HP LaserJet Pro M12a vs M12w vs M203dw vs M402dn
These four HP LaserJet Pro printers print in black and white only — no scanner — and all are certified imported units, tested before listing. They split cleanly into two home printers and two office printers. Prices are our live prices at the time of writing.
| Model | Price (PKR) | Speed | Connections & duplex | Toner (pages) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M12a | 22,000 | 18 ppm | USB, manual duplex | 79A (~1,000) |
| M12w | 25,000 | 18 ppm | Wi-Fi + USB, manual duplex | 79A (~1,000) |
| M203dw | 34,000 | 28 ppm | Wi-Fi + LAN + USB, auto duplex | 30A / 30X (~1,600 / 3,500) + drum |
| M402dn | 31,000 | 38 ppm | Gigabit LAN + USB, auto duplex | 26A / 26X (~3,100 / 9,000) |
M12a and M12w: the smallest LaserJets
The M12 is one of HP's smallest lasers — it fits on a bookshelf. It prints 18 ppm from a 150-sheet tray, with manual duplex, and HP recommends 100–1,000 pages a month. The M12w adds Wi-Fi and Wireless Direct, so phones print through HP Smart without joining your router (see print from your phone). The catch is the 79A cartridge: at about 1,000 pages it needs refilling more often than most, so these suit one student or a home, not a shared office. The HP LaserJet P1102w is the older Wi-Fi alternative at a similar price.
M203dw: small office with Wi-Fi
The M203dw is a genuine small-office printer: 28 ppm, automatic duplex, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, a 250-sheet tray plus a 10-sheet priority slot, and up to 30,000 pages a month (250–2,500 recommended). Toner and drum are separate — 30A / 30X toner and a 32A drum rated at about 23,000 pages — so each refill replaces only the powder. Pick it when an office needs both Wi-Fi for laptops and phones and automatic duplex.
M402dn: the office workhorse
For less money than the M203dw, the M402dn is faster (38 ppm), has Gigabit Ethernet, automatic duplex, 350 sheets of paper across two trays and an 80,000-page duty cycle, and takes the 26X cartridge — about 9,000 pages, the lowest cost per page of the four. It has no Wi-Fi, which an office with a router and a cable rarely misses. It is the same class of printer as the M402dne; the M402 family is compared with the M404 and M401 in our M404dn vs M402dne vs M401dn guide.
Which should you buy?
- One student, under 300 pages a month, USB: M12a.
- Home with phones and laptops: M12w.
- Small office that needs Wi-Fi and duplex: M203dw.
- Office on a cable that prints every day: M402dn.
- Need to scan and copy too: see the cheapest HP laser all-in-ones.
A small cartridge is not just more refills — it is more trips to the toner shop. Work out the real yearly cost of each model with our cost per page calculator.
Printers mentioned in this guide
View all →Live prices and stock — every unit tested, warrantied, Cash on Delivery in Rawalpindi & Islamabad.
HP LaserJet Pro M12a
Mono Laser · Personal
18 ppm · FastRes 1200 · USB 2.0 · 150-sheet tray
Page count on request · Imported · tested 10/10
PKR 22,000Certified 10/10
HP LaserJet Pro M12w
Mono Laser · Personal Wireless
18 ppm · FastRes 1200 · Wi-Fi + USB · 150-sheet tray
Page count on request · Imported · tested 10/10
PKR 25,000Certified 10/10
HP LaserJet Pro M203dw
Mono Laser · Wireless Duplex
28 ppm · 1200 dpi · Auto Duplex · Wi-Fi + LAN + USB · 260-sheet input
Page count on request · Imported · tested 10/10
PKR 34,000Certified 10/10
HP LaserJet Pro M402dn
Mono Laser · Network Workgroup
38 ppm · Auto Duplex · Gigabit LAN · 350-sheet input · 80k duty
Page count on request · Imported · tested 10/10
PKR 31,000Certified 10/10
Frequently asked questions
Which toner does the HP LaserJet Pro M12a use?
The HP 79A (CF279A) cartridge, rated at about 1,000 pages. The M12w uses the same cartridge.
Is the HP M402dn or M203dw better for an office?
For most offices the M402dn: it is faster (38 vs 28 ppm), has a higher duty cycle and a 9,000-page 26X cartridge, and costs less. The M203dw is better only if you need Wi-Fi.
Does the HP M402dn have Wi-Fi?
No. The M402dn has Gigabit Ethernet and USB. For Wi-Fi with duplex, look at the M203dw or the M211dw.
What is the difference between the HP M12a and M12w?
The M12w adds Wi-Fi and Wireless Direct for printing from phones and laptops without a cable. Otherwise they are the same 18 ppm printer with the same 79A cartridge.
Tested, warrantied, Cash on Delivery in Rawalpindi & Islamabad.