Pantum BP2300W Review

The printer market is packed with options, from high-end inkjet all-in-ones to industrial laser machines, but what if all you need is a simple, fast, and reliable monochrome laser printer for everyday printing? Enter the Pantum BP2300W, a budget-friendly, compact laser printer aimed at home users and small offices.

Priced at RM299 (~USD67), the BP2300W keeps things simple: fast printing, wireless connectivity, and a small footprint. But does it do enough to justify its price, or are there better alternatives? We put it through its paces to find out.

A Compact and Functional Design

At first glance, the Pantum BP2300W doesn’t look like much. It’s a minimalist white box with black accents, designed to blend into any workspace without drawing attention. Unlike some of its bulkier competitors, this one is compact enough to fit on a small desk or shelf, making it a good choice for space-conscious users.

The build quality is surprisingly solid for a budget printer. While most of the exterior is made of polycarbonate, the internal chassis is aluminum, which adds durability. The paper tray folds down from the front and can hold up to 150 sheets, which is decent for a personal printer but might be limiting for high-volume users.

The top of the printer houses a simple control panel with three buttons: WiFi, Print/Cancel, and Power. There’s no LCD display, but that’s not a dealbreaker for a single-function printer like this. The lack of an Ethernet port might disappoint some office users, but it does offer WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, plus a USB-B port for direct printing.

Setup and Connectivity: A Seamless Experience

Setting up the Pantum BP2300W is refreshingly easy. Unlike older printers that require CD drivers or complicated installation processes, this one supports driverless installation on Windows 8.1, 10, and 11. If for some reason you want to install drivers through a CD, then you’re in luck because Pantum included an old school CD driver inside the box.

For other systems, you can download drivers from Pantum’s website. The printer works with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and the Pantum mobile app (available for Android and iOS devices) allows for easy wireless printing. The Pantum app is very straightforward and easy to use and will immediately recognise the printer when you fire it up (provided that you are on the same Wi-Fi network). From there you can use it to print your images or documents as well as monitor the status of the printer, ie the ink level etc.

Connecting via WiFi and Bluetooth is straightforward, and once set up, you can print from your laptop, smartphone, or tablet with minimal hassle.

Print Performance: Fast and Efficient

Now, let’s get to the most important part: how well does it print?

For a budget monochrome laser printer, the BP2300W delivers solid performance. It prints at a speed of up to 22 pages per minute (ppm), which is decent for its class. The first page out time is around 7.8 seconds, meaning you won’t be left waiting too long.

Print quality is sharp and clear at its default 600 dpi resolution, and you can boost it to 1200 dpi for more detailed prints. Text documents look crisp and professional, and even small fonts are legible without blurring.

However, graphics and images don’t fare as well. This is strictly a text-focused printer, and if you need high-quality grayscale images, you might be disappointed. The BP2300W is not built for photo printing, but for basic documents, reports, and invoices, it gets the job done.

One notable downside is the lack of automatic duplex printing. If you want to print double-sided documents, you’ll have to manually flip the pages, which can be frustrating if you print a lot of two-sided reports.

Running Costs: Affordable and Efficient

One of the biggest advantages of laser printers over inkjets is cost efficiency, and the BP2300W follows that trend.

Pantum claims that its starter TL-C2310E toner can print up to 700 pages, and a full replacement toner cartridge can handle 1,600 pages. That’s far better than most inkjet printers, where cartridges can run out after just a couple of hundred pages.

A standard Pantum TL-C2310H toner costs around RM194 (~USD43), which is affordable compared to some competitors. However, Pantum uses a single-unit drum and toner system, meaning you have to replace both together, which could drive up long-term costs.

If you’re printing moderately (a few hundred pages per month), the cost-per-page remains low, making it a great budget-friendly option.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable price – One of the cheapest monochrome laser printers in its category.
• Compact and lightweight – Ideal for small desks and home offices.
• Fast printing – Up to 22 ppm with a 7.8-second first-page-out time.
• Wireless connectivity – Supports WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB.
• Decent print quality for text – Sharp and clear documents.
• Cost-effective toner – Low cost-per-page compared to inkjets.

Cons

• No automatic duplex printing – You have to manually flip pages for double-sided prints.
• Noisy operation – The printer can get quite loud during printing.
• No Ethernet port – Strictly a WiFi or USB-only device.
• Mediocre graphics printing – Fine for text but not great for images.

Who Should Buy the Pantum BP2300W?

The Pantum BP2300W is a great option for students, home users, and small office workers who need a simple, no-frills laser printer for text-heavy documents.

If you print frequently but don’t need color, this printer offers great value for money. However, if you require automatic duplex printing or high-quality grayscale images, you might want to look at higher-end models.

For those who need a reliable, affordable, and compact monochrome laser printer, the Pantum BP2300W is an excellent choice.

Final Verdict: A Budget Printer That Delivers

At RM299 (~USD67), the Pantum BP2300W punches above its weight class. It prints fast, delivers sharp text, and keeps running costs low, making it a solid pick for budget-conscious users.

While it has some drawbacks—like the lack of automatic duplex printing and noisy operation—these are acceptable trade-offs at this price point.

If you need a straightforward, efficient, and low-maintenance monochrome laser printer, the BP2300W is one of the best budget options available right now. You can purchase the Pantum BP2300W through authorised resellers and online platforms such as Shopee and Lazada.