Is the Brother HL-L2460DW better than a cheap inkjet printer?

Yes—for mostly black-and-white document printing, the Brother HL-L2460DW is usually the better buy than a cheap inkjet. A fair price is about $130–$180 new for the HL-L2460DW, while a cheap inkjet is usually about $40–$90 new. The Brother is worth paying more for if you want sharper text, faster printing, and less hassle from dried-out ink.

If you buy used, a working HL-L2460DW is typically around $70–$120, while a used cheap inkjet is often $15–$50—but inkjets are riskier used because clogged nozzles can wipe out the savings. Prices change, so check sold/completed listings before buying.

Pick the Brother if you print homework, shipping labels, invoices, tax forms, or other documents regularly. Pick the cheap inkjet only if you need color printing and print infrequently enough that lower upfront cost matters more than long-term reliability.