HP LaserJet M140w Wireless Black and White Laser Printer
Summary of Customer Reviews
The HP LaserJet M140w Wireless Black and White Laser Printer has garnered a wide range of customer feedback, with the majority of users expressing satisfaction with its performance, ease of use, and compact design. Most reviews highlight its seamless wireless setup and good print quality for home and small office needs. Customers appreciate its affordability and the convenience of wireless printing from mobile devices. However, some users have raised concerns regarding connectivity issues and difficulties with the HP Smart app, especially for scanning tasks. Overall, the printer has received strong praise for being a compact and efficient monochrome laser printer.
PROS
- Easy Setup: Many users appreciate how simple it is to set up the printer, with some stating they had it running within minutes. For example, one user mentioned, “Plug in, download app, follow a few steps, and boom, done!” This highlights the printer’s user-friendly installation process, making it accessible even for non-tech-savvy individuals.
- Compact Size: The printer’s small footprint is a significant selling point for customers. One user commented, “It’s easy to use and the small size is perfect for me since it doesn’t take as much room as my older printer.” This makes the M140w ideal for home offices or small workspaces where space is limited.
- Good Print Quality: Despite its compact size, the printer consistently delivers high-quality prints. A user mentioned, “Prints nice crisp pages, whether printing or copying,” highlighting its reliability for both everyday document printing and professional outputs. The quality of black-and-white prints meets the needs of most users for office documents, making it a reliable choice.
- Wireless Printing Convenience: The ability to print wirelessly from various devices, including phones and tablets, has impressed many customers. A user noted, “Prints wirelessly from iPad or phone, works as advertised,” showcasing its convenience in a modern, multi-device environment where users need flexibility.
- Toner Cartridge Efficiency: Many users have praised the printer for its efficient toner usage, which is more economical than inkjet cartridges. One customer said, “Toner cartridges are better, in the long run, as well.” This makes the printer a cost-effective option for those looking to reduce printing costs over time.
- Value for Money: At its price point, the printer offers an impressive range of features, including scanning and copying. One user shared, “I’ve now been using the HP for about 2 months, having spent less than $150 to meet my needs.” This makes the printer an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers who still need high functionality.
CONS
- Connectivity Issues: Several users reported difficulties with maintaining a stable wireless connection, which can hinder productivity. A user stated, “The wifi connection is great when it works, that is maybe 25% of the time,” pointing to inconsistent performance. This is especially frustrating for those relying on wireless printing as their primary method.
- HP Smart App Limitations: While the app is necessary for tasks like scanning, some users found it challenging to navigate and use. One customer mentioned, “From my quick look at the HP Smart app, I judge it to be somewhat difficult to use but very full-featured.” Users who aren’t tech-savvy might struggle to make the most of the app’s advanced features.
- Lack of USB Printing Option: The absence of a USB connection for printing has been a drawback for some users, especially when wireless connectivity fails. As one review mentioned, “There is NO OPTION FOR USB, you have no choice but to use the wireless connection.” This limits flexibility for users who prefer or require a wired connection.
- Noisy Operation: A few customers mentioned that the printer is noisier than expected, which might be an issue for users looking for a quieter device. One user commented, “It’s a little noisy, but who cares when it’s quick and efficient?” While the noise may not bother everyone, it could be a dealbreaker for those in quieter work environments.
- Scanning Limitations: Some users were disappointed with the scanner’s capabilities, especially for multi-page scanning. One review noted, “You have to open the top and place each page face down and scan each page.” This manual process can be cumbersome for those who need to scan large documents frequently.
- Subscription-Based Toner Service: The introduction of HP’s subscription-based Instant Ink service wasn’t well-received by all users. One customer mentioned, “You’re basically forced into getting the ink subscription,” which can be a hassle for those who prefer to purchase toner on their own terms.
Who Should Buy?
The HP LaserJet M140w is best suited for home offices, small businesses, or individuals who need an affordable, reliable black-and-white printer. Its compact size makes it ideal for environments with limited space, and its wireless functionality is perfect for those who want the convenience of printing from multiple devices without the need for cables. This printer is also a great option for individuals who print moderately and value long-term cost savings from using toner instead of ink. However, if your needs include frequent multi-page scanning or if you require a rock-solid wireless connection at all times, this model might not be the best fit.
Do Users Recommend This Product?
Most users would recommend the HP LaserJet M140w, primarily for its ease of use, compact design, and cost-effectiveness. The printer has impressed many with its straightforward setup, reliable print quality, and wireless capabilities. As one user aptly summed it up: “I love this printer, it’s exactly what I needed for home office tasks.” However, some users have reservations, particularly due to its connectivity issues and the limitations of the HP Smart app. Those who experienced these problems expressed frustration, but they still found the printer useful for its core printing functions. Overall, for most buyers, the M140w delivers great value and performs well within its intended use case.
Customer Reviews
Updated on September 25, 2024
30 year IT Pro is telling you this is a terrible device
I’ve been installing printers for 30 years…. this was the most frustrating install ever.
1. They REALLY want you to get the smart app from MS store. You can find an allinone driver online if you look, this is what I did.
2. The printer could not be found in wifi discovery mode using a win10 virtual machine. I tried running the install/discovery over usb with my virtual machine only to end with an “unknown error’ in HPs software.
3. I had to dig out a full win 10 laptop for this to find the printer at all…. It did find a printer on the network (i guess step 2 kind of worked when it prompted for wifi / pw). I had to again go through half a dozen questions about sharing info, create accounts etc…
4. With the software finally complete (1hour in) I launch the HP smart app in win10 because I want to scan a document. I am prompted with a “In order to scan, please sign in with your HP account” …. WTF??? No, just no. I am in no way signin into HP services to use my own scanner.
That’s the last straw.
So, I can’t scan unless my internet is up and running since scanning is now an HP cloud service????
Every time I launch the HP smart app, Ihave to again answer the same ” please share your diagnostic data with HP” over and over and over.
I had a Brother all in one…. that is what I should have bought again…. serves me right for going cheap.
A printer should plug right in or be wifi configurable from an LCD panel. It should scan to a network location/nas/connected storage without the need of an online cloud service. It should work with a a linux ‘generic laser’ printer device. This P.O.S. does none of that.
Do not buy this. I promise you it is frustration in a box.
- 210
- 0
This WIFI printer won't stay online, I regret the purchase
Update: Stay away! Printer has been nerfed and is now a paperweight due to a reported issue with my HP Account. HP will try to push their toner subscription on you, Instant Ink. I declined and have been using HP toner purchased directly. This has not stopped what is likely a software error on their end from turning off my ability to use the device. The printer throws an account error. Getting help from HP is an exercise in frustration. I likely only managed 200 pages out of this printer since I’ve owned it. Permanently done with HP.
My main requirement for a printer is that it is reliably available. I ditched a Brother printer that presented chronic connection issues via direct USB cable for this HP laser multi-function unit. It isn’t any better!
I have a powerful router, and everything else in my house, electronics of various kinds, have no issues staying connected, but this HP printer can be relied on to drop the WIFI signal from just across the room. It annoys me that nearly every time I need to print, I have to waste 15-20 minutes cycling the power and the wifi, and that’s if it decides to connect at all.
- 31
- 0
OMG what a painful little turd
First try to figure out how to set this thing up without creating an account, handing over all your personal info and wasting hours retrying. Good luck fella, it’s not going to happen. Once you finally give up on having any privacy or just expecting a thing to work, it might print 30-50 pages before it just decides it’s not going to print anymore. Useless message about needing paper when there’s a stack of paper in it and the grand extent of support is unplug it and plug it back in.
I can’t begin to say how much I wish this evil turd had never come into my life. I replaced a printer I’d had for 20 years with it, and less than a month after getting it all I want to do is set it on fire. There is a special place reserved in the afterlife for whatever engineering monsters inflicted this monstrosity on humanity.
Save yourself the trouble, just go outside and find a really big rock and bash your head in with it. It will be much less painful.
- 23
- 0
Best Printer for the money
I needed a printer for my vacation house and this delivered. As a tech coordinator I only order and use HP printers for my schools. We have less problems and they hold up. This is a gem of a printer. Small, light weight, good quality printing and nice scanner that serves as a copy machine. Of course the cartridge that comes with it only gives you about 100 copies. WiFi works perfectly and has nice range. I bought one for my friend too!!
- 20
- 0
Setup was a breeze.
I’m sure, if you read reviews, you saw the one from the IT professional who clearly stated for you to NOT buy this printer. He went on about how difficult the setup was. All I can say is I’m not a professional, I’m a senior citizen who doesn’t like to deal with technology, and I was up and printing in less than ten minutes. Printer has been flawless so far.
- 18
- 0
Well, suited to the job.
I like this printer. It is easy to set up, and easy to operate. It functions perfectly. I’ve purchased three printers over the years and this is the best I’ve had so far. I really like the printer, and I think it’s a terrific bargain at the price.
- 15
- 0
Intention WAS to use for gelli printing
Overall good printer but NOT suitable for the use of gelli printing. I later learned to get better results the use of color laser printers works best even though you are still printing monochrome because it’s using more toner to transfer on to the plate. Over all good printer but had to return since it won’t work for my intended use
Some things to note:
-Easy to set up wifi out of box
-Ready to use, just need to take protective film off toner
-You have the option of instant ink subscription and using the free trial
-small in size and doesn’t weigh a lot if you need to move it
-You will need to download the hp smart app if printing from a mobile device
- 13
- 0
Quick Set Up!
OMG; I unboxed and set up via WiFi on my Android cell in less that 10 min total.
It was sheer joy! As 73 yr old techie lady I was prepared for a challenge but nope not necessary. I just read directions and set up easy peazy.
This was so different from setting up the brother inkjet I purchased last month. I struggled and still couldn’t get it to make simple copy without defaulting to web/PC or somewhere other than my 4 n1 unit.
My laptop is experiencing Win O/S issues and so I used my 2 yr old Moto Android cell for set up.
Directions easy to read and follow. Printer worked perfectly and now I can print and copy without reinventing the wheel every time I need a hard copy.
This machine is also very small. I was pleasantly surprised by the footprint.
The simple to use display is easy to use and read.
It’s a little noisy but who cares when it’s quick and efficient.
I would recommend and would purchase again. So happy to finally have a printer from this decade to interface with my newer electronics.
- 12
- 0
Good Printer, Bad HP Sales Model
The printer has good print quality, however its relatively painful to setup so that electronic monitoring of our print jobs and auto delivery of HP toner is NOT performed. Buyers should have no expectation of privacy. Its a business model that needs to be discouraged.
In addition.. The “sleep” mode consumes about 100W/hr of energy — this is as much as an old fashioned light bulb. We expected lower energy use. Its also tough to “wake up” the monitor from “sleep” mode.
- 12
- 0
Meets my needs- BUT
Nice b/w printer that meets my needs & price is ok. But- after many tries- it fails to let me set up WiFi with my new Mac Book Pro Monterey system. I tried everything- research on this said that this HP printer may have wifi connection issues with some newer Macs due to HP not updating the drivers to be compatible. On a couple attempts to connect printer to my Mac via WiFi- HP’s online system directed me to the Apple store- which offered me compatible driver to buy. Forget that. It will print from my smartphone & I bought a cable on Amazon that lets me print from the Mac Book Pro. I print very little- so it’s ok.
- 11
- 0