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The best printer for most Mac users is the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125. It is a wireless color all-in-one that prints, scans, copies, and faxes. If you only print black-and-white documents, the Brother HL-L2460DW laser printer is the better choice because toner does not dry out between uses.
I have spent 20 years helping Apple users choose and set up printers. All three recommendations work with AirPrint, so your Mac, iPhone, and iPad can print without a separate printer driver.
Summary: choose your printer based on what you print
HP OfficeJet Pro 9125
For most homes and small offices that need color, scanning, copying, or faxing.
Biggest drawback: Ink can be expensive, and the software tries to convince you that Instant Ink is a good idea.
Brother HL-L2460DW
For occasional black-and-white documents when you do not need scanning or color.
Biggest drawback: It does not print in color or include a scanner.
Brother MFC-J4355DW
For frequent color printing when lower ink costs matter more than premium controls and scanning.
Biggest drawback: The print and scan quality is lower than the HP.
Will these printers work with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac?
Yes. All three support Apple AirPrint, so they can print from a current Mac, iPhone, or iPad without installing a separate Mac printer driver. Once the printer and your devices are on the same WiFi network, it appears in the standard Print menu.
The manufacturer’s iPhone app is usually the easiest way to connect the printer to WiFi during the initial setup. After that, everyday printing works through macOS. The HP and Brother color printers can also scan; the Brother laser does not include a scanner.
Compare all three printers
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 My pick |
Brother MFC-J4355DW Budget |
Brother HL-L2460DW Laser option |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Product image | View HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 on Amazon | View Brother MFC-J4355DW on Amazon | View Brother HL-L2460DW on Amazon |
| Where to buy | Buy at Best Buy | Buy at Best Buy | |
| Best for | Most homes and small offices that need color and scanning | Frequent color printing with lower ink costs | Occasional black-and-white documents |
| Type | Color inkjet all-in-one | Color inkjet all-in-one | Black-and-white laser, print only |
| check_circle Color and black-and-white 1200 × 1200 dpi black, up to 4800 × 1200 dpi color |
check_circle Color and black-and-white Up to 4800 × 1200 dpi |
check_circle Black-and-white only Up to 1200 × 1200 dpi |
|
| Scan | check_circle Flatbed and 35-sheet document feeder Automatic double-sided scanning |
check_circle Flatbed and 20-sheet document feeder One-sided scanning |
cancel |
| Copy | check_circle | check_circle | cancel |
| Fax | check_circle | check_circle | cancel |
| Double-sided printing | check_circle Automatic | check_circle Automatic | check_circle Automatic |
| Print speed | Up to 22 ppm black, 18 ppm color | Up to 20 ppm black, 19 ppm color | Up to 36 ppm black |
| Paper tray | 250 sheets | 150 sheets plus a single-sheet manual feed slot | 250 sheets |
| Replacement supplies | HP 936 standard or HP 936e high-yield ink | Brother LC506 standard, high-yield, or super-high-yield ink | Brother TN830 standard or TN830XL high-yield toner |
| Biggest drawback | Ink can clog if left unused | Lower print and scan quality than the HP; not personally tested | No color or scanner |
Specifications were checked against current HP and Brother product information on August 27, 2026. Ppm means pages per minute.
Why I recommend the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 on Amazon is the best fit for most people because it covers nearly every home-office need without moving into a much larger business printer. I own its predecessor, the OfficeJet Pro 9015, and I have installed and supported this HP OfficeJet Pro line including the OfficeJet Pro 9015e for clients. All of these printers are virtually identical.
It has the features that matter most:
- Color printing, scanning, copying, and fax
- A 35-sheet document feeder for multi-page scans and copies
- Automatic double-sided printing and scanning
- A touchscreen that is easier to understand than button-only controls
- AirPrint, dual-band WiFi, Ethernet, and USB
- Individual ink cartridges, so you replace only the color that runs out
The main drawbacks are size and ink maintenance. It is not enormous, but it needs more room than the Brother laser. Because it is an inkjet, it can also clog if it sits unused for long periods. Print a page every few weeks if you rarely use it.
Photo quality is good enough for everyday prints, but this is not a dedicated photo printer. For an occasional photo, I would use a local photo-printing service. If you print photos regularly, choose a printer designed for that job.
What to know about HP ink and Instant Ink
I recommend genuine HP ink because I have seen leaking or poorly made third-party cartridges cause trouble for clients. The 9125 uses HP 936 ink with separate black, cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges. If you print regularly, the HP 936e high-yield black cartridge holds more ink.
HP uses dynamic security in the 9125. Cartridges need a new or reused HP chip, and a future firmware update can block a cartridge with a non-HP chip. That does not mean every remanufactured cartridge is incompatible, but it does make off-brand ink less predictable.
HP Instant Ink is optional on the 9125. I recommend declining it during setup unless you have reviewed the plan and know it fits your printing habits. The subscription charges by pages printed, not by the amount of ink you use. If you cancel, HP says the subscription cartridges stop working at the end of the billing cycle and must be replaced with regular cartridges. You can read HP’s current cancellation terms before deciding. But I nearly universally advise against it.
Budget color printer for Mac: Brother MFC-J4355DW
If you print color pages frequently and want to spend less on ink, my budget color pick is the Brother MFC-J4355DW on Amazon. It prints, scans, copies, and faxes, so it covers the same basic jobs as the HP while prioritizing lower running costs.
According to Brother’s current specifications, it prints up to 20 pages per minute in black and 19 in color. It includes a 20-sheet document feeder, automatic double-sided printing, dual-band WiFi, and AirPrint. Its LC506 cartridges are available in standard, high-yield, and super-high-yield sizes, giving frequent color users more options for controlling ink costs.
I have not personally tested the MFC-J4355DW, so it remains a researched alternative rather than my main recommendation. Its 1.8-inch display, smaller paper tray, lack of Ethernet, and one-sided scanning are meaningful compromises compared with the HP. I would choose it for ink economy, not because it is the easiest or most polished printer here.
Best black-and-white printer for Mac: Brother HL-L2460DW
If you print forms, shipping labels, recipes, or other black-and-white documents, buy the Brother HL-L2460DW on Amazon or at Best Buy. It prints only in black and white, and it does not scan or copy. That simplicity is its strength.
Laser toner is a dry powder, so it does not have the clogged-nozzle problem that can affect an inkjet left unused. The Brother prints up to 36 pages per minute, holds 250 sheets, supports automatic double-sided printing, and connects through AirPrint, dual-band WiFi, Ethernet, or USB.
A Brother TN830XL high-yield toner cartridge is rated for about 3,000 pages. For many home users, that means toner replacements are infrequent.
The tradeoffs are clear: no color, scanner, copier, or fax. If you only need to scan something now and then, the document scanner built into the Notes app on an iPhone may be enough.
Who should skip these printers?
- Frequent photo printers: choose a dedicated photo printer instead.
- High-volume offices: look for a business-class printer with higher monthly-duty ratings and larger paper capacity.
- People who do not need color or scanning: skip the inkjets and buy the Brother laser.
- People with very little space: check the measurements before ordering. All-in-one printers need room above the scanner lid and in front of the paper tray.
How to set up your printer on a Mac
Use the HP app for the HP or the Brother Mobile Connect app for either Brother to connect the printer to your WiFi network. Then make sure your Mac is on the same network.
Open a document on your Mac, choose File > Print, and select the printer from the Printer menu. If it does not appear, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, and select it there.
Once your printer is connected to WiFi, feel free to delete the app from your iPhone if you don’t need it. You can still scan and print from any device on your network without the app.
Before you buy
- Decide whether you need color and whether you want a built-in scanner.
- Measure the shelf or table, including room to open the scanner lid.
- Use genuine manufacturer ink or toner unless you are comfortable troubleshooting cartridge compatibility.
- If you buy an inkjet, print something every few weeks to help keep the printhead clear.
- Keep a spare black cartridge or toner on hand before an important deadline, not after the printer runs out.
Key takeaways
- For most Mac users, buy the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125 on Amazon for color printing, scanning, and copying.
- For occasional black-and-white documents, buy the Brother HL-L2460DW on Amazon or at Best Buy.
- For frequent color printing with lower ink costs, choose the budget-friendly Brother MFC-J4355DW, with the caveat that I have not personally tested it yet.
- Decline HP Instant Ink during setup unless you have reviewed the plan and know it fits your printing habits.
Further reading
- The best products for Mac and iPhone users
- How to print from iPhone or iPad
- Troubleshooting steps for when your Mac won’t print
If you want help choosing the right printer or getting it connected to your Mac, iPhone, and WiFi, I offer one-on-one tech tutoring in San Francisco and Washington DC, as well as remote sessions over Zoom. Book a session and I will help you get everything working together.