Brother

Brother's reputation on r/BuyItForLife is built almost entirely on its laser printers, which enjoy near-universal praise as the default BIFL printer recommendation. Users consistently report 10–20+ years of reliable service, low running costs, and freedom from inkjet frustrations. The brand's overall story is cohesive rather than divided — both the product-line analysis and brand-generic comments reinforce the same strengths and the same caveats. The only meaningful fault lines are between older and newer models, and between monochrome and color printing costs.

Brother laser printers dominate both the product-line analysis (96 mentions) and brand-generic comments (62 mentions), making them the only meaningful signal for this brand. The overwhelming consensus is strongly positive, but consistent, specific concerns about toner DRM on newer models and color printing costs prevent a clean 'Strong recommend' — buyers need to verify model-level compatibility before purchasing.

Brother laser printers are celebrated for exceptional longevity and low total cost of ownership, making them the community's go-to recommendation for anyone seeking a durable, low-maintenance printer.

• Printers routinely last 10–20+ years with minimal maintenance
• Toner does not dry out during periods of inactivity, unlike inkjet ink
• Compatible with affordable third-party toner cartridges on most models
• No ink subscription or DRM on the majority of legacy and current models
• Reliable wireless printing across Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile platforms
• Multifunction models offer scanning, copying, and fax in a single unit

Concerns are real but largely model-specific, centering on newer units with toner DRM and the inherently higher cost of color laser printing. Careful model selection mitigates most issues.

• Some newer models use page-count chips or firmware to block third-party toner cartridges
• Firmware updates can enable cartridge lockouts; some users advise disabling auto-updates
• Color laser toner replacement is significantly more expensive than monochrome
• Drum unit replacement is an overlooked consumable cost that can approach the price of a new printer
• At least one report of a capacitor-related hardware failure within the first year on a newer unit

Brother laser printers are basically the default answer whenever someone asks about a BIFL printer — people report using them for 10 to 20 years without issues.

Toner doesn't dry out if you don't use it for months, which is the single biggest advantage over inkjet for home users.

The older models are gold, but do your research before buying new — some recent ones have firmware that locks out third-party cartridges.

Color laser is great until you have to replace all four toner cartridges; the cost advantage disappears fast compared to a good inkjet tank printer.

• Brother Laser Printer