Brother printers are made for easy use, are durable, and focus on addressing the consumer’s needs in their designs. Brother printers also help you save money by balancing running costs with quality prints. These are just some reasons why they continue to be a trusted brand to this day.
The latest Brother Printer was Brother MFC-J1205W, released in 2021. Read on to learn some of its features and why it may or may not be the printer for you.
Brother MFC-J1205W
Brother’s MFC-J1205W INKvestment Tank Wireless Multi-Function Color Inkjet Printer is an
entry-level “all-in-one” printer. It is best suited for the family and home office. Brother uses its patented INKvestment Tank ink system for a cross between high-yield cartridges and supertank printers, resulting in high-quality printouts. As always, Brother offers a well-made and sturdy model with easy access to fix potential paper jams. It produces great-quality photos with satisfactory color accuracy.
Pros
- Low price
- Includes ink for a year’s worth of printing
- High-quality text output
- Competitive low running costs
- Offers borderless printing
Cons
- Prints relatively slow
- Manual paper feed
- No flash memory support
Now let’s expand on the pros and cons of this printer a little by looking at why you may or may not consider purchasing it.
Reasons Why This Printer Might Be for You
Brother MFC-J1205W Is Light and Petite
If you’re looking for a printer that does what you want and will not take up too much room, this one is worth considering. It measures 6.3 x 17.1 x 14.1 inches and weighs 12.3 pounds. It is a suitable weight for sitting on one of your shelves.
Built-In Web Portal
Like most modern printers, the MFC-J1205W offers a web portal for security settings, generating reporting, and monitoring consumables.
Software
The Brother MFC-J1205W comes with cross-platform, combination driver software and interface utility called iPrint&Scan. It isn’t strong enough as a standalone interface to cater to multiple users printing, copying, and sending documents to the cloud, etc. However, the iPrint&Scan utility makes copying and scanning documents easy.
In addition to iPrint&Scan, it comes with a collection of free apps for convenience and productivity. For instance, it can be used to scan, share, search and organize documents using a cohesive management solution. Their connection repair tool is designed to assist in keeping your network healthy for all network connections, not just your printer’s. Also, a wireless setup assistant is available to help manage your Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
This AIO uses standard interfaces of USB 2.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and “Wireless Direct” for connectivity. “Wireless Direct” is a peer-to-peer networking protocol that enables wireless devices to connect to the printer without being connected to the same router or being a part of the same network. In addition, they offer further support through “Brother Mobile Connect,” “Apple AirPrint,” and “Morpria.” It is also Amazon Alexa compatible and responds to voice commands for convenience.
Print Quality and Speed
Brother rates its latest machine at 16 monochrome pages per minute, which is pretty respectable for its price. It is excellent at dealing with colorful and complex documents at the standard you’d expect from an entry-level printer. It handles various typefaces, gradients, detailed graphics, photographs, etc. Photo colors are accurate but not as vivid as prints produced by a photo-centric printer.
Reasons Why This Printer Might Not Be for You
Lacks Aesthetic
If you’re after a printer with a sleek and stylish design to double up as a decorative feature, Brother MFC-J1205W may not fulfill that requirement. Some have described its aesthetic as “unusually unattractive.” However, it can also be described as having a simple, minimalist design, perfect for not drawing attention to itself.
Single 150-Sheet Tray
When it comes to paper handling, the latest Brother printer offers a single 150-sheet tray. Its paper handling ratings include a maximum monthly duty cycle of 2,500 pages and a suggested monthly copy and print volume of 1,000 pages. Compared to other AIOs currently on the market, these volume ratings are slightly above average.
No Automatic Feed
The Brother MFC-J1205W includes the features of a multifunction printer; its flatbed accommodates scanning and copying. However, it lacks an automatic document feeder, so you’ll need to be okay with placing pages on the flatbed one at a time. If you require scanning or copying multipage documents, the newest Brother printer might not be for you.
Running Costs
Brother says that their MFC-J1205W is the smallest INKvestment Tank model around. On the other hand, compared to premium INKvestment Tank models, it’s also one of the most expensive. Expect to pay approximately 2 cents per black page and 7.5 cents per color page. According to Brother, four ink cartridges could last you a whole year, and this is possible only if your yearly copy and print volume is less than 750 pages.
Brother MFC-J1205W INKvestment Tank Wireless Printer
Overall, the newest Brother printer is a solid entry-level AIO model for its price. It would make an excellent printer for the family, students, or a home office. It handles most complex and detailed documents. It also prints photos well enough to turn some of those pics stored on your phone into keeper memories. It offers a document management interface and free productivity apps. It’s Alexa compatible, making it an even more convenient option.
Do you like what you hear so far? Let us know in the comments section whether you’d consider buying this printer or not.
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