For most Mac owners, a Brother laser printer is the safest pick because it prints through Apple’s built-in AirPrint with no driver to install: the HL-L2460DW for black-and-white text, the MFC-L3720CDW or HL-L3220CDW for color, and the MFC-L3780CDW if you scan a lot. Canon and HP also support AirPrint, so they work too, but each has its own trade-off in supplies or availability. This guide covers laser printers for Mac, including color and LaserJet options, based on maker specifications and independent reviewer comments, and it explains what AirPrint does and does not give you.
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| Model | Type | Stated speed | Mac and wireless notes | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2460DW | Mono, print-only | Up to 36 ppm | AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi Direct, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB; Mac drivers not provided | No scanner |
| Brother DCP-L2640DW | Mono, print/scan/copy | Up to 36 ppm | AirPrint for printing and scanning | No duplex copying |
| Brother HL-L3220CDW | Color, print-only | Up to 19 ppm | AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi Direct, dual-band Wi-Fi | No scanner |
| Brother MFC-L3720CDW | Color all-in-one | Up to 19 ppm | AirPrint, dual-band Wi-Fi, 50-sheet feeder | Slower engine |
| Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Color all-in-one | Up to 31 ppm | AirPrint, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct, 3.5-inch touchscreen | Larger and costlier |
| Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw | Color all-in-one | Up to 22 ppm | AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, Canon PRINT Business app | Canon US lists as unavailable |
| HP LaserJet Pro 4001dw | Mono, print-only | Up to 42 ppm | HP Smart app, Apple AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi Direct | Feature-light |
How Printing Works on a Mac
Modern macOS discovers AirPrint-capable printers on the same network and adds them without a manufacturer driver. That is why Brother’s product pages say that printing via macOS requires AirPrint and that Mac printer drivers are not provided for models such as the HL-L2460DW, MFC-L3720CDW and MFC-L3780CDW. The practical meaning: setup is quick, and updates to macOS rarely break a working printer. The trade-off is that driver-only features, such as detailed per-tray controls or manufacturer color adjustments, may be limited compared with a full driver. Check the maker’s support page for your macOS version if you need advanced controls.
Scanning follows the same logic. Brother states that the DCP-L2640DW and MFC-L2900DW scanning with Apple devices uses AirPrint-based scanning, which means Image Capture or the Printers and Scanners settings can handle basic scans. If you want special scan software or OCR, use the maker’s app or a third-party scanner utility.
Best Laser Printers for Mac by Need
Best mono for Mac: Brother HL-L2460DW
Brother lists 36 pages per minute, automatic duplex, dual-band wireless, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Mopria and Wi-Fi Direct, a 250-sheet paper tray and a 700-page starter cartridge, with TN830 and TN830XL replacement options. Digital Trends called it surprisingly fast for an inexpensive monochrome laser with few trade-offs. A Mac roundup from Gadgetschamp calls it a budget laser pick, while Cult of Mac, an older roundup, names the Brother HL-L2305W as its top basic mono model. If you only print letters, forms and reports, this is the easy path.
Best color for Mac households: Brother HL-L3220CDW and MFC-L3720CDW
Both list 19 ppm in color and black, automatic duplex, dual-band Wi-Fi, AirPrint and a 250-sheet tray. The MFC-L3720CDW adds a 50-sheet document feeder and a flatbed scanner. Starter cartridges are rated at about 1,000 pages per color on the HL-L3220CDW. Comp and Save lists the HL-L3220CDW among its best laser printers for Mac, and Gadgetschamp calls the MFC-L3780CDW the best all-in-one color laser for Mac users. The L3780CDW lists up to 31 ppm, one-pass duplex scanning at 58 ipm black and 34 ipm color, Gigabit Ethernet and a touchscreen, which suits a Mac user who digitizes paperwork.
Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw: strong warranty, uncertain availability
Canon lists the MF656Cdw at 22 ppm with automatic duplex, a 50-sheet feeder with one-pass two-sided scanning, AirPrint, Mopria, Wi-Fi Direct and a 5-inch touchscreen, with a 3-year warranty. Gadgetschamp reports that RTINGS ranks the related Canon MF665Cdw as best for Mac in its testing, though that claim comes from a secondary roundup. Canon’s US store has listed the MF656Cdw as unavailable, so confirm what Canon lists today and treat reviews of older models as a guide to the line, not to a specific unit.
HP LaserJet options for Mac
HP’s datasheet lists Apple AirPrint, Mopria and Wi-Fi Direct for the LaserJet Pro 4001dw, which runs up to 42 ppm on Letter with automatic duplex and an 80,000-page maximum duty cycle. TechRadar’s review of the 4001dn calls it feature-light with a strong specification sheet. Several roundups also name HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw, 3105sdw and the M110w as Mac-friendly, but those are summarized from secondary sources, so use HP’s page for current specs. HP’s color LaserJet datasheets describe Dynamic Security, which may block cartridges with non-HP chips.
Running Costs on a Mac Are the Same as Anywhere
The operating system does not change toner economics. Compare the cartridge yield you will buy: Brother’s HL-L2460DW starts with 700 pages and takes TN830 or TN830XL; the MFC-L3780CDW starter is rated at 2,300 black and 1,200 per color pages; Canon’s MF656Cdw 067 standard cartridges are listed near 1,350 black and 1,250 per color pages, with high-yield 067H near 3,130 black and 2,350 per color, per one independent review. HP lists 148A, 148X and 148XC black cartridges for the 4001 series at about 2,900, 9,500 and 10,000 pages. Divide a cartridge price by its yield to compare, and use high-yield cartridges if you print weekly.
A practical Mac tip: because AirPrint hides some settings, keep the printer’s own web page handy. Most network printers have an embedded page, reached by typing the printer’s IP address in a browser, where you can adjust paper type, tray and sleep settings.
Choosing Between Mono and Color on a Mac
Mac users often print from Pages, Preview or a browser, mostly letters, invoices and PDFs. For that pattern a monochrome laser is the leaner choice: one toner cartridge, a lower cost per page and fewer parts to maintain. Color becomes worthwhile when you print slides, charts, flyers or school projects. Because every model in the table supports AirPrint, you can change your mind later without worrying about driver support, though a color laser means four toner cartridges to track and a heavier machine to move.
Think about the work surface too. Brother lists a 250-sheet tray on the models above, which is plenty for a home desk. Allow room behind and above the printer for paper and cartridge access, and place it where a cable or Wi-Fi signal reaches comfortably.
Setup and Compatibility Notes
- Same network: Your Mac and printer must be on the same Wi-Fi network or connected by Ethernet for AirPrint to see the printer. Dual-band printers may appear on either band.
- USB fallback: The HL-L2460DW includes USB, which can help if the network is difficult.
- Sleep and wake: If a printer goes offline, a restart of the printer and the router usually reconnects it, as the manuals describe.
- Apple silicon and older Macs: AirPrint works across current macOS versions, but if your Mac is old, read the maker’s compatibility page.
- Fax: Fax functions such as those on the MFC-L2900DW may need the maker’s app on Mac rather than AirPrint; read the manual.
- Warranty: Brother lists 1 year; Canon lists 3 years on the MF656Cdw.
Pick X If… Decision Table
| Pick | If your Mac setup is | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2460DW | Mostly black text from a MacBook | No scanner |
| Brother DCP-L2640DW | Text plus occasional scans | No duplex copying |
| Brother HL-L3220CDW | Color handouts, no scanning | 19 ppm |
| Brother MFC-L3720CDW | Color plus scan and copy | 19 ppm |
| Brother MFC-L3780CDW | Frequent two-sided scanning | Larger and costlier |
| Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw | Value a 3-year warranty | Availability |
| HP LaserJet Pro 4001dw | Fast mono printing with HP Smart | Print-only, feature-light |
Alternatives to Consider
- Ink tank printers: Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank models also support AirPrint and are better for photos and mixed use.
- Compact basics: Roundups mention the Brother HL-L2305W and Canon LBP122dw as small, low-cost lasers for light use.
- Existing office printers: If your workplace already has a networked laser, adding it to your Mac may be easier than buying a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do laser printers need drivers on a Mac?
Most current ones do not. Brother, Canon and HP list AirPrint support, and macOS adds AirPrint printers without a maker download. Brother’s pages state that Mac printer drivers are not provided.
Which brand is most trusted for Mac laser printing?
Reviewers mention Brother most often as the safest Mac choice for driver stability and AirPrint reliability. Canon and HP get picks too, and the brand matters less than checking AirPrint on the specific model.
Can I scan from a Mac with a laser all-in-one?
Yes. Brother states scanning with Apple devices uses AirPrint on several models, and Image Capture or the Scanners settings can handle basic scans. For advanced scan options, use the maker’s app.
Is a color laser worth it on a Mac?
It is if you print color charts, flyers or school projects regularly. For mostly text, a mono laser such as the Brother HL-L2460DW costs less to run. Photos look better on an ink tank or photo inkjet.
What if my Mac cannot find the printer?
Confirm both are on the same network, restart the printer and router, and try adding the printer by IP address in System Settings. If that fails, follow the maker’s support instructions or contact the maker.
Does AirPrint limit print quality?
Not for normal documents. AirPrint can hide some advanced driver controls, such as manufacturer-specific color adjustments, but standard text and graphics print correctly. If you need those advanced options, read the maker’s page for a Mac driver.
