL-L2350DW
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    GrayHL-L2370DN
    Amazon.com
    GrayHL-L2370DWXL
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    Pale GrayHL-L2379DW
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the Brother HL-L2325DW. There are many variants with slightly different features and performance; you can see them in the table below.

    Model Connectivity Advertised Printing Speed (Letter) Additional Features
    HL-L2325DW USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct 26 PPM -
    HL-L2350DW USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct 32 PPM -
    HL-L2370DN USB, Ethernet 36 PPM -
    HL-L2370DW USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet 36 PPM -
    HL-L2370DWXL USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet 36 PPM Includes 1 high-yield (TN760) and 1 super high-yield (TN770) cartridge.
    HL-L2379DW USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet 36 PPM Includes 1 super high-yield (TN770) cartridge.

    If you come across a different variant not listed above or have a similar Brother HL-L2325DW printer that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it.

    You can see our unit's label here.

    Popular Printer Comparisons

    The Brother HL-L2325DW is a very good standalone, monochrome laser printer. Its page yield isn't as good as the similarly-priced HP LaserJet Pro M15w or the Pantum P2502W, but it feels more sturdily built and prints significantly faster. Its variant, the Brother HL-L2370DW, is also a great monochrome printer and a good alternative if you need Ethernet connectivity.

    For other options, see our recommendations for the best laser printers, the best office printers, and the best all-in-one printers.

    Brother HL-L2460DW [HL-L2400D, HL-L2405W]

    The Brother HL-L2325DW and Brother HL-L2460DW are very similar printers. The HL-L2325DW uses TN730 cartridges, whereas the HL-L2460DW uses TN830 cartridges; both offer very similar page yields. The biggest difference between the two regarding physical design is that only the HL-L2460DW has a detachable power cord. However, the HL-L2325DW delivers superior print quality out-of-the-box, requiring no fiddling.

    Pantum P2502W

    The Brother HL-L2325DW is better than the Pantum P2502W. The Brother has a sturdier build, faster printing speed, and automatic duplex printing capability. It also doesn't have issues with misaligned prints, which the Pantum does. However, the Pantum yields more prints per cartridge, resulting in a slightly lower cost-per-print.

    HP LaserJet Pro M15w

    The Brother HL-L2325DW and the HP LaserJet Pro M15w are very similar standalone monochrome laser printers. The HP yields more prints and takes less time to warm up and get a page out; however, the Brother prints faster overall and can perform automatic duplex printing.

    Canon imageCLASS MF3010

    The Brother HL-L2325DW is much better than the Canon imageCLASS MF3010. The Brother produces significantly higher-quality documents, prints much faster, and can perform automatic duplex printing. It also has wireless connectivity, which the Canon lacks, and it's accessible through a mobile app. On the other hand, the Canon has a scanner and yields more prints per toner cartridge.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    8.0
    Build Quality
    TypePrinter Only

    The Brother HL-L2325DW feels very well-built. It's entirely plastic and feels sturdy overall, with strong hinges and no flimsy parts. However, the power cord isn't removable, making it impossible to replace if it gets damaged—you should consider the Brother HL-L2460DW if you want a similar printer with a removable power cord. The input tray is easy to take out and put back in, and the toner cartridge and drum are easily accessible through the top front of the printer. A drawback of the design is that the manual feeder can only hold one page at a time and lacks an extender to hold the page properly, so the paper just hangs off the feeder. Also, accessing paper jams can be difficult for people with large hands because the back panel only opens partially, and even if you try to go through the front by removing the toner cartridge and drum, there's still very little space to maneuver.

    Dimensions
    Height7.3" (18.5 cm)
    Width14.3" (36.4 cm)
    Depth14.8" (37.5 cm)
    Height When In Use
    7.9" (20.0 cm)
    Width When In Use
    14.3" (36.4 cm)
    Depth When In Use
    16.1" (40.8 cm)
    Weight
    17.0 lbs (7.7 kg)
    7.5
    Expected Maintenance
    Ink Related Maintenance
    Not Needed
    Drum Unit
    A Separate Unit

    The Brother L2325DW doesn't require much maintenance. Unlike inkjet printers, there's no risk of printhead clogging if you don't print for an extended period. You don't need to replace the toner cartridge often as it yields a large number of prints. When you need to change it, the cartridge is easily accessible through the front, and the printer doesn't need to be on for the process. You have to replace the drum separately, although it's usually good for around 12,000 prints, so it's not too bad.

    There are a few ways to access paper jams. The first is through the panel on the back of the printer. However, this panel only opens up to 45°, so it might be hard to reach in if you have large hands. You can also remove the paper tray, the toner cartridge, and the drum to access paper jams or remove the duplex feeder in case the jam happens while duplex printing. The main paper tray holds 250 sheets of paper, the output tray holds 100, and the manual feeder holds one.

    You can see the user's guide here.

    3.5
    Display Screen
    Display ScreenYes
    Display Screen Size
    2.0" (5.0 cm)
    TouchscreenNo

    The Brother HL-L2325DW's display is bad. It's a 1-line monochrome LCD that can only display 16 characters. It doesn't allow for tilt or swivel adjustments, but it has good viewing angles, so it's easy to see from all sides. Navigating the settings menu is tedious as the screen can only show a limited amount of text at once, and the buttons have minimal labeling even though they serve multiple functions.

    8.7
    Cartridge
    TechnologyLaser
    SuperTank
    No
    Photo Cartridge
    No
    ColorNo
    Number Of Color Cartridges
    N/A
    Black Cartridge Model
    TN730
    Tested Black Page Yield
    67 prints
    Estimated Black Page Yield
    1,273 prints
    Color Cartridge Model
    No Color Cartridge
    Tested Color Page Yield
    N/A
    Estimated Color Page Yield
    N/A
    Third Party Cartridge
    Purchased One Worked
    Ink Type
    Toner
    High Yield Cartridge
    Yes

    The Brother HL-L2325DW's page yield is excellent, meaning you won't need to replace the cartridge often. The printer stops printing when the toner runs out (tracked through a page counter); however, you can change the settings so that printing continues even when the printer thinks there isn't any toner left. Putting in a partially used toner cartridge prompts a 'Replace Toner' message, so it's likely that the printer can't detect the amount of unused toner in the cartridge and only resets the counter when you put in a new cartridge.

    The Brother HL-L2350DW, HL-L2370DN, HL-L2370DW, and HL-L2379DW variants use the same cartridge and yield a similar number of prints.

    You can increase the yield further with TN760 high-yield or TN770 super high-yield cartridges. The posted number represents the regular TN730 cartridge's yield. The starter cartridge that comes with the printer typically yields around 700 pages. If you're looking for a monochrome laser printer that uses a higher-yield default-format toner cartridge, consider the Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw.

    0.0
    Scanner Features
    Scanner
    No Scanner
    ADF Capacity
    N/A
    Scan Speed
    N/A
    Duplex Scanning
    No Scanner
    Max Flatbed Scan Size
    No Scanner
    Max ADF Scan Size
    No Scanner
    Flatbed Hinge Adjustability
    N/A
    Fax
    No
    Copy
    No
    OCR Included
    No Scanner

    The Brother HL-L2325DW doesn't have a scanner. If you need a monochrome laser printer with a scanner, check out the Canon imageCLASS MF3010.

    N/A
    Scan Quality
    Max Scan Resolution
    N/A
    Max Scan Color Depth
    N/A
    In The Box

    • Quick setup guide
    • CD-ROM with drivers
    • USB-A to USB-B cable
    • DR730 drum unit
    • Starter toner cartridge

    Battery
    Advertised Battery Life
    N/A
    Tested Charging Time
    N/A
    Document
    9.0
    Black & White Documents
    Color Ink Needed For Black & White
    No

    The Brother HL-L2325DW's print quality for black and white documents is outstanding. The text looks very sharp, and all elements are present, even the graph's fine lines and the second page's title. There are some vertical lines, but it isn't too bad.

    0.0
    Color Documents

    The Brother HL-L2325DW can only print in black. If you need a print-only color laser printer, check out the Brother HL-L3280CDW.

    9.1
    Cost-Per-Print
    See details on graph tool
    Black Cartridge Price
    45.49 US$
    Color Cartridge Price
    N/A
    Black-Only Printing Cost
    0.036 US$/print
    Color Printing Cost
    N/A
    Photo Printing Cost
    N/A
    Ink Subscription
    Optional

    The Brother HL-L2325DW's cost-per-print is outstanding because it yields a large number of prints from a single toner cartridge. However, keep in mind that you need to replace the drum separately, which is an additional expense not factored into the cost. The drum usually lasts 12,000 prints, so you won't have to do it too often. Having the drum as a separate unit also makes the toner cartridge less expensive and is more eco-friendly since you don't need to replace it as often as the toner.

    8.1
    Printing Speed
    Black Only Text Document
    33 PPM
    Color Document
    N/A
    Photo Printing Time
    27.1 s
    Single Page Out Time (Black Only)
    24.0 s
    Duplex Printing
    Automatic
    Input Tray Capacity
    250 pages

    The Brother HL-L2325DW printer takes a while to warm up and get a single page out, but it gets much faster once it starts printing, exceeding the advertised 26 PPM printing speed. The other variants, like the Brother HL-L2350DW, Brother HL-L2370DW, and Brother HL-L2379DW, have similar printing speeds, between 32 and 36 PPM. However, they all warm up significantly faster, with the Brother HL-L2370DW taking only 11 seconds.

    Document Printing Sizes
    Letter (8.5" x 11")Yes
    Legal (8.5" x 14")Yes
    Tabloid (11" x 17")No
    A6 (105mm x 148mm)Yes
    A5 (148mm x 210mm)Yes
    A4 (210mm x 297mm)Yes
    Max Paper Weight
    230 g/m²

    The posted maximum paper weight applies to the manual feeder. The main input tray can only support up to 163 g/m².

    Photo
    0.0
    Color Gamut

    The Brother HL-L2325DW can only print in black.

    0.0
    Color Accuracy
    Average Color dE
    N/A
    2.0
    Small Details
    Max Print Resolution (DPI)
    1200 x 1200

    Even though the Brother HL-L2325DW has a high print resolution, the image looks awful because monochrome laser printers need to use halftones (dots of various sizes and spacing) to simulate colors.

    0.0
    Photo Printing Sizes
    Glossy Paper (4" x 6")No
    Glossy Paper (5" x 7")No
    Glossy Paper (8" x 10")No
    Glossy Paper (8.5" x 11")No
    Glossy Paper (13" x 19")No
    Borderless Printing
    No
    Mobile App And Connectivity
    7.0
    Connectivity
    Ethernet
    No
    USB Input To Computer
    Yes
    Wireless
    Yes
    Bluetooth
    No
    Wi-Fi via Router
    Yes
    Wi-Fi Direct
    Yes
    External Storage Support
    No
    Apple AirPrint
    Yes
    Mopria Print Service
    Yes

    The Brother HL-L2370DN variant doesn't have wireless connectivity. The Brother HL-L2370DN, HL-L2370DW, HL-L2370DWXL, and HL-L2379DW have an Ethernet port.

    10
    Mobile App
    Mobile AppYes
    App NameBrother iPrint&Scan
    iOSYes
    AndroidYes
    Photo (JPEG, PNG)
    Android and iOS
    PDF
    Android and iOS
    Microsoft Office Files
    Android and iOS
    Text Files (TXT)
    Android and iOS
    Webpages (HTML)
    Android and iOS

    The Brother HL-L2325DW is compatible with Brother's iPrint&Scan mobile app. You can use it to print, copy, perform maintenance tasks, order supplies, and update the firmware.

    OS Compatibility
    WindowsFully
    macOSFully
    Chrome OSFully

    Comments

    1. Product

    Brother HL-L2325DW: Main Discussion

    Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.

    PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
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    1. Update: Added mention of the Brother HL-L3280CDW as an alternative with color printing in the Color Documents section.

      Show More Updates
    2. 2
      1
      0
      1
      0

      We just purchased it yesterday, so it depends how long it takes to ship to us. You can follow our review status here though!

      Thank you! I look forward to your review. I hope the reviewers will focus on the new type of toner cartridges it uses, and especially the addition of 5GHz wifi in addition to 2.4GHz.

      I love the brother printers but they have been plagued by issues with spotty connections on WiFi networks that utilize the 5GHz band. After much back and forth with Brother Support, they told me that their entire (previous) printer line up has a known issue with any wifi networks that either use mesh (IE Eero and the like) or use Band Steering (basically anything that doesn’t have distinct separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz). Hard to believe I know! They said the only true solution was to plug in via ethernet instead.

      So I imagine this is why Brother is early (among printer manufacturers) in adding 5GHz support. But when the reviews came out for the new colour laser Brother printers that are among the first to support this new feature, they barely mentioned or covered this. So I hope the rtings team might test that a little more extensively or feature it at least in upcoming reviews as it was such a bugbear for Brother up until this point!

      I really appreciate this site! Keep up the good work!

    3. 3
      2
      1
      2
      0

      When will you be reviewing the new HL-L2460DW model that has replaced this model? It is already getting difficult to find any stores that even carry this older model in stock anymore. Thanks!

      We just purchased it yesterday, so it depends how long it takes to ship to us. You can follow our review status here though!

    4. 2
      1
      0
      1
      0

      When will you be reviewing the new HL-L2460DW model that has replaced this model? It is already getting difficult to find any stores that even carry this older model in stock anymore. Thanks!

    5. Update: We’ve added a link to the Canon imageCLASS LBP122dw in the ‘Cartridge’ section of the review to provide an alternative that uses a higher-yield standard-format toner cartridge.

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