Brother HL-L3220CDW Review (2026): Honest Pros, Cons & Who It's Really For
Last Updated:Disclosure: Castle Ink sells compatible ink and toner cartridges. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases through links on this page, including Amazon links. This doesn't affect our opinions or conclusions.
Our review process is explained in our printer testing methodology. For more options in this category, see our 10 Best Laser Printers roundup.
Quick Verdict
The Brother HL-L3220CDW is an entry-level color laser printer aimed at people tired of inkjet cartridges drying out between uses. Print quality for text and color graphics is genuinely impressive for the price, and once it's connected, it's a reliable workhorse. The setup process is the sticking point: several buyers, especially on Mac, ran into real connectivity and certificate headaches getting it onto their network. If you're patient through setup and mostly print documents rather than photos, it's a solid value at around $285 on Amazon.
At a Glance
- Function: Print only — no scan, copy, or fax
- Print speed: Up to 19 pages per minute, black or color
- Resolution: Up to 2400 x 600 dpi
- Paper handling: 250-sheet tray plus manual feed slot
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Duplex printing: Automatic two-sided printing
- In-box toner: Rated for about 1,000 pages black and white, 1,000 pages color
- Replacement toner: Brother TN229 (standard) or TN229XL (high yield)
- Size and weight: 15.7"L x 15.7"W x 9.4"H, 24.7 lbs
- Price: Around $285
Who This Printer Is For
This is a strong fit for anyone switching from a color inkjet who got tired of clogged printheads and dried-out cartridges after periods of inactivity. It's well suited to home offices that occasionally need color for charts, forms, or travel documents but don't print enough color to justify a full color laser all-in-one. Multiple reviewers specifically bought it to replace an inkjet for exactly this reason and were happy with the switch.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you need to scan or copy — this is a print-only machine. It's also not the right choice for photo printing; several owners note it handles text and graphics well but isn't intended to replace a photo printer. If you're not on Windows, Mac, or Linux with a reasonably current OS version, double check compatibility first, since a few Mac users ran into significant certificate and driver issues during setup.
What People Love
Print quality is the standout theme in reviews — owners describe text as sharp and color output as vibrant, even for detailed graphics and photos printed on plain paper. Several buyers specifically highlight how well it handles idle periods without the clogging or dried-ink issues that plague inkjets. First-page-out speed and overall quietness also get consistent praise for a printer in this price range.
The Legitimate Complaints
The most detailed negative review described an extremely difficult Mac setup: the printer initially worked, then began throwing "invalid certificate" errors that required creating a self-signed certificate, exporting it to the Mac Keychain, and manually marking it as trusted — a multi-step technical process most casual users wouldn't be able to complete without help. That same reviewer later ran into the printer forgetting its own default password during a firmware update, requiring another full reset.
A second recurring theme is the cost of genuine Brother toner relative to the printer's price — one buyer estimated a full set of four genuine cartridges costs nearly as much as the printer itself, and switched to third-party toner as soon as the originals ran out. A few owners also mentioned pages coming out slightly curled.
How It Compares
| Brother HL-L2460DW (Cheaper, Mono Only) | Brother HL-L3220CDW (This Model) | Brother MFC-L3720CDW (Upgrade) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color printing | No | Yes | Yes |
| Functions | Print only | Print only | Print, scan, copy, fax |
| Print speed | 36 ppm (black) | 19 ppm | 19 ppm |
| Connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi, USB | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB |
| Approx. price | ~$180 | ~$285 | ~$460 |
Cheaper Alternative: Brother HL-L2460DW
If you don't actually need color, our Brother HL-L2460DW review covers a faster, cheaper monochrome laser printer that's a better value for text-only printing.
Upgrade Pick: Brother MFC-L3720CDW
If you also need to scan, copy, or fax, the MFC-L3720CDW adds those functions in the same print engine and toner family, for a meaningfully higher price.
Toner and Supplies
The HL-L3220CDW uses Brother TN229 (standard yield) or TN229XL (high yield) toner, sold as a 4-cartridge set covering black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Castle Ink stocks compatible 4-packs of both. Full yield and replacement details are in What Toner Does the Brother HL-L3220CDW Use?
FAQ
Does the HL-L3220CDW scan or copy?
No. It's a print-only color laser printer. For scanning and copying, look at the MFC-L3720CDW or a similar all-in-one model.
Can it print photos?
It can print photos on plain paper reasonably well for a laser printer, but it's not designed to replace a dedicated photo printer for glossy prints.
How many pages does the included toner print?
The in-box starter cartridges are rated for about 1,000 pages each in black and color.
Bottom Line
The Brother HL-L3220CDW delivers genuinely good color laser print quality at an entry-level price, as long as you're prepared for a setup process that can be finicky (especially on Mac) and toner that costs more than you might expect from Brother's genuine cartridges.
Where to Buy
Shop Compatible Toner at Castle Ink
- Brother TN229 Toner Cartridges – BKCMY 4-Pack Compatible Set
- Brother TN229XL Toner Cartridges – BKCMY High-Yield 4-Pack Compatible